SPORTS IN BRIEF
DALLAS – The Carolina Hurricanes acquired defenseman Dougie Hamilton on Saturday as part of a blockbuster trade with the Calgary Flames at the NHL draft.
Carolina got Hamilton, winger Micheal Ferland and prospect Adam Fox from Calgary for center Elias Lindholm and defenseman Noah Hanifin in the biggest trade so far this offseason.
The 25-year-old Hamilton has now been traded at the draft twice after going from the Bruins to the Flames three years ago. The 6-foot-6 right-shot defender has 220 points in 423 regularseason games.
Djokovic to face Cilic in Queen’s Club final
LONDON – After reaching his first ATP Tour final in almost a year, Novak Djokovic still appeared far from content. The 12-time Grand Slam champion set up a meeting with Marin Cilic by defeating Jeremy Chardy 7-6 (5), 6-4 at Queen’s Club on Saturday. Djokovic’s last final – and title – also came on a British grass court when he defeated Gael Monfils in Eastbourne last July.
Federer chases 99th title, faces Coric in Halle final
HALLE, Germany – Defending champion Roger Federer will play 21-year-old Borna Coric in the Gerry Weber Open final as he chases his 99th career singles title on Sunday. Federer reached his 12th final in Halle after beating qualifier Denis Kudla 7-6 (1), 7-5 on Saturday. Coric advanced when fourth-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut retired injured after slipping in their semifinal. The Spaniard was leading 3-2 in the first set.
Kvitova faces Rybarikova in Birmingham final
BIRMINGHAM, England – Defending champion Petra Kvitova raced impressively into the Birmingham Classic final on Saturday with a 6-3, 6-2 win against Mihaela Buzarnescu. Fourth-seeded Kvitova outplayed one of the most improved players on the tour with strident groundstrokes and uninhibited net attacks. Buzarnescu, an unseeded Romanian, fought back to 2-3 by breaking the Czech’s serve and briefly seemed capable of the kind of resistance that earned her the first set in their well-contested final in Prague last month.
Phoenix dropped from IndyCar’s 2019 schedule
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – The IndyCar series won’t return to ISM Raceway in 2019, ending a three-year run at the track in the Phoenix suburbs. IndyCar said attendance at the oval in Avondale, Arizona, was disappointing despite “considerable investment” by the openwheel series and track organizers. The move was announced Friday in a joint statement from IndyCar and the track.
Chicago Cubs owners in talks to purchase AC Milan
MILAN – The Ricketts family that owns the Chicago Cubs says it is negotiating to purchase the debt-ridden AC Milan soccer team.
The Milan office of the Edelman public relations firm, which has been hired to represent the Ricketts, says the entire family is interested in Milan for “a mediumto long-period investment” and wants to create “a strong bond with the city.”
The interest comes as seven-time European champion Milan faces UEFA sanctions over a breach of financial fair play regulations.
Milan last year spent more than 200 million euros (then nearly $250 million) on new players amid questions over the financial stability of the Chinese-led consortium that purchased the club from Silvio Berlusconi for $800 million in April 2017.
Hamilton extends record with 75th pole at French GP
LE CASTELLET, France – Lewis Hamilton secured a record-extending 75th pole position at Formula One’s French Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas on Saturday.
Points leader Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari will start the race from third, followed by Red Bull pair Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo. Associated Press