Biles fights off kidney stone to dominate

Simone Biles spent a portion of the night before her return to world championships in the emergency room. The sensation she chalked up to the usual pre-meet stress evolved into searing agony that at times left her crawling on the floor.

When a CT scan revealed a kidney stone one she nicknamed “the Doha Pearl” the reigning Olympic gymnastics champion grabbed her stuff and discharged herself from the hospital, telling the staff she’ll deal with the pain later.

“I heard rollercoasters might help kidney stones,” Biles said. “And I’m like ‘Well, I’m basically like my own little rollercoaster out there.’ ”

One that turns each performance into a thrill ride of its own. Smiling through each twist, flip and turn, the 21-year-old Biles was nearly flawless during qualifying on Saturday in Doha, Qatar, posting the highest scores on balance beam, floor exercise and vault on her way to a total of 60.965 on a day when the Americans put up a team score of 174.429, a staggering 12 points clear of secondplace Japan through six of 11 qualifying groups.

Motors

KYLE BUSCH TO LEAD NEXT

ROUND OF NASCAR’S PLAYOFFS >> Kyle Busch has won the pole at Martinsville Speedway to open the third round of NASCAR’s playoffs. Busch turned a lap at 96.254 mph around the Virginia paperclip to earn the top starting spot in today’s race. Clint Bowyer qualified second in a Ford from Stewart-Haas Racing. RICCIARDO BEATS VERSTAPPEN

TO POLE AT MEXICAN GRAND PRIX >> Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo snatched pole position from teammate Max Verstappen at the Mexican Grand Prix, while Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton sits in perfect position in third to win his fifth career Formula One championship in Mexico City. Hamilton needs only to finish seventh to win a title.

Golf

LATE RALLY LETS FINAU

KEEP 3-SHOT LEAD IN CHINA >> Tony Finau closed with three straight birdies for a 2-under 70 and took advantage of a late collapse by Justin Rose to keep his three-shot lead in the HSBC Champions in Shanghai. Finau was at 13-under 203. He was three ahead of Rose (70), Patrick Reed (70) and Xander Schauffele (69).

Tennis

FEDERER REACHES 14TH FINAL

AT SWISS INDOORS >> Roger Federer advanced to the 14th Swiss Indoors final of his career by beating seventh-seeded Daniil Medvedev 6-1, 6-4. Seeking a ninth title at his hometown event in Basel, Federer will play Marius Copil.

STEPHENS RALLIES IN WTA FINALS >> Sloane Stephens overcame a terrible start against Karolina Pliskova to win 0-6, 6-4, 6-1 at the WTA Finals, setting up a championship match against Elina Svitolina in Singapore.