Nishikori beats Andujar to defend title

Top-seeded Kei Nishikori successfully defended his title at the Barcelona (Spain) Open by beating Spaniard Pablo Andujar 6-4, 6-4 in Sunday’s final.

The fifth-ranked Japanese, who is the two-time defending champion at the Memphis Open, rallied from early breaks in both sets to claim his second clay-court title in as many years at the Real Club de Tenis.

Nishikori finished off Andujar with a final break to win in one hour, 34 minutes.

The title was his second of the season and ninth of his career.

TENNIS

Home favorite Angelique Kerber defeated Caroline Wozniacki 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 in the final of the Porsche Grand Prix at Stuttgart, Germany, for her second straight title. After losing the opening set, Kerber twice broke the fourth-seeded Dane in the second. Wozniacki saved three match points at 6-5 in the third set, but Kerber took her fourth chance to win in two hours, four minutes.

PREPS

Cordova guard Darrius Spencer has signed to play basketball at Lincoln University, a Division 2 school in Jefferson City, Missouri. The 6-3 Spencer averaged 10 points and 4.7 rebounds while helping the Wolves to an 18-10 record and a spot in the Region 7-AAA semifinals last season.

COLLEGES

Sophomore Brittany Vaughn singled to center with the bases loaded in the seventh to give the U of M softball team a 2-0 win against South Florida at Tampa, Florida, on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers (16-31, 4-11 American) took two of the three games and won their first AAC series. Senior Jordan Richwood (9-17) allowed three hits and walked one in her second complete game and second win in two days. ... Memphis sophomore Lars van Meijel shot a second-round 68 as the Tigers climbed to fifth at the AAC men’s golf championship in Lecanto, Florida.

The Rhodes women’s golf team, the reigning Division 3 national champion, won its second consecutive Southern Athletic Association title Sunday at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The Lynx were led by Mackenzie Cohen, who was first in the individual standings.

DRAG RACING

Ron Capps raced to his second Funny Car victory of the season Sunday, beating Don Schumacher Racing teammate Jack Beckman in the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals at Baytown, Texas. Capps finished in 4.244 seconds at 258.32 mph; Beckman trailed with a 4.480 at 205.16. Doug Kalitta won in Top Fuel, and Erica Enders-Stevens topped the Pro Stock field.