Wrestling legend Sammartino dies

He was professional wrestling’s ultimate good guy. The son of Italian immigrants, Bruno Sammartino fled the Nazis as a child and built a career beating a string of bad guys that thrilled fans and made him reign as the conscientious champ for more than a decade.

Before the flash of The Hulkster, the electricity of The Rock and the foul-mouth of Stone Cold, all Sammartino required to become wrestling’s biggest box office draw was a pair of tights, boots and an honest promo that made fans believe in the most illegitimate of sports.

Sammartino, professional wrestling’s “Living Legend” and one of its longest-reigning champions, has died. He was 82.

“One of the finest men I knew, in life and in business,” WWE chairman Vince McMahon said . “Bruno Sammartino proved that hard work can overcome even the most difficult of circumstances. He will be missed.”

Family friend and former wrestling announcer Christopher Cruise said Sammartino died Wednesday morning and had been hospitalized for two months.

The WWE opened a live event Wednesday night with a 10-bell salute for Sammartino, whose name on the marquee about guaranteed a squared circle sellout in the 1960s and 1970s. He held the World Wide Wrestling Federation championship for more than 11 years (4,040 days) over two title runs. a 6-1, 6-3 win against Aljaz Bedene 6-1, 6-3.

Nadal, who saved two break points in the fifth game of the match, is chasing a record-extending 11th title here. The top-ranked Spaniard next faces big-serving Russian Karen Khachanov.

Djokovic, who will next face fifth-seeded Dominic Thiem of Austria, says his right elbow is pain-free for the first time in two years. Djokovic has won the title twice, including when he ended Nadal’s 46-match winning streak by winning the 2013 title. They are on course to meet in the quarterfinals.

Second-seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia, the Australian Open runner-up, had seven aces in a 6-3, 7-6 (4) win against Fernando Verdasco.

ODDS AND ENDS