Digest

SOCCER

Sanchez completes permanent Inter move

Alexis Sanchez

Manchester United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Wednesday said Alexis Sanchez's move to Inter Milan has been made permanent.

Chile midfielder Sanchez, 31, who joined Inter on loan last August after a season and a half at Old Trafford, has scored four goals in 31 appearances for the Italian side.

"I can confirm that Alexis will be confirmed as an Inter player on Thursday," Solskjaer told broadcaster BT Sport.

"Alexis has had a good time over there, he's a good player, so we wish him all the best," he added.

Inter coach Antonio Conte praised Sanchez's impact despite missing more than two months of action earlier this season with a foot problem.

"I think the Alexis Sanchez move is a great one made by the club. Considering the conditions we managed to get Alexis, it was a really good transfer," he said."He had come off two years when he was really struggling at Manchester United, then he got this injury with us and we took the time to get him back on track, so it's only right that we are now able to reap the rewards of that effort."

Ake exits Bournemouth in 'dream' City switch

Manchester City announced on Wednesday that Dutch international Nathan Ake has joined the club in a a five-year deal.

The 25-year-old defender, who arrives from relegated Bourne mouth, is City's second signing of the summer after the capture of Spanish winger Ferran Torres from Valencia on Tuesday.

"City have been the best side in England over the course of the last decade," Ake said."Coming here is a dream for me."

Joining Chelsea at the age of 16,Ake made 146 Premier League appearances for the Blues, Watford and Bournemouth. He has also won 13 caps for the Dutch senior team, scoring two goals.

According to British media, the deal is valued at 41 million pounds ($54 million).

City failed to retain the Premier League title in the season just passed, finishing 18 points behind winner Liverpool.

BASKETBALL

Paul pulls the strings in Thunder's Lakers rout

Chris Paul

Chris Paul had 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the Oklahoma City Thunder's 105-86 victory over the misfiring Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.

Danilo Gallinari scored 19 points and Steven Adams had 18 for the Thunder (42-25), who never trailed in their first win over the Lakers in four meetings this season. Oklahoma City pulled even with Houston for the fifth seed in the Western Conference playoff picture with five games left.

The 86 points were the fewest by the Lakers－and by a Thunder opponent－this season.

"We just tried to stick to the game plan," Paul said. "We tried to keep those guys off the (free-throw) line as much as possible. We tried to build a wall up on LeBron (James) when he's pushing it. Just trying to make it hard for them."

TENNIS

US Open winners face $850,000 pay cut

The winners of this year's US Open singles titles will receive $850,000 less than last year's champions as the tournament feels the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, organizers said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the US Open said this year's event, which is taking place without fans, will have a total prize pool of $53.4 million, compared with around $57 million in 2019. The winners of the men's and women's singles will receive $3 million each, compared to $3.85 million apiece in 2019.

However, players in the first rounds will receive a pay bump in recognition of financial hardship endured during a season that has been decimated by COVID-19.

First-round players will receive $61,000 this year, compared to $58,000 in 2019. Money for the second and third rounds remains unchanged at $100,000 and $163,000 respectively. The United States Tennis Association said it will also make available $7.6 million to provide monetary assistance to players who have seen earning opportunities stymied by the sport's near-five-month shutdown.

GOLF

Woodland putts his faith in healthy diet

Gary Woodland

Reigning US Open champion Gary Woodland says shedding some extra pounds during the COVID-19 pandemic was a life-changing decision that will ultimately extend his career.

While some PGA stars like Bryson DeChambeau are packing on extra muscle in order to hit the ball further, Woodland decided to use his downtime during the isolation period to lose 27 pounds (12 kilograms).

And the 36-year-old American did it by cutting out fast food and sugar.

"I would say a 3-year-old probably eats better than I used to," Woodland said.

Woodland will be showcasing his slimmer self at this week's PGA Championship as he tees off on Thursday in a marquee group that includes two other reigning major champions, Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Rivers: Season opt-out would've ended career

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers says he never considered opting out of the forthcoming NFL season because it probably would have ended his career.

The 38-year-old, eight-time Pro Bowler signed a one-year, $25 million contract in March with Indy after spending his first 16 seasons with the San Diego and Los Angeles Chargers.

"Obviously, you try to be smart. I think that's really kind of where we are from a family standpoint," said Rivers, who has nine children."But deciding not to play, we never got there. I also think making that decision, for me, would have been making the decision to be done and I'm not there yet."

In May, Rivers announced he would become the head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama, when he retires. There, Rivers plans to coach his children－like his father did.

Xinhua - Agencies