Digest

TRACK AND FIELD

Xie dominates sprint events in season debut

After months of suspended competition due to the coronavirus outbreak, Xie Zhenye came flying out of the blocks in Shanghai on Sunday.

In an event organized by the Chinese Athletics Association, the 27-year-old Xie, considered the strongest sprinter in the field, led from start to finish to clock 10.13 seconds in the 100 meters. Huang Zhijian finished second in 10.36, with Jiang Hengnan third in 10.63.

Xie also eased to victory in the 200m, comfortably crossing the finish line first in 20.80 ahead of Tang Jiale (21.59) and Wang Long (21.87).

Despite his dominance, Xie was not entirely satisfied with his performances. "I was not in my best condition, couldn't find my best tempo, but I will manage to find it in coming events. See you at the national championships in September," he said.

Xie has personal bests of 9.97 in the 100, set in 2018, and an Asian-record 19.88 in the 200, from 2019.

GOLF

DJ decimates field to reclaim top ranking

Dustin Johnson regained the world No 1 spot in emphatic style on Sunday, firing a final-round 63 to win The Northern Trust by 11 shots.

Johnson finished with a 30-under-par total of 254 at TPC Boston, with Harris English a distant second on 265 after a closing 69.

Johnson's 22-under third-round total had given him the largest 54-hole lead－five strokes－on the PGA Tour this season and he was quick to build on it on Sunday.

His margin of victory was the largest on the tour since 2006. "It is a big margin, and I'm definitely really proud of that," said Johnson, who replaces Jon Rahm as world No 1. "I was trying to get to 30-under. I've never shot 30-under in four rounds. Just something that I wanted to do."

Tiger Woods opened with four straight birdies and to finish with a 6-under total. He fell to No 57 in the FedEx Cup standings, in danger of missing the Tour Championship for the second straight year.

BASKETBALL

Doncic drains dramatic winner to level series

Luka Doncic stepped back for a winning 3-pointer－on a tender ankle, no less.

Another installment in the ever-growing legend of Doncic.

Doncic's deep shot at the buzzer capped a triple-double and the short-handed Dallas Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Clippers 135-133 in overtime Sunday to even the first-round playoff series at two games apiece.

Doncic finished with 43 points, 17 rebounds and 13 assists for his second straight triple-double.

"We know this kid has got a flair for the dramatic," said Mavs coach Rick Carlisle, whose team overcame a 21-point, second-quarter deficit. "He's a guy that lives for these moments."

Remarkably, Doncic was a game-time decision due to the left ankle he hurt in Game 3. But once he stepped on the floor, he knew he would give it a go.

"One of the best feelings I've ever had as a player," Doncic said about the winner. "Just something special."

TENNIS

Dimitrov triumphs in comeback from COVID

Two months after barely being able to walk while ill with COVID-19, Grigor Dimitrov played a professional tennis match at the Western& Southern Open on Sunday and－while the result was not what was most important－he won.

"I said to myself, 'I'll give it a try.' Now I'm here playing a match today," said the 29-year-old Bulgarian, who was a US Open semifinalist last year and is ranked No 19. "Honestly, I'm just purely thankful that I'm even able to just be here, to participate. Forget about the match-I'm not even talking about tennis right now."

Dimitrov said he arrived in New York, the site for both the Western&Southern Open and the US Open, which starts Aug 31, just 1½ days before taking the court for what turned out to be a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Ugo Humbert.

Dimitrov tested positive for the coronavirus in June while participating in a series of exhibitions in Croatia and Serbia organized by Novak Djokovic, who also contracted COVID-19.

"The first week was just tragic. I started by just walking. I couldn't really do any exercise. I could not lift weights. I couldn't play tennis," Dimitrov said, adding that he lost a lot of weight while sick. "It was a really dark moment," he said. "I'm not going to lie."

SOCCER

Pogba and United 'in talks over extension'

Paul Pogba's agent said on Sunday that the France midfielder is "at the heart" of Manchester United's plans, adding that he is currently discussing a contract extension with the Premier League club.

Mino Raiola told Italian broadcaster Sky Sport that Pogba, 27, "is still at the heart of an important technical project".

Raiola added that he was discussing "with no stress" the renewal to Pogba's contract at United, which currently expires next summer.

"Manchester United have never wanted to open negotiations to sell him in these last few years," he said.

In the same interview, Raiola said that he does not "have an agreement yet" to extend Zlatan Ibrahimovic's spell at AC Milan.

"It is not a question of money, but of style, of conviction, of many things," he said, adding that he was "optimistic" a deal would be done.

Ibrahimovic, who will turn 39 in October, helped rejuvenate Milan in the second half of last season. Italian media has reported that he could sign for another year with a salary of six million euros ($7.07 million).

Xinhua - Agencies