Digest

TENNIS

Disqualification costs Djokovic over $267K

The total financial penalty for Novak Djokovic's US Open disqualification: $267,500.

Djokovic has been docked an additional $7,500 for skipping the mandatory post-match news conference after being defaulted in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for accidentally hitting a line judge in the throat with a ball after dropping a game.

The maximum fine for that infraction is listed as $20,000 in the Grand Slam rule book.

That is also the most someone can be fined for unsportsmanlike conduct; Djokovic was told to pay $10,000 for that violation.

Those two fines are in addition to losing his $250,000 in prize money for making it to the fourth round of the tournament. To put the money in context: Djokovic has earned more than $140 million in prize money over his career, aside from millions more in endorsement deals.

Barty to skip French Open over virus fears

World No 1 Ashleigh Barty announced Tuesday she will not defend her French Open crown, citing the coronavirus fears that also prompted her to withdraw from the US Open.

The Australian, who claimed her maiden Grand Slam at Roland Garros in 2019, said it was a "difficult" decision but the health of her family and team came first.

"Last year's French Open was the most special tournament of my career so this is not a decision I have made lightly," the 24-year-old said on social media. Barty sat out the US Open, currently being played in New York.

Spectators will be allowed at the French Open this month despite the growing number of coronavirus cases in the country, organizers said on Monday.

They unveiled the health protocols for the clay-court grand slam, which will take place at Roland Garros in western Paris from Sept 27 after being postponed from its May start due to the pandemic.

SOCCER

France loses Mbappe after positive test

France and Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe tested positive for COVID-19 and missed Tuesday's Nations League match against Croatia.

The 21-year-old left France's training camp in Paris to return home on Monday evening, having netted the winner in Saturday's 1-0 victory over Sweden.

Mbappe will also miss PSG's Ligue 1 opener against Lens on Thursday, along with six other teammates including Neymar and Argentine pair Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes.

He could also sit out Sunday's clash with Marseille. According to the league's health protocol, a player who tests positive must self-isolate for eight days.

Mbappe is the fourth player to be withdrawn from the France squad following a positive COVID-19 test. The others are Paul Pogba, Houssem Aouar and goalkeeper Steve Mandanda.

Rodriguez targeting revival with Everton

James Rodriguez joined English Premier League club Everton on Monday in an attempt to revive a career that faltered at Real Madrid.

Signed by the Spanish giant after rising to prominence with a stunning goal for Colombia at the 2014 World Cup, the winger failed to match those highs in Madrid.

"I've come here to try to improve, to get better," the 29-year-old James said. "I've also come here to help the team to win, to play good football-entertaining football."

The move sees James reunited with manager Carlo Ancelotti, who not only signed him for Madrid but also at Bayern Munich on loan in 2017. He joins Everton on a two-year deal with an option for an additional season. The reported fee was 20 million pounds ($26 million).

Xinhua - Agencies