Digest

PANDEMIC

Elway 'doing well' after COVID-19 diagnosis

The novel coronavirus has reached the highest levels of the Denver Broncos organization with general manager John Elway and team president Joe Ellis testing positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday.

The Broncos said in a statement that both Hall of Famer Elway, 60, and Ellis, 61, have minor symptoms but are "doing well' and will continue to work from home and in self-isolation and participate in virtual meetings.

The team said contract tracing measures show that no players or coaches came into close contact with either Elway or Ellis recently.

The Broncos have had three assistant coaches go under the league's COVID-19 protocols－Curtis Modkins, Mike Munchak and Ed Donatell－in addition to right guard Graham Glasgow. Others at the team's headquarters also have been infected by COVID-19 in recent weeks.

Povetkin tests positive, Whyte fight postponed

Alexander Povetkin's rematch with Dillian Whyte for the WBC interim heavyweight title was postponed Tuesday after the Russian boxer tested positive for the coronavirus.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said the fight on Nov 21 in London could not go ahead because of Povetkin's positive test but it would be rescheduled for January.

"Firstly we want to wish Alexander Povetkin a speedy recovery," Hearn said in a statement. "This is a challenging time for shows. There will be lots of ups and downs over the next few months. We look forward to the fight happening in late January."

Povetkin, an Olympic gold medalist with a 36-2-1 pro record, knocked out Whyte (27-2) in their first fight in August. Povetkin's only losses came when he fought for heavyweight titles against Wladimir Klitschko in 2013 and Anthony Joshua in 2018.

NFL

Unbeaten Steelers still journalists' top pick

The Pittsburgh Steelers kept the top spot in the latest AP Pro32 poll. The Steelers received 10 of the 12 first-place votes for 382 points in balloting Tuesday by media members who regularly cover the NFL.

The Steelers improved to 7-0 for the second time in franchise history after holding off the Baltimore Ravens 28-24 on Sunday. The Ravens dropped two spots to No 5 after the loss.

The Kansas City Chiefs stayed at No 2 after getting the remaining two first-place votes and finishing with 374 points.

The Seattle Seahawks moved up a spot to No 3 after handling the San Francisco 49ers.

Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers jumped two places to No 4 after holding off the New York Giants on Monday night. The Bucs will play during prime time again this weekend when they host NFC South rival New Orleans on Sunday night. The Saints have won four straight and also gained two spots to No 6.

TENNIS

Tsitsipas blames injury after losing Paris epic

Second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas was dumped out of the Paris Masters on Tuesday after losing to in-form Frenchman Ugo Humbert in a marathon second-round tie.

Humbert, who is on a seven-match winning streak after winning the Antwerp title last month, missed four match points but battled to a 7-6(4),6-7(8), 7-6(3) victory.

He was visibly struggling in the final-set tie break after over three hours on court, but Tsitsipas said he was also not at full fitness.

"I'm just disappointed with the way I played," said the world No 6, who lost to world No 1 Novak Djokovic in an epic French Open semifinal last month.

"During the second set my Roland Garros injury came back, and it wasn't as bad as at the French Open, but it kind of had me on the edge of things, and I wasn't sure if that's good for me to be out there."

Tsitsipas will next defend his ATP Tour Finals title in London at the season-ending tournament which gets underway on Nov 15.

SOCCER

No problems managing Messi, insists Koeman

Ronald Koeman has denied suggestions Lionel Messi is difficult to manage, insisting he has a good relationship with Barcelona's captain.

In an interview published in Spanish daily El Pais on Sunday, ex-Barca coach Quique Setien said he found it hard to handle Messi during his spell in charge last term.

"There are players that aren't easy to manage, and Leo is one of them," Setien said. "I can't do anything if those at the club have accepted him for how he is and haven't changed him for years."

But Koeman defended Messi when Setien's comments were put to him in a media conference on Tuesday.

"Everyone has their opinion and I respect that but I can only say that Messi is a very, very good player, the best in the world. I see his ambition, his character but he is not a player I have difficulty managing.

"Every coach is different but for me he is the captain and I talk to him every week about things in the dressing room and on the pitch and there is a good relationship.

"I don't agree (with Setien) but I respect his opinion and what he has experienced."

Boateng: Squad backs Alaba over contract rift

Jerome Boateng said on Tuesday that the Bayern Munich players are behind David Alaba amid the Austrian defender's contract stalemate with the European champion.

Alaba could leave Bayern at the end of the season after the latest round of extension talks between the club and the player's agent broke down.

On Monday, the 28-year-old said he was "hurt and disappointed" to learn through the media that Bayern had withdrawn their latest offer to extend his deal, which expires next June, after protracted wranglings.

"Of course it's an issue, but he is focused on the essentials," Boateng, who partnered Alaba at centerback in Tuesday's 6-2 win at Salzburg, told Sky. "It is clear that it's not easy, but he put in another great game today and we're behind him."

Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic admitted before the match it looked increasingly likely that the Austrian would exit the club next year.

Alaba has repeatedly been linked to Premier League giants Manchester United and Manchester City.

Xinhua - Agencies