Digest

SOCCER

Colombian Quintero joins Shenzhen FC

Shenzhen FC has announced the signing of Colombian midfielder Juan Fernando Quintero.

The 28-year-old joins the Chinese Super League club from River Plate, where his magical left foot helped the Argentine giant to the 2018 Copa Libertadores title, the 2019 South American Super Cup, and the 2019 Argentine Cup.

Quintero started his career in his homeland with Envigado before moving to Europe with Porto in July 2013. He played 64 matches for the Portuguese club but was eventually loaned to River Plate in January 2018 before making the move permanent the following year.

Quintero also impressed for Colombia at the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia, finding the net in a group game against Japan.

He is renowned for his excellent footwork, set-piece assists and passing vision, with a Shenzhen statement saying his addition to the squad will improve the team both offensively and defensively.

BASKETBALL

Noah confirms plans to retire from NBA

French international Joakim Noah on Monday announced he will retire from basketball, ending a 13-season NBA career.

Noah, 36, confirmed earlier reports he planned to retire in a statement on Instagram.

"It was a hell of a ride," Noah wrote. "Thank you to all those who show me love throughout my journey."

The two-time NBA All-Star, who was named the league's 2014 Defensive Player of the Year, eventually plans to retire as a member of the Chicago Bulls－the team that picked him in the 2007 draft.

Noah, the son of French tennis great Yannick Noah, enjoyed the best years of his career with the Bulls during nine seasons in Chicago.

He joined the New York Knicks in 2016 but his appearances were limited by injury as well as a 20-game suspension for a doping violation. He joined the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2018-2019 campaign, averaging 7.1 points per game in 42 appearances.

TENNIS

Federer will 'slowly work his way back'

Roger Federer is withdrawing from this month's Miami Open so he can spend extra time preparing to "slowly work his way back out on tour", his agent told Associated Press on Monday.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion has not competed in more than a year after undergoing two operations on his right knee last season.

Federer, who turns 40 in August, is scheduled to make his return to the tour next week in a hard-court tournament in Doha, Qatar. He posted a photo of himself on Twitter last Friday with the caption: "The countdown to Doha begins."

Federer also had been on the entry list for the Masters 1000 stop in Miami, where play starts on March 24.

But his agent, Tony Godsick, wrote Monday in an email to AP that Federer will not play there.

"After Doha and maybe Dubai, (Federer) will go back and do a training block to continue to slowly work his way back out on tour," Godsick wrote.

Djokovic ties record for weeks at No 1

Novak Djokovic is gaining on Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the Grand Slam standings, and he's already caught Federer in another significant statistic: As of Monday, Djokovic has been No 1 in the ATP rankings for a total of 310 weeks.

That equals Federer's career record for most time spent atop the rankings. And no matter what happens over the next week, Djokovic is assured of breaking Federer's mark on March 8.

Pete Sampras is third on the list, with 286 weeks.

Djokovic's Australian Open championship last month gave the 33-year-old from Serbia 18 Grand Slam singles trophies. Only Federer and Nadal, each with 20, have more.

Reigning French Open champion Iga Swiatek added a second career tour-level title at the Adelaide International, which allowed her to move up three spots to a career-high No 15 in the WTA rankings.

There were no changes above her. Ash Barty is still No 1, followed by Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka, Simona Halep, Sofia Kenin and Elina Svitolina.

SNOOKER

China's Ding crashes to teenage compatriot

China's Ding Junhui slumped to an opening-round defeat at the Gibraltar Open on Monday, with the world No 9 going down 4-2 to compatriot Si Jiahui.

Due to the pandemic-related travel restrictions, the tournament is being staged in Milton Keynes, England.

Ding gave himself a mountain to climb as the 18-year-old Si surged into a 3-0 lead. China's No 1 then took the next two frames but failed to avert defeat in the sixth.

Ding only managed one break over 50 during the match.

The loss continues a disappointing start to the year for Ding. He has twice lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan in first-round encounters and was knocked out of the German Masters at the quarterfinal stage by world No 1 Judd Trump.

China's Masters champion Yan Bingtao also fell at the first hurdle in Milton Keynes, exiting 4-1 to Welshman Jamie Clarke.

Xinhua - Agencies