Digest

SNOOKER

Xu stuns legend Hendry in Crucible qualifying

China's Xu Si dashed Stephen Hendry's hopes of playing at this year's world championship after thrashing the snooker legend 6-1 in the second round of qualifying.

The 52-year-old Hendry came out of retirement earlier this year, with a return to the Crucible－the scene of his seven world-title victories－one of his main targets.

However, after losing the opening frame, China's world No 82 Xu dominated with breaks of 75, 79, 51, 66 and 72 to send Hendry packing.

"I had two or three chances to go 2-0 up and from then on I didn't offer any resistance to my opponent. He capitalized on all of my mistakes," Hendry said of Xu, whose victory boosted the 23-year-old's chances of retaining his tour card.

"Hopefully with a few more competitive matches under my belt, before we come to this point next year, I'll be able to have a bit more composure out there."

SOCCER

De Bruyne extends City contract until 2025

Belgium international Kevin De Bruyne has extended his contract with Manchester City until 2025, the English Premier League club confirmed on Wednesday.

De Bruyne arrived at City from Wolfsburg in 2015, with his previous deal with the English club due to expire in 2023.

The 29-year-old has won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and four League Cups with City to emerge as one of the finest playmakers in world soccer.

"I could not be happier," De Bruyne said."Since joining City in 2015, I have felt at home. I love the fans, my family are settled here in Manchester and my own game has developed really well."

City leads the Premier League by 14 points with seven games remaining and, inspired by a superb De Bruyne display, takes a 2-1 advantage into the second leg of its Champions League quarterfinal against Borussia Dortmund next week.

In an injury-interrupted season, De Bruyne has notched eight goals and 16 assists in 33 City appearances this term.

GOLF

Speeding caused Tiger crash, reveals sheriff

Tiger Woods was driving nearly 90 miles per hour (145 kilometers per hour)－twice the posted speed limit－on a downhill stretch of road when he lost control of an SUV and crashed in a wreck that seriously injured the golf superstar, authorities said Wednesday.

Sheriff Alex Villanueva blamed the Feb 23 crash outside Los Angeles on excessive speed and Woods' loss of control behind the wheel. The athlete will not face any citations for his third high-profile collision in 11 years.

"The primary causal factor for this traffic collision was driving at a speed unsafe for the road conditions and the inability to negotiate the curve of the roadway," the sheriff told a news conference.

Woods was driving 84-87 mph (135-140 kph) in an area with a speed limit of 45 mph (72 kph), Villanueva said.

The stretch of road is known for wrecks and drivers who frequently hit high speeds.

There was no evidence that the golfer tried to brake, and investigators believe Woods may have inadvertently stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake pedal in a panic.

BASKETBALL

Durant back to deliver perfect shooting night

Kevin Durant scored 17 points in his timely return from a 23-game injury absence as the Brooklyn Nets clobbered the New Orleans Pelicans 139-111 on Wednesday in New York.

It was a perfect shooting night for Durant whose return came after star point guard James Harden went out with a hamstring injury.

Durant shot five of five from the field, five of five from the free-throw line and two of two from beyond the arc as he was one of seven Brooklyn players to reach double figures in front of the pandemic-limited crowd of 1,700 at Barclays Center arena.

Everything went right Wednesday for the Nets, who led by as many as 38 points. The Pelicans couldn't get going offensively, especially Zion Williamson who had his streak of consecutive games with 20-plus points on 50 percent shooting or better snapped at 25 games.

Williamson, who finished with just 16 points on four-of-12 shooting from the floor, is tied with former Los Angeles Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal for the longest such streak in the NBA.

TENNIS

Source: French Open postponed by week

This year's French Open will be delayed by a week, a source close to the tournament's organizers said on Wednesday.

The clay-court Grand Slam was set to begin on May 23, but will now get underway on May 30 in the hope of more fans being able to attend the event at Roland Garros.

Last year's French Open was delayed by four months and held in September and October. Crowds were limited to 1,000 fans per day.

Coronavirus restrictions were tightened across France last week although all professional sport is carrying on, albeit behind closed doors.

French player Alize Cornet hit out at France's sports minister, Roxana Maracineanu, and President Emmanuel Macron's government over the postponement."Our sport minister is a disaster. Sorry," Cornet told the Tennis Channel on Wednesday.

China Daily - Agencies