Digest

TENNIS

Zheng double bagels Errani at Palermo Open

Zheng Qinwen

Second-seeded Zheng Qinwen eased past Sara Errani with a double bagel in the opening round of the Palermo Open in Italy on Monday.

Zheng beat the Italian 6-0, 6-0.

The Chinese player will next face France's Diane Parry, who eliminated another Italian in qualifier Aurora Zantedeschi 6-4, 6-3.

Eighth-seeded Julia Grabher of Austria was upset by Clara Burel, with the French player triumphing 6-4, 7-5.

Two Italians who did advance on the red clay courts of the Country Time Club were Camilla Rosatello for her first WTA victory and Nuria Brancaccio.

Medvedev confirms China Open debut

This year's China Open promises to serve up a real treat for tennis fans in Beijing after Russia's former world No 1 Daniil Medvedev confirmed he will play at the ATP 500 tournament, which takes place from Sept 26-Oct 4.

With Carlos Alcaraz of Spain having already committed to the event, the China Open looks set to witness a major clash between the newly crowned Wimbledon champion and 2021 US Open winner Medvedev, who is excited to swing for a deep run at his debut in the Chinese capital.

"It's been a long time that we haven't played in China, so I am really happy to see all the passionate Chinese fans and try some food. I heard that there are some great player services and player areas this year ... I am really happy to be a part of such a great and historic tournament," said Medvedev, who reached the semifinals at Wimbledon last week.

As the only ATP-WTA combined event in Asia, the China Open is celebrating its 20th anniversary with services and facilities upgraded and will feature an expanded 96-player main draw in the women's WTA 1000 tournament.

Strawberry tattoos for Vondrousova and coach

Marketa Vondrousova

New Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, who broke into the women's top 10 on Monday, plans to celebrate her win by getting a matching strawberry tattoo along with her coach.

The 24-year-old Czech rose 32 places to 10th in the new WTA rankings after winning her first Grand Slam title with a stunning straight-sets victory over Ons Jabeur in Saturday's final.

She became the first unseeded player to win the women's singles title and said afterward that her coach, Jan Hernych, had pledged to get a matching tattoo in celebration.

"We talked before the tournament and he said 'maybe if you win a Grand Slam, then I'll do it'. So this is happening," Vondrousova told a news conference, with the BBC reporting that the pair would visit a Prague tattoo parlor later this week.

Vondrousova, a silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, got the first of the many tattoos on her arms at 16 and has said that some have special significance, such as her lucky number 13, the Olympic rings and the quote "No rain, no flowers" above her right elbow, meaning success does not come easily.

SOCCER

Postecoglou says Kane committed to Spurs

Harry Kane

New Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou said on Monday Harry Kane was "totally committed" to his vision for the north London club as speculation mounts over the England captain's future.

Kane has entered the final 12 months of his six-year Spurs contract and has been courted aggressively by Bayern Munich.

Unfazed by the uncertainty ahead of next month's start of the English Premier League season, Postecoglou said his initial discussions with Kane had been instructive.

"I had a good chat with Harry...nothing earth-shattering or defining," he said before Tottenham's pre-season friendly against West Ham in Perth on Tuesday.

"Me and Harry were perfectly aligned in... we want to see a successful team this year.

"He's here and while he's here, he's totally committed to what we're doing."

Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness added to the tugof-war for the 29-year-old's services by telling journalists on Saturday Kane's "mind is made up" to switch to the Bundesliga champion.

"No one has spoken to me from Munich," Postecoglou said.

Meanwhile, forward Son Heungmin said he would have moved to Saudi Arabia to continue his career if he wanted to but opted to stay with Spurs.

EFL approves sale of Leeds to 49ers group

The English Football League (EFL) has approved the sale of Leeds United to 49ers Enterprises, who will assume full ownership of the second-tier English club, Leeds said on Monday.

Former Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani reached an agreement in June to sell his stake to the 49ers group, the investment arm of the NFL franchise San Francisco 49ers, which has been a Leeds shareholder since an initial investment in May 2018.

Paraag Marathe, previously Leeds vice-chairman, will take over as chairman from Radrizzani, Leeds said.

"This transition is a necessary reset to chart a new course for the club," Marathe said in a statement.

"We have already appointed a highly respected first-team manager with a track record of success, and we are confident Leeds will field a competitive squad to contend for promotion next season."

Leeds appointed former Norwich City boss Daniel Farke as its new manager two weeks ago, on a four-year contract, to replace Sam Allardyce who left the club by mutual agreement following the team's relegation from the Premier League.

Agencies