Chinese paddlers sweep home Open
CHENGDU • It was an all-Chinese affair in all four finals of table tennis' China Open yesterday. Ma Long beat Xu Xin 4-1 in the men's singles while Zhu Yuling shocked women's singles world No. 1 Ding Ning 4-0.
Fan Zhendong and Xu edged out Fang Bo and Zhu Linfeng 3-2 in the men's doubles. Chen Meng and Liu Shiwen thrashed Gu Yuting and Mu Zi 3-0 in the women's doubles.
Marseille lose first game and coach too
PARIS • Marseille's French Ligue 1 campaign got off to the worst possible start, as their Argentinian coach Marcelo Bielsa resigned over a contract dispute following a shock 1-0 home defeat by Caen on Saturday.
He read from the letter he gave club president Vincent Labrune during the post- match news conference, citing the issue to explain his decision. REUTERS
Kei beats Cilic, sets up final clash with Isner
WASHINGTON • Japan's Kei Nishikori avenged his loss to Marin Cilic in last year's US Open tennis final, defeating the Croat 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday to reach the ATP Washington Open final.
The 25-year-old will next face American eighth seed John Isner, who fired 31 aces to edge compatriot Steve Johnson 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (11-9). AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Marathon champs may have doped
LONDON • Seven London Marathon winners in 12 years have recorded blood level results which suggested they may have been doping, Britain's Sunday Times reported in the latest set of allegations to have rocked athletics.
It reported that 32 winners of major city marathons - London, Boston, Chicago, New York, Berlin and Tokyo - should have faced investigation over potential blood doping following test results - a quarter of the overall total. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Protest against dirty Rio waters
RIO DE JANEIRO • Yachts and fishing boats converged on Saturday in Rio's filthy Guanabara Bay, the site of next year's Olympic sailing contests, to protest against the authorities' failure to tackle severe pollution. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Villeneuve hopes return will be electric
PARIS • Former Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve is coming out of retirement to compete in the Formula E championship next season.
The 44-year-old became the only Canadian to land the F1 title in 1997. He will drive alongside Frenchman Stephane Sarrazin for Venturi, replacing Nick Heidfeld. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
