TENNIS
Federer captures 85th title
Top-seeded Roger Federer claimed his 85th title Sunday with a 6-3, 7-6 (11) victory over Pablo Cuevas in the final of the Istanbul Open. The 17-time Grand Slam winner fended off strong resistance from the third-seeded Uruguayan, who saved four match points. Cuevas, bidding for a fourth career title after impressively defeating second-seeded Grigor Dimitrov in the semifinals, received treatment on his forearm early in the second set but was able to continue. Federer, who claimed his first title on clay since winning in Madrid in 2012, broke for a 4-3 lead in the second set but dropped his serve immediately after hitting a double fault and missing two forehands. The Swiss continued to struggle with consistency in the tiebreaker — saving three set points — but a superb backhand volley earned Federer a fifth match point that he converted when Cuevas sent a forehand in the net. It was Federer’s third title this season following victories in Brisbane and Dubai on hard court. He was playing in his 128th final, compared to four for Cuevas — who won a title in Sao Paulo in February.
m Second-seeded Simona Halep and Venus Williams both lost in the opening round of the Madrid Open on Sunday, while top-seeded Serena Williams had a trouble-free debut. Defending champion Maria Sharapova also advanced after beating Timea Bacsinszky 6-2, 6-3. Halep, the 2014 French Open finalist, failed to convert two set points in the first set before losing 7-6 (6), 6-3 to Alize Cornet of France. Serena Williams defeated American Madison Brengle 6-0, 6-1 after breaking her six times to win in less than an hour. Venus Williams, however, lost to fellow former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 7-5. Venus, seeded 16th, went up a break at 4-3 in the second set, only for Azarenka to win four of the next five games.
m The BMW Open final in Munich between Andy Murray and Philipp Kohlschreiber was postponed by rain Sunday midway through the first set and will be completed today. Play was halted with Kohlschreiber leading 3-2. Organizers waited several hours for the rain to stop before eventually giving up. The top-seeded Murray is playing his first final on clay, and the first under Coach Jonas Bjorkman, a nine-time winner of Grand Slam doubles titles. The Scot is aiming for his 32nd tour-level title. Kohlschreiber is aiming for his third Munich title after victories in 2007 and 2012. The German lost the 2013 final to compatriot Tommy Haas. Friday’s quarterfinals also were washed out by rain and postponed to Saturday, when they were played along with the semifinals.
MOTOR SPORTS
Montoya fastest in Indy testing
Juan Pablo Montoya topped the speed chart at 226.772 mph Sunday in the first day of testing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Team Penske teammate Helio Castroneves was second at 226.468, and Simon Pagenaud gave the team three of the top with a fifth-place mark of 225.641. The Chevrolet-powered Penske cars and 24 other cars were the track in the afternoon session as teams tested the new Chevrolet and Honda oval aero kits for the first time. Seventeen cars hit the track during the morning refresher and rookie orientation sessions. Andretti Autosport’s Justin Wilson topped the morning session at 223.989. The Grand Prix of Indianapolis is Saturday on the road course and the Indianapolis 500 is May 24.
BASEBALL
Royals’ Cain drops appeal
Kansas City Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain has dropped his appeal of a two-game suspension for throwing a punch in a brawl with the White Sox and began serving it against Detroit. Cain was supposed to have his appeal heard by Major League Baseball today, but he was told he had “zero” chance of winning. So along with missing Sunday’s series finale against the Tigers, he will also miss the opener of a three-game set Tuesday night against Cleveland. Royals pitchers Edinson Volquez and Yordano Ventura have already served suspensions for their roles in last month’s brawl in Chicago. Kelvin Herrera is still appealing his two-game suspension along with a separate two-game ban for an earlier incident against Oakland.
m Injured Baltimore Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy and infielder Ryan Flaherty will both start minor league rehab assignments today with Double-A Bowie. Orioles Manager Buck Showalter said Sunday that the pair will play at least three games with Bowie. Hardy hasn’t played this season because of a strained left shoulder. His status will be evaluated after the three-game stint. Flaherty is out with a strained right groin and could return by the weekend. Matt Wieters is catching at extended spring training, but there is no date yet for when he will start a rehab assignment as he comes back from elbow ligament replacement surgery.
m The Tampa Bay Rays placed center fielder Desmond Jennings on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with left knee soreness. Jennings hasn’t played since leaving a game April 25 with the injury and said there is still some pain in the knee. He is the 14th Tampa Bay player to go on the DL this season. “Definitely not getting better fast,” Jennings said. “Treat it until it gets better.” Jennings was in Saturday night’s lineup against Baltimore as the designated hitter but was a late scratch. There is no timetable for Jennings’ return, but Rays Manager Kevin Cash didn’t completely rule out that it could happen when the outfielder is eligible to come off the DL on May 11. Tampa Bay also purchased the contract of outfielder Joey Butler from Triple-A Durham. Left-hander Matt Moore threw 25 pitches before Sunday’s game with the Orioles in his first batting practice session since elbow ligament replacement surgery last year.
m St. Louis Cardinals setup man Jordan Walden was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday because of an inflamed right biceps. Reliever Sam Tuivailala was recalled from Triple-A Memphis. Walden stopped warming up in the eighth inning Saturday. He’s 0-1 with an 0.87 ERA in 12 games with 12 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings. The Cardinals also said they would recall lefty Tyler Lyons from Memphis to start Tuesday against the Cubs. Tuivailala, 22, has three saves and has not allowed an earned run in eight appearances covering nine innings at Memphis. The saves have come in his last three appearances. Tuivailala was a third-round draft pick in 2010.
FOOTBALL
Marshall agrees with Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to terms with nine undrafted rookies, including former Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall. Marshall switched positions before the NFL combine, moving from quarterback to cornerback, and should be interesting to watch when the Jaguars hold a two-day rookie minicamp Friday and Saturday. The nine undrafted free agents will be joined by the team’s eight draft picks. The Jaguars also agreed to terms with Marshall’s college teammate, running back/kick returner Corey Grant, as well as Miami linebacker Thurston Armbrister, Syracuse defensive tackle Eric Crume, Oregon State tight end Connor Hamlett, Minnesota State guard Chris Reed, Maryland linebacker Matt Robinson, Pittsburgh linebacker Todd Thomas and Kansas State quarterback Jake Waters. Jacksonville is bringing in three linebackers — a position of need the team didn’t address in the draft.