TENNIS

Halep overwhelms Kvitova to take New Haven Open

Additional Photos

Romania’s Simona Halep celebrates after her 6-2, 6-2 victory over the Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova at the New Haven Open. The Associated Press

Simona Halep upset defending champion Petra Kvitova 6-2, 6-2 Saturday to win the New Haven Open, the final WTA tuneup for the U.S. Open.

The 21-year-old Romanian broke the 2011 Wimbledon champion in four consecutive service games. The first break gave her a 3-2 lead in the first set. The fourth put her up 3-0 in the second as she took control of the match.

“I played very beautiful tennis today,” Halep said.

Kvitova had a chance to take charge early in match, up 2-1 and 15-40 on Halep’s serve. But Halep won the next three points to save that game. She was down 40-30 in the next game before getting her first service break when Kvitova sent a cross-court forehand just wide.

WINSTON-SALEM OPEN: Austria’s Jurgen Melzer won the title at Winston-Salem, N.C., after Frenchman Gael Monfils retired because of an injury early in the second set.

Melzer earned his fifth career ATP title and first this season..

CYCLING

USA PRO CHALLENGE: Slovakia’s Peter Sagan recovered from intestinal problems to race to his third stage victory at Fort Collins, Colo., while American Tejay van Garderen kept the overall lead with one day left in the seven-stage event.

SPANISH VUELTA: Vincenzo Nibali’s Astana team won the opening team time trial, giving the Giro d’Italia winner a good start in his bid for a grand tour double.

Astana completed the 17-mile ride from Vilanova de Arousa to Sanxenxo along Spain’s northwestern coast in 29 minutes, 59 seconds.

RadioShack-Leopard was second, 10 seconds off Astana’s pace.

SOCCER

PREMIER LEAGUE: Liverpool maintained its perfect start to the season as Daniel Sturridge’s goal gave the Reds a 1-0 win at Aston Villa, and Arsenal brushed off talk of crisis with a 3-1 win at London rival Fulham.

Germany striker Lukas Podolski scored twice and Olivier Giroud grabbed his third goal in as many games as Arsenal bounced back from a home defeat against Aston Villa in its opener.

FOOTBALL

NCAA: Arkansas senior Zach Hocker, one of the most accomplished kickers in school history, has added punter to his already loaded resume that includes field goal and kickoff duties.

NEFL: Wes Myers and Dylan Chandler each rushed for a touchdown, and the Maine Sabers (6-0) remained in first place in the New England Football League’s Northern Division with a 14-7 victory over the Merrimack Valley Pride (0-6) at Lawrence, Mass.

Rod Johnson, Lamir Whetstone and Chris Kates each had an interception for the Sabers, and Rob Kierstead had a fumble recovery.

The Sabers play next against the Southern Maine Raging Bulls on Sept. 8 at 4 p.m. at Thornton Academy.

BASKETBALL

NBA: Victor Oladipo, the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft, was back on Indiana’s campus, working with ex-Hoosiers star D.J. White as a counselor at Coach Tom Crean’s annual Basketball Pro Camp.

Oladipo has spent the summer preparing for the transition from college swingman to point guard with the Orlando Magic.

YACHTING

LOUIS VUITTON CUP: Emirates Team New Zealand is just one win away from advancing to the America’s Cup match against defending champion Oracle Team USA.

The Kiwis coasted past Italy’s Luna Rossa, reaching a top speed of 54 mph to win by 1 minute, 58 seconds off San Francisco.

Emirates leads Luna Rossa 6-1 in the best-of-13 challenger series.

— From staff and news services

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