SWIMMING
Romano’s finish nets gold for U.S. 400 freestyle team
Missy Franklin claimed gold in the first of her eight events at the swimming world championships in Barcelona, thanks to teammate Megan Romano.
Romano chased down the Australians with a powerful anchor leg, leading the United States to gold in the 400-meter freestyle relay. Franklin was far behind in second after a blistering start by Cate Campbell, but Natalie Coughlin and Shannon Vreeland chipped away at the deficit before Romano finished the job.
Overall, it was a good start for the American team. Katie Ledecky, still only 16, nearly broke the world record while winning the 400 free. Connor Jaeger pulled out a bronze in the men’s 400 free, which was won in dominating fashion by China’s Sun Yang.
In the men’s 400 freestyle relay, Jeremy Stravius chased down Jimmy Feigen on the last leg to give France a comeback win over the United States.
TENNIS
ATLANTA OPEN: Top-seeded John Isner beat second-seeded Kevin Anderson of South Africa 6-7 (3), 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2) in the tallest final in ATP history.
The 6-foot-10 Isner, who lost in the Atlanta final in 2010 and ’11 to fellow American Mardy Fish, won his seventh career title. Anderson is 6-foot-8.
Isner rallied to win two tiebreakers, pushing his ATP-best tiebreaker record to 27-6.
CROATIA OPEN: Tommy Robredo won the clay-court event at Umag, beating Fabio Fognini of Italy 6-0, 6-3 for his 12th career title and second this year.
The Spaniard won the opening set in 18 minutes, losing only six points.
SWISS OPEN: Mikhail Youzhny won his first Swiss Open title, beating Robin Haase 6-3, 6-4 at Gstaad.
The sixth-seeded Youzhny broke unseeded Haase’s service once in each set to clinch his ninth career title, and third on clay courts.
BANK OF THE WEST CLASSIC: Dominika Cibulkova avenged her loss at Sydney seven months ago, outlasting Agnieszka Radwanska 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the final at Stanford, Calif.
BAKU CUP: Elina Svitolina won the tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan, beating Shahar Peer 6-4, 6-4 in the final.
SHARAPOVA OUT: Maria Sharapova will miss the Rogers Cup tournament in Toronto because of a hip injury.
Sharapova, ranked No. 2, said she has yet to recover from the injury she sustained during a second-round loss to Michelle Larcher de Brito at Wimbledon.
AUTO RACING
FORMULA ONE: Lewis Hamilton won the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest after starting from pole position, earning in his first victory of the season and his record-tying fourth triumph on the Hungaroring circuit.
Kimi Raikkonen was second after holding off a strong late challenge from points leader Sebastian Vettel, who was third ahead of Red Bull teammate Mark Webber.
SOCCER
WOMEN’S EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP: Germany beat Norway 1-0 at Tsolna, Sweden, getting a goal from Celia Okoyino da Mbabi to win its eighth European title, including the last six in a row.
Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer saved two penalty kicks, stopping Trine Ronning in the 29th minute and denying Solveig Gulbrandsen in the 61st.
— From staff and news services
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