CHARLESTON, S.C. – American Sloane Stephens outlasted Elena Vesnina to capture her third WTA title this year with a 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory at the Volvo Car Open on Sunday.
The seventh-seeded Stephens squandered a 5-2 lead in the opening set before prevailing in a tiebreaker. She let three match points disappear in the contest’s final game before Vesnina hit her service return wide to secure the match.
The 23-year-old Stephens won her fourth career tournament and third of 2016, adding the year’s first clay court event to victories at Auckland and Acapulco. She advanced to the final when Australian Open champ Angelique Kerber, the top seed, retired in the semifinals Saturday.
MONACO – Gilles Simon saved six of seven break points to advance to the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday.
The 15th-seeded Frenchman beat Viktor Troicki, 6-3, 6-4, improving his career record against the Serb to 6-0.
Simon next plays Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria or Filip Krajinovic of Serbia.
Jeremy Chardy of France had eight aces against Russian Andrey Kuznetsov, winning 7-6 (3), 7-5 in a topsy-turvy encounter featuring nine breaks of serve.
MARRAKECH, Morocco – Fourth-seeded Federico Delbonis beat third-seeded Borna Coric 6-2, 6-4, on Sunday to clinch the clay-court Grand Prix Hassan II for his second career title.
The Argentine was more consistent on his serve in their first-ever meeting, winning 80 percent of first-serve points and saving the three break points he faced against Coric.
The 25-year-old Delbonis, who broke Coric’s serve three times, won his first title two years ago at Sao Paulo on indoor clay.
HOUSTON – Argentina’s Juan Monaco won the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship for the second time in five years, beating defending champion Jack Sock, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, on Sunday.
The 32-year-old Monaco also won in 2012 at River Oaks.
OTTAWA, Ontario – Bryan Murray is stepping down as Ottawa Senators general manager and taking on an advisory role within the organization.
Murray, who has been battling cancer, will be replaced by assistant general manager Pierre Dorion.
Murray said he had been pondering the decision for the past month, but ultimately came to the decision to step down this past Wednesday.
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Buffalo Sabres rookie center Jack Eichel is passing up the opportunity to represent the United States at the World Ice Hockey Championships next month because he feels he needs a break.
Eichel made the announcement Sunday, a day after the Sabres closed their season. The 19-year-old said he is looking forward to finally being able to take a breath and relax after a hectic year.
Eichel represented the U.S. at last year’s world championships and has already been selected to Team North America’s roster competing in the World Cup of Hockey tournament in September.
WASHINGTON – Washington Capitals Coach Barry Trotz started Philipp Grubauer against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday instead of Braden Holtby getting a chance to break Martin Brodeur’s NHL single-season wins record.
Holtby got win No. 48 on Saturday in St. Louis but Trotz said he wouldn’t be given the opportunity to set the record because it’s not worth the risk in the meaningless regular-season finale.
The game carries value for the Ducks, who would clinch the Pacific Division title with a victory. The Capitals long ago clinched the Presidents’ Trophy and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs and are expected to sit several regulars.
CHESTER, Pa. – Julie Johnston scored two goals, Tobin Heath had a pair of assists and the U.S. women’s soccer team defeated Colombia, 3-0, on Sunday.
Christen Press also scored for the Americans, who wrapped up a two-game exhibition series with Colombia after a 7-0 win on Wednesday in Connecticut.
U.S. captain Carli Lloyd, the 2015 FIFA Women’s Player of the Year, was held scoreless despite several chances in her homecoming, coming out to a thunderous ovation in the 73rd minute.
NEW YORK – Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds and UConn forward Breanna Stewart won the AAU James E. Sullivan Award on Sunday as the most outstanding U.S. amateur athletes who also demonstrate premier leadership, character and sportsmanship.
Reynolds led Navy to a school-record 11 wins against two losses and the academy’s best end-of-season ranking in more than 50 years at No. 18. He finished his career as the FBS leader ins touchdowns (88) and rushing yards by a quarterback (4,559).
Stewart led UConn to four straight national titles.
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke freshman guard Derryck Thornton is transferring.
Thornton said in a statement issued Sunday by the school that he wants to play closer to his California home.
School officials said Thornton is leaving in good academic standing.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski said he and the coaching staff support the decision “and want only what is best for him in the future.”
Thornton averaged 7.1 points and 2.6 assists in 36 games of his freshman season for the Blue Devils. The Chatsworth, Calif., native reclassified before last season to enroll at Duke a year ahead of schedule.
PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia 76ers hired Bryan Colangelo as team president.
The Sixers also announced Sunday that his father, Jerry Colangelo, has relinquished his role as chairman of basketball operations and will remain as special adviser to ownership.
Bryan Colangelo takes over days after Sam Hinkie quit as general manager via a 13-page manifesto to ownership.
Colangelo was previously president and general manager of the Toronto Raptors from 2006-13. He also spent 15 seasons working for the Phoenix Suns. He was one of three executives to win NBA executive of the year with two different franchises.