Sports Shorts: Johnson beats Sandgren to defend Houston title

A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Monday

USA's Steve Johnson celebrates with the trophy after winning the Houston Clay Court Championships on Sunday

IMAGE: USA's Steve Johnson celebrates with the trophy after winning the Houston Clay Court Championships on Sunday. Photograph: Kind Courtesy, Steve Johnson/Twitter

Sixth seed Steve Johnson beat Tennys Sandgren 7-6(2) ,2-6, 6-4 to successfully defend his title in an all-American final at the US Men's Clay Court Championship in Houston on Sunday.

Johnson broke eighth-seeded Sandgren in the ninth game of the third set and then held serve to close out the match at the River Oaks Country Club in two hours 22 minutes.

With the win, world number 51 Johnson secured his third ATP Tour title and became the first repeat winner of the US Men's Clay Court Championship since Andy Roddick in 2001-2002.

 

Sandgren, who was appearing in the first ATP singles final of his career, was ready for battle as the Americans each traded a break in a back-and-forth opening set that Johnson ultimately claimed in a tiebreak.

Johnson wobbled at times during the second set as world number 56 Sandgren fought off each of the seven break points he faced and broke his opponent in the sixth and eighth games to force a decider.

But in the third set Johnson, whose run to the final this week included a quarter-final win over top seed and world number nine John Isner, did not flinch and got the only break he would need in the penultimate game to set up his victory.

Andujar thrashes Edmund to win Marrakech title

Spain's Pablo Andujar won the Grand Prix Hassan II claycourt title in Marrakech for the third time when he easily beat Britain's Kyle Edmund 6-2, 6-2 on Sunday.

Second seed Edmund was playing in his first ATP Tour final but was no match for Andujar who repeated his triumphs of 2011 and 2012 when the event was staged in Casablanca.

The injury-plagued Andujar became the lowest-ranked ATP title-winner since Australian Lleyton Hewitt won in Adelaide as the world number 550 in 1998.

Twenty sixth-ranked Edmund's firepower made little impact on the slow surface and he struggled badly on serve, dropping his delivery six times as he slumped to defeat.

Andujar, 32, wrapped up victory in one hour 22 minutes to complete a remarkable return from injury.

He was ranked down at 1,824 in February after three elbow operations had threatened his career and arrived in Morocco at 355 having won a Challenger Tour event in Alicante last week.

"I always believed that I could come back, otherwise I wouldn't have tried," Andujar said.

"I played very well during the whole match. He attacks a lot and is a very strong player. I was very solid today and I'm very happy about that."

Zverev overcomes teenager Auger-Aliassime in Monte Carlo opener

Germany's Mischa Zverev plays a backhand shot during the Round of 64 match against Felix Auger-Aliassime at the ATP Masters Series: Monte Carlo Rolex Master at Monte-Carlo Sporting Club in Monte-Carlo, Monaco, on Sunday 

IMAGE: Germany's Mischa Zverev plays a backhand shot during the Round of 64 match against Felix Auger-Aliassime at the ATP Masters Series: Monte Carlo Rolex Master at Monte-Carlo Sporting Club in Monte-Carlo, Monaco, on Sunday. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Mischa Zverev overcame a mid-match blip to defeat Canadian teenager Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-1 and reach the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday.

German Zverev converted six out of 14 break points against the world number 176 to prevail in two hours 34 minutes and set up a meeting with French seventh seed Lucas Pouille.

Earlier, Karen Khachanov beat Australian wild card Thanasi Kokkinakis 7-5, 6-4 to advance. The Russian 21-year-old could face Gilles Simon or 16th seed Adrian Mannarino next.

Former world number one Novak Djokovic, who is struggling to return to his best form since having elbow surgery earlier this year, takes on Serbian compatriot Dusan Lajovic on Monday.

The 12-times grand slam winner ended his collaboration with head coach Andre Agassi and coach Radek Stepanek earlier this month.

World number one Rafael Nadal, who returned to action from a leg injury in Spain's Davis Cup win against Germany last week, is chasing a record-extending 11th title at the claycourt tournament.

Hasay out of Boston Marathon with heel injury

American Jordan Hasay, one of the top women's challengers in Monday's Boston Marathon, has withdrawn with a heel injury, officials said on Sunday.

Hasay, third in the race last year, was advised by her doctor and team on Sunday that she needed more time to recover fully so there would be no long-term injury, the marathon said in a statement.

She had been running pain-free in recent weeks but an MRI scan revealed a stress reaction.

"Despite my team working around the clock to give me every chance to make the starting line, on this occasion it will not be possible," the 26-year-old said.

Hasay, New York City Marathon winner Shalane Flanagan and fellow Americans Desiree Linden and Molly Huddle had been expected to challenge Kenyan defending champion Edna Kiplagat to end the nation's 33-year wait for a home winner in the women's race.