World Sports News In Brief

Sevilla's Navas named Europa League Player of the Season

Sevilla's Jesus Navas was named Europa League Player of the Season on Sunday after the 37-year-old was a key part of his side's record-extending seventh success in the competition.
Sevilla's Jesus Navas celebrates with the trophy after winning the Europa League. (Photo: Reuters)
Sevilla's Jesus Navas celebrates with the trophy after winning the Europa League. (Photo: Reuters)

Navas played a pivotal role in Wednesday's final against AS Roma, delivering a cross that lad to an equaliser for the Spanish side, who won 4-1 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

* Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad have reached an agreement with French striker Karim Benzema to sign him on a two-year deal, Saudi state-run Al Ekhbariya television station reported on Sunday (Jun 4). Benzema is set to join Al Ittihad as a free agent after Real Madrid said earlier in the day that the 35-year-old would leave the LaLiga club after 14 trophy-laden years.

* World number three Novak Djokovic inched closer to a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title by crushing Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 on Sunday (Jun 4) to reach the French Open quarter-finals.

* World number one Carlos Alcaraz bulldozed his way into the French Open quarter-finals with a merciless 6-3 6-2 6-2 crushing of Italian Lorenzo Musetti on Sunday.

* Karen Khachanov showed good resilience to down Italian Lorenzo Sonego 1-6 6-4 7-6(7) 6-1 and reach the French Open quarter-finals for the second time on Sunday.

* World number two Aryna Sabalenka weathered a spectacular first set implosion to beat American Sloane Stephens 7-6(5) 6-4 on Sunday and advance to the French Open quarter-finals.

* Stefanos Tsitsipas stepped up his bid for an elusive first Grand Slam title as the Greek fifth seed dismantled Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner 7-5 6-3 6-0 on Sunday to book his place in the French Open quarter-finals.

* A charged-up Elina Svitolina powered into the French Open quarter-finals for the fourth time with a 6-4 7-6(5) victory over Russian ninth seed Daria Kasatkina on Sunday (Jun 4) as she kept alive hopes of winning a maiden Grand Slam title.

* Spanish Grand Prix stewards fined Mercedes 10,000 euros ($10,705.00) on Sunday for a breach of Formula One's post-race procedures after driver physios entered areas that were off-limits. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished second and third respectively at the Circuit de Catalunya, the team's first double podium of the season.

* Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Giovanni Simeone secured a 2-0 victory for the Serie A champions at home to already relegated Sampdoria on Sunday in their season finale. Napoli finished a triumphant campaign with 90 points from 38 games, while Sampdoria ended bottom on 19 points.

* Egyptian giants Al Ahly will take a slender 2-1 lead over holders Wydad Casablanca of Morocco into next weekend’s second leg of the African Champions League final after giving up a late goal in Sunday’s first leg in Cairo.

* Zlatan Ibrahimovic brought the curtain down on a long, trophy-packed career on Sunday (Jun 4) when he unexpectedly announced his retirement from football. Veteran striker Ibrahimovic revealed his decision to quit the game during an on-pitch ceremony following AC Milan's 3-1 win over Verona which ended their Serie A campaign.

* Hellas Verona will face Spezia in a Serie A relegation playoff after losing 3-1 at fourth-placed AC Milan on Sunday as Rafael Leao's double and an Olivier Giroud penalty secured the points before Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced his retirement.

* American Rose Zhang prevailed in a tense playoff against compatriot Jennifer Kupcho to claim at the Mizuho Americas Open title and become first woman in more than 70 years to win on her professional debut at an LPGA Tour event on Sunday (Jun 4).

* Max Verstappen won the Spanish Grand Prix from pole position on Sunday (Jun 4) to stretch his Formula One championship lead to 53 points and continue Red Bull's sweep of the season with the team's seventh success in as many races.

* Juventus beat Udinese 1-0 thanks to Federico Chiesa's second-half goal in their last match of the Serie A season on Sunday (Jun 4) but failed to secure a Europa League spot for next term.

* Real Valladolid were relegated from LaLiga on the final day of the season on Sunday (Jun 4), while champions Barcelona ended their campaign with a 2-1 defeat at strugglers Celta Vigo.

CNA/Reuters