A newly fit Roger Federer on Monday defended his decision to pull out of the French Open because of a back injury, rubbishing suggestions it had anything to do with the wet Paris weather.

The Swiss star and world number three, who turns 35 in August, this week plays on the Stuttgart grass for the first time as he ramps up his preparations for Wimbledon in June-July.

Chinese electronics giant Suning said it will take a majority stake in Italy's Inter Milan on Monday, making the three-time European champions the most high-profile acquisition yet by investors from China.

Suning will pay 270 million euros ($306 million) for about 70 percent of the northern Italian team, one of the biggest clubs in European football which is now entirely in foreign hands for the first time.

Golden State Warriors sharpshooters Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, nicknamed the "Splash Brothers" for their skill at sinking 3-pointers, welcomed Draymond Green as an adopted soggy sibling Sunday at the NBA Finals.

Green scored a game-high 28 points, his 11-of-20 shooting from the floor including 5-of-8 from 3-point range, to spark the defending champion Warriors over Cleveland 110-77, giving Golden State a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven championship series.

Australia's team boss for the Rio Olympics has defended the decision to send controversial tennis star Nick Kyrgios a 16-page letter asking him to explain his behavior if he wanted to be picked for the Games.

Kyrgios, Australia's highest-ranked male tennis player at 19 in the world, responded to the letter by declaring himself unavailable for selection, saying he had been subjected to "unwarranted attacks" from the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC).

A bustling shopping mall forms an unlikely monument to the "Thrilla in Manila", but Muhammad Ali's most brutal fight made its biggest impression on the minds of those who witnessed it and still speak of it with awe.

The late Ali's third and final meeting with Joe Frazier, in 1975, only went to Manila because Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos was hoping to gain popularity and prestige, three years after declaring martial law.

Gareth Bale is the key to Wales' Euro 2016 hopes, says Welsh legend Ian Rush, as Chris Coleman's dragons prepare for a first appearance at a major tournament for 58 years.

Wales have many talented footballers. But legends such as John Charles, John Toshack, Ian Rush, Mark Hughes and Ryan Giggs were all world-class competitors who never played at a major finals in the red shirt.

Copa America Centenario organizers were left red-faced on Sunday after an embarrassing blunder which saw Chile's national anthem played instead of Uruguay's ahead of their Group C clash with Mexico in Arizona.

The incident happened as the teams lined up for kick-off at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Andy Murray conceded he would have to pick himself up from another Grand Slam final defeat after losing to Novak Djokovic in four sets at the French Open on Sunday.

The Briton suffered his eighth reverse in 10 major finals, with five of those defeats inflicted by Djokovic, and was reluctant to reflect on the achievement of reaching his first Roland Garros final.

Novak Djokovic insists the enticing prospect of becoming only the third man to sweep a calendar Grand Slam and the first since Rod Laver in 1969 is "achievable".

The world number one captured a first French Open at the 12th time of asking on Sunday, becoming just the third man in history to hold all four majors at the same time.

Brazil were reprieved by a controversial disallowed goal as they squandered several chances in a 0-0 draw with Ecuador in their Copa America Group B opener on Saturday.

Despite seeing their team come close several times the Selecao traveling support had to settle for a single point as the eight-time champions lost momentum in the second half at Pasadena's Rose Bowl.