3 dead, 81 injured after stand collapses at Algerian soccer match

ALGIERS >> Three people died and 81 were injured following the collapse of a stand after soccer club Mouloudia Club d’Alger won a ninth league title, Algerian authorities said Sunday.

An earlier toll was one dead and 50 injured but two fans subsequently died from their injuries following Saturday’s incident at the Stade Olympique du 5 Juillet 1962, according to a statement issued by the country’s Ministry of Health.

Algeria president Abdelmadjid Tebboune offered his condolences.

According to the website La Gazette du Fennec, a security barrier broke just as fans were getting ready to celebrate the title following a goalless draw between MC Alger and NC Magra.

Vondrousova beats Chinese qualifier Wang to win Berlin Open

BERLIN >> Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova put months of injuries behind her to beat Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu 7-6 (10), 4-6, 6-2 and win the Berlin Open on Sunday.

For the 25-year-old Vondrousova, who had dropped to 164 in the rankings after undergoing surgery on her left shoulder, it’s her first title in her first final since winning Wimbledon in 2023.

“We were all working really hard to get me back and I felt like, you know, we came here to try to win the first match and now this is happening. So I’m just very grateful to be standing here and very grateful for you guys,” Vondrousova told her team.

Vondrousova defeated top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-4 in the semifinals to reach the showdown with Wang, who was playing her seventh match in nine days after coming through the qualifiers.

The 23-year-old Wang defeated former champion Liudmila Samsonova in the semifinals to reach her first final. Earlier, she ousted Daria Kasatkina, Coco Gauff and Paula Badosa after qualifying.

“It’s been an unbelievable week for us. And I just, we keep on building and looking forward for the next one,” said Wang, who only had 10 wins this year before appearing at the grass-court tournament.

Bublik beats Medvedev to win Halle Open again

HALLE (WESTFALEN), Germany >> Alexander Bublik finally defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6 (4) on Sunday to win the Halle Open for the second time.

It was his first win in seven matches with Medvedev.

“Daniil, I’ve been cursed to play you forever and never won a set in my life, but today I’m happy to get through, and I wish you — you’re a great champion — I wish you a lot of success,” Bublik told his opponent afterward. “I mean, to win, to beat you here, it’s a privilege for me.”

The Kazakhstan player, who also won the grass-court tournament in 2023, is just the third player to claim the title more than once after three-time winner Yevgeny Kafelnikov and 10-time champion Roger Federer.

Bublik made a strong start and put together a 12-point winning streak in the first set. The second was not quite as fluid with five double-faults, but Medvedev produced consecutive backhand errors in the tiebreaker and Bublik seized his chance to wrap up the match in 81 minutes.

Bublik, who defeated top-ranked Jannik Sinner in the second round, dedicated the title to his wife and son, who were absent because of illness.

“This is for you, I know you’re watching,” he said.

Medvedev, who saw off home favorite Alexander Zverev in the semifinals, was playing his first final since losing to Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells in March 2024.

— The Associated Press