Other Sports

Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis won his first ATP title with a 6-4 6-0 victory over Croatian Mario Ancic at the China Open yesterday. The 21-year-old third seed, a finalist at the Australian Open and semi-finalist at Wimbledon this season, won a tight first set with a beautiful passing shot and raced through the second at a canter. Fourth seed Ancic, who returned last week after two months out with an injured knee, made too many errors to threaten the athletic Baghdatis despite his impressive serve.

Golf - World Match Play

Britain's Paul Casey pocketed one million pounds, the richest first prize in golf, after destroying American Shaun Micheel 10 & 8 in the final of the World Match Play yesterday. Casey joined an elite group of debut winners, including Ernie Els (1994), Greg Norman (1980), Bill Rogers (1979), Isao Aoki (1978) and Hale Irwin (1974). His victory in his mini-Ryder Cup contest with Micheel gave the 29-year-old Englishman a perfect fillip ahead of the biennial team event against the US which starts on Friday at the K Club in Ireland.

Cycling

Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan won the 61st Tour of Spain yesterday, 72 seconds ahead of Spaniard Alejandro Valverde.

Vinokourov's Astana team-mate Andrey Kashechkin was third, three minutes 12 seconds further back.

The final stage, starting and finishing in Madrid, was won by German Erik Zabel.

Vinokourov's victory was his first in a major stage race.