London
Even with their top-scorer suspended, the Premier League leaders still overpowered Swansea, 4-0, on Sunday to move another step closer to collecting the trophy.
The only team that can now catch Leicester is Tottenham, but the preseason 5,000-1 outsiders have their destiny in their own hands. Tottenham is eight points behind Leicester in second place going into today’s game against West Bromwich Albion.
Regardless of what Tottenham does in its last four games, Leicester will be guaranteed the top flight for the first time in its 132-year history by collecting five points from its remaining three fixtures.
Leicester dismantled Swansea with its biggest win in three months. Vardy’s replacement, Leonardo Ulloa, scored twice after Riyad Mahrez’s opener, and Marc Albrighton completed the rout.
The attacking threat provided without 22-goal Vardy will have reassured the Foxes they can cope without him for longer. The England striker is waiting to discover from the English Football Association if his one-match ban will be extended over the angry reaction to being sent off in last weekend’s draw against West Ham.
Fourth-place Arsenal, which has gone 12 years without winning the league, was held 0-0 by Sunderland in Sunday’s other game.
Leicester’s latest stunning result overshadowed Sunday’s second FA Cup semifinal at Wembley Stadium.
Crystal Palace beat Watford, 2-1 — with all three goals coming from headers — to set up a repeat of the 1990 final against Manchester United on May 21. Yannick Bolasie’s opener was canceled out by Troy Deeney but Connor Wickham restored Palace’s lead.
United also beat Everton 2-1 on Saturday.
San Antonio
The 39-year-old Hoffman closed with a 3-under 69 at TPC San Antonio for a one-stroke victory over Patrick Reed. Hoffman finished at 12-under 276 and earned $1,116,000.
Playing alongside Hoffman, Reed also birdied the par-5 18th for a 69. He missed birdie putts inside 8 feet on the par-3 16th and par-4 17th.
Reed, who was born in San Antonio, put the pressure on Hoffman with a tap-in birdie at the 18th after reaching the fringe on the 595-yard hole in two. His shot to the green came from the left-hand rough, and had to clear an oak tree and creek in front of the green.
Barcelona, Spain
Nadal added this title to his trophy from Monte Carlo last week as the 14-time Grand Slam winner regains form on his favorite surface ahead of next month’s French Open.
Nishikori had won the tournament for the last two years after early exits by Nadal.
In an entertaining clash of the top two seeded players, Nadal proved more decisive under pressure, saving seven of eight break chances in the first set while converting the two chances he got.
The Spaniard then bettered Nishikori through several superb rallies to win key points and claim his 69th career title in his 101st final.
Kerber beats Siegemund to defend Porsche Grand Prix title
Eds: APNewsNow. With AP Photos.
STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Angelique Kerber defended her Porsche Grand Prix title with a comprehensive 6-4, 6-0 win over qualifier Laura Siegemund in Sunday’s final.
Siegemund made a great start and went 3-0 up in nine minutes, but Kerber recovered and converted three of her five break opportunities to take the first set in 39 minutes. The defending champion started the second set with a break and capitalized on a host of unforced errors from Siegemund — playing her first final in her hometown — to wrap up the match in 81 minutes with her first match point.
It was the ninth career for the second seeded Kerber.
The 71st-ranked Siegemund bettered her previous best finish, a quarterfinal on clay at Charleston this month.