Sports briefs: Maria Sharapova beats Ana Ivanovic for title

tennis • Maria Sharapova won her third straight Porsche Grand Prix title on Sunday in Stuttgart, Germany, by coming from behind to defeat Ana Ivanovic 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the final. Sharapova won her first tournament of the year and clinched the 30th title of her career. She has won 13 consecutive matches on the indoor clay in Stuttgart.

• Kei Nishikori of Japan beat Colombia's Santiago Giraldo 6-2, 6-2 to win the Barcelona Open for his first career title on clay. This is the first time a non-Spaniard has won the tournament at the Real Club de Tenis since 1996. Rafael Nadal won the tournament eight times during that period.

Hunter-Reay wins GP of Alabama

auto racing • Ryan Hunter-Reay coasted to his second straight victory at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., when the rain-shortened IndyCar race finished under caution.

A full-course caution came out for the final seven minutes of the timed race after rookie Mikhail Aleshin lost control and went off the track. That left Hunter-Reay unchallenged, with Andretti Autosport teammate Marco Andretti finishing second. Scott Dixon was third, followed by Simon Pagenaud and pole-sitter Will Power.

The race started after a 2-hour, 26-minute delay for heavy rain and lightning. It was run under a 1-hour, 40-minute time limit.

Manchester United closes in on title

soccer • Manchester City took charge of the Premier League title race as Edin Dzeko and Yaya Toure scored first-half goals for a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday. After leader Liverpool lost 2-0 against Chelsea at home, City cut its deficit to three points with one game in hand. If it wins the three remaining matches and keeps a superior goal difference, Man City will be crowned champions.

From wire reports