Zverev’s ATP Finals win vs. Federer tainted by ball boy’s flub
LONDON >> After pulling off one of the biggest wins of his career, Alexander Zverev was left apologizing for an unforced error he didn’t make.
Zverev denied Roger Federer a shot at a 100th career title by beating the Swiss great 7-5, 7-6 (5) at the ATP Finals on Saturday to advance to the championship match against Novak Djokovic.
Federer was leading the secondset tiebreaker 4-3 and in the ascendancy of a rally on a Zverev service point when a ball boy at the back of the court dropped a ball. Zverev immediately signaled for the point to be stopped and the umpire ordered the point to be replayed.
Zverev served an ace before going on to close out the match moments later.
“I want to apologize for the situation in the tiebreak,” said Zverev, who was booed during his on-court interview. “I’m a little bit upset about the whole situation because this is not how I wanted it to end.”
Zverev will face five-time champion Djokovic, who defeated Kevin Anderson 6-2, 6-2.
“He (Zverev) apologized to me at the net,” Federer said. “I was like, ‘Buddy, shut up. You don’t need to apologize to me here. Congratulations on a great match and a great tournament so far. All the best for the finals.’ And you move on.”
Howell III clings to lead
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA. >> Charles Howell III had a 2-under 68 for a one-shot lead Saturday in the RSM Classic, along with a reminder that winning for the first time in more than 11 years won’t be easy.
With two quick birdies, Howell stretched his lead to five shots. By the end of the round, his lead was down to one shot over rookie Cameron Champ and Jason Gore.
Thompson leads LPGA
NAPLES, FLA. >> Lexi Thompson has control of the CME Group Tour Championship, and Ariya Jutanugarn is in control of just about everything else.
Thompson’s 4-under 68 pushed her to 16 under after three rounds of the LPGA’s season-ending event. She moved three shots clear of Nelly Korda and six ahead of Carlota Ciganda at Tiburon Golf Club.
Jutanugarn will start her final round 10 shots back but leading the projected Race to the CME Globe standings and in position to claim the $1 million bonus for winning the LPGA’s season-long points race.
Reed, Willett eye title
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES >> Patrick Reed, the reigning Masters champion, and Danny Willett, who won that event two years earlier, closed at 14-under 202 and will enter the final day of the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship as co-leaders.
Mayweather’s exhibition on
TOKYO >> Floyd Mayweather’s match against a Japanese kickboxer is once again on for New Year’s Eve as an exhibition fight with knockouts allowed but likely no decision granted on a win or a loss.
Nobuyuki Sakakibara, the head of Rizin Fighting Federation, which is putting on the three-round exhibition, told reporters Saturday at Tokyo’s Haneda airport that “a misunderstanding” was behind Mayweather, 41, appearing to back out.
He said Tenshin Nasukawa, 20, will have a chance to knock out Mayweather, but the results will not go against either fighter’s winloss record. Other details are still being worked out.
“We don’t want people to think this is some half-hearted playing around,” Sakakibara said.