Fed beats Djokovic to reach ATP semis
LONDON » Roger Federer showed that memories of this year’s Wimbledon final are well and truly behind him.
In the first rematch between Federer and Novak Djokovic since that epic five-set final, the Swiss star dominated to win 6-4, 6-3 Thursday and reach the semifinals of the ATP Finals.
“I played incredible, and I knew I had to,” Federer said. “I was able to produce, it was definitely magical.”
It was Federer’s first win over the Serb since 2015, having lost their last five meetings — including that Wimbledon final in July when Djokovic saved two match points in the fifth set.
“Obviously it’s always special beating Novak, even more so because of what happened (at Wimbledon),” Federer said. “But I didn’t feel like I had to get rid of the ghosts or anything like that. I feel like I moved on pretty quickly after that.”
The whole thing lasted just 1 hour, 13 minutes and ended with Djokovic being broken at love.
“He was the better player in all aspects and absolutely deserved to win,” Djokovic said. “Just a pretty bad match from my side.”
Earlier, Matteo Berrettini made sure he left the tournament with a victory by beating Dominic Thiem 7-6 (3), 6-3.
Oosthuizen shoots 63
SUN CITY, SOUTH AFRICA » Louis Oosthuizen had to make a trip to the hospital this week because of kidney stones. He withdrew from the pro-am at the Nedbank Golf Challenge and was awake since 3 a.m. on the day of the first round because of the discomfort. He was considering pulling out.
Instead, the South African chose to play and produced a bogey-free 9-under-par 63 — only one off the course record — to take a three-shot lead after the opening round at Sun City.
Oosthuizen made four birdies on the opening nine and five on the closing stretch to open a big gap on Thomas Detry (66) in second on 6 under.
“Considering that at 3 a.m. this morning I didn’t think I was going to tee it up, I’m very chuffed with that round,” he said.
Rain postpones Mayakoba Classic
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO » Heavy rain has washed out the opening round of the Mayakoba Golf Classic until Friday.
El Camaleon Golf Club has received nearly 9 inches of rain since Monday. The lead rules official at the tournament, Slugger White, says there has been so much rain that the course isn’t draining.
Bottas trusts secret plan to beat Hamilton
SAO PAULO » Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas has a plan to beat Formula One champion and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton next season, but will not share it.
Bottas is assured of second place in the championship, his best finish yet, but recognizes he needs more consistency even after winning four races this year.
Bottas also says he needs to make fewer mistakes than Hamilton to win his first F1 title.
“I have a plan for next year, but I am not willing to share it, so we will find out,” Bottas said at the Brazilian Grand Prix.