Russia, Switzerland to meet in King Cup final
Russia won the decisive doubles match Friday to beat the United States 2-1 and reach the final of the Billie Jean King Cup.
Veronika Kudermetova and Liudmila Samsonova defeated the American pair of Shelby Rogers and Coco Vandeweghe 6-3, 6-3 after the teams split the two singles matches of their semifinal.
Russia reached its first final since 2015 in the competition formerly known as the Fed Cup. The Russians are seeking their fifth title.
They Russians will play Switzerland in Saturday’s final at Prague’s O2 Arena. The Swiss reached their first final since finishing runner-up in 1998 by winning both singles matches in straight sets to take an unassailable 2-0 lead against Australia.
The U.S. is the most successful nation in the competition with 18 trophies but Russia took a 1-0 lead when Samsonova rallied from a set down to beat Sloane Stephens 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Samsonova broke Stephens in the fifth game on the final set and again in the ninth game, converting her second match point when Stephens’ backhand went wide.
Samsonova, who also beat Stephens at this year’s Wimbledon, was making her singles debut for Russia and said she was “a little bit nervous.”
For Stephens, it was her first loss in the competition since the 2017 final, ending a streak of five wins.
Golf
WOLFF MAINTAINS TWO-STROKE LEAD >> Matthew Wolff followed up Thursday’s career-best 61 with a 3-under 68
in Round 2, good enough for him to maintain his two-stroke lead in the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba, Mexico.
Wolff had bogeys on holes 6, 16 and 18, but balanced those out with six birdies on the day.
Wolff, a 22-year-old with just one PGA Tour win on his resume (3M Open, 2019), was pleased with a day that left him 13 under.
Scottie Scheffler is in second place (11 under) after his second-round 64.
• Friday’s first-round play of the Champions Tour’s TimberTech Championship was postponed to today because of rain at The Old Course at Broken Sound in Boca Raton, Fla.
NBA 76ERS RESUME FINING SIMMONS >>
The 76ers fined Simmons for missing Thursday night’s 109-98 victory over the Detroit Pistons, according to ESPN. That came one day after Simmons told Daryl Morey, the Sixers president of basketball operation, he still wasn’t mentally ready.
Simmons was fined $360,000 for missing the game. The Sixers plan to continue fining him until he resumes his basketball-related obligation and cooperates with their medical team on his mental health issues.
Simmons’ refusal to accept the Sixers’ assistance to address his mental readiness to play is frustrating the organization. The disgruntled point guard has been working instead with mental health professionals through the National Basketball Players Association since this summer. He has not shared details of those meetings with the Sixers.
He has, however, received treatment from the team doctors for a back ailment. In addition to receiving treatment, he’s participated in individual shooting drills. Simmons has yet to become a full participant in team activities at the Sixers’ practice facilities. NEW YORK WON’T CHANGE VACCINE MANDATE FOR IRVING >> New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams said the city will not make any special exemptions for Kyrie Irving, who is unvaccinated and thus ineligible to play in any home games this season.
Since Adams became the favorite and eventually won the election to succeed Bill de Blasio as mayor, many have speculated whether the Brooklyn native will repeal or loosen de Blasio’s Key to NYC vaccine mandate that forces athletes for New York’s professional sports teams to get at least one dose of the vaccine to play at home.
“New York City’s not going to change their rule,” Adams said. “And again, it’s up to the NBA and Kyrie to come to a full understanding on how to keep him on the Nets and continue to look after all our athletes that are coming here.”