Chen is champion
Nathan Chen’s redemption is complete. While all of his top competitors fell, the 18-year-old Chen completed six quadruple jumps in the free program to become the first U.S. winner of the men’s world figure skating title since 2009. For the rest, it was a fall-a-thon: 14 sprawls, splats and tumbles among five competitors as they attempted the quad. There were three falls by silver medalist Shoma Uno of Japan, who matched his Olympic silver, and two by Mikhail Kolyada of Russia, who took bronze. Uno, the only Olympic medalist to show up at the world championships, finished nearly 50 points behind Chen.
Roger Federer lost his second consecutive match and the No. 1 ranking. Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis, a qualifier ranked 175th, rallied to upset Federer 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the Miami Open. Federer, 36, had been the oldest No. 1 man ever, but he’ll lose that spot to Rafael Nadal when the new rankings come out April 2. Kokkinakis became the lowest-ranked man to beat a No. 1 player since No. 178 Francisco Clavet upset Lleyton Hewitt in 2003. In other men’s play, American Frances Tiafoe rallied past No. 21-seeded Kyle Edmund 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (5) . ... Top-ranked Simona Halep lost her opening match at the Miami Open to Agnieszka Radwanska 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 . ... Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki says she and her family were targets of verbal abuse and threats from the Miami Open crowd in losing her opening match.
Justin Thomas has reached the semifinals of the Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin, Texas, and is one round away from reaching No. 1 in the world. Thomas made quick work of Si Woo Kim, and then won three consecutive holes to start the back nine in a 2-and-1 victory over Kyle Stanley . ... Steve Stricker moved into position for his second consecutive PGA Tour Champions victory, shooting a three-underpar 69 to take a one-stroke lead in the Rapiscan Systems Classic at Biloxi, Miss. Stricker won the Cologuard Classic three weeks ago in Tucson for his first victory on the tour. First-round leader Joe Durant followed his opening 66 with a 72 to drop into a tie for second with Jeff Sluman (67).
The Atlanta Falcons have added depth at cornerback and a three-time Pro Bowl player on special teams by signing former Arizona Cardinal Justin Bethel.
Sara Takanashi claimed her first ski jumping World Cup win of the season to overtake Gregor Schlierenzauer with her record 54th career win . ... Overall winner Akito Watabe claimed his seventh World Cup win of the season in Nordic combined skiing.
Weather washed out qualifying for NASCAR’s first stop this season at a short track, and Martin Truex Jr. will start Sunday from the pole at Martinsville Speedway. There was no qualifying session because of a wintry mix that halted the Truck Series race after only 23 laps. NASCAR postponed the Truck race and set the Cup field by owners’ points.