Djokovic finally captures elusive title
Novak Djokovic finally mastered the one tournament that eluded him, beating Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday in Ohio for his first Western & Southern Open championship.
“Thank you for letting me win once in Cincinnati,” he told Federer, who’d won seven titles without a loss.
After reaching the final five times and losing every time — three to Federer — Djokovic broke through in the rivals’ first match in two years. He’s the first to claim all nine ATP Masters 1000 events since the series started in 1990.
“That’s what the headline should be about — this is such an amazing accomplishment,” Federer said.
In the women’s bracket, topranked Simona Halep let a match point slip away during the secondset tiebreaker, and Kiki Bertens rallied for a 2-6, 7-6 (6), 6-2 victory in her first hard-court final.
The Dutch clay-court specialist ended Halep’s streak of nine straight wins, including the title at Montreal a week earlier. She’d never beaten a top-ranked player, but wore down Halep.
Billy Torrence raced to his first career top fuel victory at age 60, winning the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals. Torrence, the father of top fuel points leader Steve Torrence, beat three-time season champion Antron Brown. who tied his career best with a 62.
Sergio Garcia will miss the playoffs for the first time after winding up 131st on the points list.
Sung Hyun Park
erased a twoshot deficit over the final four holes and birdied the first hole of a playoff with Lizette Salas to win the Indy Women in Tech Championship. Park reclaimed the No. 1 ranking with her third LPGA win of the season . ... Bart Bryant made a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open . ... UCLA’s Lilia Vu, USC’s Justin Suh and Collin Morikawa of La Canada Flintridge were among those chosen to represent the U.S. in the World Amateur Team Championships on Aug. 29Sept. 8 in Ireland . ... Viktor Hovland became the first Norwegian to win the U.S. Amateur, beating UCLA sophomore Devon Bling 6 and 5 at Pebble Beach.
Dallas’ Zack Martin, the highest-paid guard in the NFL, suffered no structural damage when he hyperextended his left knee Saturday and should be ready for the opener, the Associated Press reported . ... Kansas City signed cornerback Orlando Scandrick to a contract worth up to $1.5 million . ... Cincinnati released safety George Iloka, who made 76 starts in six seasons. ... Buffalo signed former Chargers defensive tackle Tenny Palepoi.
Olympic champion Simone Biles won her fifth U.S. women’s gymnastics title, winning all four events as well as the all-around in a dominant performance.
Josef Martinez scored his 27th goal to tie the MLS season record as Atlanta beat Columbus 3-1.
The Edmonton Oilers signed forward Scottie Upshall, a 15-year veteran, to a professional tryout.
Drayden Van Dyke tied Victor Espinoza’s record of seven wins at Del Mar in a single day.