Ruud knocks out No. 1 Djokovic in semifinals in Monaco

Casper Ruud denied Novak Djokovic his shot at a third Rolex Monte Carlo Masters title, defeating the world’s top-ranked player 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 in the semifinals on Saturday in Monaco.

Ruud became the first Norwegian man to defeat a World No. 1 since the inception of the rankings in 1973.

Djokovic had two double faults in the two-hour, 17-minute match, none more costly than on break point — and match point — in the deciding game of the third set. With Ruud up

5-4, and Djokovic serving down 30-40, his second serve went long to give Ruud his fourth break and the match.

Ruud has 10 ATP titles, with nine of them coming on clay. But he never has won a tournament above the ATP 250 level.

Elsewhere: Jessica

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Pegula and Emma Navarro both rallied for three-set wins Friday night, leading the United States to a 2-0 lead over Belgium in a

Billie Jean King Cup qualifying series at Orlando. Pegula defeated Sofia Costoulas 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 before Navarro topped Hanne Vandewinkel 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

ETC.

Golf: The winner of the A

88th Masters will pocket $3.6 million from a record $20 million purse, Augusta National Golf Club officials announced Saturday. The winning total represents the largest first-place prize in the history of the tournament. Last year, winner

Jon Rahm of Spain received $3.24 million of the $18 million purse.

NBA: French big man

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Alex Sarr, 18, projected among the top three picks in the 2024 NBA Draft, made his intentions official Friday on ESPN. The 7foot-1 center with a 7-foot-4 wingspan played this season with Perth of Australia’s National Basketball League.

NHL: Artemi Panarin

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and Vincent Trocheck

scored in the shootout as the host New York Rangers rallied late for a 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday afternoon. ... Arizona Coyotes players were informed that the franchise is being relocated to Salt Lake City, multiple media outlets reported on Friday, though at least one report indicated those conversations weren’t quite so definitive. The potential move would come along with a change in ownership per ESPN, as the NHL has worked to help negotiate a sale to Ryan and Ashley Smith, who own the NBA’s Utah Jazz.

Auto racing: For the

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third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series race, Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson will lead the field to green after capturing the pole position for Sunday’s AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. Larson, the last of the 10 Round 2 qualifiers to make a lap, turned in a pole effort of 190.369 mph in the No. 5 Chevrolet, 0.003 seconds faster than Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs. It is the 250th pole win for the venerable Hendrick team and marks the 13th different NASCAR Cup Series track where Larson has bested a qualifying session. It’s his 25th career pole overall.