Federer improves to 17-0

Roger Federer was on the ropes, down two breaks in the second set and another one in the third. Borna Coric thought he was close to toppling the world’s top-ranked player.

Not so fast.

Federer rallied for a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory in the BNP Paribas Open semifinals on Saturday in Indian Wells, Calif, extending his career-best start to 17-0 and giving him a chance to win his record sixth title.

He will meet No. 6 Juan Martin del Potro in Sunday’s final. The Argentine breezed past No. 32 Milos Raonic of Canada, 6-2, 6-3, in 66 minutes.

WRESTLING

Wisconsin freshman Evan Wick of Wisconsin pinned Lock Haven's Chance Martseller to take third place Saturday in the 165-pound division at the NCAA Championships in Cleveland.

Marsteller started the second period in the bottom position leading, 4-1, after two first-period take-downs, but Wick caught him in a cradle early in the second and earned the fall at 3:19.

Wick joined former UW stars Isaac Jordan, Andrew Howe and Donny Pritzlaff as the only freshmen to become an All-American in the 165-pound weight class.

SWIMMING

Beata Nelson, a sophomore at Wisconsin, finished third in the women’s 200-yard backstroke at the NCAA championships in Columbus, Ohio.

Nelson, who took second in the 100-yard backstroke Friday night, had a time of 1:49.27. Kathleen Baker of California won in 1:47.30.

Nelson, a Verona native, is now a three-time AllAmerican.

GOLF

Henrik Stenson did just enough right for a 1-under 71 to take a one-stroke lead over Bryson DeChambeau after the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Fla.

Tiger Woods also goes into Sunday with a shot at winning. He made another bold play on the par-5 16th to set up a birdie, made a 12-foot birdie on the 18th and shot 69. He was five back.

LPGA Tour: Inbee Park played the first five holes in 6 under and finished with a 9-under 63 to take the lead into the final round of the Founders Cup.

Park reached 14 under to take a one-stroke lead over Mariajo Uribe.

Uribe birdied the 18th for a 67. Ariya Jutanugarn was two strokes behind at 12 under after her third 68.

Hall of Famer Laura Davies matched Park with a 63 at age 54 to move into a tie for fourth at 11 under.

AUTO RACING

Joey Logano cruised to his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of the season, outpacing Justin Allgaier in the NXS 300 in Fontana, Calif.

A series of cautions led to a choppy race governed by tire quality and restarts, but Logano was in command of almost every big moment.

SKIING

Overall champions Mikaela Shiffrin and Marcel Hirscher dominated the penultimate World Cup races of the season in Are, Sweden.

Shiffrin won her seventh slalom of the season, a personal best for the American. Holding on to a commanding first-run lead, Shiffrin won by a massive 1.58 seconds over Wendy Holdener of Switzerland. Olympic slalom champion Frida Hansdotter of Sweden was another 0.01 behind in third.

Hirscher nearly skied out after catching a bump halfway down his opening run but overcame the mishap to win the season-ending men’s giant slalom for his 58th career victory.

From Journal Sentinel wire reports