DJOKOVIC ADVANCES TO COMPLETE SEMIS
Novak Djokovic ensured the world’s top four players reached the semifinals of the ATP Finals for the first time since 2004 by eliminating Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (4) on Friday in London.
The top-ranked Djokovic lined up Dominic Thiem today as he goes for a record-tying sixth title at the season-ending tournament, and a first since 2015.
No. 2-ranked Rafael Nadal will take on No. 4 Daniil Medvedev in the second semifinal. Nadal is trying for the 10th time to win his first ATP Finals crown.
Medvedev warmed up by blowing away Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 6-3 late Friday in the empty O2 Arena, topping their group with three wins in six sets.
Djokovic pulled out his own big serves in the important moments to reach the semifinals for the ninth time, notably in the tiebreaker when he recovered from a 2-0 deficit.
“Contrary to the last match against Daniil,” said Djokovic, referring to a straight-set loss to Medvedev on Wednesday, “I managed to find the right shots at the right time.”
Djokovic broke for 2-0 lead when Zverev double-faulted on the second break point. He saved two break points at 4-2 before clinching the set with a backhand down the line as he closed in on the net following a serve out wide.
Zverev’s groundstrokes and powerful serve posed more problems for Djokovic in the second set, and the German gained an early advantage in the tiebreaker by reaching a drop shot before hitting an unreturnable smash to lead 2-0.
Djokovic then won five of the next six points and, on his first match point, found the baseline with a penetrating forehand which Zverev could slice only into the net on the stretch.
MLS
Gustavo Bou scored on a long shot in the 95th minute to give the host New England Revolution a 2-1 victory over the Montreal Impact in the play-in round of the MLS Cup playoffs. New England advanced in the playoffs for the first time in six seasons.
In the other play-in game, Randall Leal and Hany Mukhtar scored 10 minutes apart in the first half and Nashville beat Inter Miami 3-0.
International soccer
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he has dealt internally with Mohamed Salah following the Egypt forward’s attendance at his brother’s wedding in Cairo prior to returning to a positive test for the coronavirus. Klopp refused to elaborate on whether Salah was the subject of any discipline.
American youngster Gio Reyna extended his contract with German team Borussia Dortmund. The 18-year-old Reyna, the youngest American to play in the Bundesliga, signed a new deal through June 2025, the club said.
Motorsports
NASCAR will have another new team in 2021 — bringing the total to three new ownership groups in the Cup Series — with the formation of Live Fast Motorsports. The team formally announced is owned by drivers Matt Tifft and B.J. McLeod. McLeod will drive the No. 78 Ford next season. Tifft’s one season as a Cup Series driver ended late in 2019 when he suffered a seizure at Martinsville Speedway. He’s not raced since.
Virus
Tennessee Athletic Director and former Volunteers football coach Phillip Fulmer said he is in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19. And Miami’s Manny Diaz became the latest active coach to announce he has contracted the virus.
Fulmer, 70, posted on Twitter that he is “feeling fine“and was deemed not to have been in close contact with any Tennessee athletes or “sport-specific staff members.”
Diaz made a similar social media post earlier to announce he tested positive for COVID-19 and is isolating. Diaz, 46, said he will work virtually with the No. 12 Hurricanes until he can return to the field.
Basketball
USA Basketball and the national teams from Mexico, Cuba and Puerto Rico will be moving into a bubble in Indianapolis over the coming days to prepare for the second round of FIBA AmeriCup qualifying games later this month.
• Drew Peterson will be eligible immediately to play for the USC men’s team this season. The junior guard from Libertyville, Ill., was granted a legislative relief waiver by the NCAA. after transferring from Rice.
Also
John Daly had not been in a skeleton race for nearly three years. He wasn’t rusty. The twotime U.S. Olympian won the first USA Skeleton team trials race of the season at Mount Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid, N.Y., the first step toward qualifying for the World Cup team this season — and, quite possibly, making the team that will compete in the 2022 Beijing Olympics.