Djokovic into semifinals at rain-ravaged tourney
Enraged by his poor play in the opening set, Novak Djokovic slammed his racket on the court and rallied for a three-set victory over Milos Raonic on Friday to reach the semifinals of the Western & Southern Open in suburban Cincinnati.
Djokovic will face Marin Cilic, who won twice Friday to reach the semifinals. He beat Karen Khachanov in three sets, completing a suspended match, and got a 7-6 (7), 6-4 win over Pablo Carreño Busta, who was playing his only match of the day.
Roger Federer beat Stan Wawrinka 6-7 (2), 7-6 (6), 6-2 to reach the semifinals. He will face David Goffin, who beat Juan Martin del Potro 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4).
In the women’s bracket, the top-ranked Simona Halep beat Ashleigh Barty 7-5, 6-4 early in the afternoon to reach the quarterfinals, then returned a few hours later and knocked off Lesia Tsurenko 6-4, 6-1, raising both arms in triumph at the end of her long day featuring two full matches.
Halep will play Aryna Sabalenka, who beat Madison Keys in straight sets.
Several days of rain turned the quarterfinals into an endurance test. Six men’s and three women’s singles matches were held over from Thursday because of rain.
Motor sports: Kyle Larson capitalized on Kyle Busch’s early exit to win the Xfinity Series race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Larson held off a challenge from Justin Allgaier after a late caution flag forced overtime.
NASCAR moved the start of Saturday night’s Cup Series race at Bristol up one hour because of threats of rain. The start is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. ET. On the track Friday, Larson won his third pole of the season. Chase Elliott will start second and Busch third.
College soccer: The No. 1ranked Stanford women’s team opened its season at UC Davis with a 5-0 win over the Aggies. Michelle Xiao, Tierna Davidson, Alana Cook and Civana Kuhlmann scored one goal apiece with the final tally going in the book as an own goal. WNBA: Elizabeth Cambage had 43 points and 13 rebounds as the Dallas Wings beat the visiting Las Vegas Aces 107-102 to clinch the final playoff spot. ... Breanna Stewart had 22 points and 15 rebounds and the Seattle Storm beat the visiting New York Liberty 85-77 to secure the top seed. NBA: The 76ers hired former Duke and WNBA star Lindsey Harding as a full-time scout. She is the second full-time female scout for an NBA team. The first was current Dallas Mavericks assistant Jenny Boucek, who worked for the Seattle SuperSonics in 2006. Soccer: The Fox broadcast of Sunday’s Major League Soccer match between D.C. United and New England will feature an all-female on-air crew. Play-byplay announcer Lisa Byington, analyst Danielle Slaton and sideline reporter Katie Witham make up what is believed to be the first all-female trio to call a game among the top five men’s professional leagues.
Obituary: E. Walter McCarthy, who had been the oldest surviving USF men’s basketball player, died Wednesday in Greenbrae. He was 102. McCarthy was born in 1916 in San Francisco, attended St. Ignatius and played for the Dons from 1933-37. His wife of 50 years, Margaret, died in 1991. He is survived by five children, 13 grandchildren, eight greatgrandchildren and one greatgreat-grandchild.