Federer rebounds by defeating Thiem

Sometimes no practice makes perfect — for Roger Federer, anyway.

After canceling his training session a day earlier, Federer produced a much-improved performance to get his bid for a seventh ATP Finals title back on track with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Dominic Thiem in London.

Having lost his opening roundrobin match to Kei Nishikori, Federer was still some way from his fluent best but dropped just six points on serve and took advantage of a wayward display from Thiem to break twice in both sets.

It “was not about my forehand or my backhand or my serve or anything,” Federer said. “I guess it was my head. For that, sometimes you need a break.”

With a 1-1 record in roundrobin play, Federer likely will need to defeat Kevin Anderson on Thursday to improve his 14-1 record of reaching the semifinals at the season-ending tournament.

Anderson thrashed Nishikori 6-0, 6-1 earlier Tuesday to move to 2-0, with the lopsided scoreline all but assuring the South African’s place in the last four.

Thiem is facing an openinground exit at the O2 Arena for a third straight season and will need to defeat Nishikori in straight sets to have any chance of progressing. WNBA: Minnesota Lynx assistant James Wade has been hired as head coach of the Chicago Sky.

Wade replaces Amber Stocks, who was let go after compiling a 25-43 record in two seasons with Chicago. The Sky didn’t make the playoffs either year.

Wade, 43, was with Minnesota for two seasons and inherits a roster led by guards Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley. The Sky drafted Diamond DeShields and Gabby Williams last season with the third and fourth picks and have the No. 4 pick in next year’s draft.