Nadal earn stop rank for fourth time

Rafael Nadal will finish the year as the top-ranked player for the fourth time.

The 31-year-old Spaniard assured himself the No. 1 ranking by beating Hyeon Chung 7-5, 6-3 in the second round of the Paris Masters.

The 16- time Grand Slam winner had not fifinished the year at the top since 2013and missed much of 2016 with a wrist injury. He fifinished No. 1 in 2008 and 2010.

Nadal, who is tied for a record 30Masters titles with Novak Djokovic, has never won the tournament in Paris.

■U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens will lead the United States against Belarus in the Fed Cup final this month. Joining Stephens for the best-of- fifififififive- matches fifinal on an indoor hard court in Minsk, Belarus on Nov. 11-12 are two-time Grand Slam semififinalist CoCo Vandeweghe, Shelby Rogers and Alison Riske.

ODDS AND ENDS

Running: In the wake of a terrorist attack that left eight people dead in Manhattan, offifficials vowed the New York City Marathon will be run as planned this weekend. “The marathon will go on because New York goes on,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

Auto racing: Veteran crew chief Darian Grubb will lead rookie William Byron when he steps up to NASCAR’s top level next season with Hendrick Motorsports. Grubb will be crew chief for Byron and the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro team. Byron will make his Cup Series debut in 2018. Grubb led Tony Stewart to the 2011 Cup championship and has 23 Cup wins.