Murray reaches first final since hip surgery

Andy Murray is back in an ATP tour final for the first time since March 2017 after beating Ugo Humbert 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 in the European Open semifinals in Antwerp, Belgium.

Murray will face fellow three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, who beat Italian 18-year-old Janik Sinner 6-3, 6-2.

For Murray, it’s his biggest success since having hip surgery in January, an injury that him contemplating retirement at one point. He sealed the win against Humbert after 2 hours, 22 minutes with an easy volley winner at the net.

“It’s been a long road to get back to this point,” Murray said. “I certainly didn’t expect it to come so soon since I started playing again. It’s been a big surprise to me and I’m happy to be through to the final.” BENCIC REACHES MOSCOW FINAL, QUALIFIES FOR WTA FINALS >> Belinda Bencic booked the last spot at the season-end WTA Finals after beating Kristina Mladenovic in the Kremlin Cup semifinals in Moscow.

Bencic’s 6-3, 6-4 victory set up a Moscow final with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

NBA

SIAKAM GETS MAX EXTENSION >> Pascal Siakam is officially a major part of the Toronto Raptors’ longterm plans. The Raptors and Siakam have agreed on a four-year, $130 million maximum extension, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.

Siakam was a breakout player last season for the NBA champions, averaging career highs of 16.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He is entering his fourth season and now is under contract to the Raptors through the 2023-24 season.

JAZZ COACH REPORTEDLY AGREES TO EXTENSION >> Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder won’t be leaving Salt Lake City any time soon after agreeing to a long-term contract extension, according to published reports.

Motorsports

HEMRIC BEATS PLAYOFF DRIVERS FOR NASCAR POLE AT KANSAS >> Daniel Hemric gave his hopes of landing a Cup Series ride for next season some help by taking his No. 8 Chevrolet to the pole for Richard Childress Racing at Kansas Speedway today. Hemric, who was told last month that Childress would not pick up his option for 2020, turned a lap of 178.047 mph to edge the retiring David Ragan during qualifying on Saturday in Kansas City, Kansas.

They were joined in the top five by a trio of drivers in NASCAR’S version of the playoffs. Ryan Blaney was third. Brad Keselwoski will start alongside him after qualifying fourth, and Kyle Larson will start fifth.

The playoff field will be cut to eight today. REDDICK-CUSTER BRAWL OVERSHADOWS JONES’ FIRST XFINITY WIN AT KANSAS >> After Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 took a sharp turn with 16 laps left, Brandon Jones sped away on two straight restarts to collect his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory in a race that ended with playoff drivers Cole Custer and Tyler Reddick brawling on pit road.

Contact from Reddick’s Chevrolet forced Custer into the outside wall after the final restart, and Custer dropped to 11th at the finish. After both drivers exited their cars on pit road, Custer approached Reddick to voice his displeasure, placing a hand on Reddick’s shoulder.

Reddick responded with both hands to the collar of Custer’s firesuit, and the drivers fell to the pavement while grappling, only to be separated by crew members.

Soccer

ESCOBAR GOAL SENDS ATLANTA UNITED PAST NEW ENGLAND >> Franco Escobar’s goal at the 69th minute broke a scoreless match, and host Atlanta United made it hold up with a 1-0 win in an opening-round game of the MLS playoffs.

The defending champs entered the playoffs as the second seed in the Eastern Conference and advanced to play the winner of today’s contest between No. 3-seed Philadelphia and sixthseeded New York Red Bulls. TORONTO FC SCORES 4 GOALS IN EXTRA TIME, BEATS DC UNITED >> Jonathan Osorio scored twice, Richie Laryea and Nick Deleon added two more in a four-goal extra-time outburst, and host Toronto FC beat D.C. United 5-1 to end Wayne Rooney’s MLS career. The 33-yearold Rooney is returning to England to join Derby County.

Toronto advanced in the playoffs to play at New York City FC on Wednesday night.

Golf

LEE’S EAGLE FORGES TIE WITH THOMAS >> Justin Thomas was looking at a three-stroke lead at the CJ Cup with one hole to play, which would have set him up nicely for his second win in three years at South Korea’s only PGA Tour event.

But the 18th hole saw a big swing in the scoring at the Nine Bridges course in Jeju Island, South Korea.

South Korean-born New Zealander Danny Lee holed a long eagle putt to finish with a 68. Thomas, who won the inaugural CJ Cup in 2017, bogeyed the 18th for a 70 and he and Lee were tied with a three-round total of 15-under 201.

Cameron Smith was in third place, three strokes behind, after a 68. Jordan Spieth shot 70 and was tied fourth, four behind. Cal’s Colin Morikawa had a 65 to move into seventh. PAREL, TOLLES TOP CHAMPIONS PLAYOFF OPENER >> Scott Parel shot his second straight 6-under 66 for a share of the lead with Tommy Tolles in the Dominion Energy Charity Classic, the first of three tournaments in the PGA Tour Champions’ Charles Schwab Cup playoffs.

Tolles, the first-round leader, shot a 67 at The Country Club of Virginia’s James River Course in Richmond.

Colin Montgomerie was a stroke back at 11 under after a 67.

KORDA TAKES 1-SHOT LEAD IN SHANGHAI >> Jessica Korda shot a 6-under 66 in the third round, with eight birdies and two bogeys, to take a one-shot lead at the Buick LPGA Shanghai. Korda is at 15-under 201, ahead of defending champion Danielle Kang.

Skating

CHEN WINS SKATE AMERICA >> Two-time world champion Nathan Chen of the United States won Skate America for the third straight time, scoring 196.38 in the free skate in Las Vegas for a total of 299.09 in the first of six events in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.