Russia defeats Switzerland to win Billie Jean King Cup
Daria Kasatkina and Liudmila Samsonova won their singles matches to give Russia a 2-0 victory over Switzerland on Saturday at Prague, Czech Republic, to win the Billie Jean King Cup.
Kasatkina recorded a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann, and Samsonova rallied for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Olympics singles champ Belinda Bencic as Russia won the trophy for the fifth time. The event was formerly known as the Fed Cup.
Kasatkina had just five winners in her match but also had only 13 errors to Teichmann’s 31. Teichmann had 15 winners.
Samsonova notched 30 winners but had to overcome 49 errors to defeat Bencic, who had 15 winners and 18 unforced errors.
Russia’s other titles came in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008.
DJOKOVIC CLOSES OUT ON TOP >> Novak Djokovic will end the year at No. 1 for a record seventh time after rallying to beat Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 6-0, 7-6 (5) in the Paris Masters semifinals on Saturday.
Djokovic, who also stays on course for a record-extending sixth Paris Masters title, moved one ahead of American Pete Sampras, who secured his six top year-end finishes from 1993-98.
“I’m very proud to finish the season as No. 1,” Djokovic said. “It’s a dream, honestly, because Sampras was such an idol for me when I was young. He motivated me to pick up the racket and try this sport.”
Djokovic also finished the year top in 2011-12, 2014-15, 2018 and 2020.
Djokovic eclipsed Roger Federer’s all-time mark of 310 weeks at No. 1 on March 8 and will finish 2021 having held the top ranking for 348 weeks.
Another win on Sunday will give Djokovic a record 37th Masters title to move one clear of fellow 20-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal.
Golf
HOVLAND LEADS, WOLFF DROPS OUT OF CONTENTION >> Viktor Hovland finished for a 9-under 62 and a twoshot lead in the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba.
Hovland, the defending champion at the Mexican resort, hit driver just over the green on the par-4 17th and hit a dart into the closing hole at El Cameleon for the lowest score of his PGA Tour career.
That gave him a two-shot lead over fellow Oklahoma State alum Talor Gooch (63), and he was three clear of Justin Thomas (64).
Matthew Wolff, who started the weekend with a two-shot lead, made a pair of bogeys early in his round to fall out of the lead and managed only one birdie in his round of 73 that dropped him out of contention.
Hovland was at 19-under 94 as he goes for his third PGA Tour title.
Motorsports
LARSON TOPS ELLIOTT FOR NASCAR CHAMPIONSHIP POLE >> Kyle Larson went out 37th in the qualifying order and knocked Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott off the top spot to win the pole for the NASCAR Cup Series championship race.
Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet failed inspection twice, but he easily recovered and went 137.847 mph at Phoenix Raceway. Elliott was second in the No. 9 Chevy.
Joe Gibbs Racing championship drivers Denny Hamlin was sixth and Martin Truex Jr. 12th.
It’s a Hendrick Motorsports vs. JGR battle in the desert Sunday with the championship at stake.
Larson, Hamlin and Truex all had team members ejected for twice failing inspection.
The starting spot might not matter much at Phoenix. Elliott’s car failed prerace inspection before last season’s championship race and the penalty cost him the pole when he was sent to the rear. But he raced his way through traffic in the first stage and then took control of the championship.
Larson, with a serieshigh nine wins, will take the top spot. The four championship drivers get first crack at pit stall assignments.
“It definitely doesn’t hurt for sure,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s a championship-winning moment.” Elliott is the reigning champion, NASCAR’s most popular driver and defending race winner, while 2017 champion Truex won at Phoenix this spring. They join three-time Daytona 500 winner and four-time championship loser Hamlin in chasing Larson.
NBA
BLAZERS HIRE FIRM TO LOOK AT WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT CONCERNS >> The Portland Trail Blazers have hired an outside firm to investigate workplace environment concerns.
Reports of the investigation surfaced Friday night. Both The Athletic and Yahoo Sports reported the probe stemmed from allegations of workplace misconduct involving Neil Olshey, the president of basketball operations and general manager for the organization.
The Blazers released a statement Saturday confirming the investigation. It did not name Olshey.
“The Portland Trail Blazers organization was recently notified of concerns around workplace environment by nonplayer personnel at the practice facility. In response, we immediately engaged O’Melveny & Myers, an outside firm with significant expertise in this area, to conduct a full, fair and independent review into these concerns and will take appropriate action based on its outcome,” the team statement said.