Djokovic powers into Belgrade final

BELGRADE: Novak Djokovic reached his first final of the year at the Serbia Open on Saturday after recovering from a set down to beat Karen Khachanov 4-6, 6-1 6-2.

For the third match in a row, Djokovic dropped the first set after losing his serve in the opening game, but the Serb stepped up his level in the second and third sets.

Djokovic, who is bidding for his first title of the year, will face Andrey Rublev in Sunday’s final. The second-seeded Russian player defeated Fabio Fognini 6-2, 6-2 in his semi-final.

Meanwhile, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz will break into the world’s top 10 rankings for the first time on Monday after the teenager defeated top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals of Barcelona.

Alcaraz, 18, overcame a comeback charge from world No. 5 Tsitsipas to reach his fourth semi-final of the season with a 6-4 5-7 6-2 victory.

Swiatek beats Raducanu for 21st straight win

STUTTGART: World No. 1 Iga Swiatek racked up her 21st successive win as she powered into the Stuttgart semi-finals by brushing aside US Open champion Emma Raducanu, playing her first clay-court tournament, in straight sets on Friday.

Swiatek, 20, sealed a 6-4, 6-4 victory to set up a semi-final showdown with Liudmila Samsonova. Both players have yet to drop a set in Stuttgart.

Golf great Norman seeks to play British Open

SYDNEY: Golf great Greg Norman intends to come out of retirement and compete at the British Open in July, a report said on Saturday, with the Australian saying: “I love St Andrews.”

The 67-year-old, a two-time winner of the Claret Jug who has recently been spearheading a proposed Saudi-backed breakaway Super League, has not played a Major since 2009.

But he wants to return for the tournament’s 150th edition. “I’m filling out the entry form now. I think I’m going,” he told News Corp Australia.*

Novak Djokovic