Sport news in brief
Verstappen indomitable as he seals second championship
Max Verstappen completed his championship year by winning F1’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as Lewis Hamilton’s record of winning in every season of his career went up in smoke when he retired with three laps remaining.
Verstappen finished 8.7 seconds clear of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who made a one-stop strategy work to secure the runner-up spot in the standings ahead of Verstappen’s teammate
Sergio Perez. Carlos Sainz was fourth for Ferrari with Hamilton’s teammate George Russell fifth, leaving Mercedes behind the Italian team and Red Bull and third in the constructors’ championship.
Verstappen, 25, snatched victory from Hamilton a year ago to claim his maiden title in the most contentious of circumstances, but his win under the thousands of bulbs that light up the Yas Marina Circuit was his 15th from 22 races.
Djokovic beats Ruud to tie Federer record
Novak Djokovic beat Casper Ruud in straight sets on Sunday to claim the ATP Finals title for a sixth time in Turin and equal Roger Federer’s record for ATP Finals championships, with his first title in seven years.
The Serbian was pushed all the way by Ruud but eventually won in straight sets 7-5 6-3. Ruud saved two break points in his first service game of the opening set to hold, but it set the tone for the match, with the Norwegian regularly forced onto the back foot.
The former world No 1 said the long wait for his sixth title made him appreciate the victory more. “It’s finals, usually these kind of matches are decided by very small margins and one break of serve was enough in both sets,” he said. PA
Allen beats Junhui to win UK Championship
Comeback king Mark Allen claimed the biggest title of his career after reeling off seven frames in a row to sink Ding Junhui 10-7 and win the UK Championship at the Barbican Centre in York. Allen looked down and out after falling 6-1 behind against the resurgent Chinese star but stormed back to pocket the £250,000 winner’s cheque and become the first Northern Irishman to win the prestigious crown since Alex Higgins in 1983.
It completed a remarkable tournament for the 36-year-old who had also fought from at least two frames down in each of his previous matches in the tournament.
“I don’t really know how I’ve done it – I didn’t play very well most of the week and I struggled from the start and Ding punished me heavily, and I just scraped the last frame (of the session),” said Allen. “I don’t know what happened tonight. The first frame was as good a break as I’d made all day and all of a sudden I felt so good.” PA
Chelsea mark Hayes return with easy victory over Spurs
Sam Kerr’s first-half strike helped Chelsea to a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge and lifted the Blues back to the top of the Women’s Super League table.
Spurs started brightly but the Blues took full control in front of 38,350 supporters. Erin Cuthbert doubled the hosts’ lead before Guro Reiten scored from the spot ahead of the break in Emma Hayes’ first match back in the dugout following her emergency hysterectomy last month.
The strike extended Kerr’s scoring streak against Spurs to six goals in five matches as defending champions Chelsea moved three points clear of second-placed Arsenal. PA
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