Nadal reaches Barcelona Open final with 400th win on clay
BARCELONA, SPAIN » Rafael Nadal has added to his clay-court dominance by reaching yet another milestone on the surface.
Nadal defeated David Goffin 6-4, 6-0 for his 400th career win on clay on Saturday, reaching the Barcelona Open final for the 11th time.
The top-ranked Spaniard will face 19-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas, the first Greek player to make it to an ATP Tour final in 45 years. He defeated fifth-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain 7-5, 6-3.
“I’m very happy. I played I think my best match of the tournament so far, no doubt about that,” Nadal said. “I have been playing well. I played a very solid match. That’s so important for me. I feel strong.”
He has won 44 consecutive sets on clay, extending his own record.
Gallagher nabs Xfinity win
TALLADEGA, ALA. » Spencer Gallagher took the lead on the overtime lap to capture his first NASCAR Xfinity Series race Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway.
Gallagher went by Tyler Reddick on the final lap after previous leaders Austin Cindric and Justin Allgaier both ran out of gas during late cautions. It was the only time Gallagher led during the 115-lap race.
Harvick to start on pole
TALLADEGA, ALA. » Kevin Harvick will start on the pole Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway while he goes for his fourth win of the year.
Harvick won pole position for the first time since last September at Darlington. Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kurt Busch joins him on the front row.
Retired NASCAR driver Hylton killed in car wreck
CARNESVILLE, GA. » Former NASCAR driver James Hylton, the 1966 Rookie of the Year, was killed in a traffic accident Saturday, authorities said. He was 83.
Hylton and his son, 61-year-old James Hylton Jr., died at the scene of the crash, which happened on Interstate 85 in Carnesville a little after 6 a.m., according to the Georgia State Patrol. Both were from Inman, South Carolina.
The elder Hylton started 602 races in the Cup Series and won two races in a career that began in 1964. He finished second in the points standings three times.
Kisner, Brown team for lead
AVONDALE, LA. » Kevin Kisner and Scott Brown teamed to shoot an 8-under 64 in better ball to take a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the Zurich Classic.
The duo lost on the fourth hole of a playoff to Cameron Smith and Jonas Blixt last year, the first for the Zurich as a team event. They’re in contention once again atop a crowded leaderboard at 20-under 196.
Vandeweghe reaches final
STUTTGART, GERMANY » CoCo Vandeweghe defeated Caroline Garcia 6-4, 6-2 to become the first American to reach the Stuttgart Open final since Lindsay Davenport in 2005. She will face the fifth-seeded Karolina Pliskova in Sunday’s final.
Pliskova hit six aces and converted three of her eight break opportunities to beat Anett Kontaveit 6-4, 6-2 in the other semifinal.
Australia’s Norman honored for protest
SYDNEY » Peter Norman, the Australian sprinter who shared the podium with Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos and backed their Black Power salutes at the 1968 Mexico City Games, was posthumously given his country’s highest Olympic award Saturday for his “brave stand” 50 years ago.
The Australian Olympic Committee bestowed its Order of Merit in belated recognition of Norman’s role in one of the most powerful human rights protests in sports.