Djokovic beats Federer in epic Paris semi
PARIS — Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer 7-6 (6), 5-7, 7-6 (3) in an epic Paris Masters semifinal lasting three hours, after Federer saved two match points on Saturday.
Djokovic’s fourth straight win over Federer and 25th in 47 contests sends him into the final against unseeded Russian
Karen Khachanov, who has never played in a Masters final.
Federer remains one short of 100 career titles.
Djokovic is on a 22match winning streak and will aim to move level with
Rafael Nadal on a record 33 Masters titles.
Earlier, Khachanov continued his strong recent form by beating
Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-1. Khachanov won the Kremlin Cup in Moscow last month for his third career title.
Djokovic, who beat him on the way to the Wimbledon title, is seeking a record-extending fifth Paris Masters title and 73rd title overall.
GOLF DeChambeau tied for Shriners lead
Bryson DeChambeau birdied four of the last six holes for a share of the lead with Peter Uihlein in the Shriners Hospitals For
Children Open in Las Vegas.
DeChambeau shot a 6-under 66 to match Uihlein at 16-under 197 at TPC Summerlin.
The leader after each of the first two rounds, Uihlein had a 68. He’s winless on the PGA Tour.
DeChambeau has four PGA Tour victories, winning three times last season. Lucas Glover was a stroke back after a 61 that he capped with his second eagle of the day. He eagled the par-5 13th on his opening nine, and closed with another eagle on the par-5 ninth.
In other news:
• Minjee Lee shot an 8-under 64 to take a threeshot lead after the second round of the Japan Classic in Shiga, Japan.
Lee, seeking her second LPGA title this year, had eight birdies in a bogeyfree round at the Seta Golf Club to improve to 13under 131. She is three strokes ahead of local favorite Sakura Koiwai.
PRO BASEBALL Woodward hired to manage Texas
Los Angeles Dodgers third base coach Chris Woodward was hired as manager of the Texas Rangers six weeks after
Jeff Banister was fired. He received a three-year contract with a club option for 2022. He will be introduced at a news conference Monday.
Woodward, 42, inherits a team that went 67-95 and finished last in the AL West, with the focus turning to the development of younger players. Texas had its first consecutive losing seasons since 200508. In other news: • Pitcher Jairo Capellan was killed and two other Cincinnati Reds minor leaguers were injured
in a car accident Saturday morning in the Dominican Republic, a team official said.
Dick Williams, the Reds’ president of baseball operations, confirmed Capellan’s death and said pitcher Raul Hernandez was in critical condition and outfielder Emilio
Garcia in stable condition. The club released no details about their injuries.
Capellan was 19, the same age as the two injured players. All three played on the Reds’ rookie team in the Dominican Summer League.
• The Washington Nationals signed former St. Louis Cardinals reliever
Trevor Rosenthal toa one-year contract with a conditional option for 2020. The contract guarantees Rosenthal $7 million, and he can earn an additional $8 million in performance bonuses. Rosenthal hasn’t pitched since 2017 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
PRO FOOTBALL Cardinals release QB Bradford
The Arizona Cardinals released quarterback Sam Bradford.
Bradford, whose eight NFL seasons have been plagued by injuries, signed a one-year, $20 million contract — with $15 million guaranteed — in the offseason. The former No. 1 overall pick started the first three games before being replaced by rookie Josh Rosen. In other news:
• The Oakland Raiders waived Bruce Irvin after the team’s leading pass rusher had his playing time reduced significantly in recent weeks.
HIGH SCHOOLS The Woodlands wins state meet
The Woodlands boys won the UIL Class 6A state championship Saturday morning at Round Rock’s Old Settlers Park. Junior Spencer Cardinal led the way with a bronze medal, finishing his race in 14 minutes, 50.25 seconds.
The Highlanders had 99 points. Southlake Carroll was second (113), and Lewisville Flower Mound was third (117). La Porte’s Ryan
Schoppe (14.43.88) won silver in the boys 6A race. Montgomery senior
Allison Wilson won silver in the Class 5A girls race. She finished in 17:16.33 behind McKinney North’s London Culbreath (16:58.52).
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS Cormier defends heavyweight title
Daniel Cormier choked out Derrick Lewis in the second round to retain his UFC heavyweight championship at Madison Square Garden.
Cormier, who also holds the light heavyweight crown, made quick work of an overmatched Lewis with a rear naked choke to win the main event at UFC 230. He became the first UFC fighter to successfully defend two titles.