Federer outduels Nadal
Roger Federer extended his winning streak over Rafael Nadal this year to four matches by beating the top-ranked Spaniard 6-4, 6-3 to win the Shanghai Masters on Sunday. The Swiss 19-time grand slam winner, who still trails Nadal 23-15, didn’t face a break point and started and ended the match with service breaks.
Federer snapped Nadal’s 16-match winning streak, which included his China Open victory last week. Federer, who has won the last five encounters between the pair dating back to the 2015 Basel final, also beat Nadal in the Australian Open final, a round of 16 match at Indian Wells and the Miami final this year.
Maria Sharapova won her first WTA title since returning in April from a doping ban, defeating Aryna Sabalenka to take the Tianjin (China) Open. The Russian, a tournament wild card, overcame the Belarusian teenager 7-5, 7-6 (8) despite trailing 4-1 in the first set and 5-1 in the second.
Sharapova last won a title at the Italian Open in May 2015.
NYCFC FALLS
Diego Fagundez scored two goals in the second half and the host Revolution beat 10-man NYCFC 2-1. NYC (16-9-8) had several possibilities to clinch a bye in the playoffs but needed at least a draw.
Khiry Shelton scored for NYC in the third minute of extra time by getting past the defense for a long ball and heading it in. NYC’s Jack Harrison was shown a straight red card in the 26th minute for a late challenge on Teal Bunbury.
KESELOWSKI WINS NASCAR
Brad Keselowski picked up the win he needed to continue his championship chances with a victory in a sloppy NASCAR playoff race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Keselowski passed Ryan Newman on the high side of the track to take the lead, and then used a crossover move to hold off Newman and Team Penske teammate Joey Logano. It gave him an automatic berth into the third round of the playoffs.
There were only 14 cars running at the conclusion, and only four were playoff drivers. The race was red-flagged three times for nearly 35 minutes. It was Keselowski’s fifth career win at Talladega.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished seventh in his final race at Talladega, where he and his father combined to win 16 Cup races. Alabama declared Sunday “Dale Earnhardt Jr. Day.”