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SPORTS Tuesday 24 November 2020
Analysis: Medvedev, Thiem get tennis set for intriguing 2021

By HOWARD FENDRICH event.
No one thinks it's time to Austria's Thiem, 27, has ap-
write off Novak Djokovic peared in four Grand Slam
or Rafael Nadal — or even finals — losing twice to
Roger Federer — just yet. Nadal at the French Open,
Well, they shouldn't, any- once to Djokovic at the
way. Australian Open — and
Still, the season-ending ATP is now a two-time finalist
Finals set the stage for an at the ATP Finals (Tsitsipas
intriguing 2021 in men's ten- beat him in 2019). Thiem's
nis with the emergence of powerful baseline game
Daniil Medvedev and the is terrific, but he needs to
continued excellence of add some variety and mid-
Dominic Thiem, a pair of match adaptability.
20-somethings who look Russia's Medvedev, 24, was
ready to continue their the runner-up to Nadal at
climbs to the sport's apex. the 2019 U.S. Open and
They're part of a group of lost to Thiem in the semifi-
up-and-coming men that nals there this year. His abil-
also includes Stefanos Tsitsi- ity to think his way through
pas, Alexander Zverev and a match might be unri-
Andrey Rublev, all of whom valed — he shifted tactics
are showing signs they're to transform his matches
for real and ready to take against Nadal and Thiem
the next steps. It gives ev- Daniil Medvedev of Russia holds up the winners trophy as confetti falls after defeating Dominic in London — and his hard-
Thiem of Austria in the final of the ATP World Finals tennis match at the ATP World Finals tennis tour-
eryone fodder for thought nament at the O2 arena in London, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. court success is undeni-
until action resumes in Aus- Associated Press able, but to really reach
tralia in January, if the coro- the upper echelon and
navirus pandemic allows. big title, but I guess there's Medvedev 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 ment for a new genera- stay there, he'll want to im-
"We proved that we can still going to be a time at the ATP Finals in the last tion," Medvedev called it. prove on clay (0-4 at the
play with the legends, that when those guys will retire tour match of the year. "It's super for tennis. We are French Open) and grass
we can also beat them, — I don't know, in three, They reached the champi- starting to ... (make) our (never past the third round
that we can also win the four, five years," Thiem said. onship match with stirring marks," said Medvedev, at Wimbledon).
biggest tournaments," said "And then, I guess, we will three-set semifinal victories who also beat Djokovic in Greece's Tsitsipas, Germa-
Thiem, whose title at the be the favorites for all the that felt a bit portentous: the round-robin portion of ny's Zverev (who recently
U.S. Open in September big titles. For tennis, some No. 3 Thiem knocked off the tournament and be- denied allegations of do-
gave him his first Grand exciting times are coming No. 1 Djokovic, and No. 4 came the first man in the mestic violence made by
Slam trophy. ahead." Medvedev eliminated No. 50-year history of the ATP Fi- a former girlfriend) and Rus-
"The next few years, the Big He said this Sunday night 2 Nadal. nals to defeat each of the sia's Rublev are all under 24
Three still will play for every in London after losing to "An amazing accomplish- players ranked 1-3 at the and ranked in the Top 10.q

Sei Young Kim wins Pelican Women's for 2nd straight victory

BELLEAIR, Fla. (AP) — Sei like little drunk." feel fresh, make myself feel
Young Kim won the Pelican The 27-year-old Kim is the fresh, so don't think about
Women's Championship first player to follow her first golf," Kim said. "Just fun
on Sunday for her second major victory with a win in thing to do."
straight victory, closing with her next start since Ariya McDonald birdied the last
an even-par 70 for a three- Jutanugarn in 2016 in the for a 68. She was coming
stroke victory over Ally Mc- Women's British Open and a victory in the Drive On
Donald. CP Women's Open. Championship-Reynolds
The KPMG Women's PGA "Always after win always Lake Oconee in Georgia,
winner way back on Oct. got the extra confidence, her first on the tour.
11 in her last start, the sec- so when I play, standing on "I'm really happy with how I
ond-ranked Kim won for the golf course, it feels very played," McDonald said. "I
the 12th time on the LPGA happy when I walk on the hung in there. ... So I'm re-
Tour to break a tie for third course," said Kim, also a ally pleased. Obviously, fol-
on the South Korean victo- five-time KLPGA winner. "It's lowing a win to get another
ry list with Jiyai Shin, behind really great." second and be in conten-
only Inbee Park (20) and Se Kim finished at 14-under 266 tion, that's all I can ask for." Sei Young Kim, of South Korea, holds the trophy after winning the
LPGA Pelican Women's Championship golf tournament Sunday,
Ri Pak (25). at Pelican Golf Club in the Stephanie Meadow was Nov. 22, 2020, in Belleair, Fla.
Kim was drenched in first-year tournament origi- third at 9 under after a 69. Associated Press
champagne during the nally set for the same week Lydia Ko (69) and Austin
victory celebration. as the PGA Championship Ernst ( 68) were 8 under, a 71 in her first LPGA Tour because world ranking No.
"My friends put it on my in May. After her victory and Brooke Henderson (69) event of the year. No. 1 1 is my wish list in this year,
head and then my T-shirt last month at Aronimink in was another stroke back in the world for the last 68 so that's my biggest goal in
and everything," Kim said. Pennsylvania, she took a with Jessica Korda (64), An- weeks, she was home in this year," Kim said. "Before
"Feel like take a shower in trip home to South Korea gela Stanford (65) and Jen- South Korea since the CO- Olympic gold medal was
the champagne. I still smell. during the long break. nifer Song (65). VID-19 pandemic. my biggest goal in this year,
And then drink a little bit "After the tournament I just Top-ranked Jin Young Ko Kim is close to taking the but it cancel. Might be next
and feel -- feels, you know, want to relax and then tied for 34th at 3 over after top spot. "It means a lot year."q