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SPORTS Tuesday 14 November 2017
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Nadal withdraws from ATP Finals after loss to Goffin

By SAM JOHNSTON about yourself, about the Dimitrov broke in the sev-
Associated Press game, about the players,” enth game of the decider
LONDON (AP) — Rafael Dimitrov said. “I’ve done to take control once more.
Nadal will have to wait an- also a lot of work on and off However, as he attempted
other year to win the ATP the court. It’s finally starting to the serve out the match
Finals. to kind of, like, come to- his poise deserted him and
The world No. 1 withdrew gether.” a wayward backhand
from the elite, season-end- Having become the first made it 5-5.
ing tournament after losing player from Bulgaria to In the pair’s most recent
his opening match to David qualify for the event, Dimi- meeting, in Madrid, Thiem
Goffin 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-4 on trov quickly settled into his won after saving five match
Monday at the O2 Arena. new surroundings. points and it appeared an-
Nadal pulled out of the It was Thiem, who made other remarkable escape
Paris Masters at the quar- his debut at the event last might be on the cards.
terfinal stage 10 days ago year, who started nervous- But rather than Dimitrov,
and admitted ahead of ly, allowing Dimitrov to ease Thiem it was who wilted.
the ATP Finals on the indoor to the opening set. The No. 4-ranked player
hard-court he struggles Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria returns the ball to Dominic Thiem of “There’s always a little bit produced two double
on, that his knees, which Austria during their singles tennis match at the ATP World Finals of tension before every faults from 0-30 down to
have caused him trouble at the O2 Arena in London, Monday, Nov. 13, 2017. match. And especially give his opponent another
throughout his career, were Associated Press here, of course, a little bit chance to close the show,
still “not perfect.” However, the third set ATP Finals earlier, Grigor because of all the atmo- which this time he took.
Despite having qualified 13 proved a step too far for Dimitrov withstood a come- sphere, arena,” Thiem said. “To be honest, I didn’t
consecutive times for the the 16-time Grand Slam back attempt from Domi- “Also because it’s your first think that much about that
ATP Finals and eight ap- champion, who began to nic Thiem and held on for a match, it’s against a really, last match against him.
pearances, Nadal has nev- struggle with his movement 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 victory. really good opponent, so I thought about my last
er won the event. and was in visible pain as The sixth-ranked Dimitrov you’re very tense.” match against John (Isner)
Goffin claimed an ugly Goffin finally claimed vic- maintained his focus de- Facing break point at 5-5 in Paris,” said Dimitrov, re-
opening set via a tiebreak tory. spite being narrowly de- in the second, Thiem pro- ferring to another recent
and was on the verge of Nadal ominously waved nied a chance to serve out duced a forehand winner loss in which he wasted a
victory in the second, but goodbye as he left the the match in the second to deny Dimitrov an op- match point.
Nadal’s fighting spirit saved court, and confirmed his set, and then being bro- portunity to serve for the “It was kind of a similar situ-
four match points to force withdrawal shortly after- ken at his first chance in the match, and then broke to ation. I was like, ‘Not again,
another tiebreaker and ward. third. love in the following game definitely not again,’” he
draw level. Making his debut at the “Every year you learn more to level. added with a smile.q

U.S. women beat Canada 3-1 in final match of the year

off a set piece. It was her added a final goal in the
14th international goal and 80th minute. Lloyd needs
all of them have been the just two more goals for 100
result of a set play. in her career.
Canadian captain Chris- “Obviously, end of the year
tine Sinclair came close to we wanted to finish it off on
equalizing with a shot in the a good note, and I thought
32nd minute that was just tonight was well played,”
wide of the far post. Sinclair, U.S. coach Jill Ellis said.
who plays for the NWSL’s Morgan scored for the
Portland Thorns, was slow to United States and Adriana
get up after the shot. Leon had a goal for Cana-
Janine Beckie scored her da in the first match of the
first goal against the United series.
States in the 50th minute The two games were the
off a well-placed pass from last for the United States this
Nichelle Prince. Both are year. Next year the Ameri-
United States midfielder Julie Ertz (8) heads the ball toward the goal as Canada forward Janine teammates on the Houston cans will prepare for quali-
Beckie, left, looks on during the first half of an international friendly women’s soccer match, Dash. fying to defend their World
Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, in San Jose, Calif. Some seven minutes later Cup title in 2019.
Associated Press Morgan put the United The United States was with-
States back on top, slot- out midfielder Tobin Heath,
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Ju- each other Thursday at BC the world and considered ting home a goal that got who was called into train-
lie Ertz, Alex Morgan and Place in Vancouver, British a team on the rise. But the past Canadian goalkeeper ing for the matches but
Carli Lloyd scored and the Columbia, playing to a 1-1 Canadians have not de- Stephanie Labbe. It was didn’t play because of a
U.S. national team closed draw. The tie snapped a feated the United States Morgan’s 80th of the sea- nagging ankle injury. Mal-
out play this year with a six-game winning streak for since 2001. son. She leads the Ameri- lory Pugh, Rose Lavelle and
3-1 victory over Canada at the top-ranked Americans. Ertz, who played in college cans this year with seven Morgan Brian didn’t train
Avaya Stadium on Sunday Canada, which won the at Santa Clara, scored her goals. with the team for the final
night. bronze medal at the 2016 sixth goal of the year in the Lloyd, who came in as a matches because of ham-
The two teams also faced Olympics, is ranked fifth in 11th minute on a header sub in the second half, string injuries.q