Page 18 - AT

A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 12 November 2019
Defending champ Zverev beats

error-prone Nadal at ATP Finals

By MATTIAS KAREN derer in last year's semifinals way," Nadal said. "I need
Associated Press and then five-time winner to play much better in two
LONDON (AP) — Defend- Novak Djokovic in the final. days."
ing champion Alexander Nadal has a history of be- Earlier, Stefanos Tsitsipas
Zverev pulled off another ing far from his best at the earned his first career win
big win at the ATP Finals, ATP Finals, which comes at over Daniil Medvedev - a
beating top-ranked Rafael the end of a gruelling sea- victory that clearly meant
Nadal 6-2, 6-4 Monday for son that often takes its toll a lot to the Greek.
his first career victory over on the Spaniard because Not only because Tsitsipas
the Spaniard. of his ultra-physical playing was 0-5 against the Russian
Nadal had a 5-0 record style. He has qualified for before winning 7-6 (5), 6-4,
against Zverev but had an the event for 15 years in a or that it came in his ATP Fi-
uncharacteristically mis- row but has pulled out of it nals debut.
take-filled performance at on six occasions because But mainly because two
the O2 Arena. of injuries. He has never of the biggest rising stars
In his first match since pull- won the title, reaching the in tennis simply don't like
ing out of the Paris Masters final twice. each other that much.
semifinals with an abdomi- This year he hasn't finished a "It's a victory that I craved
nal injury just nine days ago, tournament since winning for a long time now, and
Nadal dropped his serve the U.S. Open in August, it's great that it came at
three straight times, didn't also pulling out of Shang- this moment," Tsitsipas said.
force a single break point, hai because of a hand in- "Our chemistry definitely
and his normally powerful jury. But he showed up to isn't the best that you can
forehand was responsible London hoping to stave off find on the tour. It's not that
for more than four times as Djokovic for the year-end I hate him (but) we will not
many unforced errors (13) No. 1 ranking. go to dinner together."
as winners (3). Djokovic won his opening The grudge dates to their
Still, Nadal insisted his poor match on Sunday and this first meeting, in Miami last
play wasn't the result of any loss cuts Nadal's lead over year, when Medvedev be- Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates winning match point
physical problem. the Serb to just 440 points rated Tsitsipas for not apol- against Rafael Nadal of Spain during their ATP World Tour Finals
singles tennis match at the O2 Arena in London, Monday, Nov.
"I did not feel pain in the in the rankings table - each ogizing after hitting a net 11, 2019.
abdominal at all," he said. round-robin win is worth 200 cord during a point, a spat Associated Press
"So the physical issue was points - with a total of 1,300 that ended with both play-
not an excuse at all. The more points up for grabs for ers trading insults on court. affect me. I did get (angry) seeded Greek earned the
only excuse is I was not each player. "After that, I think I didn't and said what I said, which only break of the match to
good enough tonight." "Knowing that I would not win a single game. He did I do regret, but at the time I take a 5-4 lead in the sec-
The whole thing was over in be at my 100% in terms of get into my head, and I was very frustrated." ond set and clinched the
just 84 minutes and means feelings, in terms of move- was very frustrated that it Since that match, Medve- win with a forehand over-
Zverev has beaten each of ment, in terms of confi- did go this way," Tsitsipas dev had earned another head at the net.
tennis' Big Three in his last dence or hitting the ball, said. "He started telling me four straight wins over Tsitsi- "He was better today, but I
three matches at the O2. I needed my best com- that I should apologize, pas, including in the Shang- felt like I was missing some
The German defeated six- petitive spirit this afternoon, that what I do is unsports- hai semifinals in October. things," Medvedev said.
time champion Roger Fe- and I was not there in that manlike. . Somehow it did But on Monday, the sixth- "This frustrates me after. q

Suzuki shoots 67 to win

Japan Classic by 3 strokes

Golf Course to finish with a speak English so I need to played really well this week
17-under 199, three shots talk to my family because I and I'm pretty happy with
ahead of Hyo Joo Kim (66). need their support." it."
"This one is special because Minjee Lee finished in third Gaby Lopez, who started
it's a US LPGA tour event," place at 11-under 205 af- the final round in second
Suzuki said through a trans- ter shooting a 68 in the final place three strokes back,
lator. "It's beyond Japan, event of the LPGA Tour's offset a pair of birdies with
an International event." Asia Swing. two bogeys for an even-
Suzuki is the second straight Jennifer Kupcho of the par 72 that left her tied
Japan's Ai Suzuki poses with trophy after winning the LPGA Ja-
pan Classic golf tournament in Otsu, Shiga prefecture, western Japanese winner of the Ja- United States was tied for for sixth place with three
Japan Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019. pan Classic following Nasa fourth with Jin Yang of Chi- others including two-time
Associated Press Hataoka. With the win, Su- na after a 68 left her seven Japan Classic winner
zuki, a regular on the JLP- strokes back. Shanshan Feng (70). Lexi
SHIGA, Japan (AP) — strokes for her first LPGA GA, becomes eligible for "I was hitting the ball really Thompson, making her first
Overnight leader Ai Suzuki career victory. LPGA Tour membership. well," Kupcho said. "Gave start since the Indy Women
shot a bogey-free 5-under Suzuki carded her fifth "It was my dream so I feel myself a lot of putts. I even in Tech Championship in
67 on Sunday to win the birdie of the day on the like I want to challenge," missed a couple, left them September, was tied for
Japan Classic by three par-5 18th hole at the Seta Suzuki said. "But I can't on the lip," Kupcho said. "I 24th place after a 71.q