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Wednesday 15 november 2017

Federer through to ATP Finals

semis after win over Zverev

By SAM JOHNSTON I don’t know, maybe you’ll said.
Associated Press see me on the weekend “I’m not the type of guy
LONDON (AP) — A day af- still.” that will just enter a draw
ter the ATP Finals lost Rafael After an opening set domi- and be happy to make the
Nadal to injury, Roger Fe- nated by serve went to a third round or the quarters
derer lifted spirits at the O2 tiebreak, Federer came or whatever. I’m here to
Arena by extending his stay from 4-0 down and saved win matches. I think if I do
to the weekend. a set point to take the lead. the right things and I play
The 19-time Grand Slam His grip on the match the right tennis, I can give
champion guaranteed his quickly tightened as a dis- myself a chance to play on
place in Saturday’s semifi- tracted Zverev made two the weekend of any tour-
nals by defeating Alexan- double faults to gift a break nament.”
der Zverev 7-6 (6), 5-7, 6-1 in the opening game of the Cilic has now won only one
on Tuesday. second set. of his eight matches overall
With Novak Djokovic and However, the 20-year-old at the season-ending tour-
Andy Murray also absent regained his poise and took nament.
due to injuries, the top- advantage of a dip in Fe- “Definitely not a great re-
ranked Nadal’s withdrawal derer’s first serve percent- cord, but I felt that I played
on Monday left Federer as age to break back and even well last year,” Cil-
the only member of men’s then repeated the feat to ic said. “In those three
tennis’ ‘big-four’ in the tour- force a deciding set. matches that I played,
nament. From there on it was all Fe- I had good chances at
“It was nice to be able to derer. least to win. These two also.
show maybe that qual- The six-time champion, So just, you know, couple American player Jack Sock serves against Croatia’s Marin Cilic,
ity of mine, that I can dig who is 16-years older than points away from closing during day three of the ATP World Tour Finals being played at the
out these matches, these his opponent, showed his those matches. A little bit O2 Arena in London, Tuesday Nov. 14, 2017.
points time and time again, big-match experience as unfortunate with that.”q Associated Press
stay mentally tough,” Fe- he regrouped to break in
derer said. the third game, before do- U.S. Soccer looking into tourney
“In the third I started to ing so twice more to seal
match from the beginning Sock’s 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (4) vic- for non-World Cup teams
play better. It was a tough the victory.

till the end.” tory was the United States’ By ANNE M. PETERSON month. Italians will miss soccer’s
Zverev, who won his open- first at the event in 10 years. AP Sports Writer The tournament idea, first premier event for the first
ing match against Marin The No. 8-seed, who seized The U.S. Soccer Federation suggested on social me- time in six decades.
Cilic, will face Jack Sock qualification by winning is looking into the possibility dia, gained traction Mon- It is not clear whether FIFA
on Thursday to decide who the final Masters event of of an event next year in- day when Italy was elimi- would allow exhibition
will join Federer in the final the season in Paris, lost his volving nations that did not nated by Sweden, which games during the World
four. Sock defeated Cilic in debut match to Federer, qualify for the World Cup. advanced with a 1-0 ag- Cup, which runs from June
the early match, with Fe- but he is now 1-1. The idea of an exhibition gregate playoff win. The 14 to July 15.q
derer’s victory eliminating While others might have tournament has been
the Croat. been surprised at Sock be- floated for soccer teams
“It was a very positive coming the first American such as the United States,
match,” Zverev said. “Ob- to win at the elite season- Italy, Chile and Ghana that
viously he won it. He’s in the ending event since Andy won’t be playing in Russia.
semifinals. But even for me, Roddick in 2007, the man The USSF confirmed it was
I played the better match himself wasn’t. exploring the idea after a
of the two today. “I wouldn’t be out here report Tuesday by Fox. The
I think I still have great playing, competing if I United States was eliminat-
chances of qualifying, play- didn’t think I could give my- ed from World Cup con-
ing Jack Sock next. I think if self a chance to win tour- tention when it lost 2-1 at
I continue having this level, naments, to be here,” Sock Trinidad and Tobago last