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A18 SPORTS
Saturday 17 November 2018

Zverev to face Federer in semifinals of ATP Finals

By SAM JOHNSTON break point at 5-6. nal appearance with his
Associated Press Having forced a tiebreaker, previous victory, the Serb
LONDON (AP) — After Zverev produced perhaps showed no signs of com-
reaching the last four at the the most important shot placency as he lost just five
ATP Finals for the first time, of the match to dig out a points on his serve against
Alexander Zverev isn’t satis- deep Isner return and force Cilic.
fied. a volley error to ensure it Djokovic won 31 straight
He set up a semifinal with was he and not the Ameri- service points from the third
six-time champion Roger can who earned set point. game of the first set through
Federer by defeating John “A remarkable shot,” Isner to the fourth game of the
Isner 7-6 (5), 6-3 on Friday. said. Isner netted a fore- second, but he did have
Zverev is the youngest play- hand and, with his chance to save a Cilic set point on
er at 21 to reach the semifi- of qualification gone, wilt- his way to winning a closely
nals since 2009 and the first ed in the second set as fought tiebreaker.
from Germany since 2003. quality Zverev returns se- “It wasn’t easy to ap-
“The tournament isn’t cured the only break of the proach this match with 100
over,” Zverev said. match. percent willingness to win
“I don’t want to really be Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates winning a point The 37-year-old Federer it,” Djokovic said.
thinking ‘I’m in the semi- against John Isner of the United States in their ATP World Tour holds a 3-2 career record Cilic, who has failed to ad-
Finals singles tennis match at the O2 Arena in London, Friday
finals now, I’m satisfied.’ Nov. 16, 2018. over Zverev, with the most vance from the round robin
That’s not how I work.” recent meeting between stage in four appearances,
Isner and Marin Cilic, who Zverev saved it with an ace 5-3, before calmly closing the oldest and youngest was unable to maintain his
later lost 7-6 (7), 6-2 in a and played a faultless tie- out the contest at the O2 player in the tournament level of performance in the
dead rubber against group breaker to eliminate the Arena. having been a three-set second set and allowed
winner Novak Djokovic, American. Reaching the last four victory for the Swiss at last Djokovic to break twice.
were eliminated by the re- “You make this tourna- in London is the latest year’s ATP Finals. Djokovic ended a two-year
sult. Five-time champion ment, you want to do a little achievement in a career- “It’s going to be a very diffi- Grand Slam title drought by
Djokovic will face debutant bit better,” said Isner, who best season for Zverev, cult match,” Zverev said. “I defeating Anderson in the
Kevin Anderson in the other lost all three of his matches. whose victory over Isner mean, him on this surface, Wimbledon final, before
semifinal on Saturday. “But at the same time this is took him beyond the 55 indoor court, he’s an unbe- going on to claim his 14th
Isner needed to win in no normal event. You’re up wins he posted last year. lievable player.” major title at the U.S. Open.
straight sets to have any against the absolute best in Both players utilized power- The top-ranked Djokovic “He’s playing well, serv-
chance of advancing and the world.” ful serves to hold comfort- ensured he will be the only ing well, very aggressive,”
almost took the lead when In the second set, Zverev ably but Isner came up with unbeaten semifinalist. Djokovic said of Anderson.
he held a set point in the converted his only break a crushing forehand return Despite having already “So I know what to
12th game of the opener. point of the match to lead winner to bring up the first secured an eighth semifi- expect.”q

LPGA commissioner likes having many winners on tour

By TIM REYNOLDS Thompson hit all 18 greens after shaking off a bogey-
AP Sports Writer in regulation, and hasn’t bogey-bogey start to finish
NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — The dropped a shot yet through with a 71 and get to 3-un-
LPGA will have either 25 two rounds. der.
or 26 different winners in “This is one of my favorite Only four women have
32 events this season, de- tournaments just because I won multiple tournaments
pending on what happens can drive to it and I have so this season — player of the
when the final putt of the much family and friends out year Jutanugarn has three
CME Group Tour Champi- here and a lot of fans,” said wins, as does Sung Hyun
onship drops Sunday. Thompson, a native South Park. Hataoka and Brooke
Commissioner Mike Whan is Floridian. “It means the Henderson are two-time
just fine with that sort of di- world to me just to come winners, and 21 other wom-
versity. here to Naples and play en have prevailed once.
Whan delivered his annual in front of them. Whether I “Everyone always says we
“state of the LPGA” address do good or bad, they’re al- need more American play-
Friday during the second Lexi Thompson tees off during the second round of the CME ways there supporting me, ers to do well, but it’s not
round of the season-ending Group Tour Championship golf tournament, Friday, Nov. 16, giving me high fives. That’s that we’re not doing well,”
CME Group Tour Champi- 2018, in Naples, Fla. what makes the game.” said Lincicome, one of
onship, revealing that next Associated Press The tournament within the eight American women to
year’s total purses will ex- fine with Whan. has gone after 36 holes, tournament this week is the win once this season — and
ceed $70 million for the first “I’d definitely prefer the top there might be one more conclusion of the Race to whose round Friday went
time. A new sponsor for the 10 players in the world rank- name added to the win- the CME Globe, with world haywire when a suddenly
Women’s British Open will ings come from 10 differ- ners’ list for 2018. No. 1 Ariya Jutanugarn now balky putter forced her to
be revealed soon, and the ent countries,” Whan said. Lexi Thompson — still winless in control of that again. drop four shots on the final
entire 2019 schedule is ex- “And the reason is, if I get this year — shot a 5-under She’s one of five women four holes. “It’s just this tour
pected by the end of the one player that wins 33 per- 67 on Friday to move to 12 who entered this week with is so global and everybody
month. cent of the time she tees it under for the week, three the best chance of taking is so darn good. We can’t
And having a tour where up, when she doesn’t tee it shots clear of first-round that trophy and $1 million get away with mediocre
women from 10 countries up it’s not the same event.” leader Amy Olson (72) and bonus, and is back atop golf. You have to play your
have won this year is just The way this tournament Brittany Lincicome (71). the projected standings best all the time.” q