Tsitsipas, Thiem set up title match at ATP Finals
LONDON >> The first time Dominic Thiem played at the ATP Finals, he was handed an unknown Greek teenager as a hitting partner in training. Three years later, Thiem is facing that same player in the final of the season-ending tournament.
Thiem beat defending champion Alexander Zverev in the semifinals on Saturday after Stefanos Tsitsipas ousted six-time winner Roger Federer, setting up a title match between two players who first met each other at the O2 Arena under very different circumstances.
“I just saw a picture before that I practiced with him the first time I played here
2016,” Thiem said after beating Zverev 7-5,
6-3. “He was a hitting partner here. It’s an amazing story for both of us. … We didn’t think that only three years later we were going to face each other in the final.”
The now 21-year-old Tsitsipas had the most eye-catching win on Saturday, saving
11 of 12 break points to beat Federer 6-3, 6-4. He also took advantage of an error-filled performance from Federer, who continually put his opponent under pressure only to come up short when it mattered.
Berdych announces retirement
LONDON >> Former Wimbledon runner-up Tomas Berdych has announced his retirement from tennis.
Berdych confirmed the decision at the ATP Finals on Saturday, having hinted on social media this week that reports about his retirement were accurate.
The 34-year-old Czech reached the 2010 Wimbledon final, beating Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic along the way before losing to Rafael Nadal.
English takes 1-shot lead
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO >> Harris English holed a chip-and-run from off the 18th green for birdie and a 7-under 64, giving him the 36-hole lead at the Mayakoba Golf Classic as he tries to end six years without winning.
English birdied his last two holes at El Camaleon and led by one shot over Vaughn Taylor, who had a 66 in the afternoon. Brendon Todd, coming off a victory in the Bermuda Championship two weeks ago, had a 68 and was another shot behind.
Lombard leads by 1
SUN CITY, SOUTH AFRICA >> Zander Lombard will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge and is in position to win his first European Tour title at his country’s most prestigious tournament.
The 24-year-old South African, who led by two strokes overnight, ground out a levelpar 72 in the third round to move to 11 under par and stay ahead of compatriot Louis Oosthuizen (71) and Belgian Thomas Detry (69).
Dillard, Olympic champion, dies
CLEVELAND >> Harrison Dillard, the former Buffalo Soldier and only Olympic runner to win gold medals in both the sprints and high hurdles, has died. He was 96.
Longtime friend Ted Theodore said Dillard died Friday at the Cleveland Clinic after a fight with stomach cancer. The 1955 Sullivan Award winner as the nation’s outstanding amateur athlete, Dillard was the oldest living U.S. Olympic champion.
Dillard was a sharpshooter in the last racially segregated unit in the U.S. Army in World War II, serving as a Buffalo Soldier in the 92nd Infantry Division. He returned to Europe a few years later for the Olympics.
Germany qualifies for Euro 2020
BERLIN >> Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Croatia qualified for the 2020 European Championship on Saturday.
For the Germans, it’s a record 13th straight time they will appear at the tournament, continuing a run going back to 1972.
The three-time champion advanced with a 4-0 win over Belarus, with Toni Kroos scoring twice and steering his team top of Group C. Second-place Netherlands also qualified despite a 0-0 draw with Northern Ireland.
Austria joined already-qualified Poland from Group G with a 2-1 win over visiting North Macedonia. Croatia booked its place as Group E winner with a 3-1 win at home over Slovakia.