MONACO — Novak Djokovic will have a crack at toppling Rafael Nadal in the Monte Carlo Masters final for a second straight year.
Nadal vs. Djokovic
in Monte Carlo final
MONACO — Novak Djokovic will have a crack at toppling Rafael Nadal in the Monte Carlo Masters final for a second straight year.
Despite their respective injury concerns, they will meet for the 16th time in a championship today. Nadal leads 8-7 in their finals.
Nadal can improve upon his formidable record on the Monte Carlo red clay — winner of the last eight titles and 46 consecutive match victories. He defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 7-6 (3) in the semifinals on Saturday to set up a rematch with Djokovic.
The Spaniard has reached five successive finals since returning from a seven-month layoff for a left knee injury. He will go for his fourth title of the season against Djokovic, who cruised past unseeded Fabio Fognini of Italy 6-2, 6-1.
Serena Williams pulls US even in Fed Cup
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — Serena Williams evened the United States’ Fed Cup World Group playoff match against Sweden, waiting out a long rain delay to beat Johanna Larsson 6-2, 6-2 on Saturday night.
In the opening match, Sweden’s Sofia Arvidsson beat Sloane Stephens 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.
Hoffman’s hot start gives him lead at RBC Heritage
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Charley Hoffman’s quick start gave him a two-shot lead over U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson after three rounds of the RBC Heritage on Saturday.
Hoffman had four birdies on his first five holes to shoot a bogey-free 5-under 66 and keep out front at 11 under on a windy, cool day at Harbour Town Golf Links. Simpson also didn’t make a bogey on the way to a 65, tying the lowest round of the tournament.
Kevin Streelman shot a 69 and was alone in third at 8 under.
The round started with 91 players making the cut, tying the tour high set in 1981 at the Travelers Championship. Jesper Parnevik moved the cut line Saturday morning to 2 over as he missed a 5-footer to complete his rain-delayed second round and opened the door for 21 players to keep playing.
Brendon de Jonge and Graeme McDowell were tied at 7-under par, four shots off the lead. De Jonge shot a 67, and McDowell had a 68.
Henderson retains crown with decision
SAN JOSE, Calif. —Benson Henderson kept his UFC lightweight crown, outpointing Gilbert Melendez with a split decision Saturday night in a fight that lived up to its promise.
Both fighters raised their fists in triumph and pointed to the crowd as the final bell sounded.
Henderson has won all seven of his UFC bouts and is 19-2 overall, while Melendez, the top challenger, showed he deserves another chance at the title despite making his UFC debut. He’s 21-3 overall.
Alvarez unifies
154-pound titles
SAN ANTONIO — Saul Alvarez unified the 154-pound titles, unanimously outpointing Austin Trout on Saturday night at the Alamodome.
Alvarez (42-0-1) successfully defended his WBC title and won the WBA and Ring Magazine super welterweight championships, receiving winning scores of 115-112, 116-111 and 118-109. Alvarez’s brother, Rigoberto, lost the WBA title to Trout, from Las Cruces, N.M., in February 2011 in the family’s hometown of Guadalajara.
Alvarez knocked down Trout (26-1) once and staggered him several times to the delight of the crowd of 39,247 that continually chanted “Mexico! Mexico!”
From wire sources