LONDON — Six-time champion Roger Federer rallied past Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-5 Saturday, setting up a semifinal against Rafael Nadal at the ATP World Tour Finals. LONDON — Six-time champion Roger Federer rallied past Juan Martin
LONDON — Six-time champion Roger Federer rallied past Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-5 Saturday, setting up a semifinal against Rafael Nadal at the ATP World Tour Finals.
Novak Djokovic will take on Stanislas Wawrinka in the other semifinal at the year-end tournament.
Federer and del Potro needed a win in their final round-robin match to progress from Group B. They treated the crowd to a tense and entertaining match. Federer trailed in all three sets before coming out on top.
“I don’t get a day off, I’ve got to back it up and be ready to go again tomorrow,” Federer said. “I’ll try to make his (Nadal’s) life a bit difficult.”
Only once in 12 appearances has Federer failed to advance to the last four at the season-ending tournament featuring the top eight players. The 17-time Grand Slam winner has struggled this season and the elite event is his last chance to win a big title in 2013.
Federer had a slow start, struggling to return del Potro’s big serve in the first set and committing seven forehand mistakes as his rival opened up a 5-1 lead.
Federer came back and broke del Potro at love as he served for the set, but the Argentine former finalist saved two break points in his next service game before closing it out.
Golf
ANTALAYA, Turkey — Victor Dubuisson of France opened up a five-shot lead after the third round at the Turkish Airlines Open on Saturday, while Tiger Woods kept himself in the mix despite three bogeys on the back nine.
Dubuisson opened with four straight birdies and added five more in a bogey-free 9-under 63. He moved to 21-under 195 to distance himself from the field. Ian Poulter was alone in second after a 68, while Woods and Henrik Stensson were among four players sitting another shot back.
Woods had three birdies on the front nine but then mixed three birdies with three bogeys in a six-hole stretch starting at the 11th. He finished with an improbable birdie on the 18th for a 68.
Woods hurt his right hand when his club hit a tree at No. 11, but he said he wouldn’t need any treatment.
soccer
HOUSTON — Sporting Kansas City’s Jimmy Nielsen made three saves, and Houston’s Tally Hall had two stops as Kansas City and the Dynamo played to a 0-0 tie in the first leg of the Eastern Conference finals Saturday.
The second leg will be Nov. 23 in Kansas City after a two-week break for FIFA international games.
Houston appeared to take a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute as Kofi Sarkodie got a pass in the right box and sent one across into the net, but Sarkodie was called offside.
Nielsen kept the game scoreless in the 29th minute, making a diving save to his right on Boniek Garcia’s free kick from 30 yards out.
Teal Bunbury had a shot from 10 yards out stopped in the 39th minute. On the counterattack, Will Bruin had a shot from 35 yards out in the middle sail just above the crossbar.
Nielsen stopped another Houston opportunity in the 57th minute, saving Cam Weaver’s header from 8 yards out.
motorsports
AVONDALE, Ariz. — Brad Keselowski was in the thick of the championship hunt a year ago at Phoenix International Raceway, where he rolled into the race on Jimmie Johnson’s rear bumper. He left with the points lead and wrapped up his first Sprint Cup title a week later.
Now back at the track where his fortunes turned, Keselowski is a mere spectator to this year’s title fight.
Johnson takes a seven point lead into today’s race over Matt Kenseth — the same margin Johnson held over Keselowski at this point last season. Johnson or Kenseth will end Keselowski’s reign next week at Homestead.
But Keselowski takes pride in knowing he defeated five-time champion Johnson to win his title, a feat only he and Tony Stewart have accomplished since 2006.
