The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Stewart crowned NASCAR champion with Homestead win
- Federer and Nadal pushed all the way at Tour finals
- Nadal edges Fish in thriller match
| Stewart crowned NASCAR champion with Homestead win Posted: 20 Nov 2011 05:09 PM PST Published: Monday November 21, 2011 MYT 9:10:00 AMHOMESTEAD (Florida): Tony Stewart was crowned NASCAR's champion - on a tiebreak - on Sunday after a magnificent drive won the Ford 400 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday from rival Carl Edwards. The victory for Stewart meant the pair finished level on points for the season but Stewart wins the Sprint Cup thanks to winning more races (5-0) in the season-ending Chase playoffs. |
| Federer and Nadal pushed all the way at Tour finals Posted: 20 Nov 2011 05:08 PM PST LONDON: A sickly Rafa Nadal was pushed to the limit by Mardy Fish in his opening match at the ATP World Tour Finals on Sunday before joining great rival and defending champion Roger Federer at the top of Group B. The Spaniard, playing his first competitive match after a month long lay-off, needed nearly three hours and a rush to the toilet because of a "terrible stomach" to subdue the American tournament debutant, winning a late-night thriller 6-2 3-6 7-6. Federer began the season-ending championships, being held in London's dazzling O2 Arena for the third of five years, with victory over French powerhouse Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, although he was also given a scare in a 6-2 2-6 6-4 victory which raced by in 88 minutes of high-octane hitting. After ripping through the first set in 21 minutes, world number four Federer, bidding for a record sixth title at the ATP's blue riband tournament in his 10th appearance, lost his way and Tsonga threatened a repeat of his victory over the Swiss maestro in this year's Wimbledon quarter-finals. On that occasion Tsonga floored 16-times grand slam champion Federer from two sets to love down but this time he could not complete his fightback, cracking in the 10th game of the decider to Federer's obvious relief. Serving to stay in the match Tsonga fluffed a routine volley, then served a double fault before Federer whipped a forehand winner to set up three match points. Tsonga saved the first but then Federer benefited from a miss-hit return which dragged his opponent out of position and allowed him to fire a match-winning backhand. "It's not always in your control when you play Jo," world number four Federer, who had former France soccer international Thierry Henry in his support box, told reporters. "Today I had flashes of that (Wimbledon) match because I didn't have much chance for a while on his serve. "Once he got the upper hand in the second set he started to swing more freely and got really dangerous. I just tried to stay calm and wait for my chance. "We saw some ups and downs from both players, that's why I'm pretty happy to come through." While Federer got a bit lucky when Tsonga capitulated at the death, Nadal had to rely on his endless reserves of fighting spirit to scrape past Fish. "The third set was a bit crazy," the 25-year-old told reporters. "I felt very bad from the stomach since the beginning of the third. I was seriously really lucky for the victory." Asked what the problem was, Nadal said it was a mystery. "I ate pasta and salmon at the hotel before the match, nothing strange, nothing unusual," said Nadal who will face Federer in their eagerly-anticipated Group B match on Tuesday. "I am worried about getting better for practise tomorrow." Fish, the only one of the eight-man field never to have played in the season-ender, made a slow start, dropping his opening service game to hand Nadal the initiative. Nadal sealed the opening set in 34 minutes in front of a 17,500 capacity crowd watching on in the dimly lit arena but, just like Federer earlier, he was rocked by an opponent playing some electrifying tennis. Fish, who cracked the world's top 10 for the first time this year, let rip with some punishing forehands and displayed some exquisite touches at the net as he outplayed the 10-times major winner in the second set. He squandered four set points at 2-5 on the Nadal serve but a clinical serve and volley in the next game set up a decider. Nadal appeared to have regained control when he moved 2-0 ahead in the decider but suddenly left the arena for a toilet break, leaving Fish standing alone with his thoughts for two minutes despite it not being a changeover. While there were a few slow hand claps from the crowd, Fish was not disputing Nadal's call of nature. "I just assumed that he wasn't feeling well. We've all been there," the 29-year-old said. "I didn't think he was trying to ice me or anything. I have a ton of respect for him." The match swung in Fish's favour when Nadal returned as the Californian reeled off the next three games before he blew his advantage by losing serve to love. Perspiring heavily, Nadal was stretched again in the next game, surviving a break point when the attack-minded Fish wafted a forehand long. Fish, who racked up 35 winners during a thrilling contest, saved two match points at 4-5 but after taking the match into a tiebreak he faltered. Nadal moved 4-1 ahead and when another three match points arrived he made no mistake, sealing victory when a leaping Fish netted a high backhand volley. World number one Novak Djokovic begins on Monday with a Group A clash against Czech Tomas Berdych after home favourite Andy Murray takes on Spain's David Ferrer. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Nadal edges Fish in thriller match Posted: 20 Nov 2011 04:00 PM PST LONDON: Rafa Nadal opened his account at the ATP World Tour Finals with a 6-2 3-6 7-6 defeat of American Mardy Fish in a late-night Group B thriller at the O2 on Sunday. The world number two was stretched to the limit by Fish who produced some dazzling tennis in his first match at the season-ender having cracked the world's top 10 this year. Nadal took advantage of a slow start by his opponent to dominate the first set but the 29-year-old Fish responded by winning the second on his fifth set point with one of many sumptuous volleys he produced in the near three-hour duel. Nadal, who had not played a competitive match for a month leading into the Finals, moved 2-0 ahead in the decider but after he rushed off court for a toilet break Fish reeled off the next three games when he returned. The Spaniard broke back and had two match points at 5-6 on the Fish serve, failing to convert either chance. Perspiring heavily on the quick indoor surface, Nadal moved 4-1 ahead in the tiebreak and when three more match points arrived he made no mistake, sealing victory when the leaping Fish netted a high volley. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
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