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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2014 SPORTS Federer sets up Djokovic showdown LONDON: Six-times champion Roger Wawrinka’s nerve failed him again on a Federer survived a late-night Swiss semi- third match point when he could only final thriller against Stanislas Wawrinka on spoon a volley, which Federer fizzed back Saturday to set up an ATP World Tour Finals past him before going on to win the game. showdown against Novak Djokovic. A tiebreak was needed to settle it and After a week of one-sided group stage Wawrinka eeked out another match point, action at London’s O2 Arena, the season- but this time his service return went long. ender burst to life with world number one With the 17,500 fans, many in Swiss red Djokovic battling past Japan’s Kei Nishikori and wearing Federer masks, making a deaf- after a mid-match meltdown before ening din, Federer had the coolest head in Federer saved four match points in a near the cavernous arena, taking the next two three-hour duel with compatriot Wawrinka. points, and the match, with sumptuous Federer eventually prevailed 4-6 7-5 7- drop volleys. “I think I got lucky tonight. 6(6) against the man he will join forces with Stan played better from the baseline and when Switzerland take on France in next that usually does the job on this court,” a week’s Davis Cup final. relieved Federer said. “But I kept fighting. Djokovic, bidding for a third consecutive It’s tough but I’m thrilled to be in another season-ending title having already secured final in London.” the number one ranking, beat Asian trail- blazer Nishikori 6-1 3-6 6-0 after losing his ‘OVER THE LINE’ cool with another capacity crowd at the O2 He will now do battle with Djokovic for a Arena. The real drama was saved to last, 37th time, though he has precious little however. Federer, sublime in a 6-0 6-1 recovery time. That said, Djokovic was com- thrashing of home favorite Andy Murray in plaining of “mental exhaustion” after end- his final group match on Thursday, was the ing Nishikori’s impressive debut at the Tour big favorite to claim a 15th victory in 17 Finals. The Serb was rattled by a mid-match career clashes with Wawrinka, but he was onslaught from the Japanese, who came in for a rollercoaster ride. back from a poor start to dominate the sec- Australian Open champ Wawrinka ond set, only for his challenge to fizzle out seemed determined to tear up the script, in the decider. which had Federer and Djokovic lined up After dropping only nine games in to contest the final match of the ATP sea- group stage wins against Marin Cilic, son yesterday. Wawrinka and Tomas Berdych, it looked like CLEVELAND: Cavaliers’ LeBron James (left) shoots against Atlanta Hawks’ Paul Millsap in the second half of an NBA basketball game. — AP He outplayed 17-times grand slam plain sailing again for the Serb but a dou- champion Federer in the opening set and ble-fault, loudly cheered by the crowd who went toe-to-toe in the second before crack- wanted a Nishikori fightback, threw ing in the 12th game when a missed smash Djokovic off track early in the second set. Cavs bring down Hawks gave Federer three set points. He gestured sarcastically to the fans and One was enough. Federer was riled by a admitted his tetchy loss of focus could have CLEVELAND: LeBron James scored 32 points Kyle Singler scored 21 points, going 5 of 7 85 loss to the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs. line call when he dropped serve in the first cost him dear. “I mean, look, at the end of game of the decider and the 33-year-old’s the day I cannot blame the crowd,” and the Cleveland Cavaliers made their first 11 3- from 3-point range to keep the Pistons close. Spencer Hawes had 14 points and eight boards mood darkened further when, serving at 4- Djokovic told reporters. point attempts, including nine in the first quar- Greg Monroe had 16 points and 11 rebounds for off the bench. Reserve Gerald Green scored 26 3, Wawrinka saved one of two break points “The crowd has a right to do what they ter, to rout the Atlanta Hawks 127-94 on Saturday Detroit, while Brandon Jennings scored 14 points points for Phoenix and was ejected with 1:57 with a fluky volley off the frame. want, to cheer for whoever they want. night. and Josh Smith finished with 11. remaining after picking up his second technical But Wawrinka will have nightmares Some individuals were going over the line The Cavaliers became the first team in NBA foul. Goran Dragic added 19 for the Suns, who about 10th game. Match point arrived but but I lost concentration. “I lost the break history to go 9 for 9 or better from behind the arc MAVERICKS 131, TIMBERWOLVES 117 shot 38 percent from the field in the opener of a he watched a Federer forehand whistle because of that. I allowed myself to be in in a quarter, according to information provided Monta Ellis scored a season-high 30 points six-game road trip. past him. Another came, and this time the situation to lose the set, maybe even to the team by the Elias Sports Bureau. and Dallas handed road-weary Minnesota its Wawrinka netted a feeble volley. lose the match.” — Reuters James hit three 3-pointers in the period, while fifth straight loss to finish a six-game trek that WARRIORS 112, HORNETS 87 Kevin Love and Joe Harris had two apiece. The included a stop in Mexico City. Klay Thompson scored 21 points, Stephen Cavaliers set a team record by going 19 for 31 on Dirk Nowitzki was another of eight players in Curry added 19 points and nine assists, and 3s. Cleveland, which rallied from a 19-point double figures with 15 as Dallas had a season Golden State beat Charlotte to extend its best deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Boston on high in points, two nights after setting a club start in 20 years. Andrew Bogut had 13 points Friday, needed no dramatics this time. The record with a 53-point win over Philadelphia. and nine rebounds, Harrison Barnes scored 17 Cavaliers, who have won four straight, scored 41 The Timberwolves finished a two-week trip points and Marreese Speights had 13 off the points in first quarter, including 11 by James in covering more than 5,600 air miles on a back-to- bench to help Golden State to its second straight the opening 3:34. Paul Millsap scored 16 points back that started with a franchise-worst, 48- win following consecutive losses. The Warriors (7- for the Hawks, whose four-game winning streak point loss in New Orleans. Kevin Martin scored a 2) remained atop the Pacific Division and was snapped. season-high 34 points for Minnesota, which gets matched the start of the 1994-95 Golden State three days off before starting a four-game home- team. Al Jefferson had 19 points and six RAPTORS 111, JAZZ 93 stand. rebounds for Charlotte. Lance Stephenson added DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points, Jonas 16 points. Valanciunas set season highs with 17 points and KINGS 94, SPURS 91 14 rebounds, and Toronto beat Utah for its sixth DeMarcus Cousins had 25 points and 10 TRAIL BLAZERS 97, NETS 87 win in seven games. rebounds for Sacramento, which had squan- Damian Lillard had 28 points and 10 assists, Kyle Lowry had 19 points, Patrick Patterson dered leads of 24 and 26 points in losing its pre- and Portland beat Brooklyn despite missing added 16 and Lou Williams scored 10 of his 13 in vious two games. The Kings snapped a nine- LaMarcus Aldridge. With its All-Star power for- the fourth quarter as the Raptors won their third game losing streak to the Spurs, who had won 21 ward out with an upper respiratory illness, straight over the Jazz and scored 100 or more for of the past 22 meetings. Darren Collison had 19 Portland took an early lead and maintained it the ninth time in 10 games this season. points and Rudy Gay scored 18 for the Kings, against the road-weary Nets, who lost all three LONDON: Switzerland’s Roger Federer plays a return to Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors each had 18 who committed only nine turnovers. Manu games on their western trip. during their ATP World Tour Finals semifinal tennis match at the O2 Arena. — AP points, and Gordon Hayward and Trey Burke Ginobili had 21 points, Kawhi Leonard and Reserve center Chris Kaman scored 12 for both scored 12 for the Jazz, who dropped to 0-3 Danny Green scored 16, and Tim Duncan finished Portland, which was also missing Nicolas Batum on the second night of back-to-backs as they with 15 points and eight rebounds. (bruised knee). The Blazers have won four Al-Attiyah flags off ME wrapped up a five-game Eastern Conference straight. road trip. Alec Burks had 10 points and 10 assists CLIPPERS 120, SUNS 107 Brook Lopez led Brooklyn with 21 points, for Utah. Chris Paul had 32 points and nine assists, and matching up against twin brother Robin for the Porsche Cup in Bahrain Blake Griffin added 19 points for Los Angeles. first time in two years. Joe Johnson added 20 WIZARDS 98, MAGIC 93 DeAndre Jordan finished with 18 rebounds and points and Deron Williams had 19 for the Nets, Praises efforts of Nene and reserve Kris Humphries scored 16 12 points for the two-time defending Pacific who were coming off losses to Phoenix and Sheikh Salman Bin Issa Al Khalifa points apiece, John Wall had 15 points and 10 Division champions, who were coming off an 89- Golden State.