Sinner beats Djokovic twice to lead Italy into the Davis Cup final
Malaga (Spain), Nov 26: Novak Djokovic had three chances to finish off Italy and put Serbia into the Davis Cup final. But Jannik Sinner led Italy back from the brink of defeat, saving three consecutive match points before ending Djokovic’s streak of 21 straight wins in Davis Cup singles matches to level the semifinal match at 1-1 on Saturday. Sinner then outdid the top-ranked Djokovic again in doubles to seal Italy’s 2-1 comeback win and put it in the final for the first time since 1998. Djokovic had hoped to cap a superb season, when he increased his Gram Slam haul to a record 24 titles after winning three more majors, by taking Serbia to its first Davis Cup final in a decade. Miomir Kecmanovic beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-7(7), 6-2, 6-1 to give Serbia a 1-0 lead in their semifinal showdown, and Djokovic had Serbia on the cusp of the final when he faced Sinner in the second singles match. But the fourth-ranked Sinner rallied to beat Djokovic 6-2, 2-6, 7-5. It was the third singles match between the top-ranked Djokovic and Sinner in 12 days. Sinner beat Djokovic in the ATP Finals group stage last week before Djokovic beat Sinner in the final to earn a record-breaking seventh ATP Finals title. Sinner then teamed up with Lorenzo Sonego in the doubles. They beat Djokovic and Kecmanovic 6-3, 6-4. (AP)
Rashmikaa wards off Zeel Desai
to bag maiden ITF title
Bengaluru, Nov 26: Reigning national champion Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty clinched her maiden ITF title, beating a valiant Zeel Desai in an all-Indian final of the Women’s World Tennis Tour here on Sunday. Rashmikaa won 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 in the title clash to walk away with a winner’s cheque of USD 3935 and 50 WTA points. Desai bagged USD 2107 and 30 WTA points. (PTI)
Eta makes history as first female
assistant coach in Bundesliga
Berlin, Nov 26: When Kevin Volland scored a late equaliser for Union Berlin, assistant coach Marie-Louise Eta pushed the team for more. Eta had already made history on Saturday by becoming the first female assistant coach in the 60-year history of the Bundesliga, as well as in the other top divisions of Europe’s “big five” football leagues. With Union bidding to end a nine-game run of German league defeats, Volland scored two minutes before the end of regulation time against Augsburg to set off celebrations of joy and relief around Union’s Stadion An der Alten Försterei. It was Union’s first goal in five games and the match ended 1-1. Eta didn’t celebrate the goal for long, but instead encouraged her players to go for the win. There were still five minutes of injury time to play. (AP)
