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Tennis: Germany beat Britain to reach Davis Cup semi-finals

INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA (REUTERS) - Germany duo Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz sent their country into the Davis Cup semi-finals as they beat British pair Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski to earn a 2-1 victory on Tuesday (Nov 30). Their 7-6(10) 7-6(5) win sealed a remarkable comeback for the Germans in Innsbruck, who avenged their defeat at the same stage of the competition by Britain in 2019. Dan Evans had given Britain the lead by thrashing Peter Gojowczyk 6-2 6-1 in the first singles. But Jen-Lennard Struff kept Germany alive in the last-eight clash with an inspired performance to defeat world number 12 Cameron Norrie in Innsbruck. Struff won 7-6(6) 3-6 6-2 to send the tie into the deciding doubles rubber which proved a tense affair. The German pair saved four set points on their way to winning the first set in a remarkable tiebreak. They were then 5-0 down in the second tiebreak of the match but reeled off seven consecutive points to seal the win. More on this topic   Related Story Tennis: Croatia claim surprise Davis Cup win over Italy to reach semis   Related Story Tennis: Champions Spain out of Davis Cup after loss to Russia

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Tennis: Zverev ends Djokovic’s record bid to reach ATP Finals showpiece

TURIN, ITALY (AFP) - Alexander Zverev downed Novak Djokovic in a thrilling last-four clash to end the world number one's bid for a record-equalling sixth ATP Finals title on Saturday (Nov 20) and set up a final against Daniil Medvedev. The German edged to a 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-3 success in Turin and will face reigning champion Medvedev, who beat Casper Ruud in the other semi, for the trophy on Sunday. It was a disappointing end to a remarkable season for Djokovic, who fell one match short of becoming the first man to win a calendar Grand Slam since 1969 when he lost the US Open final to Medvedev. The 20-time major champion was hoping to draw level with Roger Federer on six season-ending championship titles this week in Italy. But Zverev, who also beat the 34-year-old in the Olympics semi-finals in Tokyo, proved to be a bridge too far for Djokovic again. More on this topic   Related Story Tennis: Medvedev serves up Ruud awakening in ATP Finals   Related Story Tennis: Compulsory vaccine rule by Australian Open casts doubt on Djokovic's title defence

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Football: Leaders Chelsea survive late siege to beat Brentford 1-0

LONDON (REUTERS) - Chelsea beat neighbours Brentford 1-0 to keep their grip on the Premier League's top spot on Saturday (Oct 16) thanks to a Ben Chilwell strike but they owed their three points as much to goalkeeper Edouard Mendy who denied the hosts with a string of late saves. Chilwell, back in the team after being side-lined early in the season, scored for the second match in a row when Brentford failed to clear and the ball dropped kindly for him to strike from 12 yards with a half volley in the 45th minute. The hosts had earlier hit the post through Bryan Mbeumo and the Frenchman was again denied by the woodwork in the 75th minutes as the Bees subjected Chelsea to wave after wave of attacks in their second-half push for an equaliser. Premier League new boys Brentford spent much of the first half pegged back by Chelsea but the red and white shirts piled forward after the break, roared on by their fans relishing their first league derby against their West London rivals since 1947. In the 83rd minute, Mendy denied Saman Ghoddos as he rushed off his line to close down the angle, moments before Trevoh Chalobah saved the visitors by clearing off line from Christian Norgaard. Chelsea's French goalkeeper made more fine saves, including turning over an acrobatic overhead effort by Norgaard in injury time. Asked to describe the game, Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel told BBC: "Very strong for 70 minutes, very lucky for 20 minutes." The match proved a baptism of fire for Chelsea's Malang Sarr who made his league debut in the centre of defence, replacing the injured Antonio Rudiger while Thiago Silva returned to London from international duty for Brazil too late to play. "We trust the guys who are young. If you don't play you cannot get experience," Tuchel said. The result leaves Chelsea one point clear of Liverpool at the top of the table on 19 points. Brentford, who have beaten London rivals Arsenal and West Ham United so far this season, stand in seventh place on 12 points. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Blues' Mason Mount just getting started after Ballon d'Or nomination   Related Story Football: Chelsea beat 10-man Southampton 3-1 to get back on track

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Football: Mourinho suffers first defeat as Roma boss at Verona

VERONA (REUTERS) - Jose Mourinho suffered his first defeat since returning to coach in Italy as his AS Roma side were beaten 3-2 by Hellas Verona in a thrilling Serie A encounter on Sunday (Sept 19). A stunning volley from Verona captain Marco Faraoni proved decisive, ending Roma's 100 per cent start to the Serie A season while earning his side their first win of the campaign. Roma appeared to be on course for another three points in the pouring Veneto rain after Lorenzo Pellegrini had given the visitors a halftime lead with a sublime back-heel flick. However, the game swung in the home side's favour early in the second half as goals from Antonin Barak and Gianluca Caprari edged Verona 2-1 in front. Ivan Ilic's own goal as he beat Roma striker Tammy Abraham to a cross levelled things up in the 58th minute, before Verona again took the lead five minutes later through Faraoni. Roma piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser but Mourinho's men were left frustrated to sit second in the standings on nine points, with third-placed AC Milan playing Juventus later on Sunday. "We didn't play very well, we didn't adapt well to their way of playing." Mourinho told DAZN. "We lost many individual duels. I need the videos, I need a few hours to better understand what happened." Verona moved out of the bottom three and up to 14th as new coach Igor Tudor got off to winning start after replacing Eusebio Di Francesco in midweek. In Sunday's other Serie A matches, Danilo Cataldi's late equaliser salvaged a point for Lazio in a 2-2 draw at home to Cagliari, while Sampdoria and Spezia earned 3-0 and 2-1 away victories at Empoli and Venezia respectively. End-to-End contest Verona created plenty of promising openings against Roma early on in Veneto but chose the wrong pass every time, with the only moment of quality in front of goal in the first half coming via the deft flick of Pellegrini's boot. Roma full back Rick Karsdorp whipped a cross into the middle where Pellegrini darted across his man and let the ball through his legs before brilliantly guiding home his third league goal of the season. Whatever Verona coach Tudor said at the interval seemed to work as Barak reacted first to the loose ball to level four minutes after the break. Five minutes later and Caprari turned the match on its head, arrowing a piercing strike into the net to edge his side in front, but the home joy was shortlived as Ilic's own goal put Roma back on level terms. Faraoni took home the glory though with a spectacular winner, ensuring Verona beat Roma for the first time in Serie A in almost 25 years. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Mourinho says he only 'looks up, not down' ahead of Arsenal match   Related Story Football: Some young players lack real motivation to succeed, Mourinho tells Singapore audience

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