TENNIS
Italy beat america in a doubles decider Thursday at Malaga, Spain, to advance to the Davis Cup semifinals for the primary time in eight years.
Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini defeated Tommy Paul and Jack Sock 6-4, 6-4 to safe a 2-1 win for Italy after the groups cut up the singles matches.
Bolelli and Fognini broke as soon as in every set to arrange a semifinal on Saturday in opposition to the winner between Germany and Canada.
Earlier, Lorenzo Sonego used his large serve to defeat Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 7-6 (7) and provides the Italians a 1-0 lead. Taylor Fritz pulled the U.S. degree after beating Lorenzo Musetti 7-6 (8), 6-3.
The U.S. holds a document 32 Davis Cup trophies, however its final one got here in 2007 below the earlier format of best-of-five matches performed in host nations as an alternative of the revamped occasion the place the ultimate eight groups collect in a single spot for per week of tennis. The American group led by captain Mardy Fish group got here to Spain with excessive hopes that it may break that dry spell.
“I’ve wished to win this factor for a really very long time as a participant and captain,” Fish mentioned. “It isn’t going to occur this 12 months and it stinks. We’re going residence with out the trophy, which is a bummer.”
Italy, whose solely Davis Cup title got here in 1976, received with out its high two gamers as Jannik Sinner has an injured finger and Matteo Berrettini is recovering from a foot downside.
Sonego, ranked No. 45, struck 17 aces and by no means ceded a service sport to Tiafoe. Sonego clinched the win after Tiafoe netted a forehand following a protracted rally to finish the second-set tiebreaker.
No. 19-ranked Tiafoe, who reached the U.S. Open semifinals in September, received their solely earlier assembly on the Paris Masters simply over three weeks in the past.
This time Sonego took the initiative, Tiafoe mentioned.
“A few weeks in the past I used to be taking part in very aggressive, operating him round, hitting a lot more durable. Right now, he was,” Tiafoe mentioned.
Sonego saved two set factors whereas serving at 6-5 within the second set to drive the tiebreaker. He mentioned he drew on the loud Italian followers who confirmed as much as help him in Spain, which is residence to greater than 250,000 Italians.
“I’m actually happy with my group and of this unbelievable crowd, it seems to be like we’re in Italy. They help us from the start,” mentioned Italy captain Filippo Volandri.
Fritz hit 12 aces and had one break to beat the No. 23-ranked Musetti for a second time after defeating him at Wimbledon in June.
On Wednesday, a Croatia group led by Marin Cilic superior to the opposite semifinal after beating a Spain facet that was lacking Rafael Nadal and No. 1-ranked Carlos Alcaraz.
Croatia will face Australia, which beat the Netherlands on Tuesday.
GOLF
AUSTRALIAN PGA: Adam Scott shot a 5-under 66 after a 6 a.m. tee time to path by one stroke after the primary spherical at Brisbane, Australia.
Three different Australians shot 65s within the afternoon teams – Min Woo Lee, Jason Scrivener and John Lyras – to share the first-round lead.
Brad Kennedy, Anthony Quayle and South Korean Jeunghun Wang matched Scott’s 66 and had been tied for fourth.
Scott was taking part in in the identical early-morning group as British Open champion Cameron Smith, who was three strokes behind after a 68, and Ryan Fox, a detailed runner-up to Rory McIlroy on the European tour’s order of advantage this season, who had a 72.
EUROPEAN TOUR: Dan Bradbury equaled the course document with an 8-under 63 regardless of a bogey on his final gap to carry the clubhouse lead within the first spherical of the Joburg Open, which was suspended in a single day due to thunderstorms.
The Englishman began on the again 9 and combined seven birdies and two eagles with a double bogey on the fifteenth and his lone bogey on No. 9, which denied him the outright course document. He was one shot forward of Nick Bachem of Germany, with Romain Langasque of France one other stroke again.
“It was fairly good to be truthful, I can’t actually complain with a 63 can I?” Bradbury mentioned. “I received somewhat little bit of momentum going early on the again 9, then the (first) thunderstorm clearly stopped that.”
Play was interrupted by the storms in the course of the afternoon after which halted for the day with near half the sector but to complete the spherical.
Clement Berardo of France was at 6 below after simply 11 holes, having made 4 straight birdies when play was stopped.
The Joburg Open is the primary event of the European tour’s 2023 season, with two extra occasions held in South Africa in December.
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