LONDON — Top-ranked Roger Federer was eliminated from the ATP World Tour Finals on Saturday, losing to Nikolay Davydenko 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in the semifinals.
Federer, who was broken three straight times in the first set, came within two points of winning while leading 5-4 in the third set. But Davydenko held on and then broke Federer to take a 6-5 lead before serving out the win.
“I was a couple of points away, but just couldn’t get it done,” said Federer, a four-time champion at the season-ending event. “He did well. I thought he played strong throughout, even though I don’t think it was our best match we ever played against each other.”
It was the Russian’s first win over Federer in 13 matches.
Davydenko will face U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in today’s final. The 21-year-old Argentine advanced by beating Robin Soderling 6-7 (1), 6-3, 7-6 (3).
Del Potro dominated with his service game, winning 77 percent of the points on his first serve and 64 percent on his second. He was broken only once, while he broke Soderling twice.
German lugers dominate
IGLS, Austria — Germany’s lugers won five of six World Cup medals up for grabs in women’s singles and men’s doubles races in Igls.
Patric Leitner and Alexander Resch of Germany won the men’s event, adding to their record total of 34 career World Cup victories.
Natalie Geisenberger led a German sweep in the women’s singles for her fourth career title.
The victory marked the 92nd straight victory by the German women in World Cup luge.
• Bjorn Einar Romoren of Norway edged German teenager Pascal Bodmer at the nordic opening to start the ski jumping season in Kuusamo, Finland.
Romoren sailed 139.5 and 139 meters with his two jumps, amassing 299.8 points.
• Ola Vigen Hattestad of Norway won the men’s World Cup cross country sprint race ahead of compatriot Oeystein Pettersen in Kuusamo.
Russia’s Nikita Kriukov prevented a Norwegian sweep in the 1.4- kilometer event, beating John Kristian Dahl.
NHL suspends Sabres’ Kaleta for two games
TORONTO — The NHL suspended Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta two games for a hit on Philadelphia Flyers forward Jared Ross in Friday’s game.
• The Carolina Hurricanes recalled defenseman Bryan Rodney from their American Hockey League affiliate in Albany, N.Y.
• The Dallas Stars recalled left wing Fabian Brunnstrom from the Texas Stars of the AHL.
Footnotes.
Los Angeles Times sportswriter Mike Penner, who announced two years ago he was a transsexual and was changing his name to Christine Daniels, died at age 52 in Los Angeles.
The Times said in a story published Saturday that Penner had likely committed suicide.
• Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird has been declared out of the Dec. 6 Japan Cup Dirt after a small chip was detected in his right front carpal bone.
The Associated Press
