Fritz and Dimitrov Finally Advance at Rain-Soaked Shanghai Masters

 Taylor Fritz of the United States waves to spectators after defeating Terence Atmane of France in the men's singles second round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP)
Taylor Fritz of the United States waves to spectators after defeating Terence Atmane of France in the men's singles second round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP)
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Fritz and Dimitrov Finally Advance at Rain-Soaked Shanghai Masters

 Taylor Fritz of the United States waves to spectators after defeating Terence Atmane of France in the men's singles second round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP)
Taylor Fritz of the United States waves to spectators after defeating Terence Atmane of France in the men's singles second round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP)

Two days after starting, seventh-ranked Taylor Fritz and 10th-ranked Grigor Dimitrov finally got to complete their second-round matches at the Shanghai Masters on Monday.

Fritz, the US Open finalist, had led 4-3 in the opening set against Frenchman Terence Atmane when rain suspended play on Saturday at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, and then washed out all matches on the outside courts until Monday.

The 26-year-old American needed two tiebreakers to see off the No. 161-ranked Atmane 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5), with only one break of serve for each in the 122-minute match. Fritz will play Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki in the third round.

Dimitrov, playing in his 100th Masters event, resumed Monday with a set lead but down a break in the second against Zizou Bergs.

The No.73-ranked Belgian converted his advantage to take the second set before Dimitrov responded by breaking Bergs three times — for the loss of one of his own service games, to clinch the match 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

The 33-year-old Bulgarian will play Australian Alexei Popyrin in the third round.

Also, US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe routed Zhou Yi of China 6-2, 6-4, while Tallon Griekspoor beat the 26th-seeded Jordan Thompson 6-3, 6-2 and Roman Safiullin had a 6-4, 6-2 win over Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan.

Later Monday, No. 16-ranked Ben Shelton plays Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain in a third- round match, with the winner to meet top-ranked Jannik Sinner in the 4th.

Wuhan Open No. 12-ranked Beatriz Haddad-Maia beat Madison Keys of the US 7-6 (7), 6-2 in the opening match of the Wuhan Open.

The Brazilian, winner of the Seoul Open last month for her fourth career title, converted five of her eight break point opportunities — to Keys' three from 12 — as she advanced in 128 minutes at the tournament in China.

One-time US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez of Canada rallied to beat 12th-seeded Diana Shnaider 6-7 (7), 6-3, 6-3.

Rain in Wuhan meant play on the outside courts was suspended.

The top eight seeds, including second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and China Open champion Coco Gauff, received a first-round bye.



Defending Champ Inter Wins at Cagliari to Move Level with Atalanta Atop Serie A

Soccer Football - Serie A - Cagliari v Inter Milan - Unipol Domus, Cagliari, Italy - December 28, 2024 Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella in action with Cagliari's Simone Scuffet REUTERS/Alberto Lingria
Soccer Football - Serie A - Cagliari v Inter Milan - Unipol Domus, Cagliari, Italy - December 28, 2024 Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella in action with Cagliari's Simone Scuffet REUTERS/Alberto Lingria
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Defending Champ Inter Wins at Cagliari to Move Level with Atalanta Atop Serie A

Soccer Football - Serie A - Cagliari v Inter Milan - Unipol Domus, Cagliari, Italy - December 28, 2024 Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella in action with Cagliari's Simone Scuffet REUTERS/Alberto Lingria
Soccer Football - Serie A - Cagliari v Inter Milan - Unipol Domus, Cagliari, Italy - December 28, 2024 Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella in action with Cagliari's Simone Scuffet REUTERS/Alberto Lingria

Thirteen goals scored. Zero conceded. Four wins in four matches across all competitions.
Ever since a 1-0 loss at Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League this month, Inter Milan has been virtually perfect, The Associated Press reported.
The latest performance for the defending Serie A champion was a 3-0 win at Cagliari on Saturday, when Nicolò Barella set up two goals.
The victory moved Inter level on points with Atalanta atop the league, ahead of Atalanta playing Lazio later and attempting to extend its winning streak to 12 matches.
Inter also has a match in hand.
Inter will face Atalanta in its next match on Thursday, in the semifinals of the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Juventus plays AC Milan in the other semifinal.
Alessandro Bastoni put Inter ahead with a looping header following a cross from Barella after the break.
Lautaro Martinez scored his first Serie A goal in nearly two months by volleying in another cross from Barella.
Then Hakan Calhanoglu converted a penalty.
Earlier, Patrick Vieira’s Genoa won at Empoli 2-1 with goals from Milan Badelj and Caleb Ekuban; and Parma beat last-placed Monza 2-1 with a header from Lautaro Rodrigo Valenti eight minutes into stoppage time to spoil the debut of new Monza coach Salvatore Bocchetti.