LONDON — Stanislas Wawrinka reached another milestone.
Having played the best tennis of his life over the past 10 months, the 28-year-old Swiss player made another statement by beating David Ferrer on Friday to reach the semifinals in his first appearance at the ATP World Tour Finals.
“It’s certainly a dream season,” the seventh-seeded Wawrinka said after rallying to beat David Ferrer 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-1 in his final round-robin match. “I started as the world No. 17, I then reached my first quarters at the French Open, I made it to U.S. Open semis and I’m now doing well at the Finals. It’s magic.”
Wawrinka still had a nervous wait because he needed Rafael Nadal to beat Thomas Berdych in the late match in order to advance. The top-ranked Spaniard had already clinched a place in the semis but didn’t falter, winning 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 to finish the group stage with a 3-0 record.
Woods shoots 63 at Turkish Open
BELEK, Turkey — Tiger Woods shot a 9-under 63 Friday to trim a six-shot deficit to one after the second round of the Turkish Open.
Woods completed seven holes of his rain-delayed first round for a 70 on Friday morning. After an hour lunch break, the 14-time major winner didn’t drop a shot and had nine birdies in the second round.
It left Woods in fifth place on 11 under, just a shot behind the leading foursome of Sweden’s Henrik Stenson (68), England’s Ian Poulter (66), Frenchman Victor Dubuisson (65) and South African Justin Walters (66).
Woods, who last won on the European Tour at the co-sanctioned 2009 Australian Masters, said he missed four or five putts within 10 feet for birdie.
Reds agree in principle to Pena deal
CINCINNATI — The Reds have agreed in principle on a deal with catcher Brayan Pena, who has played for the Braves, Royals and Tigers during his nine-year career.
The deal is contingent upon Pena passing a physical.
Pena, who turns 32 in January, would become the third catcher on the Reds’ roster, along with Ryan Hanigan and Devin Mesoraco. Corky Miller was designated outright to the minors after last season and chose free agency rather than accept the assignment.
Pena batted .297 in 71 games for the Tigers last season with four homers and 22 RBIs. He went 1 for 3 in the playoffs with an RBI single during a 4-3 Game 5 loss to Boston. Pena threw out 24 percent of runners who tried to steal on him last season.
