Taylor Fritz is starting to make reaching big finals a habit. And he feels like he belongs among the very best players in tennis, too.

The American followed up his runner-up finish at the U.S. Open by beating Alexander Zverev 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (3) on Saturday to advance to the final at the ATP Finals.

In Sunday’s final, Fritz will will face top-ranked Jannik Sinner — the player he lost to in the U.S. Open final. Sinner also beat Fritz in straight sets in the group stage this week.

Sinner advanced with a rapid 6-1, 6-2 win over Casper Ruud.

Fritz became the first American finalist since James Blake lost the 2006 final to Roger Federer. The last American to win the elite eight-man event was Pete Sampras, who beat Andre Agassi in 1999.

NBA

Green’s foul against Edey is upgraded to a flagrant 1 >> Golden State forward Draymond Green’s foul against Memphis’ Zach Edey in the third quarter of the Warriors’ victory over the Grizzlies has been upgraded to a category-one flagrant, the NBA said Saturday after reviewing the play.

The foul came with 7:06 left in the third quarter of Friday’s game, which Golden State won 123-118. Green lost his balance on a drive and fell near Edey’s feet.

Green appeared to both swing his left leg outward as he was on the ground and restricted Edey’s ability to move his right ankle by clamping it between his elbow and his side. Edey wound up tripping over Green’s outstretched leg and the personal foul was called.

Racing

23xi and Front Row can still compete in 2025 while suing NASCAR >> The two teams suing NASCAR over an antitrust complaint said Saturday they will compete in 2025 as “open teams” after the sanctioning body removed anticompetitive release claims that will allow them to race while the legal process continues.

23XI Racing, the team owned by NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports refused in September to sign take-it-or-leave it revenue sharing offers made by NASCAR just 48 hours before the start of the playoffs.

The teams have filed an antitrust suit alleging NASCAR is “monopolistic bullies” and were denied in federal court last week a request to be recognized as “chartered” teams as the suit continues. A charter is essentially a franchise and guarantees prize money, a spot in the field each week, and other protections.

Golf

McIlroy tied for lead in World Tour Championships >> Rory McIlroy was tied for the lead with Rasmus Hojgaard and Antoine Rozner heading into the final round of the season-ending World Tour Championship as the Northern Irishman closed in on a sixth Race to Dubai title.

McIlroy could have taken the lead outright but his birdie putt at the last hole horseshoed the cup, leaving him to make par for a 4-under 68 and 12-under par for the tournament alongside Hojgaard (66).