Alexander Zverev was imperious in dispatching Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6-2, 6-2 to win the Paris Masters on Sunday.
The third-seeded Zverev was in total control of the final to earn his seventh Masters 1000 title, his first in the French capital. The win at the indoor tournament also moved him past top-ranked Jannik Sinner for the most wins on the ATP tour this year at 66.
Coco Gauff enjoyed a successful start by beating Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-2 in an American matchup at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Second-seeded Iga Swiatek rallied to beat Barbora Krejcikova 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in her first match in two months.
Gauff converted five of her eight break-point opportunities to win her opening match at the year-ending tournament for the top eight ranked players.
“I thought we both were playing high level,” Gauff said. “I just think I was able to break through on the more important points.”
Gauff will face Swiatek on Tuesday with the winner taking control of the Orange Group. Pegula will next face Wimbledon champion Krejcikova.
Swiatek, who arrived at the WTA Finals with a new coach, hadn’t played a match since losing to Pegula in straight sets in the U.S. Open quarterfinals in September.
MLB
The Royals are bringing back right-hander Michael Wacha on a three-year, $51 million contract that includes a club option for the 2028 season, multiple sources reported.
Wacha could earn up to $72 million over four years including performance bonuses. The deal includes a $14 million club option for 2028 with a $1 million buyout.
Wacha, 33, who went 13-8 with a 3.35 ERA this past season, signed with Kansas City last offseason on a deal that included a $16 million salary for 2024 and a $16 million player option for next season.
The Milwaukee Brewers declined closer Devin Williams’ $10.5 million club option for 2025, though the two-time NL reliever of the year remains with the team while being arbitration eligible for one more season.
In other moves, the Brewers picked up their $8 million club option on right-hander Freddy Peralta and declined a club option on catcher Eric Haase. Haase also remains with the organization and is arbitration eligible.
Joey Gallo’s $8 million mutual option was declined by the Washington Nationals, making the first baseman/outfielder a free agent. Gallo, who turns 31 on Nov. 19, hit .161 with 10 homers, 27 RBIs and 102 strikeouts in 223 at-bats.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Oregon was the unanimous choice for No. 1 in The AP poll, strengthening its bid for the top spot in the College Football Playoff selection committee’s first rankings of the season.
The Ducks are No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the third straight week, and unanimous for the first time, following its 21-point win at Michigan.
Georgia, which received one No. 1 vote last week, remained No. 2 after overcoming Carson Beck’s three interceptions and pulling away late to beat Florida.
Ohio State earned a one-spot promotion to No. 3 with its win at Penn State, the Buckeyes’ eighth in a row in the series. No. 4 Miami, which beat Duke, and No. 5 Texas, which was idle, each moved up a spot. Penn State, which had been in the top five in the previous four polls, slipped to No. 6.
The CFP’s expansion to 12 teams this season means losses by top teams to other top teams aren’t a certain disqualifier in the race for the national championship. The CFP’s first rankings of the season will be released Tuesday and updated weekly until the bracket is announced Dec. 8.
Tennessee held its place at No. 7 despite scuffling well into the fourth quarter against three-win Kentucky and winning 28-18.
Indiana jumped five spots to No. 8, its highest ranking since it was No. 7 in 2020 — and best in a non-pandemic season since the Hoosiers were No. 4 during their 1967 Rose Bowl season. The Hoosiers rolled past Michigan State 47-10 on the road to go 9-0 for the first time in program history.
No. 9 BYU and No. 10 Notre Dame were idle.
SOCCER
Daniel Edelman scored the decisive goal in a shootout after three straight saves by Carlos Coronel and the New York Red Bulls outscored visiting Columbus 7-6 following a 2-2 draw, eliminating the defending champion Crew with a first-round sweep in the best-of-3 series.
GOLF
Rio Takeda of Japan won the Toto Japan Classic in a six-hole playoff against Marina Alex to capture her first LPGA Tour title.
Takeda closed with a 5-under 67 while Alex had a 66 to match her 15-under 201. The tournament in Shiga was reduced to 54 holes because Saturday’s third round was washed out by rain.
Both made birdie on the first playoff, and both made pars on the next four holes until Takeda birdied the par-5 18th and the American could manage only a par.
Ayaka Furue tied for 10th. With Furue not winning, Nelly Korda clinched LPGA player of the year for the first time.
RUNNING
Abdi Nageeye and Sheila Chepkirui used strong kicks in the final mile to pull away and win the New York City Marathon for the first time.
Nageeye, who became the first runner from the Netherlands to win the men’s race, was step-for-step with 2022 champion Evans Chebet before using a burst of speed heading into Central Park for the final time to come away with the win in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 39 seconds.
Chepkirui won in 2:24.35.