Roger Federer to play Rafael Nadal at ATP World Tour Finals

Roger Federer fought back to reach the semifinals in the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

On the back of a poor season, the 17-time Grand Slam winner overcame a 3-0 deficit in the third set to beat Juan Martin del Potro, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-5, to reach the semifinals for the 11th time.

The Swiss earned a chance to prove that — despite his aging legs, aching back and recent lack of consistency — he can still beat rival Rafael Nadal, his semifinal opponent.

“I just have to have the right mind-set to give it one last go, maybe play with a little less pressure than I have in previous matches with him,” Federer said. “I just feel like I need to look at it more as being an underdog a little bit because of circumstances, because of my year, because of his year. Maybe that free swinging is what I kind of need to do a little bit more tomorrow.”

The 32-year-old Federer has endured a tough year, and the elite event is his last chance to win a big title in 2013. Federer has just four victories against top-10 opponents in 2013 and has not beaten Nadal since 2012. The top-ranked Spaniard leads 21-10 in their head-to-head series, but Federer is 4-0 on indoor hard courts, having secured all four wins at the ATP Finals.

Nadal, who returned to tennis in February after a seven-month layoff due to a knee injury, clinched the year-end No. 1 spot this week in a season in which he won the French Open and the U.S. Open. In London, the Spaniard qualified from his group unbeaten.

Novak Djokovic, who beat Richard Gasquet, 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-3, in his final round-robin match to extend his winning streak to 20 matches since his loss to Nadal in the U.S. Open final in September, will face Stanislas Wawrinka in the other semifinal.

In doubles, top-ranked Bob and Mike Bryan booked a spot in the semifinals, rallying from one set down in their final round-robin match.

The twin brothers defeated veteran Polish duo Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski, 4-6, 6-3, 10-5, to clinch their second win and finish second in Group A.

GOLF

Dubuisson leads in Turkey; Woods still in hunt

Victor Dubuisson of France opened up a five-shot lead after the third round at the Turkish Open at Antalaya on Saturday, while Tiger Woods kept himself in the mix despite three bogeys on the back nine.

Dubuisson opened with four straight birdies and added five more in a bogey-free nine-under 63. He moved to 21-under 195 to distance himself from the field. Ian Poulter was alone in second after a 68. Woods and Henrik Stensson (69) were among four players sitting another shot back.

Woods had an eventful round and hurt his right hand when his club hit a tree on the 11th hole, but he seemed to escape without a serious injury.

Woods made three birdies on the front nine, then mixed three more birdies with three bogeys in a six-hole stretch starting at the 11th. He finished with an improbable birdie on No. 18 for a 68.

Woods is looking for his first European Tour victory in four years but found just five of 14 fairways Saturday. Yet he needed only 24 putts in his round, one-putting the last four holes.

::

Making par from a tough lie in the bunker saved Briny Baird’s round. Closing with three straight birdies gave him a share of the lead in the McGladrey Classic at St. Simons Island, Ga. None of that will make Sunday any easier for a 41-year-old who has never won in 364 tries on the PGA Tour.

Baird and Chris Kirk each made birdie on the final hole Saturday to finish at 10-under 200, one shot clear of Brian Gay (66), Kevin Stadler (65) and John Senden (68). Twelve players were separated by four shots going into the final round Sunday at Sea Island.

::

Yuki Ichinose of Japan shot a six-under 66 to finish in a three-way tie for the lead after the second round of the Mizuno Classic at Shima, Japan.

Ichinose carded seven birdies against a lone bogey to finish at eight-under 136 with compatriots Mamiko Higa, who also shot a 66, and Shiho Oyama (68).

American Brittany Lincicome shot a 68 and is one stroke off the pace with Japan’s Ayako Fujimoto (67).

ETC.

Dolphins say they took action in earlier Incognito case

Miami Dolphins Coach Joe Philbin said that the club took “immediate action” against offensive lineman Richie Incognito after a woman told police he molested her at a team-sponsored charity golf tournament in May 2012.

But Philbin would not say what action the team took and declined to say why Incognito was allowed to become a member of the team “leadership council” this season.

Incognito, who was spotlighted this season in a Dolphins video on fan etiquette, was suspended by the club last week for conduct detrimental to the team. He is being investigated by the NFL in the alleged bullying of fellow offensive lineman Jonathan Martin, who has quit the team.

A volunteer at the Dolphins’ golf tournament last year said Incognito rubbed a golf club against her crotch, stomach and chest, rubbed his crotch against her, knocked a pair of sunglasses off her head with the club and poured bottled water on her.

She did not ultimately pursue charges and told WPLG-TV in Miami last week that a confidentiality agreement prevented her from discussing the case, which means she might have reached an out-of-court settlement.

The Dolphins practiced Saturday and met with. Philbin said he has been in constant contact on the unfolding scandal with owner Stephen Ross, new CEO Tom Garfinkel, General Manager Jeff Ireland and team Vice President Dawn Aponte.

Miami players denied ever seeing Martin harmed by a teammate.

::

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jerome Simpson was released from jail Saturday on $12,000 bond, about seven hours after he was arrested overnight in Minneapolis on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.