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Sports in brief

 
Published Nov. 22, 2015

tennis

djokovic faces federer in final

LONDON — There is one more match to play this season, and plenty is riding on it for Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

Djokovic, who has had the best season of his career with three Grand Slam titles, is looking to become the first man to win four straight titles at the ATP finals. Federer can add to his record six titles while also proving he can still beat the top-ranked Djokovic in big matches.

Djokovic reached the final by beating Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-3 Saturday. Federer beat French Open champion Stan Wawrinka 7-5, 6-3.

Today's match (1, ESPN2) is the eighth this year between the players. Djokovic leads 4-3, including wins in the Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals.

soccer

FIFA urges sanctions for Blatter, Platini

Ethics investigators for FIFA, the ruling body of world soccer, have recommended sanctions be imposed on president Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, the head of soccer's European confederation, the organization said.

Blatter and Platini, who have been suspended for 90 days since early October as FIFA conducted an internal investigation into a financial transaction between them, will have the opportunity to defend themselves at a hearing, expected to take place in December. After that, the judge on FIFA's ethics committee will decide whether to impose more permanent sanctions.

England: Jamie Vardy tied the Premier League record for scoring in consecutive games to help Leicester get a 3-0 win at Newcastle and move into first. Vardy has scored in 10 straight matches, a feat Ruud van Nistelrooy also achieved for Manchester United across two seasons in 2003. Leicester is the surprise leader after 13 games with 28 points after leapfrogging Arsenal, which lost 2-1 at West Bromwich Albion and fell to fourth. Manchester City slipped from first to third with a 4-1 loss to Liverpool. Manchester United needed a 90th-minute own goal to beat Watford 2-1 and move into second.

Spain: Luis Suarez scored twice and Neymar had a goal and an assist to lead Barcelona to a 4-0 win over Real Madrid in the first "clasico" of the season. The victory gave Barcelona a six-point lead in the league standings and halted Madrid's 22-game league unbeaten streak at home. Barcelona played most of the match without Lionel Messi, who entered in the 56th minute after being sidelined for nearly two months with a left knee injury.

ET CETERA

speed skating: American Heather Bergsma broke the world record in the 1,500 meters in the World Cup event at Salt Lake City. Bergsma finished in 1 minute, 50.85 seconds, to break the mark of 1:51.59 set by Brittany Bowe of Ocala last week. Bowe was second in 1:51.31.

Times wires