The Telegraph Two of the surprise packages of this clay-court season have been British – initially Dan Evans, who made a deep run in Monte Carlo, and more lately Cameron Norrie, who played his second final in three weeks on Sunday. Unfortunately, Norrie wasn’t able to land a maiden ATP title in Lyon. But then he was up against Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has been the dominant force of 2021 outside the slams, and now stands at No 1 in the table of most rankings points gained since January 1. Nevertheless, it had been a hugely creditable effort for Norrie to go this far, especially when you consider that he took out top seed Dominic Thiem on Thursday, and then trounced big-hitting Russian Karen Khachanov in Saturday’s semi-final, losing only two games in the process. Norrie has come to clay late in his career, but it feels like this is developing into his favourite surface. He has one of the heaviest left-handed forehands in the game, loaded with top-spin, and uses it like a miniature version of Rafael Nadal. The result has been a tally of 14 wins and only four losses since he began his European clay-court swing in Barcelona. So while the French Open, which starts next Sunday, has traditionally been a graveyard of British hopes, there are reasons to hope that this year’s event could deliver some more positive results. Norrie’s previous final in Estoril had been a nervewracking affair which he eventually lost on a deciding-set tie-break to the more experienced Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Sunday was more straightforward for Tsitsipas, who needed only 69 minutes to hammer home a 6-3, 6-3 victory. It was Tsitsipas’ second title of the clay-court sequence, after he won Monte Carlo in mid-April, taking out Evans in the semi-final along the way. He has become a serious contender to upset the establishment – specifically Nadal and Novak Djokovic – at Roland Garros over the next few weeks. “I felt in good shape from the beginning of the tournament,” said Tsitsipas afterwards. “I am proud of today’s match, I knew it would be a difficult one against Cameron, who has been showing great tennis this week. He has been winning against good players and showing what the left hand can do on clay. “It was not an easy match today. I had to handle the nerves and I am proud of my performance and the way I stayed focused towards my goal.” On this year’s results, meanwhile, both Evans and Norrie stand among the world’s 20 most successful men. Evans is at No 16 and Norrie No 14. The next challenge for them both is to convert that ATP Tour form into a deep run at a major.<doc-sep>“J.A. is a really, really good accomplished pitcher,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. ​​​But ultimately it comes down to — especially for him because he relies so heavily on the fastball, the ability to command it - the ability to — especially when as a left-handed starter where you know you're going to be facing a lot of right-handed hitters, when you pitch with your fastball, you've got to be able to get it in. He's able to do that. He's able to elevate it. He's got that little bit of life on his fastball that plays up a little more, especially when he's locating it.<doc-sep>The answer will be revealed soon enough. Until then, Yankees fans are left thanking their lucky stars Happ is wearing pinstripes in the first place. “I don’t think it makes a whole lot of sense for me to tell you that,” he quipped. Just over a day away from one of the biggest starts of his life, J.A. Happ appeared cool as a cucumber. When asked how he planned to attack the Red Sox in Game 1 of the ALDS on Friday at Fenway Park, Happ coyly evaded, inducing plenty of laughter. New York acquired Happ for minor league prospect Billy McKinney and third baseman Brandon Drury on July 26. Advertisement Happ will turn 36 on Oct. 19, but the lefthander only continues to improve. His strikeouts per nine innings ratio sits at 9.78, the highest of his career. Happ is inducing soft contact 20.5 percent of the time, his highest mark since 2011 in Houston. He’s a sparkling 7-0 with the Yankees. Happ’s value is further amplified by his success against the Red Sox. In 103 at-bats against him, Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez, Xander Bogaerts, and Andrew Benintendi are a combined 18 for 103 (.175). Of the Boston hitters who have at least 10 at-bats against Happ, only Steve Pearce and the inactive Brandon Phillips sport a batting average north of .300. “This is a team that won 108 games,” Happ said. “You don’t see that very often. It’s a team that is probably as dynamic as there is in baseball. I’m certainly aware of their capabilities and never take anything for granted. It’s going to be fun.” Roster moves The Yankees announced their 25-man roster for the ALDS on Thursday. Out are infielder Tyler Wade and catcher Kyle Higashioka, both of whom dressed for the AL wild-card game in the Bronx on Wednesday. In are pitchers CC Sabathia and Stephen Tarpley, the former present against Oakland but not active. Advertisement Tarpley, a lefthanded reliever, made the cut after appearing in just 10 games with New York, tossing 9 innings and allowing 3 earned runs. His addition gives the Yankees 12 pitchers. Yankees manager Aaron Boone also announced that Masahiro Tanaka will start Game 2 on Saturday. Ace Luis Severino, who pitched four-plus innings against the Athletics, presumably will pitch Monday in Game 3. Faith in Sanchez Both Boone and pitcher Dellin Betances expressed full confidence in catcher Gary Sanchez and his defensive capabilities. Sanchez’ glovework has been a source of consternation for the Yankees this season Said Boone, “He was absolutely a factor in helping contain and hold down a really good Oakland offense. It’s a huge factor for us and really important for us that he plays at a high level behind the plate if we’re going to get to where we want to go.” Sanchez gave up 18 passed balls in 2018 and committed six errors despite starting just 74 games behind the plate. “I never lost confidence in Gary,” Betances said. “Obviously there were a lot of talks, but we know the type of guy he is, the type of catcher he is. It’s a luxury to have a guy like him.” Slow motion It has been a year of wonky travel for the Yankees. The tribulations continued Thursday in the form of a slow-moving train that delayed the team’s arrival in Boston. New York ended up forgoing its scheduled workout on the Fenway Park grass, choosing rest over reps. Advertisement “I actually drove up,” said Boone, “so I was here. But I guess it was a pretty slow-moving train that just kind of added to the travel adventures of the 2018 New York Yankees.” Wild ratings TBS is touting a ratings victory from its broadcast of the AL wild-card game, though some viewers on its digital app complained of technical issues leading to accidental blackouts. The telecast of the New York Yankees’ 7-2 win over the Oakland Athletics was the most-watched program on cable Wednesday night, based on overnight delivery. It reached a peak of 7.5 million viewers, the best for an AL wild-card game ever on TBS. Its average viewership of 6.4 million was up 51 percent from TBS’s 2016 broadcast of the AL game between Baltimore and Toronto and 45 percent from last year’s NL game between Arizona and Colorado. TBS broadcasted both wild-card games in 2012 and ‘13 and has alternated hosting the AL and NL wild-card games since. Material from the Associated Press was used. Owen Pence can be reached at owen.pence@globe.com.<doc-sep>
Elise Amendola/Associated Press J.A. Happ will get the ball for the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox. The team announced the news on Thursday: Game 1 will get underway at Fenway Park on Friday, Oct. 5, at 7:32 p.m. ET. Happ received consideration to start Wednesday's AL Wild Card Game against the Oakland Athletics, but ultimately, New York manager Aaron Boone opted to go with Luis Severino, who allowed just two hits in four innings of shutout baseball in a 7-2 victory. With Severino out of the mix, Happ will open the best-of-five series against Boston. The 35-year-old left-hander was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays prior to the non-waiver trade deadline back in July. Since arriving in the Bronx, he has gone 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP in 11 starts in pinstripes. Happ is 1-1 with a 1.99 ERA in four starts against Boston this season. He made two starts against the archrival Red Sox after being traded to the Yankees, going 1-0 while allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits in 12 innings. Video Play Button Videos you might like His last start of the regular season came at Fenway Park, where he picked up the win while allowing four runs on four hits in six innings of work while striking out seven. It's important to note that start came against a Red Sox club with nothing to play for as home-field advantage had already been wrapped up. Happ is 1-1 in the postseason in his career, posting a 3.72 ERA and a 1.81 WHIP in 10 appearances, including three starts. Boston (108-54) is coming off the best regular season in franchise history and went an MLB-best 57-24 at home this season. Meanwhile, the Red Sox will send AL Cy Young candidate Chris Sale to the mound for Game 1. New York has not yet announced the rest of its rotation for the series.