Roger Federer could tie Pete Sampras on all-time list

Roger Federer could tie Pete Sampras for career titles after reaching the Stockholm Open final, defeating fourth-seeded Ivan Ljubicic, 7-6 (5), 6-2, Saturday.

Federer will face Florian Mayer in Sunday’s final. Mayer saved a match point to edge Jarkko Nieminen, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3).

A third title of the year for Federer will earn him the 64th of his career, matching Sampras for fourth in the Open era. Only Jimmy Connors (109), Ivan Lendl (94) and John McEnroe (77) have won more singles tournaments since 1968.

“It’s been a good a year when it comes to making the finals, but I don’t have the best win-loss record this year,” said Federer, who is 2-4 in finals in 2010. “In the past I’ve had an amazing run. I think I won 24 straight finals at one stage, so this could be the start of the streak again.”

He’s 2-4 in finals this year, and coming off a loss in the Shanghai final last weekend.

Marcos Baghdatis advanced to the Kremlin Cup final after rallying past Denis Istomin, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (2), at Moscow. In his third final this season, Baghdatis will face unseeded Viktor Troicki, who defeated Pablo Cuevas, 6-3, 6-3, and has not dropped a set this week.

GOLF

Laird leads after a 63 in Las Vegas

Defending champion Martin Laird shot a bogey-free, eight-under-par 63 to take a one-stroke lead over Jonathan Byrd in the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open at Las Vegas. Laird made an eight-foot putt for an eagle on the 310-yard 15th after driving the green and had a 19-under 194 total. Byrd shot a 66. Australia’s Cameron Percy had a career-best 62, making eight birdies, an eagle and a bogey, to join Webb Simpson at 17 under.

U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin shot a four-under 68 to maintain a one-stroke lead in the Champions Tour’s Administaff Small Business Classic at The Woodlands, Texas. Pavin had a 10-under 134 total, one better than Mark Wiebe and two ahead of Fred Couples.

Sweden’s Maria Hjorth shot her second straight three-under 68 in steamy conditions for a share of the second-round lead with South Korea’s Jee Young Lee in the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia at Kuala Lumpur. Lee followed her opening 66 with a 70 to match Hjorth at six-under 136. Song-Hee Kim (68) was a stroke back, and Hall of Famer Juli Inkster (67), at 50 trying to become the oldest winner in LPGA Tour history, was four under along with Natalie Gulbis (68) and Mika Miyazato (72).

ETC.

Rebensburg wins opening giant slalom

Olympic champion Viktoria Rebensburg led a German 1-2 finish at the season-opening World Cup giant slalom at Soelden, Austria, while defending overall champion Lindsey Vonn was 18th. Rebensburg beat giant slalom world champion Kathrin Hoelzl, with Manuela Moelgg of Italy third. Vonn nearly lost balance in a left turn after 30 seconds in her opening run when her right ski came well up in the air.

Brad Keselowski won the NASCAR Nationwide 5-Hour Energy 250 at Madison, Ill., rolling past Reed Sorenson with two laps remaining at Gateway International Raceway. Keselowski, who has a large lead in the series standings, earned his sixth Nationwide victory of the season and No. 12 for his career. Mike Bliss finished second, followed by pole-sitter Justin Allgaier.

Ron Hornaday Jr. passed Kyle Busch with three laps to go and held him off in overtime to win a NASCAR truck race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The victory was the first for the four-time truck series champion in 17 career starts on the 0.526-mile oval, and left him with tears in his eyes. Todd Bodine, racing hours after the death of his mother, finished third.

Alicia Sacramone, who came out of retirement to help erase the memory of her spills on the beam at the 2008 Beijing Games, capped her return with a world championship gold medal in the vault at Rotterdam, the Netherlands. She had to wait out a Russian protest for 30 minutes to give the United States its first gold at the world championships.

Jerry Stackhouse joined the Miami Heat one day after the NBA championship hopefuls learned that they’ll be without injured swingman Mike Miller until possibly January. Stackhouse, who turns 36 next month, averaged 8.5 points in 42 games as a reserve with the Milwaukee Bucks last season.

Former Astros All-Star Jeff Bagwell will not return as Houston’s hitting coach next season

Heather Richardson and Tucker Fredricks swept the 500-meter races at the U.S. Single Distance Long Track Speedskating Championships, capturing the event for the second straight day in West Allis, Wis.

Russia plans to clamp down on doping in the run-up to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, vowing “zero tolerance” in its fight to clean up its programs that have been tainted by use of performance enhancers. Russia’s reputation for doping among skiers and biathletes prompted a warning from the International Ski Federation (FIS) in June to eradicate the problem or risk a ban on its athletes for their home games. Women’s ski jumping and new events in snowboarding, Alpine skiing, figure skating, biathlon and luge are being considered for inclusion at Sochi.

Although Hollywood Park is still committed to the long-term success of night racing, the Oak Tree has switched the final Thursday evening card of its meet to the afternoon. Post time Thursday was moved from 7 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Former Dallas Cowboys and University of Georgia quarterback Quincy Carter has been arrested on a battery charge in Lawrenceville, Ga.

U.S. national swimming team member Fran Crippen, 26, died during an open-water race in the United Arab Emirates.