Federer outlasts Hewitt, next up is Blake

Roger Federer moved to within a victory of his 50th career title by defeating Lleyton Hewitt, 6-3, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (1), on Saturday in the semifinals of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters at Mason, Ohio.

Federer, who won the event in 2005, will play ninth-seeded James Blake, who beat fifth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko , 6-4, 6-2.

Federer is 6-0 against Blake. A win would make him the fifth-youngest player to win 50 titles, at 26 years 11 days. Bjorn Borg won his 50th at 23 years 7 months.

It was the second straight match in which the top-ranked player in the world was pressed to three sets. He beat Nicolas Almagro, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, on Friday.

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Qualifier Yan Zi’s surprising run at the Rogers Cup in Toronto is over.

The 22-year-old from China lost, 6-3, 6-0, to top-ranked Justine Henin in the semifinals. Yan, ranked 169th, was the first qualifier to reach the semifinals of the tournament in 11 years. Henin’s powerful serve and strong groundstrokes were simply too much for her.

Henin will try for her sixth victory this season against second-seeded Jelena Jankovic, who defeated 12th-seeded Tatiana Golovin, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.

LITTLE LEAGUE

Arizona uses power to beat Maryland, 16-6

Twelve-year-old Cody Bellinger went four for five, including an impressive opposite-field two-run homer to left, and Chandler, Ariz., hit five home runs in a 16-6 victory over Salisbury, Md., at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa.

In other pool play games, Lubbock, Texas, shut out Coon Rapids, Minn., 6-0; Hamilton, Ohio, beat Warner Robins, Ga., 10-2; Mexico defeated the Netherlands, 11-1; and Canada beat Saudi Arabia, 13-5.

SOCCER

McBride dislocates knee

while scoring a goal

Brian McBride dislocated his left knee while scoring for Fulham in a 2-1 loss at home to Middlesbrough in the English Premier League.

The American striker had no opponent close to him when a cross from Alexei Smertin found him unmarked in the penalty area in the 16th minute. He turned and scored from close range before collapsing.

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Brian Ching is replacing Josh Wolff on the U.S. roster for Wednesday’s exhibition match at Sweden. Wolff, who had not appeared for the Americans since the World Cup, has been excused for personal reasons. He plays for 1860 Munich in the German second division.

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Freddy Adu was rested for his Portuguese team’s first league game, a 1-1 tie for Benfica against Leixoes. Adu already played for Benfica when he came on as a substitute in a 2-1 win over FC Copenhagen in a Champions League qualifier Tuesday. The 18-year-old Adu joined the high-profile Portuguese team from Real Salt Lake on July 31.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Texas loses another receiver to injury

Texas announced that wide receiver Billy Pittman is out indefinitely because of a left shoulder injury, news that comes only a few days after wide receiver Limas Sweed sprained his left wrist. Pittman’s status is in question for the Sept. 1 season opener against Arkansas State.

Pittman hurt the shoulder during Friday’s practice. He has 69 catches for 1,206 yards and nine touchdowns over the past two seasons. Sweed tied a school record with 12 touchdown catches last season.

MISCELLANY

Dalhausser and Rogers win AVP tournament

Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers defeated Matt Fuerbringer and Casey Jennings, 21-16, 21-12, to win the AVP Crocs Tour Boston Open beach volleyball tournament. Dalhausser and Rogers won for the eighth time in 13 tries on the domestic AVP tour this season and the third time in four weeks.

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Shaun White of Carlsbad won the skateboard vert in AST Dew Action Sports Tour’s Vans Invitational at Portland, Ore. White fell at the end of his first run and was sitting in fifth at the end of the first round, but he rebounded with a near flawless second run to move to first place with 91.25 points.

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Brian Lopes of Laguna Beach won the men’s title, and Anneke Beerten of the Netherlands won the women’s race at the Jeep King of the Mountain 2007 mountain biking world professional championships at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo.

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Shane Mosley has been added to the list of inductees for the 2007 California Boxing Hall of Fame. He joins Oscar De La Hoya, Albert Davila, Fernando Vargas, Genaro Hernandez, Jimmy Harryman, Art Frias, Armando Muniz and Richard Martinez. The ceremonies are Sept. 22 at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City.