Bryans give U.S. lead in Davis Cup semifinals

The U.S. took a 2-1 lead over Sweden in the Davis Cup semifinals Saturday at Goteborg, Sweden, with Bob and Mike Bryan defeating Simon Aspelin and Jonas Bjorkman, 7-6 (11), 6-2, 6-3.

The Bryan twins, who are 12-1 in Davis Cup doubles, saved three set points in the tiebreaker on Scandinavium arena’s fast indoor carpet.

“The first set could have gone either way. It actually lifted our game and we started playing better and better,” Bob Bryan said.

“I served the best I’ve done in the Davis Cup,” Mike Bryan said. “That first set was huge. The momentum shifted after the first set. Then we played two great sets. So we’re very happy.”

Added Sweden captain Mats Wilander: “They’re the best doubles team in the world and showed it today. They played fantastic tennis. They’re so tough. They served so well. And they won all volley duels.”

The reverse singles are today with Andy Roddick playing Sweden’s Thomas Johansson, followed by James Blake playing Joachim Johansson.

The winner of the best-of-five series will play Russia or Germany in the final in November. Germany took a 2-1 lead at Moscow.

The Americans lead the series with Sweden, 8-3. The most recent meeting was a U.S. victory in the 2004 quarterfinals en route to its 60th final. The Americans have won the most Davis Cup titles (31), but the last came in 1995. Sweden has won seven times.

Lindsay Davenport lost to Jelena Jankovic, 6-3, 7-5, in the semifinals of the China Open at Beijing, ending her bid for a second consecutive title after nearly a year off to have a child.

The second-seeded Jankovic will play in today’s final against sixth-seeded Agnes Szavay, who defeated Peng Shuai, 6-1, 6-2.

Jankovic improved to 1-4 against Davenport, avenging her loss at the Bali Open last week. Davenport had an eight-match winning streak since returning to singles play this month after giving birth to a son.

Fourth-seeded Maria Kirilenko upset second-seeded Daniela Hantuchova, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, to reach the final of the Sunfeast Open at Calcutta.

By beating Hantuchova for the first time in four tries, Kirilenko moved into today’s title match against Mariya Koryttseva, who beat Anne Keothavong, 7-6 (3), 6-3.

Top-seeded Tatiana Golovin and fourth-seeded Katarina Srebotnik advanced to the final of the Slovenia Open at Portoriz. Golovin beat eighth-seeded Vera Dushevina, 7-6 (5), 6-2, and Srebotnik defeated Gisela Dulko, 6-2, 6-3.

PRO FOOTBALL

Titans’ Young fined

$7,500 for penalty

Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young was fined $7,500 for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during last Sunday’s 22-20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

The NFL fined Young for throwing the ball at Colts defensive back Kelvin Hayden just before halftime and it resulted in a 15-yard penalty. Hayden had pushed at Young’s head, and the quarterback responded by tossing the ball at Hayden’s feet.

SOCCER

Adebayor’s hat trick

helps Arsenal rout Derby

Arsenal defeated Derby, 5-0, behind Emmanuel Adebayor’s three goals to remain in first place in the English Premier League.

Abou Diaby and Adebayor scored in the first half at Emirates Stadium. Adebayor then completed his hat trick with goals sandwiched around one by Cesc Fabregas.

Fabregas has scored in six consecutive games.

Arsenal has 16 points, four more than Liverpool, which missed a chance to put more pressure on the Gunners when it drew, 0-0, against Birmingham.

HORSE RACING

Pedroza extends

lead at Fairplex

Martin Pedroza rode 2-1 favorite Frank The Barber to victory in the $100,000 Pomona Derby at Fairplex Park and extended his lead over Tyler Baze in the jockey standings, 32 wins to 29.

Big Bad Leroybrown, with Baze aboard, finished second, a length behind Frank The Barber, who gave Pedroza his third win of the day. Baze had two.

Baze will ride 8-5 favorite Raise The Bluff in today’s $125,000 Ralph M. Hinds Pomona Invitational Handicap. The 16-day meet at the Los Angeles County Fair ends Monday, two days before the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita opens.

-- Larry Stewart

ACTION SPORTS

Adams clinches

Dew Cup title

Nate Adams of Glendale, Ariz., clinched his second consecutive Dew Cup title, winning the Freestyle Motocross championship in the AST Dew Tour Toyota Challenge at Salt Lake City.

On his first run, Adams pulled a back flip on a 95-foot gap, giving him a 93.33 score, which was good enough for the victory.

Todd Potter of Temecula was second with a score of 89.67, and Jeremy Lusk of San Diego was third at 89.50.

RUGBY

South Africa reaches

World Cup quarterfinals

South Africa survived a scare to become the first team to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup in France, and defending champion England stayed alive thanks to Jonny Wilkinson.

South Africa’s Springboks had to call their top stars off the bench in Lens to defeat underdog Tonga, 30-25, for their third victory in a row in Group A. England beat Samoa, 44-22, in Nantes with Wilkinson kicking for 24 points and setting up three of the four tries.

The South Africans are guaranteed to finish atop Group A. They have 14 points, five ahead of Tonga and England.