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Federer, Nadal defeated at Rogers Cup

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Staff And Wire Reports

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga pulled out a stunning victory over Roger Federer, and Juan Martin Del Potro followed with a two-set win over Rafael Nadal on Friday to advance to the semifinals of the Rogers Cup in Montreal.

The two stars were ousted after entering the tournament after time off. Nadal was coming back from 10 weeks off to treat tendinitis in both knees, and Federer was out while his wife gave birth to twins.

Down 5-1 in the third set, Tsonga used two service breaks to take the lead and then beat Federer in the tiebreaker for a 7-6 (5), 1-6, 7-6 (3) quarterfinal victory.

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After several long exchanges in a first set decided in a tiebreaker, Del Potro broke Nadal’s service twice for a 3-0 lead in the second for a 7-6 (5), 6-1 win. Nadal was the defending Rogers Cup champion.

Del Potro advanced to a semifinal meeting with Andy Roddick. Tsonga will face third-seeded Andy Murray.

Dinara Safina repeatedly broke Kim Clijsters’ serve during a 6-2, 7-5 victory to reach the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open in Mason, Ohio. Elena Dementieva also advanced with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Caroline Wozniacki.

SWIMMING

Phelps’ license found invalid

Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps was driving with an invalid, out-of-state license and told police he drank a beer about an hour and 15 minutes before he was involved in an accident, Baltimore police said Friday.

The accident Thursday night was not Phelps’ fault and was caused by another driver who ran a red light, police said.

PRO FIGHTING

WBO’s Luevano to defend title

La Puente’s Steven Luevano will defend his World Boxing Organization featherweight championship tonight against Bernabe Concepcion of the Philippines on the pay-per-view “Pinoy Power” card at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.

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The card’s main event will be a 12-round super-flyweight bout between former world flyweight champion Nonito Donaire of the Philippines vs. Panama’s Rafael Concepcion. Rafael Concepcion came in 4 1/2 pounds over the weight limit Friday and was fined $13,000 by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, but Donaire decided to fight him anyway for an interim World Boxing Assn. belt.

Gina Carano and Cris “Cyborg” Santos will vie tonight in Strikeforce’s first-ever female bout championship at HP Pavilion in San Jose. It is billed as the first major mixed martial arts event featuring women in the marquee event.

Carano (7-0) returns from a 10-month layoff since her last match in Elite XC. She previously fought in Strikeforce, once, in 2006. Tonight she will test her undefeated record against Santos (7-1), a feared competitor known for wearing down and overpowering opponents, in the 145-pound female title bout match.

The match airs on tape delay on Showtime at 10:30 p.m. A live stream of the match at 7:30 p.m. can be purchased at strikeforce.sho.com.

ETC.

Horton wins gymnastics title

Jonathan Horton won the U.S. men’s gymnastics title at the U.S. championships in Dallas, outscoring Tim McNeill, 181.9-178.5, for his first all-around gold medal.

Brian Vickers turned a lap of 187.242 mph, winning pole position for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich.

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U.S. forward Jozy Altidore will not make his English Premier League debut today with Hull City at Chelsea in their season opener. Altidore said on his Twitter page that details are being worked out regarding his British work permit.

Milwaukee police said European league basketball player Lavelle Felton died from a gunshot wound he suffered earlier this week while leaving a gas station in Milwaukee.

PASSINGS

Former Maple Leafs captain dies

Ted “Teeder” Kennedy, captain of five Stanley Cup championship teams with the Toronto Maple Leafs during a Hall of Fame career, died at 83.

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