Federer, Nadal set to meet in clay-court final

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal set up their first clash since the Australian Open when Nadal saved three match points to beat Novak Djokovic, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (9), on Saturday at the Madrid Open in Spain.

Playing their fourth match this year, they needed a Masters Series record 4 hours 3 minutes to decide matters at the Magic Box tennis center.

Federer beat Juan Martin del Potro, 6-3, 6-4, in their semifinal.

Top-ranked Nadal’s 33rd straight win on clay lifted him into his seventh final this season, but he will be nursing a right knee injury heading into today’s match.

Federer has lost his last five matches against Nadal, including the finals at the French Open, Wimbledon and Australian Open in February, when the Swiss player was in tears after the defeat.

“What’s important for me is to get past that semifinal hurdle that I haven’t been able to get past in the last couple of months,” Federer said ahead of their 16th meeting in a final. Earlier, top-ranked Dinara Safina beat Patty Schnyder, 6-4, 6-2, to set up a final against teenager Caroline Wozniacki, who put away former No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo, 7-6 (1), 6-3.

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GOLF

Johnson shoots a 60 at Texas Open

Defending champion Zach Johnson matched the La Cantera course record with a 10-under-par 60 to take a three-stroke lead in the suspended third round of the rain-soaked Texas Open at San Antonio.

Paul Goydos and three-time champion Justin Leonard were 12 under through 12 holes. They’ll resume the round this morning.

Suzann Pettersen and Ji Young Oh shot three-under-par 69s to take a one-stroke lead over Brittany Lincicome after three rounds of the Sybase Classic in Clifton, N.J.

The tournament will most certainly have a new champion with Lorena Ochoa 10 shots back heading into the final round.

Gene Jones and Keith Fergus were in the lead at 10 under when play was suspended by rain in the second round of the Regions Charity Classic at Hoover, Ala.

Rain had halted play for 3 hours 33 minutes, and play was suspended with the threat of storms looming after Jones was seven under through 14 holes in his second round.

Fergus had finished the front nine in four under to join him atop the leaderboard at the Champions Tour event.

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SWIMMING

Peirsol hands Phelps a loss

Aaron Peirsol won the 100-meter backstroke at the Charlotte UltraSwim in Charlotte, N.C., handing Michael Phelps his first defeat in almost a year. Peirsol got off to a strong start and touched the wall in 53.32 seconds.

Phelps was trailing by more than half a second at the turn and had no chance to make that up against one of the world’s greatest backstrokers, taking second in 53.79.

Phelps swam the 50 free during the morning prelims and posted the eighth-fastest time, but that was merely a chance to test out the new straight-arm stroke he’ll use in his final event, the 100 free today. Phelps scratched from the 50 free final, which was won by world-record holder Frederick Bousquet of France.

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JURISPRUDENCE

Bills’ McIntyre is arrested

Buffalo Bills fullback Corey McIntyre has been arrested in Florida on accusations he fondled himself outside a Port St. Lucie woman’s home. The incident allegedly happened about two months ago, but the 29-year-old McIntyre was arrested Thursday and charged with exposing himself.

McIntyre’s agent, Brett Tessler, says his client is “guilty of absolutely nothing.”

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CYCLING

Di Luca keeps lead in Giro

Kanstantsin Siutsou won the eighth stage of the Giro d’Italia ending in Bergamo, Italy, with a late solo breakaway, and Danilo Di Luca added eight seconds to his overall lead by finishing third. Levi Leipheimer was fourth, 51 seconds behind. Lance Armstrong remained 25th overall, 4:39 behind Di Luca.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Marve narrows choices to two

Former Miami quarterback Robert Marve will choose between a scholarship at Purdue and walking on at Tennessee early this week, his high school coach said. Marve said he’d leave Miami at the end of last season after losing the starting job to Jacory Harris.

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BOXING

Ward preserves hope for title shot

Andre Ward stayed on course for a 168-pound title shot this year with the biggest victory of his pro career, a unanimous decision over Edison Miranda in Oakland. Ward (19-0, 12 KOs) showed resilience in fighting 11 1/2 rounds with a cut over his left eye caused by a head-butt from the free-swinging Miranda (32-4).