Andy Murray defeats Roger Federer in Toronto

Andy Murray beat Roger Federer, 7-5, 7-5, to defend his Toronto Masters title Sunday, confirming the Briton as one of the red-hot favorites for the U.S. Open.

Murray was in exceptional form on the Canadian hard courts, spectacularly sweeping aside world No. 1 Rafael Nadal and Federer to claim his first tournament victory of the season.

The 23-year-old Scot became only the fifth player to beat Nadal and Federer in the same event and became the first man to win consecutive Canadian hard-court titles since Andre Agassi in 1995.

The match began under threatening skies and just as the players finished posing for pre-match pictures, rain began to fall, delaying the start for 15 minutes.

With Federer back on court after two punishing three-set matches, including a late night semifinal win over Novak Djokovic on Saturday, Murray attacked from the opening. The second set had three more rain delays.

Kim Clijsters produced a remarkable comeback to beat Maria Sharapova, 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2, and win the Cincinnati Open in Mason, Ohio.

Sharapova had three championship points in the second set before rain led to a 74-minute stoppage, with the Russian only two points from victory.

After the break, Clijsters came back and won the second-set tiebreaker.

BASKETBALL

U.S. routs France in exhibition

The United States tuned up for the men’s world basketball championships by routing France, 86-55, in an exhibition at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Guard Rudy Gay of the Memphis Grizzlies led the Americans in scoring with 19 points, followed by guard Chauncey Billups of the Denver Nuggets with 17. The French got 15 points from Charlotte Bobcats forward Boris Diaw.

Before the game, the U.S. trimmed its squad to 13, one over the tournament limit, by cutting Jeff Green of the Oklahoma City Thunder and JaVale McGee of the Washington Wizards. The world championships will be held in Turkey beginning Aug. 28.

Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem was arrested Sunday for possession of marijuana following a traffic stop in Miami-Dade County.

Haslem, 30, was stopped around 3:05 p.m. going eastbound on the Gratigny Parkway because of speeding, Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Wysocky said. Haslem was also charged with illegal window tint, Wysocky said.

A passenger in Haslem’s 2008 Mercedes, Antwain Fleming, was also charged with possession.

The Denver Nuggets waived guard Coby Karl, the son of Coach George Karl.

ETC.

Pepperdine’s Kang wins title

Danielle Kang of Pepperdine made a four-foot putt on the next-to-last hole to give her a 2 and 1 victory over Jessica Korda in the finals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur at Charlotte Country Club in North Carolina.

Three-time Olympian Troy Dumais of Ventura won his 31st and 32nd career national titles with victories on three-meter and synchronized three-meter (with Kristian Ipsen) at the U.S. national diving championships in College Station, Texas.