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The Detroit Red Wings equaled an NHL record with their 20th straight win at home, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 Sunday night on the strength of Johan Franzen's tiebreaking goal early in the third period.
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Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods greeted their Sunday pairing at Pebble Beach with optimism. But the day would end happily only for one.
The United States completed a 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the Davis Cup on Sunday, with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning closing singles matches.
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Tessa Worley of France fought off gusting winds to win a second consecutive World Cup giant slalom Sunday in the Andorran Pyrenees. Overall leader Lindsey Vonn was more than a second behind and finished eighth.
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
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OEIRAS, Portugal - Roger Federer ended a long drought with his first title of the year, and it took a leg injury to his opponent to ensure victory for the world’s top-ranked player.
Federer captured his 54th career title Sunday, winning the Estoril Open when second-seeded Nikolay Davydenko retired with a left leg injury while trailing 7-6 (5), 1-2.
“I think it’s the first time in my life I play a final and someone gave up,” Federer said. “I guess if you put yourself in the position so many times it’s going to happen eventually, but you don’t hope for it.”
Federer returned to his winning ways in his fifth tournament of the season. It had been eight years since Federer had needed so many events to reach a final. He won despite windy conditions and the fact that he was playing on his most challenging surface.
“It’s great to win a title again, and to straightaway win my first clay-court tournament of the season gives me great confidence going into Monte Carlo,” the 26-year-old Swiss star said. “I guess now, if you get better conditions, (I’ll) play so much better.
“Two months ago when I didn’t have enough matches and because of my sickness everything looked a little more up in the air,” said Federer, who has battled mononucleosis.
Davydenko, who is ranked fourth in the world, broke Federer’s serve to start the second set before pulling out of the match.
“I was running to the left and I felt some stretched muscles and (it was) painful,” said Davydenko, who had received 3 minutes of medical attention at the close of the first set. “Maybe I can finish match but I don’t want to lose 6-2. I have the Masters tournament coming up, so what can you do? It’s really tough.”
Davydenko, who fell to 0-12 against Federer, said his opponent was as tough as ever.
“He had good control, he kept the same (play) as before,” the Russian said. “I don’t see anything different between (the) last matches and now.”
Federer added Estoril to his schedule in a bid to boost his chances of winning the French Open. The 12-time Grand Slam winner also recruited clay-court specialist Jose Higueras as coach to help win the only major championship missing from his collection.
Federer leveled his record in clay-court finals at 7-7 on a day on which cold and intermittent rain left both players reacting rather than dictating the play.
“Today was just the toughest conditions. You can’t chase the line any more at all, you just try to keep the ball in play,” Federer said. “It’s just not easy to play aggressive tennis, it’s more of a waiting game.”
Maria Kirilenko beat Iveta Benesova 6-4, 6-2 to win the women’s crown — her third career title.
The second-seeded Russian broke Benesova’s serve five times, helped by the Czech’s five double faults. It was the third straight tournament in which Benesova lost in the final.
The United States completed a 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the Davis Cup on Sunday, with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning closing singles matches.
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The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
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