Roger into Rogers Cup Semi-final

Toronto - Former world number one Roger Federer strolls into Rogers Cup semi-final after he beat Tomas Berdych 6-3, 5-7, and 7-6 (5). Federer, who was defeated by Berdych in Wimbledon quarter-final last month, worked hard to win after left 2-5 in the third set.

Seventh seed Berdych served for the match at 5-3, but Federer broke to force a tie-break. He seemed to cruise easily as he led 4-0 but Berdych battled back to make it 5-5. However, two-times Rogers Cup champion Federer finally ended the tie-break 7-5 and won the match.

"It was a tough match to go through. I started off great, was doing all the right things," the 16-time Grand Slam winner told Sky Sports 4.

I had some opportunities to defend in the beginning of the second, where he had a couple of break-points early on in two of the service games and then I had really big chances of my own.

"I was struggling to see the ball in the night - that was tricky going from day to night.

"He also had one service game where he all of a sudden served two double faults and I had the same thing. I just couldn't take advantage of it and he could.

"The third set was lucky. I tried and he got into a good momentum. He started to play better, loosened up a bit and got in a lead, but I just tried to hang with him. Those are the kind of matches I lost earlier on this season so I'm happy this one went my way."

Federer paid tribute to his 24-year-old opponent, who is ranked seventh in the world.

"He's got a massive game," said the 29-year-old. "I'm happy for him that he's finally making his move because I thought back when he beat me at the Athens Olympics in 2004 that he was going to make his move in the next couple of years but he was not able to, so I'm happy for him."

Next, Federer will play against second-seeded Novak Djokovic who defeat Jeremy Chardy of France 6-2 and 6-3 in the quarter-final. In the upper half, defending champion Andy Murray moves into the last 4 after rolling David Nalbandian out 6-2, 6-2. The Scot must reach the final in order to maintain his world number four rank.

Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal fought hard to conquer Phillip Kohlschreiber 3-6, 6-3, and 6-4 in two hours to secure a place in the semi-final.

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What A Sun-Dae

Lee Yong-dae and Jung Jae-sung of South Korea are crowned as Taiwan Grand Prix Open winners after overpowering teammates Cho Gun-woo and Kwon Yi-goo in the final on Sunday (8/8). Lee and Jung only need 27 minutes to end the match 21-10 and 21-16. They won their second title of this year after Korea Open.

In the all-Korean women's doubles final, Lee Hyo-jung/Kim Min-jung emerge as the champions as they subjugated Lee Kyung-won/Yoo Hyun-young 21-14 and 22-20. However, Korea's singles players fail to bring joy as they lost to their opponents. Bae Seung-hee was beaten by local player Cheng Shao-Chieh in tough three sets, 11-21, 26-24, and 17-21. Meanwhile, Simon Santoso of Indonesia won the men's singles final with a 21-14, 21-11 triumph over Shon Wan-ho.

Hunting for First Title after Five-Month Drought

Lee Yong-dae Shows That He Is Still Supreme

Yong-dae displayed a powerful return in men's doubles. The twenty-one-year-old Korean reaches his first men's doubles final after injury with Jung Jae-sung despite of a quarter-final loss in the mixed doubles yesterday. The former world number one stopped Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong's errand with a tough three-set semi-final victory, 21-23, 21-18, and 21-17 in 59 minutes.

In the final, the third seeds will play compatriots Cho Gun-woo and Kwon Yi-goo. Cho and Kwon defeated fourth-seeded Fang Chieh-Min and Lee Sheng-Mu 21-19 and 21-14.

Another All-Korean Final

Korean women's doubles pairs also progress to the final. Unseeded Lee Hyo-jung and Kim Min-jung surprised second-seeded Cheng Wen-Hsing and Chien Yu-Chin with a 24-22, 18-21, and 25-23 win. Meanwhile, Lee Kyung-won and Yoo Hyun-young eased to the final after conquering Japanese Rie Eto and Yu Wakita 21-11 and 21-10 in just 34 minutes.

Simon Suceeds, Dionysius Disappoints

In the men's singles, Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka fails to create an all-Indonesian final as he lost to Shon Wan-ho of Korea 17-21 and 19-21. Earlier, Dionysius' teammate Simon Santoso, who was seed third, moves into the final after defeating top seed Nguyen Thien Minh of Vietnam 21-16 and 21-18.

Third seed Bae Sung-hee of Korea defeated Indonesia's Aprilia Yuswandari 21-19, 15-21, 21-18 to sets up a final-clash with local favorite Cheng Shao-Chieh who overcame another Korean Bae Youn-joo 21-14 and 21-14.

Although fail to have all-Indonesia final in the singles, Indonesia put her two mixed doubles pair in the final. Tontowi Ahmad and Lilyana Natsir surmounted Chen Hong-Ling and Cheng Wen-Hsing 21-17, 21-13 while Hendra Gunawan and Vita Marissa fought hard to win over countrymen Fran Kurniawan and Pia Zebadiah, 21-19, 15-21, and 21-16. This is a repeated final of Macau Open last week which was won by Lilyana and Tontowi.

Yong-dae, Hyo-jung, and Jae-sung to Last Eight

Lee Yong-dae and Lee Hyo-jung book a quarter-final ticket after struggling to subdue Indonesia's Muhammad Rijal and Debby Susanto in rubber sets, 21-13, 20-22, and 22-20. Next, Yong-dae and Hyo-jung will play another Indonesian pair Tontowi Ahmad and Lilyana Natsir. However, their success is not followed by their teammates, Ko Sung-hyun and Ha Jung-eun, who bow down to Yohan Wiratama and Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong, 21-14, 17-21, and 21-17.

Indonesia has more two contenders in the mixed doubles quarter-final, Hendra Gunawan/Vita Marissa and Fran Kurniawan/Pia Zebadiah. Hendra and Vita will face Thai Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thungthongkam while Fran and Pia will meet Wiratama and Tse.

To the Men's Doubles Quarter-final

Lee Yong-dae also achieves men's doubles quarter-final with Jung Jae-sung. They edged out countrymen Kim Ki-jung and Shin Baek-cheol easily 21-18 and 21-14. Afterward, the third seeds will take on local players, Chen Hong-Ling and Lin Yu-lang.

Meanwhile, veteran Candra Wijaya, partnering Luluk Hadiyanto, surpassed Korean Ko Sung-hyun/Yoo Yeon-seong who won in Macau last week, in straight sets, 26-24 and 21-15, to compete against Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong in the quarter-final. In the second round, Koo and Tan won a comfortable 21-12, 21-7 victory over Ross Smith and Glenn Warfe.

In the upper half, fifth-seeded Choong Tan Fook/Lee Wan Wah defeated teammates Chan Chong Ming and Chew Choon Eng 21-15, 14-21, and 21-19 as Cho Gun-woo and Kwon Yi-goo mastered Indonesian tough qualifier Fernando Kurniawan and Wifqi Windarto 19-21, 21-19, and 21-14.

Lee Yong-dae Is Back

After more than a long rest because of injury for months, former world number one Lee Yong-dae will play in Chinese Taipei Grand Prix which starts today. Partnering with Jung Jae-sung in men's doubles, the third seed will face qualifiers Tseng Ching Chung/Wang Chia Min in the first round. Lee and Jung might take on compatriot Kim Ki-jung and Shin Baek-cheol in the second round and face top seeds Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong in the semi-final.

In the mixed doubles, Lee Yong-dae still pairs with Lee Hyo-jung. The second seeds will compete against Thailand's Thitipong Lapho and Vacharaporn Munkit. After probably meeting another Thailand pair Songpol Anukritaywan and Kuchala Worawichitchaikul who were seeded fifth in the semi-final, they can face top seed Hendra Gunawan/Vita Marissa or fourth-seeded Ko Sung-hyun/Ha Jung-eun in the final.

2010 World Cup: Spain and Holland to make history

Spain and Holland are to write a new record in the World Cup history as they will clash in the 2010 World Cup final in Johannesburg, South Africa. Both countries have never won a World Cup, although Holland came close twice when they reached the finals in 1974 and 1978.

The Netherlands beat Uruguay 3-2 in the first semi-final on Wednesday (7/7), through the goals of captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Arjen Robben, and Wesley Sneijder.

Meanwhile, a day later (7/8), Spain upset Germany 1-0 through Barcelona defender Carles Puyol's header.

Arsenal stars Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie will meet each other in the final; however, they are in two different situations. Fabregas played only two matches in South Africa, and he was a substitute, while van Persie regularly started on the pitch.

Fabregas told the Sun: "If I'm lucky enough to get a start, I will give everything I have. But if I have to start on the bench, then so be it. All I can pray for is that I get a chance to play some part of this unbelievable game.

"If I'm not in the team, I will know deep down that Spain winning the World Cup is more important than Cesc Fabregas starting the game or not. So I will still be 100% behind the boys who do go out there. And I will be thinking about what I will do, what I must do if I come on."

The Arsenal captain heaped praise on his country's achievement of reaching the final and spoke of his anticipation of coming toe-to-toe with his club colleague Robin van Persie.

He said: "It is a privilege to be part of this Spanish team because we try to play the correct way.

"I know Holland invented Total Football back in the 1970s, and I know those players made the game beautiful to watch. But we try to play the same way and I think the world can see that. Against Germany, we never gave up our principles - pass, pass, pass and never stop trying to score. Eventually we got our reward.

"I have been texting Robin and we realised the only way we could face each other here was in the World Cup final. We joked about it after the early games and it is fantastic that it has now actually happened.

"It is great for us and it is great for Arsenal to have two players at the World Cup final."

Van Persie also sounded a similar response in an interview with FIFA:

"It’s always a bit strange to play against your colleagues, and we have been in touch via SMS a couple of times. Cesc is a fantastic player. I also find it really strange that he isn’t in the first team for Spain. I don't understand that at all. I think he’s incredible. I’ve been playing at Arsenal for six years with him and every year he’s improved. He’s the captain of our team and I have a lot of respect for him."

Netherlands vs. Spain match facts:

• This will be the seventh all-European final and means that a European nation will win the tournament for a record 10th time.

• It will be the first final to not include one of Brazil, (West)Germany, Argentina or Italy

• Netherlands go into the final unbeaten and if they are victorious on Sunday, they will become only the fifth side to register a 100% record in WC finals so far, joining Uruguay in 1930, Italy in 1938, and Brazil in 1970 and 2002.

• The Dutch also had a 100% record in qualification for South Africa and could become only the second nation ever to win all their qualifiers and finals games, after Brazil achieved this feat in 1970.

• The Dutch are now unbeaten in 25 successive international matches and have conceded more than one goal in only one of their last 14 games in World Cup finals tournaments (1-2 v Croatia in the 1998 third-place play-off).

• Spain are the first reigning European champions to participate in the World Cup final since West Germany in 1982 and are the 12th different side to reach a World Cup final.

• If Spain - who have seven goals - are to avoid becoming the lowest scoring winners of all time, they will need to net at least four. Italy (1938), England (1966) and Brazil (1994) all won the tournament with 11.

• Xavi has created 25 goalscoring chances in this tournament - eight more than any other player. He has made 560 passes at this tournament, completing 509 so far. Only Dunga (Brazil 1994) has completed more in a single World Cup tournament since 1966.

Germany Finished Third

Port Elizabeth (7/10) - Germany relieved their disappointment of failing to reach final by taking the third place.

They did the same thing four years ago in their homeland, beating Portugal for third place after losing to Italy in the semi-final.

And now they defeated Uruguay 3-2 (1-1). The German side led by Thomas Mueller's goal in the 19th minute, but Uruguay struck twice to reverse the position 2-1 through Edison Cavani (28') and Diego Forlan (51').

Marcell Jansen and Sami Kheidira saved the Germans' day by contributing a goal each, Jansen in the 56th minute and Kheidira in the 82th minute.

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pictures by reuters.com

Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold Semi-final Results

Men's Singles
4-Wong Choong Hann (MAS) def. 2-Taufik Hidayat (INA) 21-15, 24-22
1-Lee Chong Wei (MAS) def. 14-Jayram Ajay (IND) 21-16, 21-13

Women's Singles
2-Zhou Mi (MAS) def. 4-Wong Mew Choo (MAS) 19-21, 21-12, 21-15
3-Yip Pui Yin (HKG) def. 1-Pi Hongyan (FRA)10-21, 21-10, 21-11

Men's Doubles
Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan (INA) def. Yohan Wiratama/Wong Wai Hong (HKG) 21-6, 21-16
Alvent Yulianto/Hendra Aprida Gunawan (INA) def. Mak Hee Chun/Tan Wee Kiong (MAS) 21-13, 21-11

Women's Doubles
4-Duanganong Aroonkesorn/Kuchala Worawichitchaikul (THA) def. Melati Nadya/Vita Marissa (INA)13-21, 21-17, 21-17
Ng Hui Ern/Ng Hui Lin (MAS) def. 5-Zhang Dan/Zhang Zhibo (MAC) 21-10, 21-11

Mixed Doubles
3-Sudket Prapakamol/Saralee Thungthongkam (THA) def. Markis Kido/Lita Nurlita (INA) 15-21, 21-12, 21-15
Devin Lahardi/Lilyana Natsir (INA) def. Ong Jian Guo/Chong Sook Chin (MAS) 21-13, 21-16

2010 World Cup: Germany Demolition, Spanish Conquest

Germany embarrassed Argentina 4-0 in the quarter-final match of 2010 FIFA World Cup in Cape Town's Green Point Stadium. Thomas Muller scored the fastest goal in the tournament, when the game was only three minutes long.

Miroslav Klose gave Germany a 2-0 lead in the 68th minute, followed by Arne Friedrich's goal six minutes later. Klose then scored his second goal of the match one minute before time for a memorable German triumph.

Argentina was not without efforts but Gonzalo Higuain and Angel di Maria's efforts were blocked by Manuel Neuer. The world's best player, Lionel Messi, was forced to go home without a goal as he was kept guarded throughout the match.



Meanwhile, in the later match in Johannesburg, Spain got ahead of Paraguay with only a 1-0 win. More goals could have been created in the match, as two penalties were given by the referee. However, Spain's Iker Casillas saved Oscar Cardozo's penalty kick while few minutes later, Paraguay's Justo Villar cleared out the ball from Xabi Alonso.

The winner was decided only 7 minutes before the match ended. Midfielder Andres Iniesta and substitute Pedro each made an attempt to score but it was David Villa who succeeded. The ball hit the left-hand post and the right-hand post before it rebounded into the net.

Spain will face Germany in the semi-final. The winner of this match will meet either the Netherlands or Uruguay in the final.

photos from fifa.com and reuters.com

Once Again, Serena

London (7/3) - World number one, three-times winner, and defending champion - Serena Williams arrived in Wimbledon with all those titles. And now she has done it: clinching her fourth cup and her 13th Grand Slam title last Saturday.

Serena, who was champion in 2000, 2008, and 2009, confidently thrashed 21-seeded Vera Zvonareva of Russia 6-3, 6-2.

With this win, Serena was just one title short of her sister Venus, who had five Wimbledon titles, corroborating the Williams dominion in Wimbledon, with the sisters claiming 9 in the last 11 years.

photos from wimbledon.org

2010 World Cup: Netherlands 2-1 Brazil

Port Elizabeth (7/2) - The Netherlands became the first team to go into the last four as the "Oranje" team defeated five-times world cup winner Brazil 2-1.

The Brazilians got off with a good start. Robinho seemed to score in the 7th minute but the referee judged that he was offside. Yet only 3 minutes later, Robinho fired Felipe Melo's pass into the bottom right corner. Until the first-half ended, the Brazilians led 1-0.

The Dutchmen struck back when a free-kick by Arjen Robben found Wesley Sneijder swung in a cross from out the penalty area on the right. Brazilian keeper Julio Cesar and defender Felipe Melo tried to clear out but the ball, hitting Melo's shoulder, was flung into the net.

The winning goal was scored in the 66th minute by Sneijder, following Dirk Kuyt's corner kick. The Inter striker now tallied 3 goals from five matches.

In the 73th minute, Felipe Melo was sent off for fouling Robben, apparently giving way to his temper and stepping on Robben's leg.

When the final whistle was blown, it was euphoria for the Netherlands but heartbreak for Brazil. The Netherlands now would meet the winner of the Uruguay-Ghana match in the semi-final.

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Thomas Cup for China Again

Favorite China won their fourth Thomas Cup title in a row and their eighth title. The master had better quality in skill and mental compared to Indonesia that they humbled the 13-time champion just 3-0.

Four-time All England and three-time world champion Lin Dan excelled Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat 21-7, 21-14 in just 44 minutes. Mighty Lin Dan effortlessly led the match in the first set. And the score was 11-1 for Lin Dan when the players took a break in the first set. Lin Dan won 5 smash winners and 7 net winners, compared to Taufik's 3 and 1.



In the beginning of the second set, Taufik tried to show some fight by leading 2-0, but Lin Dan was able to equalized the score until he left Taufik 7-4 and 12-5 to win 21-14 and clinched China's first point.

Lin Dan celebrated his win by hugging his coach after his win.

Lin Dan is happy with his straight-set win

I am tired, very tired. I hope to change my economy class ticket to first class when we return home tonight,” he said.

“I am happy to have got the chance to play (Lee) Chong Wei and Taufik and beating them both. They are two of the best players in the world. Chong Wei is still the most difficult player to play against.

“Today, we (Taufik and myself) tried to win the first point for our country. It was our responsibility to get the first point and I won.

“I put in a lot of effort in my win but I must say that I am not a class above the rest as many have made out. Chong Wei, Taufik and Peter (Gade Christensen) are at the same level.

“We have players like Chen Jin, Bao Chunlai and Chen Hong in the next group.”

Chinese team pose

In the second match, Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng fought hard to defeat 2008 Olympic gold medalists Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan 25-23, 16-21, and 21-12 - making China led 2-0.

In the last match, Indonesia's Simon Santoso surprised China's Chen Jin with a 19-21 first-set win. However, Chen Jin struggled to grasp the second-set win and downed Simon's mental in the third set that Chen Jin won easily 21-7. With a 19-21, 21-17, and 21-7 victory, Chen Jin contributed it to China's 3-0 win.

Japanese Thomas and Uber Cup team

Malaysia Thomas Cup team

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pictures by thomasuberkl2010 and internationalbadminton

Back to Final

Roger Federer celebrates his win

Madrid - Defending champion Roger Federer reached his first final after Australian Open last January. He worked hard to outlast local player David Ferrer 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. He is closer to equalizing Andre Agassi's and Rafael Nadal's 17 ATP Masters Series or now ATP-Masters 1000 tally.

Last year's final will be repeated as Federer will take on Rafael Nadal who defeated another Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 4-6, 6-2, and 6-2 in the semi-final.

Federer said after his victory: "I think I served really well. In the first set, there was some of my best serving in a long time.

"I knew on clay I was always going to go through a tougher period as well. That's what happened in the second set. I was serving with the old balls, the next change was coming and then one game after, I missed the two first serves, double faulted on the third and I was down 0-40 and he took advantage of that and it just shows what a tough competitor he is.

"He's one of the great return players in the game on the second serve. He makes you work extremely hard and that´s why he´s been so successful on clay.

"He doesn't miss much and he fights like crazy and it works well. He´s really improved a lot of the last couple of years. So I knew the danger and I'm extremely happy that I prevailed."

This win becomes a boost for Federer to defend his French Open title next month.

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