SHANGHAI, China -- Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Tomas Berdych -- the top four seeded players -- reached the semifinals of the Shanghai Masters. Colin Kaepernick Pink Jersey . Federer beat Marin Cilic of Croatia 6-3, 6-4 Friday and will next play Murray, the two-time defending champion. Murray improved his Shanghai record to 11-0 by defeating a tenacious Radek Stepanek 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Djokovic easily won his quarterfinal, downing Tommy Haas of Germany 6-3, 6-3. Hell face Berdych, who outlasted Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the days first match. Berdych has beaten Djokovic only once in 10 matches. This is the first time in the four years of the Shanghai Masters the top four seeded players made it to the semifinals. That has happened in four other tournaments this year: Australian Open; Doha, Qatar; Estoril, Portugal; and Umag, Croatia. Murray defeated Federer in their last match -- the London Olympics final -- and has a 9-8 record against the top-ranked Swiss. Murray also took Federer in the 2010 Shanghai final. "I assume hes very confident right now and probably playing with a little bit less pressure," Federer said. "Then again, that can go either way. Its been a long year for all of us." Federer played solidly, saving five of seven break-point opportunities he handed Cilic. He was broken in the fourth game of the first set and when serving for the match at 5-3 in the second. Haas was the first player this week to break Djokovics serve, with both breaks coming in the second set. The first break was in the second game and the other when Djokovic was serving for the match at 5-2. "(I was) a little bit more up and down with the service games," said Djokovic, who won the China Open last week. "But generally when I needed to, I played well. Played very solid from the baseline." Stepanek dominated the first set and never gave Murray an opportunity to break serve. Murray rebounded in the second set, breaking serve to go ahead 4-2. Stepanek had two opportunities to retrieve the service break on Murrays serve in the seventh game, but Murray kept his lead. In the third set, the 41st-ranked Stepanek had a point on serve for a 3-1 lead, but Murray broke back. He won 20 of the last 25 points. "I just managed to turn it around in time," Murray said. "I played actually very well I thought the last 10, 15 minutes of the match." Tsonga was undone by two mistakes -- a shaky service game that he lost at love in the eighth game of the first set and a double-fault at 4-4 in the second-set tiebreaker. "I was feeling quite well on the court," Berdych said. "I think the biggest difference between me and Jo was I was able to take the small chances during the first and especially the second set." Kendall Hunter Womens Jersey . Robert Lewandowski led Dortmund to its first cup title in 23 years with a hat trick in front of a sellout crowd in the Olympic Stadium. Frank Gore Limited Jersey . The Toronto Blue Jays third baseman left Wednesday afternoons game with the New York Yankees after he fell into a camera bay while going after a foul ball. http://www.the49ersfootballshop.com/patrick-willis-super-bowl-jersey/ . The CFL club signed the veteran receiver to a contract extension Tuesday. Getzlaf, entering his fifth season with the Riders, established career highs last year with 60 catches for 1,071 yards and 10 touchdowns.Aldon Smith Pink Jersey . This week they discussed the CFLs fastest man, the strongest arm in the CFL and which Olympic scandal you would most likely see in the CFL. Aldon Smith Womens Jersey . The right-hander went on the disabled list earlier this month for the same problem, which has apparently hampered him all year.Slumping Jaromir Jagr could be available, the Devils are ready to make moves and the Leafs Tomas Kaberle is generating interest. Hot n Not, Call-Ups, Farm Report, Junior Report, Varsity Report and the best in quotes, Chirping, in this weeks edition of TSN.cas Backchecking. AROUND THE RINKS- The New York Post says its time for the Rangers to find a winger compatible with Scott Gomez, rather than finding a centreman who will fit with RW Jaromir Jagr. Likely to be an unrestricted free agent in the summer, Jagr could be shopped. Though his value isnt as high as it might be due to his decreased production, Jagr may be of interest to Detroit, Dallas or Phoenix, according to the Post. - The Detroit Free Press includes Jagr among the possible targets for the Red Wings. The paper also names Marian Hossa, Vaclav Prospal, Mats Sundin and Olli Jokinen as possibilities. - According to the Bergen Record, the Devils are looking for upgrades on defence and at centre. The New York Post adds that Devils RW Brian Gionta has been mentioned in trade rumours involving Chicago, for Martin Havlat, and Florida, for Olli Jokinen. The Post also has the likes of Tampa Bays Brad Richards and Chicagos Robert Lang as players of interest. The Newark Star-Ledger chimes in with the Devils interest in defencemen Brad Stuart of the Kings and Buffalos Brian Campbell. - According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Flyers are still in the market for another puck-moving defenceman and theyd be very interested if Leafs D Tomas Kaberle would consider waiving his no-trade clause. The New York Post reports that Kaberle would waive his no-trade clause to end up with the Rangers, while Kings D Rob Blake wouldnt make that move to join the Blueshirts, or any other Eastern Conference team. - The Detroit News suggests that the Wings might be a good fit for Blue Jackets C Sergei Fedorov. Montreal and Ottawa have both been mentioned as possible Fedorov suitors as well. - The Ottawa Citizen has some Sens trade talk, including Antoine Vermette and a No.1 pick to Atlanta for Marian Hossa or Ray Emery to Chicago for Nikolai Khabibulin (though this seems less likely now that Khabibulin is injured). - The Tennessean reports that the Predators are looking for a top-six forward, though GM David Poile acknowledges that 20 teams are likely seeking that commodity. - Looking at a possible Brian Campbell-to-Chicago swap, the Toronto Sun suggests that D Cam Barker and RW Jack Skille would go to Buffalo in such a deal, but Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon shot it down the next day in the Arlington Heights Daily Herald. - In addition to Campbell, the Sabres should look to move one of Maxim Afinogenov, Tim Connolly, Ales Kotalik or Dmitri Kalinin, according to the Buffalo News. - The Edmonton Journal suggests that Sharks RW Steve Bernier could be trade bait as the Sharks try to swing a significant deal. Sharks D Matt Carle was offered to the Senators in an attempt to deal for Sens D Wade Redden, but Redden wasnt interested in leaving Ottawa. - According to the Boston Herald, there have been whispers around the Bruins about dealing young players like D Mark Stuart, D Matt Lashoff and C Phil Kessel in an effort to add a premier goal-scorer, though the paper would rather see the Bruins continue to build from within. - The Ottawa Sun notes that the Blue Jackets have been taking calls for D Ron Hainsey, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and that the Islanders are prepared to move C Mike Comrie and LW Miroslav Satan. - A dark horse in the Peter Forsberg sweepstakes? How about Minnsota, where assistant GM Tom Lynn told the St. Paul Pioneer Press, that the Wild havent been informed that they are out of the running. Its worth noting that new Wild owner Craig Leipold was the owner in Nashville last season when the Predators traded for Forsberg. Philadelphia and Colorado appear to remain the frontrunners, with Chicago, Ottawa and Vancouver still reportedly in the discussion as well. - The Ottawa Sun also has the Senators looking at Lightning D Dan Boyle and possibly Blues D Bryce Salvador. - The Denver Post suggests that Avalanche D Karlis Skrastins is prime trade bait for the Avs. - Ducks GM Brian Burke told reporters that the Ducks wont move Edmontons first-round pick, if it falls in the top seven of the 2008 draft, for a rental player bbecause the value of a prospect that could be with the organization for ten years is just too significant. Dashon Goldson Womens Jersey. - The Tennessean reports that the Predators are averaging 12,756 in paid attendance, a mark below the 13,125 needed to qualify for the NHLs full revenue-sharing plan and the 14,000 needed in order to keep the arena lease with the city. HOTKari Lehtonen, G, Atlanta (4-2, 1.48 GAA, .955 SVPCT in last 6 games)Cam Barker, D, Chicago (2-3-5, plus-5 in last 6 games)Kurtis Foster, D, Minnesota (2-2-4, plus-3 in last 4 games)Thomas Vanek, LW, Buffalo (5-1-6 in last 4 games)Andrew Ladd, LW, Carolina (3-2-5, plus-5 in last 4 games)Ruslan Fedotenko, LW, N.Y. Islanders (4-1-5, even in last 4 games) NOTRoberto Luongo, G, Vancouver (3-4-3, 2.99 GAA, .891 SVPCT in last 10 games)Mike Commodore, D, Ottawa (0-0-0, minus-8 in last 7 games)Matt Carle, D, San Jose (0-0-0, minus-6 in last 6 games)Mike Fisher, C, Ottawa (0-1-1, minus-6 in last 7 games)Steve Bernier, RW, San Jose (0-0-0, minus-3 in last 5 games)Ilya Kovalchuk, LW, Atlanta (2-0-2, minus-10 in last 9 games) CALL-UPSRyan Parent, D, Philadelphia - Acquired by the Flyers in last years Peter Forsberg trade to Nashville, Parent is a steady defensive defenceman who had eight points and was plus-8 in 53 AHL games in his first season as a pro. Daniel Carcillo, LW, Phoenix - Aggravating rookie forward who had a short stint in the minors to learn more discipline. Ryan Shannon, RW, Vancouver - Small but skilled forward has three points in six games with the Canucks this season, but hes also minus-6 and that will have to improve to avoid another return trip to Manitoba. FARM REPORTJared Ross, C, Philadelphia Phantoms - An undersized 25 year-old centre, who played collegiately at Alabama-Huntsville, Ross has hit his stride in his third pro season, leading the Phantoms in scoring with 42 points in 43 games. Sami Lepisto, D, Hershey Bears - A third-round pick of the Capitals in 2004, Lepisto is enjoying a successful first season in North America, posting 32 points and an astonishing plus-27 in 38 games. JUNIOR REPORTYann Sauve, D, Saint John Sea Dogs - A top draft prospect out of the Q, Sauve is a 6-foot-3, 220-pound blueliner who has 19 points and is plus-7, with 75 penalty minutes, in 55 games. Alex Pietrangelo, D, Niagara IceDogs - Slated to be an early first-round pick, 6-foot-3 Pietrangelo has 39 points and is plus-20 in 48 games. Luke Schenn, D, Kelowna Rockets - Steady defensive defenceman, and first-round prospect, who has 23 points and is plus-8 in 43 games; was also a valuable member of the Canadian National Junior team. VARSITY REPORTColin Wilson, C, Boston University Terriers - Son of former NHLer Carey Wilson, Colin is a first-round prospect who has put up 29 points in 26 games as a freshman. Cody Goloubef, D, Wisconsin Badgers - Draft-eligible defenceman is having a strong freshman campaign, with eight points and a plus-4 rating in 30 games. CHIRPING"Im not going to lie; the trade deadline is circled on our calendar like Easter or Christmas. But its not like I have the movers on speed dial." - Karla Sillinger, wife of oft-dealt Islanders C Mike Sillinger "I feel sorry for the 18 teams that havent had Mike Sillinger." - More Karla Sillinger "Did he come here because hes a big Coyotes fan?. I think we heard that." - Keith Ballard, wondering about Shaquille ONeals trade to the Phoenix Suns "Everyone gets a time in their careers when things dont go well. Its been that way for 30 games, ever since I hurt my knee. Once you start doubting yourself, your feet dont move, your hands get slow." - Maple Leafs LW Darcy Tucker "Ive told everybody who has asked me along the way, my first priority is to sign Marian Hossa. If we ever get to that point where were not going to sign him, trust me, the world will know." - Thrashers coach/GM Don Waddell "At first, the refs were yelling, No blood. I said, It doesnt matter, I dont have a tooth. One said, It could have been from a previous injury. So I went and found it on the ice, like I keep my tooth on Velcro just for this opportunity." - Wild RW Mark Parrish, wanting a stiffer penalty for a high-stick he received "They could lose me for nothing. Obviously theyre aware of that." - Thrashers LW Marian Hossa Backchecking appears weekly throughout the NHL season. ' ' ' |
