Wimbledon, England (Sports Network) - Wimbledon champion Roger Federer,
former Wimbledon titlist Novak Djokovic and last months runner-up at the
All England Club Andy Murray secured berths in the quarterfinals at the
London Olympics tennis event on Wednesday.
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The world No. 1 Federer was tested in the first set en route to a 7-5,
6-3 third-round victory over Uzbekistans Denis Istomin on Court 1 in
this London suburb, where the Swiss icon has captured seven Wimbledon
championships, including his most-recent one just four weeks ago.
Federer moved on in 81 minutes, in a match that was interrupted by rain
with the score tied at 5-all in the first set, despite committing an
uncharacteristic 24 unforced errors over two sets. The Swiss great,
however, was broken only once en route to the predictable victory.
The 30-year-old Federer would complete a career "Golden Slam" with a
gold- medal performance this week.
Federers quarterfinal opponent on Thursday will be 10th-seeded 6-foot-9
American John Isner, who launched 22 aces in upsetting seventh-seeded
Serb Janko Tipsarevic 7-5, 7-6 (16-14). Isner shocked Federer in a Davis
Cup match in Switzerland back in February.
The amazing Federer will not repeat as an Olympic doubles champion,
however, as he and Swiss partner Stan Wawrinka, slotted as the sixth
seeds, suffered a 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 second-round loss Wednesday at the
hands of unseeded Israelis Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram. Federer and
Wawrinka combined to capture gold in Beijing in 2008.
The second-seeded Djokovic, who recently lost the No. 1 ranking to
Federer, needed all three sets to stave off former top-ranked star
Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. The reigning Australian and
U.S. Open champion fired 16 aces before getting past Hewitt, who
captured a Wimbledon title himself back in 2002.
Djokovic advanced in just under two hours by breaking Hewitt four times,
compared to two breaks for the Aussie veteran.
"Incredible match," Djokovic said. "He started off really well. I dont
think I have done anything wrong in the first set. It was very close and
could have gone either way.
"Its never that easy against Lleyton, hes one of the best returners ever
to play the game. It was a great test, its always a pleasure to play
against him and I look forward to the next challenge."
The 25-year-old Djokovic, a bronze medalist in Beijing four years ago,
will battle fifth-seeded marathon man Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in
the quarters.
The third-seeded Wimbledon runner-up Murray dropped the first set before
fighting back to beat Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 on Centre
Court, where the Brit lost to Federer in last months Wimbledon finale.
Murray needed just under two hours to stave off the former Aussie Open
runner- up Baghdatis. The crowd favorite popped 13 aces and won 96
percent of his second serves on Day 5.
Next up for the Dunblane, Scotland native will be sweet-swinging
Spaniard Nicolas Almagro on Thursday.
A surprising upset came when 15th-seeded Japanese Kei Nishikori toppled
fourth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 on Centre Court.
One day after outlasting Canadian Milos Raonic in the longest-ever
Olympic tennis match, the fifth-seeded Tsonga had an easier time of it
in a 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 victory over Spanish left-hander Feliciano Lopez on
Wednesday.
Tsonga got past Raonic in an epic 48-game third set here on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, eighth-seeded Argentine slugger Juan Martin del Potro
defeated 12th-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 and an
11th-seeded Almagro handled Belgian Steve Darcis 7-5, 6-3. Del Potro
captured a U.S. Open title in 2009 by stunning Federer in the final in
New York.
Del Potro will take on the rising Nishikori on Thursday.
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The lightning struck midfielder Gilvan near midfield in the in the 63rd
minute of the Novo Horizonte-Atletico Goianiense match in the Goias
state championship on Wednesday.
. He was 25.
Edoardo De Blasio, a cardiologist at Pescaras Santo Spirito hospital,
confirmed Morosinis death, saying "unfortunately he was already dead
when he arrived at hospital. He didnt regain consciousness.
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Texas routed the Tigers 10-4 in the first game for its eighth
consecutive victory, but Verlander (2-1) held off the powerful Rangers,
allowing four hits and three walks while striking out eight. The Rangers
managed an unearned run in the fourth, but Detroit answered with three
runs in the bottom of the inning against Neftali Feliz (1-1).
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A sixth-round draft pick in 2011, Sash had 17 tackles in 16 games for
the Giants last season.
He will be eligible to return to the Giants active roster on October 1
following the teams Week 4 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles.
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In the 36-hole finish Sunday in the wind-delayed tournament, Shin
took a three-shot lead into the final round after shooting a 1-under 71
in the morning.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Chiefs quarterback Brady Quinn is being evaluated
for a possible concussion and his status for Thursday nights game at San
Diego wont be known until later in the week.
Coach Romeo Crennel said Monday that Quinn will start against the
Chargers if hes cleared to play. Otherwise, Matt Cassel will be back
under centre for the Chiefs.
"Just depends on what the doctor tells me," Crennel said. "If the doctor
tells me he can go, he can do. If the doctor tells me he cant go, he
cant go."
Quinn was hurt in the first quarter of Sundays 26-16 loss to the Oakland
Raiders, though its unclear when the injury occurred. He was sacked by
Rolando McClain and then took another shot while floating a pass that
was picked by Matt Giordano.
He left the field and went down the tunnel leading to the locker rooms,
and Crennel said a trainer told him at that point that Quinn had
sustained a "head injury" and was unavailable.
Crennel said that Quinn wasnt at the practice facility Monday while he
underwent tests, and Cassel would run the firstt-team offence during a
walk-through practice. .
"Cassel will take those turns, but then when the doctor lets me know Ill
make a decision," Crennel said. "If hes healthy and he can go, hell go.
Well wait to see what happens."
Quinn was making his second straight, the first having come at Tampa
Bay, when Cassel still had not been cleared to play following his own
concussion sustained against Baltimore.
Crennel said during the Chiefs bye last week that he would stick with
Quinn even though Cassel was ready to go because he wanted to send a
charge through the team.
Things didnt go well for either of them Sunday.
Quinn only completed two passes for a single yard with the interception
before he was knocked out of the game. Cassel was 20 of 30 for 218 yards
with a touchdown and an interception.
The two picks were among four turnovers by the Chiefs.
"I thought during the bye week I did something radically different to
try to change the team, and that change got hit in the head," Crennel
said. "You just have to go forward."
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