Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Federer defeats Blake, wins 50th career title

The Spokesman-Review

Top-ranked Roger Federer reached another measure of tennis greatness on Sunday, winning his 50th tournament title by beating James Blake 6-1, 6-4 in the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in Mason, Ohio.

The 26-year-old Swiss star became the fifth-youngest player in history to reach 50, and only the ninth overall in the Open Era – since 1968 – to win so many tournaments.

Federer improved to 7-0 against Blake, who has won only one of their 19 sets – off a tiebreaker in the semifinals at the U.S. Open last year.

Federer has won 35 straight matches against Americans since he lost to Andy Roddick in the semifinals at Montreal on Aug. 9, 2003, an astounding streak of dominance.

•Top-ranked Justine Henin defeated Jelena Jankovic 7-6 (3), 7-5 to win the Rogers Cup in Toronto, her first tournament since losing in the semifinals at Wimbledon.

Henin has won all seven meetings against the third-ranked Jankovic.

Jankovic had a 4-1 lead in the opening set before Henin pulled even, eventually winning in a tiebreaker.

Henin kept up her strong play in the second set, winning her sixth title of the season.

Beach volleyball

May-Walsh lose

Elaine Youngs made a perfectly placed shot on the right sideline to give her and teammate Nicole Branagh the title at the AVP Boston Open with a 15-21, 21-19, 16-14 victory over Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh in Quincy, Mass.

Youngs and Branagh, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, ended No. 1 Walsh and May-Treanor’s stretch of 10 consecutive titles.

It was the third AVP title for Branagh and Youngs, and halted Walsh and May-Treanor’s 39-match winning streak. The champs had been just 1-5 in finals against the duo.

Auto racing

Rudd to retire

Ricky Rudd said he plans to retire from the NASCAR Nextel Cup series after this season.

The 50-year-old Rudd, in his 28th season as a full-time driver in the Cup series, told the Virginian Pilot that he has informed car owner Robert Yates of his decision to step out of the No. 88 car.

College football

Tide CB arrested

Alabama star cornerback Simeon Castille was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Castille is the fifth high-profile Crimson Tide athlete – the fourth football player – known to have been arrested in the past two months.