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

In brief: Djokovic beats Fish to grab Rogers title

Novak Djokovic celebrates his match point against Mardy Fish to win the men's final at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament. (Associated Press)

Tennis: Top-ranked Novak Djokovic won the Rogers Cup on Sunday for his ninth tournament victory of the year and record fifth in a season in an ATP Masters 1,000 event, beating Mardy Fish 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in Montreal.

The 24-year-old Serb, the Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, is 29-0 this year on hard courts and 53-1 overall. He also won the Rogers Cup in 2007.

The sixth-seeded Fish was the only player to win a set against Djokovic this week.

Fish has lost all seven career meetings with Djokovic, but gave the top seed a battle with his awkward mix of baseline and attacking play.

Djokovic, who played night matches this week, looked uncomfortable from the outset and needed to save six break points to get through the opening set.

He saved his eighth of the match before Fish finally broke him with a perfect forehand down the line to take a 3-2 lead in the second set. Djokovic looked lost as he was broken again to close out the set.

But Djokovic was near-perfect on his service in the final set, although he needed four break points, one of which he challenged a call and lost, before finally putting away Fish.

Giants’ Umenyiora ends stalemate

NFL: Two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora told the Associated Press that he will practice with the New York Giants today.

In an email to the AP on Sunday evening, Umenyiora says he will play under the terms of his current contract, which will play him $7.1 million over the next two seasons.

The nine-year NFL veteran hasn’t practiced since reporting to training camp on July 30, a day late. He has been bothered by a sore knee for more than a week but was cleared this week for action.

• 49ers to bring QB Culpepper: The 49ers are adding Daunte Culpepper to their quarterback mix.

San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh said the team is bringing in the 34-year-old Culpepper for a tryout today.Harbaugh said Saturday that the 49ers have no clear-cut starter at quarterback.

SEC says expansion on hold for now

College athletics: The Southeastern Conference is staying just as it is – for now.

University of Florida President Bernie Machen, the chairman of the league’s presidents and chancellors committee, said the group met and “reaffirmed our satisfaction with the present 12 institutional alignment.”

Machen said no action was taken regarding Texas A&M or any other schools. He did not, however, close the door on change.

A&M President R. Bowen Loftin said in a statement Sunday there is “a considerable amount of misinformation” regarding the school and the SEC. Loftin said he did not participate in Sunday’s meeting with the SEC, but is authorized by the regents to “take all actions related to athletic conference alignment.”

Leipheimer defends Tour of Utah title

Miscellany: In Snowbird, Utah, Levi Leipheimer successfully defended his Tour of Utah title, locking onto Colombian Sergio Henao’s back wheel on the final climb up Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Henao took the final stage from Park City to Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort and finished second overall.

• Moffat, Ching lead Dynamo past Timbers: Adam Moffat and Brian Ching scored first-half goals to lead the Houston Dynamo to a 2-1 win over the visiting Portland Timbers.

Moffat scored his first goal of the season in the 17th minute, and Ching added his fourth 10 minutes later as the Dynamo extended their unbeaten streak to three games.

• Kang wins U.S. Women’s Amateur: In Barrington, R.I., Danielle Kang became the first player in 15 years to successfully defend the U.S. Women’s Amateur title, beating Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn 6 and 5 in the 36-hole final in rainy and windy conditions at Rhode Island Country Club.

Kang, the 18-year-old Pepperdine star had a 4-up lead after 18 holes.

• Fowles helps Sky beat Silver Stars: Sylvia Fowles had 28 points and 17 rebounds to help the visiting Chicago Sky beat the San Antonio Silver Stars 85-73.

Fowles hit 12 of 16 shots from the field for Chicago (11-14), which won for only the second time in its last six games. • New Zealand wins first America’s Cup World Series: Emirates Team New Zealand won the first America’s Cup World Series regatta with a dramatic come-from-behind move in the winner-take-all fleet race at Cascais, Portugal.