Tennis: Serena rolls past Osaka in Toronto, Halep retires

Serena Williams moved into the Rogers Cup semi-finals on Friday with a maiden career victory over Naomi Osaka in their first meeting since the American's infamous row with an umpire overshadowed last year's U.S. Open final.

The 6-3 6-4 loss continued a run of poor form for Osaka but there was some good news later in the day when Karolina Pliskova lost to ensure the U.S and Australian Open champion would replace Ash Barty as world number one next week.

Williams will next face qualifier Marie Bouzkova, who advanced when Wimbledon champion and holder Simona Halep retired from their match with a left Achilles problem after dropping the first set 6-4.

There was no doubt about what was the big match of the day at the third oldest tournament in tennis.

Unlike at Flushing Meadows last year, where Osaka won her first Grand Slam title, there were no fiery exchanges with the umpire, no smashed rackets, no point or game penalties -- just a rock-solid performance from Williams.

The 37-year-old is looking to shore up her hardcourt game for the Aug. 26-to-Sept. 8 U.S. Open where she will chase a record-tying 24th career Grand Slam title.

Williams had slow starts in her previous two outings this week but came out much stronger for this one and delivered a serving masterclass that denied Osaka any break point opportunities.

"We haven't played since New York which was a really good match for her and I just wanted to come out and try to win a set this time because she's beaten me twice so I just wanted to do the best I could today," Williams said in an on-court interview.

There was a scary moment in the second set when the American ran into the net post while trying to chase down an Osaka drop shot but, despite nursing her right arm, Williams confirmed that no serious damage had been done.

"Tennis players don't really get too dirty and ugly on the court. So that was one of a few moments where those kind of injuries can happen or whatever," said Williams. "But it was fine. It hurt, but it wasn't the end of the world."

Czech 21-year-old Bouzkova's breakout run in Toronto will carry into the weekend after Halep, who had been complaining about her Achilles all week, retired from their match.

"Achilles problems. I felt since the first match here. And today I felt it more, so that's why I decided to retire," said Halep. "Tomorrow it would have been Serena and is not easy."

In earlier quarter-final action, Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu played through leg pain to keep her dream run alive with a 6-0 2-6 6-4 upset of Czech Pliskova.

Andreescu looked to be in trouble when she gingerly returned to the court from a medical timeout late in the second set with her right thigh heavily taped and her movement hampered.

But the 19-year-old, who shot to prominence with her Indian Wells triumph in March, went toe-to-toe with her more experienced opponent to win by serving out to love.

"When I step out on the court, I'm fearless. I show no mercy no matter who I play, and I think that's showing a lot," said Andreescu.

Up next for Andreescu will be unseeded American Sofia Kenin, who extended her impressive Toronto run with a 7-6(2) 6-4 win over Ukrainian former champion Elina Svitolina.

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Golf: McIlroy captures Canadian Open with career-tying 61

OTTAWA -- Rory McIlroy blitzed the field at the Canadian Open on Sunday, firing a scintillating nine-under 61 to run away with the title by a massive seven strokes less than a week before the US Open.

McIlroy, who flirted with a 59, put on a golf clinic, rolling in nine birdies, one eagle and two bogeys for a 22-under 258 total and a dominating victory over runner-ups Shane Lowry of Ireland and American Webb Simpson.

"It was awesome," said McIlroy, who claimed his sixth career national open title in his Canadian debut. "I said at the start that I wanted to be aggressive and play with freedom. 

"This will give me so much confidence. This is a huge tournament and I am so proud of myself.

"I am going to take a lot from this and I am so excited for next week (US Open)."

The four-time major championship winner tied his career best when he shot a 61 in the third round of the Wells Fargo Championship in 2015. His previous best closing score to win a tournament was a 62 at the Quail Hollow Championship in 2010. 

McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, began the day with a share of the lead with Simpson and Matt Kuchar at 13-under at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ontario.

He was making his Canadian Open debut and improved with each round, shooting 67, 66, 64, before opening the birdie floodgates on Sunday.

Lowry, who shot a closing round of 67, and Simpson, who shot a 68, finished at 15-under 265, two shots ahead of fourth place finishers Brandt Snedeker (69) and Matt Kuchar (70).

The four-time major winner McIlroy was part of a strong field at the Canadian Open, which this year serves as the final tune up before the US Open.

The win was also his second of 2019 -- he captured The Players Championship in March. 

McIlroy bested the previous Canadian Open scoring record by five shots. The previous record of 263 was set by Johnny Palmer in 1952 and equalled in 2014 by Tim Clark. 

McIlroy made four straight birdies on the back nine, starting at the par-four 11th, to put himself in contention to become just the sixth player in history to win a tournament with closing score of 59.

A bogey-eagle-bogey finish foiled his attempt, but made for a highly entertaining conclusion to his round.

His eagle on the par-five 17 started with a 341-yard drive off the tee to the centre of the fairway. His perfect approach shot set up an easy two-foot putt.

That left him needing a birdie on the par-four 18 to shoot a 59. It would have been his first birdie of the week on the hole.

But he found the bunker on the right of the green. Instead of holing out from the sand for 59, he came out too hot, putting his ball about eight feet past the pin. 

Canadian Adam Hadwin carded a 70 to finish alone in sixth. 

World number one Brooks Koepka shot an even-par 70 on Sunday to finish tied for 50th place. 

Defending champion Dustin Johnson finished with a 69 for a tie for 20th at seven under.

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Golf: McIlroy surges into share of lead at Canadian Open

Rory McIlroy fired six birdies in a bogey-free third round of 64 to jump into a three-way tie for first place at the Canadian Open on Saturday.

McIlroy shared the lead at 13-under with Americans Matt Kuchar (69) and Webb Simpson (67) on a sunny and breezy day at the Hamilton Golf & Country Club.

McIlroy, making his first appearance at the event in Ontario, is trying to bounce back after failing to make the cut at the Memorial tournament in Ohio last week, his first missed cut of the season.

The 30-year-old Northern Irishman used his weekend off working on his game and said the extra practice has paid off.

"I feel like I turned that missed cut into a positive," he said. "There were a couple things in my game that were highlighted and I had a chance to work on them ... that's why I am where I am on the leaderboard."

McIlroy had the shot of the day on the par-four 15th when his approach shot from 130 yards away narrowly missed the cup, setting up a 10-inch birdie putt.

Veteran Kuchar, who was also a co-leader after his second round, said he will need to step up his game if he is to win his first Canadian Open trophy.

"The goal is to just keep making improvements," said Kuchar, who mixed three birdies with two bogeys on Saturday.

"Tomorrow I need a firmer understanding of the greens so I can roll in more birdies."

American Brandt Snedeker, who produced a sparkling 10-under-par 60 in Friday's second round, shot 69 on Saturday that put him in a three-way tie in fourth on 12-under with Canada's Adam Hadwin and Ireland's Shane Lowry.

Snedeker's best moment came on 15 when he sank a 52-yard putt for his third birdie of the day, although he followed it up with his second bogey on the next hole.

Defending champion Dustin Johnson finished his third round with four birdies and two bogeys and is tied for 17th at six-under.

(Reporting by Rory Carroll; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

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Halep beats Stephens in Montreal in repeat of French Open win

World number one Simona Halep turned back American Sloane Stephens 7-6(6) 3-6 6-4 to win the Rogers Cup women's title in a rematch of their French Open finale in Montreal on Sunday.

Romanian Halep, who had beaten Stephens in Paris in June, claimed her second Montreal title in three years and third for the 2018 season.

She closed out the hard-fought match with her third ace of the day.

"It's an amazing feeling to be able to talk again at this ceremony as a winner," Halep said.

"I feel like I reached my best level of tennis, even if I had a long break before this tournament and I felt dead after the first day."

Halep fended off four set points to claim a back-and-forth first set in a tiebreak after storming to a 4-1 lead before U.S. Open champion Stephens fought back to level.

Halep broke the third-seeded Stephens with a crosscourt winner to take a 5-4 lead and serve for the set. But the American broke Halep with a forehand winner and held two set points on the Romanian's serve at 6-5. A crosscourt backhand saved one and Stephens netted a return on the second.

Numerous forehand errors by Halep gave Stephens a 4-0 lead in the tiebreak and the American went up 6-4 before Halep rallied, crushing a backhand down the line to earn her first set point, which she converted.

Stephens led throughout the second set, breaking Halep twice, but the Romanian took control of the third set, turning a break into a 5-2 advantage.

Stephens rallied to within 5-4 before Halep, on her fourth match point, slammed her third ace of the match and dropped to her knees in triumph.

"You make me play better and better every time we play," Halep said of Stephens.

The American returned the compliment.

"Even though I lost today, I literally left everything on the court," Stephens said.

"Obviously I'm sad I lost, but losing to the number one player isn't too bad.

"Every time I play her, she makes me a better player, she makes me raise my level."

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

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Nadal topples birthday boy Tsitsipas in Toronto final

TORONTO - Rafael Nadal ended the red-hot run of Greek upstart Stefanos Tsitsipas with a ruthless 6-2 7-6(4) win on Sunday that gave the Spanish top seed his fourth Rogers Cup championship.

Tsitsipas, who was contesting the Masters 1000 final on his 20th birthday after four consecutive wins over top-10 players in Toronto, threw all he had at Nadal but was ultimately unable to beat the world number one.

"If you told me this two weeks ago I would not have believed it," Nadal said in his on-court interview. "It's a great way to start the hardcourt season. Winning in Toronto is so important. You don't win Masters 1000s very often. It's a very important victory for me and I'm very happy."

Tsitsipas did well to serve out at love in the first game but Nadal took over as he broke back in each of his next two chances before sealing the opening set in 34 minutes when the world number 27 sent a routine forehand into the net.

The second set looked to be going much the same way until Tsitsipas mounted a late charge that briefly shifted momentum in his favour.

Nadal, serving for the match at 5-4 and having dropped only three points on serve the entire match up to that point, suddenly looked tight as Tsitsipas broke him and then held serve to pull within one game of levelling the contest.

"I got nervous, I played a terrible game," said Nadal after winning his first hardcourt Masters title since Cincinnati in 2013. "But that's how it is. You keep going. That's part of the sport.

"Everybody gets tight at some moments. Today for me was an important match and I just made a couple mistakes but the positive news is I played my best match without a doubt."

Nadal, much to the dismay of the many flag-waving Greek supporters in attendance, forced a tiebreak where he rallied back from a mini break and clinched the win with a crosscourt forehand winner for a record-extending 33rd Masters title.

The win made the 32-year-old Spaniard, who also won the Rogers Cup in 2005, 2008 and 2013, the fourth player in the professional era to win 80 titles, joining a club that includes Jimmy Connors (109), Roger Federer (98) and Ivan Lendl (94).

(Reporting by Frank Pingue; Editing by Clare Fallon and Pritha Sarkar)

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Dustin Johnson extends lead as world number one

PARIS, France -- American Dustin Johnson extended his lead over Justin Rose as world number one on Monday, after easing to victory in the Canadian Open the previous day.

The former US Open champion has now won three PGA Tour titles this year and spent 72 of the last 76 weeks at the top of the world rankings.

The world's top 50 will all be in action this week at the 19th and final WGC Bridgestone Invitational event to be held at Firestone Country Club in Ohio.

World top 20

1. Dustin Johnson (USA) 10.34 average pts

2. Justin Rose (ENG) 8.75

3. Justin Thomas (USA) 8.16

4. Brooks Koepka (USA) 7.54

5. Jon Rahm (ESP) 7.40

6. Francesco Molinari (ITA) 7.28

7. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 7.18

8. Jordan Spieth (USA) 7.13

9. Rickie Fowler (USA) 6.61

10. Jason Day (AUS) 6.26

11. Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 6.07

12. Patrick Reed (USA) 5.45 (+1)

13. Alex Noren (SWE) 5.45 (-1)

14. Bubba Watson (USA) 5.23

15. Paul Casey (ENG) 5.22

16. Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 4.78

17. Henrik Stenson (SWE) 4.67

18. Xander Schauffele (USA) 4.49

19. Marc Leishman (AUS) 4.46

20. Webb Simpson (USA) 4.26 (+1)

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Johnson turns quick start into Canadian Open win

OAKVILLE, Ont. - World number one Dustin Johnson broke free from the leading pack with birdies on his opening two holes and stayed out front the rest of the way to capture the Canadian Open and his third PGA Tour title of the season on Sunday.

After two runners-up finishes, Johnson finally snatched the Canadian crown with a workmanlike final round of six-under 66 that left the big-hitting American three shots clear of Kim Whee and An Byeong-hun

The South Koreans both birdied the final hole for matching 69s to share second on 20-under-par.

Keegan Bradley made a rousing final round rally, carding the round of the day with an error free eight-under 64 to finish alone in third a further shot back.

"Obviously I have a lot of fans out there thanks to Wayne and the family and I appreciate all the support," said Johnson, who is married to Canadian hockey great Wayne Gretzky's daughter Paulina.

"With my ties to Canada, Paulina and her dad being Wayne Gretzky I definitely get a lot of fans that pull for Wayne, pull for me.

"I definitely helped. The fans are great. I definitely feel like an honorary Canadian."

Coming off his first missed cut of the year last week at the British Open, Johnson rebounded in some style to clinch his 19th career title with a winning tally of 23-under 265.

Johnson becomes the first player since Tiger Woods in 2009 to win three or more times in three consecutive years.

There was a logjam at the top of the leaderboard at the start of the final round with Johnson, An, Kim and Kevin Tway all sitting on 17 under and holding a four-shot advantage over the chasing pack.

Johnson's experience provided the early edge as he wasted no time breaking free with birdies at one and two, while the three co-leaders, who were all chasing their first PGA Tour titles, picked up early bogeys.

"It was definitely good to get off to a fast start," said Johnson.

"I birdied the first and had a really good look at eagle on the second, it's definitely good especially when the leaderboard is so bunched up.

"I just needed to get out in front, if I could get ahead I felt like I could play well and keep myself in the lead for the rest of the day which I did."

With his challengers off to a shaky start Johnson calmly seized control, opening up a three-shot lead after just four holes.

But the American's charge stalled as he struggled with his putter and he had to settle for five consecutive pars before rolling in a 12-footer at the eighth.

As Johnson and An stepped onto the ninth tee, the horn sounded halting play due to stormy weather in the area.

When play resumed following a nearly two-hour delay, the gap tightened as Johnson recorded a par and An and Kim picked up birdies to cut American's lead to two.

After Johnson took his only bogey of the day at the 12th, his lead was trimmed to a single shot but the 34-year-old was unshakeable, answering with a birdie at 13 to get back on track.

(Editing by Clare Fallon and Nick Mulvenney)

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Top-ranked Johnson grabs share of Canadian Open lead

TORONTO -- World number one Dustin Johnson, aiming to bounce back from British Open disappointment, fired a seven-under par 65 on Saturday to seize a share of the USPGA Tour Canadian Open.

Johnson, who missed the cut at Carnoustie, got off to a sizzling start at the Glen Abbey golf course Oakville, Ontario with birdies at five of the first six holes.

He cooled off with bogeys at the 10th and 13th before following birdies at 14 and 15 by ramming in a 23-foot putt for eagle at the par-five 16th.

The American was tied on 17-under par 199 with overnight leader Kevin Tway and South Koreans An Byeong-hun and Kim Whee.

"I was playing well," said Johnson, who is chasing a third title of the season and the 19th of his career. "I didn't drive it quite as well as I'd like to today. It was a little bit windy today, so it made it a little bit tougher to hit fairways.

"But I felt that when I was in the fairway I hit good shots and made a lot of birdies."

Kim held a one-shot lead after rolling in a 31-footer for eagle at the 16th, but he dropped a shot at 17 -- where he was unable to get up and down from a fairway bunker.

An had six birdies in his six-under 66 while Tway had six birdies in his four-under 68.

"I had a lot of up-and-downs today, like between holes seven to 12," said An, who birdied all three of the par-fives on the back nine. "It's been one of those nice up-and-down days, and then I grinded pretty well and I stayed patient. That's why I was able to finish with three birdies on the par-fives."

Johnson did much of his damage on the front nine. Although he missed the fairway at the first his approach left him eight feet for birdie and he was off.

After a poor tee shot at the par-five second meant he couldn't reach the green in two, he pitched uphill to set himself up for a four-foot birdie.

A textbook birdie at the third saw take a share of the lead and he followed with two more birdies at five and six.

Despite the difficulties with his driver, and the fact that he played the three par-fives on the back nine in just one-under, Johnson was encouraged after his shock early exit at Carnoustie.

"I felt like I was playing well going into the Open Championship and felt like I played well at the Open, I just scored really bad," said Johnson. "I felt like my mental game wasn't there. So I came here and practised a little bit and got my focus back right and have played a little better this week."

Tway, hoping to follow in the footsteps of his father, 2003 Canadian Open champion Bob Tway, had fallen off the pace before birdies at 15, 16 and 18 pulled him into the leading group.

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Federer stunned by Zverev in Montreal final

German fourth seed Alexander Zverev upset Roger Federer 6-3 6-4 in the Rogers Cup final in Montreal on Sunday to join the Swiss right-hander as the most trophy-laden player on the ATP Tour this year with five titles.

The 20-year-old German, who arrived in Montreal fresh from his triumph in Washington, proved up for the task right out of the gate as he had the Swiss second seed on his heels from the start on a sunny afternoon.


Zverev was poised and aggressive off the ground to create space for his power game and displayed some short-angled winners off thumping forehands and backhands to grab an early break for a 3-1 lead. He consolidated for a 4-1 cushion and ultimately closed out the opening set after a mere 30 minutes.

Federer, who entered the match 5-0 in finals this year, started to find his groove early in the second set but suddenly appeared out of sorts while Zverev broke in the seventh game to pull ahead 4-3 and held on for a surprise win that took 68 minutes.

The victory over the 19-times grand slam champion was the second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title of the season for Zverev, who also beat Novak Djokovic in Rome.

"This one against Roger is something so special for me because he was always a great idol growing up for me," Zverev said during his trophy presentation. "The greatest player of all time, beating him in a final, not just any final but in the final of a Masters 1000, is amazing."

The win improved Zverev to 5-1 in finals this year with the only defeat coming at the hands of Federer at Halle.

Federer spent six months on the sidelines in the second half of last season but has returned to his very best this year by winning five titles, including a pair of grand slams at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

He seemed ready to shift momentum early in the second set when he earned a trio of break points but Zverev saved them all in dominant fashion to hold for 1-1.

Zverev then grabbed the decisive break in the seventh game to pull ahead 4-3 before cruising to the finish line.

(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Clare Fallon)

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Federer beats Haase, meets Zverev in Montreal final

Roger Federer used a dominant service game to beat Dutchman Robin Haase 6-3 7-6(5) in Montreal on Saturday, setting up a Rogers Cup final against German Alexander Zverev.

Haase, playing in his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semi-final, did well to force a second-set tiebreak but Federer proved too much to handle as the Swiss fired down nine aces and dropped only nine points on serve.

Federer, whose five titles this year include the Australian Open and Wimbledon, credited a positive mindset for helping him extend his winning streak to 16 matches.

"Confidence can get you a long way, and if you're feeling fine physically and you are ready to fight mentally you have a lot of things in the bag," said the 19-times grand slam champion.

"And then the only thing that maybe is missing is practice, but sometimes practice is overrated. It's all about the matches at some stage.

"I'm happy I'm playing as well as I am this year on the match courts. At the end that's what matters because I spent hours and hours on the practice courts in the last year."

Next up for the Swiss right-hander, who is seeking his third Rogers Cup title after triumphs in Toronto in 2004 and 2006, is Zverev after the fourth seed advanced with a 6-4 7-5 win over Canada's Denis Shapovalov.

Federer owns a 2-1 edge against Zverev in head-to-head meetings, most recently a 6-1 6-3 win at Halle in June.

Zverev ended Shapovalov's magical week on his third match point when the 18-year-old, who had been the story of the tournament after a stunning run that included an upset win over world number two Rafael Nadal, sent a backhand wide.

Shapovalov, who was born in Israel and moved to Canada before his first birthday, had a great chance at 4-3 in the second set but failed to convert on his three break points.

"I wasn't too sharp on the big points," said Shapovalov, who made headlines in February for inadvertently blasting a ball into an umpire's face in a fit of rage during a Davis Cup quarter-final.

"I had a couple looks at some second serves and I missed some returns. But at the end of the day he did a good job to make me play those points."

(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto,; Editing by Neville Dalton/Peter Rutherford)

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Wozniacki topples top seed Pliskova at Toronto tennis

TORONTO - Caroline Wozniacki survived three rain delays to book her spot in the WTA Toronto tournament semi-final with a marathon 7-5, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4 victory over world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova on Friday.

The sixth seeded Wozniacki posted her first career win over a number-one player in seven tries as she blasted eight aces in the two-hour, 56-minute centre court match.

She next faces American Sloane Stephens, who saved three match points in the third set to oust Lucie Safarova 6-2, 1-6, 7-5 in their quarter-final.

Pliskova fired five aces but won just 45 percent of her second-serve points.

"I thought she started off really strongly and she was attacking and playing really, really well," Wozniacki said.

"After that, I feel like I stepped a little bit closer to the line just to try and take away a little bit of time. I once I kind of got on a roll, I started serving better.

"I just tried to stay steady, tried to take the ball on the rise and try to stay aggressive when I could and keep my serves aggressive too."

Wozniacki's record against number ones included five losses to Serena Williams and one to Dinara Safina.

"I don't really think about too much," Wozniacki said, speaking of her feat in defeating a top seed. "I knew I was going to play someone that was really tough today, and I'm just happy with my win."

Pliskova started quickly by winning five of the first six games of the first set which was delayed at the start by rain.

Wozniacki then started to assert herself on defence and offence, moving Pliskova around the court to win six straight games to take the first set.

Pliskova never recovered from that first set loss. From then on, it was a matter of Wozniacki wearing her opponent down by keeping the ball in play.

"I think the biggest mistake was in the first set -- so because of that, I think I lost," Pliskova said. "Overall, the match was much longer than just the hours on the court.

"It's just tough to play her in these conditions. She's putting everything back, so obviously, I did some mistakes."

Wozniacki will have her hands full with Stephens, who reached the quarters with wins over third seed Angelique Kerber and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.

Stephens won the last four games and saved three match points to oust Safarova.

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Federer, Nadal stroll in Montreal openers

MONTREAL, Canada -- A rejuvenated Roger Federer believes he is still reaping the benefits of his extended break from tennis after a comfortable opening victory at the ATP Montreal Masters gave him his best start to a season since 2006.

The Swiss star, who celebrated his 36th birthday on Tuesday, swatted aside Canada's world number 116 Peter Polansky 6-2, 6-1 in just 53 minutes to book his place in the second round.

Federer was joined in the last 16 by top seed and old adversary Rafael Nadal, who made similary short work of his opening assignment.

Nadal, who will depose the absent Andy Murray as world number one if he reaches the semi-finals in Montreal this week, routed Croatian youngster Borna Coric 6-1, 6-2.

Federer is riding high after a spectacular year which has netted him both the Australian Open and Wimbledon crowns.

On Wednesday's evidence, few would bet against him adding the US Open to that haul after a masterful performance that left Polansky groping at shadows.

A one-sided win gave him a 32-2 start to the season, his best beginning to a campaign since 2006 when he began 38-2 and finished the year at world number one.

Federer attributed his renaissance to rediscovering full fitness after knee surgery in 2016 and taking a two-month break from the game earlier this year.

"I guess for me the key is that I'm actually healthy," Federer said.

"I knew that when I was healthy, I was going to be able to have chances to win slams again, to play against the best, beat the best.

"That's also reasons why I'm still playing today. If I felt like I couldn't do all these things, it would not be enjoyable or I wouldn't be doing it any more.

"I think the belief was always there. The body always needed to be there, too. I think the break just rejuvenated me ... I came in refreshed. It was a different mindset."

 Monfils thriller

Federer took control immediately against Polansky, holding his opening service game comfortably before quickly going 0-40 up in the second game.

A Polansky double fault gave Federer the break and the Swiss was soon 3-0 up after holding serve to love in the next game.

Polansky held his next two service games but never looked like breaking Federer's serve as the veteran moved into a 5-2 lead.

Federer then broke Polansky to take the first set, following a signature backhand with a deft forehand volley that left the 29-year-old Canadian scrambling.

Federer was soon in control in the second set, scoring an early break and holding twice to move 3-0 up before a further break made it 4-0.

Polansky earned a stay of execution after holding serve in the sixth game to make it 5-1, but Federer raced into the next round with a comfortable hold, finishing with an emphatic overhead smash.

Federer will face Spain's David Ferrer in the third round. Ferrer upset 15th seed Jack Sock 7-6 (9/7), 3-6, 6-1.

Elsewhere Wednesday, France's Gael Monfils saved four match points before digging deep to defeat Japanese fifth seed Kei Nishikori in an attritional three-set duel.

Monfils prevailed 6-7 (4/7), 7-5, 7-6 (8/6) to advance.

There was almost another French Houdini act in the evening session, when Richard Gasquet fought back from triple match point down to earn three match points in the final set of his duel with Germany's Alexander Zverev.

Fourth-seed Zverev however fought back brilliantly to claim victory in a tiebreak, winning 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3).

Zverev will now face Australia's Nick Kyrgios in the last 16. Kyrgios swatted aside Victor Troicki 6-1, 6-2.

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Hoffman charges to one stroke lead at Canadian Open

Charley Hoffman rolled in six birdies in a seven-under 65 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead into the final day at the Canadian Open.

Hoffman was one ahead of fellow American Kevin Chappell (66), who bogeyed the last hole after finding water, with Gary Woodland and Robert Garrigus a further stroke behind.

Garrigus's round of 62 tied a course record.

Hoffman, who is 17-under overall, said staying aggressive and making birdies was key to winning the tournament, which would be his first victory since his Texas Open win last year.


"Making pars on Sunday out here is not going to get me anywhere," he said in a television interview after the third round.

"I'm going to keep my same game-plan -- a bunch of drivers, hit a bunch of wedge shots close and hopefully make some putts."

Low wind, receptive greens and plenty of sunshine led to a shootout at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, with 30 players boasting overall scores of 10-under or better heading into Sunday.

World number one Dustin Johnson appeared poised to take the lead until his second shot on the 11th hole landed in the water, leading to a double-bogey.

He finished the day with a 68 and sits five strokes behind Hoffman.

"I just hit a terrible shot," said Johnson, who also misjudged several putts including a birdie chance at the 18th.

"I missed quite a few putts today but I feel like I'm rolling it well. I just need to go out tomorrow and see a few go into the hole," he said.

Former world number one and 2004 winner Vijay Singh failed to continue his sizzling play from Friday, shooting a 71 that had him tied with seven other players at 11-under.

The 54-year-old is seeking to become the oldest winner in PGA Tour history.

(Reporting by Rory Carroll; Editing by Ian Ransom)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Fil-Australian Day wins Canadian Open

OAKVILLE, Ontario - Jason Day spoiled Canadian hopes of a first home-grown winner in 61 years at the Canadian Open with a one-stroke victory on Sunday.

The 27-year-old Australian birdied the last three holes at Glen Abbey to triumph by one over American Bubba Watson and by two over Canadian David Hearn, the 54-hole leader.

Day ended the tournament in style by rolling in a clutch 22-foot putt at the par-five 18th for a closing four-under-par 68 and a winning total of 17-under 271.

It was his second PGA Tour win of the season, the fourth of his career and followed up a strong tie for fourth at last week's British Open.

Watson and Hearn, playing in the final pairing, shot 69 and 72, respectively. Hearn held a one-stroke lead standing on the 16th tee but Day and Watson, who made birdie on five of his six closing holes, both charged past him with blazing finishes.

Last Monday, Day's birdie try on the 72nd hole at St. Andrews came up short and left him one shot shy of a British Open playoff won by Zach Johnson.

"To come off what happened last week and to be able to get the putt to the hole this time and come out as a winner, it just feels fantastic," said Day, who let out a yell and fist-pumped as his last putt dropped.

Watson appeared to be out of the mix after a bogey at the 10th, before his birdie spree. Day was playing in the group in front of Hearn and Watson, and had to watch Watson's short chip attempt for eagle slide by at 18 to know he had won.

"I've been putting in a lot of work, not only with my golf game, but with my body as well," Day said. "Mentally, I feel like I was in the right spot coming into this week and I played fantastic."

Hearn, vying to become the first Canadian winner at this event since Pat Fletcher in 1954, opened with back-to-back birdies, but stalled on the back nine.

"I'm real proud of the way I played and I'm really proud to be Canadian today," Hearn said. "It was a pretty special day with all of the fans and the support that I had from beginning to finish."

(Reporting by Tim Wharnsby; Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes and Larry Fine)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Fil-Aussie Day eyes more success after strong British Open

TORONTO -- Australia's Jason Day, who is coming off another near miss at a major championship, will try to build on an already superb season at this week's Canadian Open.

The 27-year old from Beaudesert, Queensland is one of the 20-something young guns who have been lighting up the PGA Tour along with Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler.

Day, who finished tied for fourth at the weather-hit British Open on Sunday, and about two dozen others from St. Andrews are hoping for some more favorable weather at the Toronto-area Glen Abbey Golf Club course, beginning Thursday.

"You're expecting hard, tough conditions at the British Open. But not unplayable weather and conditions," said Day, who has posted six top-10 finishes in a Grand Slam tournament over the past three years.

"You can attack this golf course a lot more."

Glen Abbey returns as the host this year for the 27th time. The course had hosted 22 consecutive Canadian Opens before the Royal Canadian Golf Association began opening it up to other courses throughout Canada.

Among those expected to headline the field are Day, Jim Furyk and Bubba Watson.

Last year in Montreal, Tim Clark closed with a five-under 65 in the final round to rally past Furyk and win for the second time on the USPGA Tour. Furyk had a 12-footer for birdie to force a playoff, but failed to sink the putt.

His total of 263 allowed him to tie Johnny Palmer (1952) and Scott Piercy (2012) for the tournament scoring record.

Clark, who had to skip the British Open because of visa problems, has missed time on the PGA Tour over the last few years with a nagging elbow problem.

The Canadian crowd favorites this week will be Graham DeLaet, Nick Taylor and David Hearn. Taylor captured the Sanderson Farms Championship last year.

Former Masters champion Mike Weir is missing from the event. Weir, who spent over 110 weeks in the top 10 world rankings between 2001 and 2005, announced Friday that he's taking time off from the tour.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com