Briefs | Federer continues his mastery of Roddick
Tennis
Federer improves to 15-1 against American: Top-ranked Roger Federer of Switzerland overwhelmed American Andy Roddick 6-4, 6-2 Friday in a round-robin match at the Masters Cup in Shanghai, China, in which both players were already assured of reaching the semifinals of the eight-player event.
Federer raised his record against Roddick to 15-1.
“I know that my game matches up well with his, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to beat him all the time,” Federer said. “Andy has been trying many, many different things out against me. It’s dangerous for me to play against him, especially with the guy having such a big serve.”
Federer will play No. 2 Rafael Nadal of Spain in the semifinal round of the year-end tournament. Roddick, ranked fifth, will face No. 6 David Ferrer of Spain.
Soccer
Garber indicates Philadelphia, St. Louis top expansion candidates: With Seattle and San Jose already set to join the league in future seasons, Philadelphia and St. Louis could be the next cities in Major League Soccer’s expansion plans.
MLS commissioner Don Garber listed nine cities as candidates for expansion, with Philadelphia and St. Louis at the top of the list.
Including San Jose (which begins play next year) and Seattle (2009), MLS has 15 franchises.
Garber said a goal is to add a “16th by the end of the year” and added the league is seeking to have 18 teams by 2010-11.
In addition to Philadelphia and St. Louis, expansion candidates include Vancouver, B.C.; Portland; Atlanta; a second team in the New York area; Las Vegas; Miami and Montreal.
England’s Owen is injured in exhibition: England’s chances of qualifying for next year’s European Championship absorbed a blow when Michael Owen was injured in a 1-0 exhibition victory at Austria in Vienna.
Owen, who left in the 34th minute, will miss England’s final qualifier, at home against Croatia on Wednesday.
England already is without top forward Wayne Rooney, who is sidelined until next month because of an injured ankle.
Peter Crouch scored in the 44th minute for England when he headed in David Beckham’s corner kick.
Volleyball
Brazil earns berth in Olympics: Brazil defeated host Japan in four sets at the Women’s World Cup to secure a berth in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The United States and European champion Italy already booked spots at the Beijing Games with wins Thursday. Italy won the Women’s World Cup.
Doping
Some want Drut to succeed Pound: As he prepares to step aside after eight years as president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, Dick Pound is looking on in bewilderment as politicians engage in a messy process of trying to elect his successor.
The tangled plot took a new twist when European ministers tried to enter former Olympic hurdles champion Guy Drut of France as a last-minute candidate in a bid to derail the election of John Fahey, former Australian finance minister.
The move was rebuffed by Pound, who said nominations closed nearly two months ago and Fahey was the lone candidate for today’s election.
Figure skating
Asada leads: Edging American Kimmie Meissner in the short program wasn’t enough to put a smile on the face of Mao Asada of Japan.
Asada had a slight lead over the former world champion at Trophee Bompard in Paris after both made mistakes in their jump combinations.
World champion Brian Joubert of France will take 10 days off after being diagnosed with a virus.
Speedskating
Wolf sets record: German Jenny Wolf beat her own long-track world record in winning the women’s 500 meters in 37.02 seconds at a World Cup event in Calgary, Alberta.
Wolf’s previous mark was 37.04.
Seattle Times news services