Tennis
U.S. rolls into Davis semifinals
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Behind a blistering serve, Andy Roddick defeated Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday for the deciding victory over France in the Davis Cup quarterfinal.
Roddick’s second singles victory in three days secured the Americans’ sixth straight Davis Cup win, including last year’s final over Russia.
AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. — Maria Sharapova overcame five double-faults and 33 unforced errors to beat Dominika Cibulkova 7-6 (7), 6-3 in the final. The top-seeded Russian became the first player on the WTA Tour to win three times in 2008. She also won the Australian Open and at Doha.
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Sharapova improved to 22-1 this year, earned a crystal vase and $95,500, and maybe more important, gained valuable experience on clay. She hopes it carries over to the Family Circle Cup in South Carolina next week.
Hockey
U.S. women win world title
HARBIN, China — The United States won its second women’s world hockey championship Saturday, upsetting Canada 4-3 behind two goals from Natalie Darwitz.
Angela Ruggiero and Jenny Potter also scored for the U.S., which had lost to Canada in nine of the past 10 finals. The Americans won the title in 2005.
The U.S. defeated Canada 4-2 in a playoff-round game Thursday to set up the rematch.
