Partnervorstelung » nable hit his franchise-best 10th career leadoff hom

SHANGHAI - It took a perfect match by Roger Federer for Novak Djokovics 28-match winning streak in China to come to an end.In their first match since Djokovic edged Federer to capture his seventh Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, the Swiss star exacted a measure of revenge with a commanding victory in the semifinals of the Shanghai Masters on Saturday.Federer broke Djokovic twice to defeat the Serb 6-4, 6-4 and halt his impressive streak dating back to 2010. During that stretch, Djokovic captured the China Open in Beijing three times and the Shanghai Masters twice.He played a perfect match, Djokovic said. Tonight is definitely one of the best matches he has played against me, thats for sure.Federer also ended Djokovics 43-match overall win streak to start the 2011 season when he beat him in the French Open semifinals that year.I look forward to the big occasions, Federer said. Doesnt matter where it is in the world because theres always a lot on the line, its a good story. It was the same again tonight.Federer nearly didnt even make it past his opening match this week. The 17-time major winner was almost out of the tournament when he was forced to save five match points before beating Leonardo Mayer in a three-setter that ended well after midnight.Now hes into the final with a chance to win his first title in Shanghai — and fourth of the year — against Frenchman Gilles Simon on Sunday.I was thinking about it midway through the match when I was up a set and a break going, Hmm, should I be here or elsewhere? Federer said. Clearly I feel very fortunate being in the tournament. But thats sometimes how things go.In their last match in the Wimbledon final this summer, Djokovic and Federer battled for five grueling, momentum-shifting sets before the Serb finally finished it off in four hours to capture his seventh Grand Slam title.Their 36th career meeting in Shanghai wasnt nearly as close.Federer relentlessly charged the net and volleyed with precision, winning 20 of his 35 forays. He also served strongly, hitting four aces in a row to win one game in the first set and fighting off the only break point he faced.Djokovic had been the one dominating opponents in China the past two weeks. He didnt drop a set last week en route to capturing his fifth China Open title in Beijing, overwhelming Tomas Berdych so completely in the final, it was a struggle for the Czech player to win a single game.Against Federer, though, Djokovic was far more error-prone than usual. At 2-all in the first set, he misfired on his forehand several times to allow Federer to break and then played another sloppy game to open the second set and drop serve again right away.Federer next plays Simon, a player who hasnt beaten him since 2008. That match, however, was also played in Shanghai, at the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup.Simon rediscovered some of his old form to defeat Feliciano Lopez 6-2, 7-6 (1) to reach his first Masters-level final in more than six years.The Frenchman won all but two points on his first serve and never facing a break point. He also handled Lopezs aggressive serve-and-volley game with ease, firing numerous passing shots down the line for winners and breaking the Spaniard twice.I was feeling really good from the baseline. I felt I almost didnt lose one point from the baseline the whole match, Simon said.Simon had been a mainstay in the top 20, but middling results this year — including seven opening-round losses — saw his ranking dip to No. 44 in June.In recent weeks, however, the Frenchman has been reborn. Having lost 11 of his past 12 matches against top-10 players before the U.S. Open, hes suddenly beaten three — No. 5 David Ferrer in New York, and No. 4 Stan Wawrinka and No. 7 Tomas Berdych here in Shanghai.Hes now projected to return to the top 20 next week — win or lose against Federer in the final.When Im playing good, I can play at (the top players) level, Simon said. This Im not worried. The question is whether I will be able to do it tomorrow. Bruce Matthews Jersey . -- The Orlando Magic finally are showing the patience in critical moments that coach Jacque Vaughn has been waiting for all season. Jeffery Simmons Jersey . Adding playoff teams. Monitoring instant replay from league headquarters. Possibly creating a set of guidelines to prevent locker-room bullying. http://www.authentictitanspro.com/Eddie-george-titans-jersey/ . -- Rory McIlroy birdied his last two holes Thursday for a 7-under 63 to take the lead after one round of the Honda Classic. Amani Hooker Youth Jersey . Mauer drove in two runs before leaving with an injury, Eduardo Nunez homered and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 10-2 on Tuesday night. Derrick Henry Womens Jersey . The Big Man finished 3-1 in Week 19, and sits at 53-24 on the season. Now Schultz is ready for more action. SAN DIEGO -- The Padres are on a roll, proving how quick momentum can flip in baseball. Will Venable homered and San Diego beat the Miami Marlins 5-4 on Sunday for their first three-game winning streak of the season. This run comes on the heels of Thursdays extra-inning loss, when second baseman Jedd Gyorkos error led to Giancarlo Stantons home run and a deflating defeat. Now the Padres hit the road packing along some confidence. "Its a much better vibe, theres less tension in the clubhouse and in the dugout," Padres manager Bud Black said. "When you dont score theres tension. And its been released a little bit and the guys are playing a little more relaxed. That is what winning does. When you dont score, things get a little tight." The surging Padres offence, which has scored 24 runs in the three games, also got two hits and two RBIs from Chris Denorfia. Robbie Erlin (2-4) scattered five hits in 6 1-3 scoreless innings before giving way to three Padres relievers. Huston Street pitched around a hit and two walks in the ninth to earn his 11th save. Street handled the middle of the Marlins order, Stanton and Casey McGehee with caution. He didnt mind putting them on when they didnt offer at border line pitches early in their counts. "I saw (Jeff) Baker in the hole and while he swung the bat well in series, I felt like once the bases were loaded I got to start attacking," Street said. "You know how you feel and youve seen how guys are hitting and when I fell behind those guys in middle of lineup, you feel like you dont want to give them anything to hit, especially Stanton." Street retired Baker on a fielders choice. "Got to be a little crisis at the end but Huston has proven over the years how to work his way through an inning, how to get an out," Black said. "He always knows whos on deck, whos in the hole and as the inning proceeds, what he has to get done and that is always a good sign of a good closer." Stanton understood. "He wasnt going to give me something to hit a homer and goo up in the game," he said.dddddddddddd "So he was either going to take the corners and if I didnt bite, he was going to let (McGehee) take over." Erlin handed his game over to the bullpen and was rewarded. He had lost four straight decisions before beating the Marlins in his first appearance against them. But it was his second consecutive strong showing after a seven-inning, one-run outing versus the Royals. The Padres pitchers struck out 48 over the four-game series to set a franchise record. They broke their mark of 44 set in 1998 against Montreal. Miamis Henderson Alvarez (2-3), who was coming off his second shutout of the season and third in his last eight starts, wasnt sharp. He lasted four innings, allowing five runs on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts. "He didnt have a good feel for his sinker today and that is his bread and butter," catcher Jeff Mathis said. "Without his sinker today we were doing what we could do throw the ball over the plate." Venable hit his franchise-best 10th career leadoff homer. His 400-foot blast off a 1-0 fastball over the right-field wall was his first home run of the year. NOTES: Padres SS Everth Cabrera was out of the starting lineup after his wife, Connie, gave birth to their daughter late Saturday night. ... OF Carlos Quentin was to play with Single-A Lake Elsinore on Sunday as he continues his rehabilitation from bruised left knee. Quentin could join the club on its upcoming road trip. ... LHP Casey Kelly threw a bullpen session and will pitch at Double-A San Antonio on Wednesday; hes rebounding from Tommy John surgery. ... Marlins MGR Mike Redmond said hes not sure where RHP Henry Rodriguez fits into the teams bullpen. Rodriguez, who worked the seventh inning, was summoned from Triple-A New Orleans. ... Marlins RHP Tom Koehler (3-2, 1.99) faces Dodgers RHP Dan Haren (4-1, 2.68) on Monday in Los Angeles. ... Padres RHP Andrew Cashner (2-5, 2.86) goes against Reds RHP Mike Leake (2-3, 3.40) in Tuesdays series opener in Cincinnati. ' ' '