Nadal, Federer advance in Hamburg

Rafael Nadal won a three-set struggle yesterday with Novak Djokovic to protect his No. 2 ranking and advance to the Hamburg Masters final against the world's top-ranked player. Nadal will face No. 1 Roger Federer in today's final, a rematch of last year's championship match in which Federer won his fourth Hamburg title and ended Nadal's 81-match winning streak on clay - his only win over the Spaniard on the slow surface. Federer overwhelmed Andreas Seppi, 6-3, 6-1, while Nadal had to fight for more than three hours for a 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 victory over the third-ranked Djokovic, who won last week's Rome Masters.. . . Maria Sharapova pulled out of the Italian Open semifinals in Rome because of a strained left calf, two days before she is to assume the No. 1 ranking following Justine Henin's retirement. Sharapova said the injury would not affect her preparations for the French Open, which begins next weekend. Sharapova had been scheduled to play defending champion Jelena Jankovic. In today's final, Jankovic will meet qualifier Alize Cornet, who defeated sixth-seeded Anna Chakvetadze, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

A hard shot to David West's ailing back finished him for the fourth quarter of the New Orleans Hornets' blowout loss at San Antonio in Game 6. But it appears Game 7 tomorrow night will be another matter. One day of rest proved enough for the Hornets' All-Star forward to get back on the court for yesterday's practice. West was face-down on the court in San Antonio Thursday night, his left arm bent awkwardly over his lower back, after a hard screen set from behind by Spurs veteran Robert Horry . . . Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy bet on about 14 games he officiated in the 2006-07 season, Assistant US Attorney Jeffrey Goldberg said in a letter filed in Brooklyn Federal Court. Donaghy pleaded guilty last year to charges he conspired to engage in wire fraud and transmitted betting information through interstate commerce. The referee said he made NBA bets for four years, even wagering on games he worked. Donaghy is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday.

Joakim Soria and the Kansas City Royals agreed to an $8.75 million, three-year contract extension, a deal that includes three club options that could raise the value to about $32.75 million. Soria allowed a run for the first time this season Friday night before getting his 11th save. Soria threw 16 2/3 scoreless innings to start the season, one-third of an inning shy of the Royals record . . . Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez went 1 for 4 with a solo homer in his first extended spring training game in St. Petersburg, Fla. It was his first game since being sidelined by a strained right quadriceps April 28. Barring any setbacks, A-Rod will rejoin the Yankees Tuesday . . . Tommy Hottovy pitched five innings to win his debut with the Double A Sea Dogs, helping Portland beat the Rock Cats, 6-2, in the nightcap to gain a split of their doubleheader in New Britain, Conn. The Rock Cats beat the Sea Dogs, 8-4, in the opener . . . The Pawtucket-Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Triple A game in Moosic, Pa., was postponed because of rain. The teams will play two today, beginning at 1:30.

Marathon world record-holder Paula Radcliffe is on crutches because of a hip injury that is disrupting her training for the Beijing Olympics. The pulled muscle in her left hip was revealed after two MRI scans. The 34-year-old British runner is scheduled for another MRI this week and then hopes to train full time . . . Essex Junction, Vt., native Carissa Gump was among four women at the US weightlifting trials in Atlanta to claim the American berths for the Beijing Games. She will be joined Melanie Roach, Natalie Woolfolk, and Cheryl Haworth.

Jockey Dyn Panell and trainer John Rigattieri teamed up to win five races on the nine-race card at Suffolk Downs. The five-win day was the third of Panell's career and the first at Suffolk Downs since Winston Thompson did it Nov. 11, 2006 . . . Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Ryan Tucker broke his hip during practice last week and will miss at least two months. The Browns said Tucker will likely miss all of training camp but is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season . . . Niklas Backstrom made 36 saves, helping Finland beat Sweden, 4-0, to win the bronze at the IIHF World Hockey Championship in Quebec. Canada meets Russia in today's final . . . Peter Vanderkaay broke the American swimming record in the 400 freestyle, winning in 3 minutes 43.82 seconds at the Santa Clara (Calif.) Grand Prix. In the 200 backstroke, Aaron Peirsol beat rival Michael Phelps by a fingertip, winning in 1:55.81. Phelps, an eight-time Olympic medalist, has never beaten Peirsol in the backstroke.