WIMBLEDON

Where's Roger?

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — They are playing the men's semifinals at Wimbledon and for the first time in eight years the final four doesn't include Roger Federer. The six-time champion lost in the quarterfinals to Tomas Berdych (BUR'-dich), who is first up on Centre Court today. The 12th-seeded Czech is playing No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic (NOH'-vak JOH'-kuh-vich) of Serbia for a berth in Sunday's final against the winner of today's second semifinal. That one pits top-ranked and second-seeded Rafael Nadal (rah-fay-ehl nah-DAHL') of Spain against fourth-seeded Scotsman Andy Murray, who is trying to become the first British man to win the Wimbledon title since Fred Perry in 1936.

Three-time champion Serena Williams advanced to the Wimbledon women's final on Thursday by defeating unseeded Czech Petra Kvitova (kih-VIT'-oh-vuh) 7-6, 6-2. The victory sends Williams to the championship match against 21st-seeded Vera Zvonareva (zvahn-uh-RAY'-vuh). The Russian reached her first Grand Slam final by rallying to defeat unseeded Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova (sveh-TAH'-nuh pih-RON'-kuh-vuh) 3-6, 6-3 6-2.

WORLD CUP-QUARTERFINALS

Back at it in South Africa

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (AP) — Following a two-day break, the World Cup returns to the scene with the first two games of the quarterfinals.

Brazil and Netherlands play the opener (10 a.m. Eastern).

Brazil easily handled Chile 3-0 in the second round after winning Group G. The Netherlands has won all four of its matches, including 2-1 over Slovakia in the second round.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) — The team that knocked the U.S. out of the World Cup for a second straight time will be on the pitch later today. Ghana takes on Uruguay.

Uruguay is seeking its first semifinals berth since 1970, while Ghana is after the first ever for an African team.

MLB-DIAMONDBACKS/FIRINGS

DBacks axe Hinch and Byrnes

PHOENIX (AP) — A.J. Hinch is the fourth major league manager to be dismissed this season. He got axed by the Diamondbacks with the club sitting at 31-and-48 and 15 games out of first place in the National League West.

It wasn't the general manager that gave him the bad news. GM Josh Byrnes also got pink slipped.

Coach Kirk Gibson will make his debut as interim manager tonight when Arizona opens a three-game series with the Dodgers in Phoenix. Gibson has never managed at any professional level.

Jerry Dipoto will fill the GM duties on an interim basis.

MLB-SCHEDULE

Rays rally to keep pace with Yanks...Braves benefit by not playing

UNDATED (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays were one out away from a 4-3 loss at Minnesota Thursday night before keeping pace with the New York Yankees in the American League East.

Willy Aybar's (EYE'-bahrz) RBI single in the 10th inning gave the Rays a 5-4 victory over the Twins. Evan Longoria was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts before lining a game-tying double off Jon Rauch (rowsh) with two out in the ninth, allowing Aybar to keep Tampa Bay within two games of the East-leading Yankees.

The Twins saw their lead in the AL Central cut to one game over Detroit.

The Bombers salvaged the finale of a three-game set with Seattle as Alex Rodriguez launched a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning to lead New York past the Mariners 4-2. Rodriguez delivered his 595th career home run a half-inning after Russell Branyan tied the score with a two-run single.

Robinson Cano (kuh-NOH') also homered and CC Sabathia (suh-BATH'-ee-uh) went eight innings in winning his sixth straight start.

The Yankees top the AL East by 1 1/2 games over Boston.

The Los Angeles Angels are within 3 1/2 games of West-leading Texas after Jered Weaver tossed two-hit ball over seven scoreless innings of L.A.'s 2-1 triumph over the Rangers. Weaver struck out six and walked two in lowering his ERA to 1.70 in eight home starts.

In other AL action, Cleveland has a season-high five-game winning streak after Matt LaPorta smacked a three-run homer to highlight a six-run fourth in the Indians' 6-1 game over Toronto. Justin Masterson had a shutout going until Aaron Hill hit an RBI single with one out in the ninth.

Trevor Cahill won his seventh straight decision by holding the Orioles to four hits over seven innings of Oakland's 8-1 rout of Baltimore. Ryan Sweeney had four hits and two RBIs as the Athletics took the rubber match.

Over to the National League, where the Cincinnati Reds have put some distance between themselves and second-place St. Louis in the Central Division.

The Reds beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 on an RBI grounder by Drew Stubbs in the top of the 10th, putting Cincinnati 1 1/2 games ahead of the Cardinals. Reds starter Travis Wood was outstanding in his major league debut, allowing just two hits over seven-plus innings.

Randy Wolf pitched into the seventh and Prince Fielder hit one of Milwaukee's three homers in a 4-1 triumph at St. Louis. Wolf gave up just four hits and blanked the Cardinals until Albert Pujols homered in the seventh inning.

Atlanta expanded its lead in the NL East with losses by the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies.

Ryan Zimmerman hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth to give Washington a 2-1 triumph over New York, giving the Mets a 1-3 start to their seven-game road trip. The Mets failed to score after the first inning as Livan Hernandez combined with two relievers on an eight-hitter.

Pittsburgh's Daniel McCutchen picked up his first win of the year by allowing one earned run while pitching into the sixth inning of a 3-2 triumph over the Phillies. Rookies Jose Tabata and Pedro Alvarez each had an RBI as the Pirates beat a team with a winning record for only the second time in 33 games since May 25.

The outcomes give the Braves a two-game lead over the second-place Mets, with the Phillies four games off the pace.

San Diego fell to Houston 6-3 in 10 innings, cutting the Padres' lead in the NL West to 2 1/2 games over the Dodgers. Michael Bourn broke a 3-3 tie with a two-run triple before Jeff Keppinger added a run-scoring single to finishing with three RBIs.

Colorado was a 7-3 winner against San Francisco as Carlos Gonzalez opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first. Aaron Cook picked up the Rockies' third victory in four games, allowing three runs and seven hits over 6 1/3 innings.

MLB-RANGERS/GIANTS TRADE

Rangers get Molina from Giants

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers have acquired veteran catcher Bengie Molina and cash from the San Francisco Giants for reliever Chris Ray and a minor league pitcher. The 35-year-old Molina is expected to join the Rangers and be in the lineup tonight, when they start a 10-game homestand leading into the All-Star break. The two-time Gold Glove winner is hitting .257 with three homers and 17 RBIs this season.

MLB-PHILLIES

Manager suspended, Utley out at least eight weeks

UNDATED (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel sat out Thursday's game at Pittsburgh as punishment for making contact with an umpire. He received a one-game suspension from major league baseball for his actions during the 10th inning of Tuesday's win at Cincinnati.

Meanwhile, the Phillies say second baseman Chase Utley will be out at least eight weeks after having surgery Thursday on his injured right thumb.

Utley was injured trying to stretch a single into a double in Monday's game against the Reds.

NBA-LAKERS

Jackson coming back

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Phil Jackson has decided he has enough energy to make a run at a 12th NBA championship as a head coach.

Jackson has announced he's coming back for another season as coach of the Lakers, the two-time defending champs. He said last week he was leaning toward retirement after another long season, but he changed his mind after getting a week to rest up at his offseason home in Montana. However, Jackson also says next season will be "a last stand for me, and I hope a grand one."

Jackson's 11 titles and 225 playoff victories are NBA records for head coaches.

NBA-CAVALIERS-SCOTT

Byron Scott accepts Cavs' job

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers will introduce Byron Scott as their new head coach at a news conference Friday.

Scott previously coached New Jersey and New Orleans, leading the Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals.

The Cavs had been looking for a coach since Mike Brown was fired May 24, ending a five-year run with the club.

Scott accepted a four-year deal.

NBA-FREE AGENCY

Market open

UNDATED (AP) — LeBron James, Dwyane (dwayn) Wade and Chris Bosh were among the NBA All-Stars courted by a host of suitors as the free-agent negotiation period began Thursday morning.

James spoke with officials from the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets, Wade spent time with representatives from the Nets and Chicago Bulls, and Bosh was busy talking with the Miami Heat and Houston Rockets.

A person with knowledge of the negotiations says that forward Rudy Gay is staying with the Memphis Grizzlies after accepting a five-year max contract worth more than $13 million per season.

And forward Amir Johnson has agreed to a five-year contract to stay with the Toronto Raptors.

NFL-CORYELL OBIT

Former Chargers, Cardinals coach dies

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Former San Diego Chargers and St. Louis Cardinals head coach Don Coryell (kohr-YEHL') has died at age 85, according to the Chargers.

The Chargers did not release the cause of death, but Coryell had been in poor health for some time.

He coached the Chargers from 1978-86 as they set several NFL records with quarterback Dan Fouts running his "Air Coryell" offense.

Coryell was the first coach to win 100 games in college and pro football, but he never reached the Super Bowl.

NHL-FREE AGENCY

Players up for grabs

UNDATED (AP) — NHL rosters began to change rather dramatically during the first day of the free-agent signing period, but the Tampa Bay Lightning made sure one of their top players doesn't go anywhere for awhile.

Former NHL scoring champion and Lightning forward Martin St. Louis (mahr-TAN' san loo-EE') has signed a four-year contract extension that keeps him under contract through the 2014-15 season. St. Louis had 29 goals and 94 points last season and received the Lady Byng Award as the league's most well-behaved player.

The Ottawa Senators made a splash, signing veteran defenseman Sergei Gonchar (SUR'-gay GAHN'-char) to a three-year contract worth $16.5 million.

With the loss of Gonchar, the Penguins signed defenseman Zbynek Michalek (zuh-BEE'-nihk muh-KAHL'-ihk) to a five-year contract and worked out a deal with former New Jersey blueliner Paul Martin.

The Devils replaced Martin by getting veteran defensemen Henrik Tallinder (TAL'-ihn-dur) and Anton Volchenkov.

Defenseman Toni Lydman (LOOD'-mihn) OK'd a three-year contract with Anaheim after five seasons with the Buffalo Sabres.

Buffalo replaced Lydman with Jordan Leopold, who accepted the Sabres' three-year offer.

The Anaheim Ducks have re-signed center Saku Koivu (SA'-koo KOY'-voo) to a two-year, $5 million contract.

Alex Tanguay (TAN'-gay) is on his way back to Calgary, agreeing to a one-year deal with the Flames.

The Vancouver Canucks have announced an agreement with defenseman Dan Hamhuis (HAM'-hyooz) on a six-year, $27 million deal.

Minnesota re-signed left wing Guillaume Latendresse (gee-OHM' lah-TEHN'-dres) to a two-year, $5 million contract and also inked free-agent forwards Matt Cullen and Eric Nystrom.

Forward Alex Steen has signed a four-year extension with the St. Louis Blues after tying for the team lead with 24 goals last season. The Blues also signed forward Vladimir Sobotka (vlah-DIH'-meer soh-BAHT'-kah) to a one-year extension.

Carolina has reacquired defenseman Anton Babchuk, inking him to a one-year contract worth $1.4 million.

The San Jose Sharks have signed goalie Antero Niittymaki (AN'-tur-oh nee-tee-MAH'-kee) to a two-year, $4 million deal.

Martin Biron (mahr-TAN' bee-RAHN') is a New York Ranger after the goaltender accepted a two-year package.

Phoenix signed 38-year-old left wing Ray Whitney, and Edmonton inked defenseman Kurtis Foster to a two-year, $3.6-million deal.

NFL-VICK

Vick not ruled out of investigation

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Police in Virginia Beach, Va., say Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick has not been ruled out as suspect or person of interest in a shooting investigation in Virginia Beach. Police spokesman Adam Bernstein says police did not look at Vick or anyone else as a possible suspect immediately after the shooting early Friday because detectives had not begun their investigation.

Vick issued a statement saying he was not involved in the shooting and was not a witness.

PGA-AT&T NATIONAL

Four share lead, Woods playing catch up

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. (AP) — Tiger Woods begins the day at his tournament seven shots behind a quartet of co-leaders. Woods opened play at the AT&T National with a 3-over-par 73.

Arjun Atwal, Joe Ogilvie, Jason Day and Nick Watney top the first-round leaderboard.

LPGA-JAMIE FARR CLASSIC

SYLVANIA, Ohio (AP) — Na Yeon Choi (nah yee-AHN' choy) is the first-round leader at the LPGA's Jamie Farr Corning Classic in Ohio. Choi opened with a 7-under 64 for a one-stroke lead over Alena Sharp.