ton pulled away up the Col du Platzerwaswel mountain pass

BRISBANE, Australia - Roger Federer saw what a trio of next generation Grand Slam contenders had to offer Friday before putting on a show of his own, disposing of Australian wild card James Duckworth in 39 minutes to move into the Brisbane International semifinals.Top-seeded Federer dropped only six points in a 16-minute first set, and won 6-0, 6-1 without really breaking a sweat against No. 125-ranked Duckworth — a vast contrast to his rusty, three-set opening win over John Millman the previous night.I had a great start to the match, Federer said. I saved energy and stress and nerves.Yesterday was quite nerve-wracking and physically difficult because it was first match of the season. So Im very happy I got it done quickly today.The 17-time major winner will next meet No. 4-seeded Grigor Dimitrov, who advanced a 6-3, 6-4 winner over Martin Klizan of Slovakia.No. 2-seeded Kei Nishikori and No. 3 Milos Raonic, of Thornhill, Ont., will meet in the other semifinal after beating Australians.The top two players in the womens draw will meet in the final after No. 1-seeded Maria Sharapova beat Elina Svitolina 6-1, 6-3, and No. 2 Ana Ivanovic had a 7-6 (2), 6-4 win over Varvara Lepchenko.Federer and Dimitrov are often compared due to their styles, particularly the single-handed backhand, and theyre both anticipating a great semifinal.Im aware of the challenge, Federer said. Hes clearly expecting big things from himself this year, I would assume.So, its an opportunity for him more than for me, but I still think its going to be a tough and good match for both of us.Dimitrov has lost two previous matches to Federer — both at Basel — but is growing in confidence after rising to a career-high No. 8 ranking last August.Im always excited when I get to play a match like that against a player like that, Dimitrov said. I have quite a bit of experience behind me now. Ive learned from each match that Ive played against him. I like my odds.Nishikori, the U.S. Open finalist, breezed past Bernard Tomic 6-0, 6-4, while Raonic had more of a struggle against big-serving Sam Groth, winning 7-6 (3), 3-6, 7-6 (2).Groth got the only break of serve, in the second set, and had more winners and more aces — 22 against 15 — than Raonic, who is rarely outperformed in that area.Nishikori, Raonic and Dimitrov have yet to win a major title, but theyre widely considered the new wave of future champions. Theyre all playing their first tournaments of the season in Brisbane, getting primed for the Australian Open beginning on Jan. 19.In the night cap, Sharapova wasted four match points in the eighth game of the second set before dropping serve, but converted her fifth match point in the next game to see off Svitolina.Ivanovic had some wobbles, too, after leading Lepchenko 5-1 in the second set and needing seven match points before she finally finished it off on her serve.I knew she was going to go for it because she had her back against the wall and she was going to go big, Ivanovic said. I was really happy to stay calm and save break point and then win that (last) game.Poland advanced to the Hopman Cup final in Perth by clinching a point against defending champion France, setting up a final against the United States.Alize Cornet beat Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 to give France the lead, but Poland secured top spot in the group when Jerzy Janowicz beat Benoit Paire 6-4, 7-6 (6).At the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki beat Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a 2-hour, 35-minute match to set up a final against Venus Williams, who brushed past American compatriot Lauren Davis 6-0, 6-3. Williams also reached the final last year, losing in three sets to Ivanovic.____AP Sports Writer Steve McMorran in New Zealand contributed. Cheap Vapormax Mens .com) - The Utah Jazz look to put an end to their five-game losing streak when the Denver Nuggets visit Salt Lake City Monday night. Nike Air VaporMax 2.0 Floral Pure Platinum+Arctic Pink-White . Millsap will miss Wednesday nights game against the Chicago Bulls. The Hawks say Millsap also will be held out on Thursday at Boston. http://www.clearancevapormax.com/cheap-vapormax-plus-clearance.html . Toronto FC hosts the three-time Italian league champions in a friendly Aug. 7 at BMO Field, a game that Roma CEO Italo Zanzi said falls within a key part of their pre-season. Nike VaporMax Plus Sunset Black+Total Orange+Yellow . THE THUNDER & PACERS BENCHES: In a nutshell, not impressive at all. Cheap Vapormax Flyknit . Canadas 5-1 loss to Finland in the semifinal ranks as the tournaments most-watched game with a record 2.7 million viewers, the largest ever for a World Juniors game played outside of North America, and winning Saturday as the most-watched program on Canadian television.PLANCHER-LES-MINES, France -- Two-time champion Alberto Contador dropped out of the Tour de France on Monday after crashing during Stage 10, the second big withdrawal that blows the race wide open and ensures that cyclings greatest race will have a new champion this year. The 31-year-old Spaniard with Tinkoff-Saxo Bank becomes the second big favourite to drop out this year after defending champion Chris Froome of Britain crashed out in Stage 5. Before the race began this year, Froome and Contador were seen as the top two favourites to possibly win this year. In circumstances that a team spokesman could not immediately explain, Contador crashed about halfway through the 161.5-kilometre trek from Mulhouse to La Planche des Belles Filles featuring four steep Category 1 climbs in the eastern Vosges mountains, the toughest stage so far this year. TV images showed thick streams of blood pouring from Contadors knee after the crash, his hip was scraped up, and the back of his jersey torn. Team director Bjarne Riis rushed over and bandaged the riders right knee. Contador then sat back down on grass bank and changed his left shoe as riders, weaved through the narrow gap between him and his bicycle. After seveeral minutes, he got back in the saddle of a new bike, and three teammates who had dropped back escorted him to try to make up lost time as the peloton pulled away up the Col du Platzerwaswel mountain pass.dddddddddddd The Spaniard rode for about another half-hour, clearly in pain, and finally stopped, got off, wiped his eyes and climbed into a team car. Contador began the stage in ninth place overall -- four minutes eight seconds back of race leader Tony Gallopin of France. The Spaniards withdrawal vaults Vincenzo Nibali atop the list of likely winners this year. The Italian has won the Spanish Vuelta and Italian Giro, and wore the Tour leaders yellow jersey for seven days until Gallopin took it on Sunday. Contador and Froome, along with 2010 Tour champion Andy Schleck, were the only three former Tour champions racing this year. Schleck dropped out before Stage 4 after sustaining an injury in yet another crash a day earlier., The last section of the final ascent up to Belles Filles features a punishing 20 per cent gradient that could shake up the pack and give a clearer indication of the contenders for overall victory of the three-week race on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on July 27. ' ' '