FRENCH OPEN-MEN’S SEMIFINALS
Men’s final is set
PARIS (AP) β Top-seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal (rah-fay-EHL’ nah-DAHL’) will face second-seed Novak Djokovic (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich) in the men’s final at the French Open.
Djokovic advanced with a 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win over 18th-seed Ernests Gulbis. The six-time major champion needs a French Open title to become the sixth male to complete a career Grand Slam.
Nadal blew by fourth-seed Andy Murray in the other semifinal, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1. Nadal now has the amazing record of 65-1 in his career at Roland Garros.
Djokovic has beaten Nadal the last four times they have played, including a clay court final in Rome last month.
The world No. 1 ranking is also on the line in Sunday’s finale as Nadal will retain his No. 1 ranking if he beats Djokovic. Otherwise, Djokovic will move back to the top.
Nadal leads 22-19 in head-to-head meetings.
The women’s championship match will taking place Saturday with seventh-seed Maria Sharapova (shah-rah-POH’-vah) facing No. 4 Simona Halep (HAL’-ehp). This is Sharapova’s third consecutive trip to the French Open final and the first for Halep. Sharapova has won all three previous meetings between the two.
NBA-JAZZ/COACH
Jazz hire Snyder to replace Corbin
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) β The Utah Jazz have hired Atlanta Hawks assistant Quin Snyder to replace head coach Tyrone Corbin, who was let go after three-plus seasons with the team.
Snyder most recently completed his first season as an assistant with Atlanta. He was the head coach at Missouri for seven seasons, from 1999 to 2006, leading the Tigers to four NCAA tournaments and an Elite Eight appearance in 2002.
Corbin was not offered a contract after going 112-146 with the Jazz following the resignation of Jerry Sloan in Feb. 2011.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-NORTH CAROLINA/MCCANTS
Tar Heels denying McCants charges
UNDATED (AP) β North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams and members of the 2005 national championship team are denying any involvement with academic wrongdoing alleged by Rashad McCants.
The Tar heels’ second-leading scorer in 2005 said in an interview with ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” that tutors wrote papers for him, and he also believed Williams knew “100 percent” about players taking no-show classes.
Williams has issued a statement saying he “strongly” disagreed with McCants’ comments, and 16 players from the 2005 team issued a joint statement defending their coach and saying they attended class and did their own academic work.
NHL-PENGUINS
Pens name new GM, fire coach
PITTSBURGH (AP) β The Pittsburgh Penguins found a new general manager and created a head coaching vacancy.
Former Penguins goaltender Jim Rutherford has returned to run the front office. He stepped down as the Hurricanes GM in April after serving the franchise for 20 years and winning one Stanley Cup.
One of Rutherford’s first moves in his new job was to dismiss coach Dan Bylsma (BYLZ’-muh), who won a franchise-record 252 games behind the bench. Byslma and the Pens failed to produce consistently in the playoffs the last five years, winning just four of nine playoff series.
NFL-TEXANS
No. 1 NFL pick signs
HOUSTON (AP) β The Houston Texans have signed No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon (jah-DAY’-vee-ahn) Clowney.
Clowney was a defensive end at South Carolina and will be converted to linebacker. He had 130 tackles, including 47 for losses, 24 sacks and a team-record nine forced fumbles in three seasons with the Gamecocks.
The Texans hope the 6-foot-5, 266-pound Clowney will pair with 2012 Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt to create one of the most fearsome pass rushes in the NFL.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Cubs beat Marlins after blowing lead
CHICAGO (AP) β The Chicago Cubs were able to claim their fourth straight win despite blowing a three-run lead in the ninth.
Anthony Rizzo smacked a walkoff, two-run homer in the bottom of the 13th to give the Northsiders a 5-3 win over the Miami Marlins. Rizzo also hit a two-run double to put the Cubs ahead 3-0 in the eighth, but pinch-hitter Reed Johnson forced extra innings with a two-out, two-run single off Hector Rondon (rahn-DOHN’).
The Marlins ended a four-game winning streak and fell to 10-18 on the road.
MLB-ORIOLES/SANTANA
Santana shelved by torn Achilles
BALTIMORE (AP) β Johan Santana’s comeback bid is over.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner tore an Achilles tendon while pitching for the Baltimore Orioles in extended spring training today. Santana was struck by a line drive, then stumbled when chasing the ball.
The 35-year-old Santana has not pitched in the majors since 2012 with the New York Mets. He signed a minor league contract with Baltimore in March.
NHL-STANLEY CUP FINALS
Day off
LOS ANGELES (AP) β Expect some line-up changes for Saturday’s Game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals, when the Kings host the Rangers.
Los Angeles defenseman Robyn Regehr is likely to return from a 14-game absence with a knee injury.
Rangers defenseman John Moore also is expected to be back in the after sitting out a two-game suspension.
The Kings hold a 1-0 lead in the series.
BELMONT
Triple Crown ends on Saturday
NEW YORK (AP) β The last leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown takes place Saturday at Belmont Park. Kentucky Derby and the Preakness winner California Chrome is favored to become the first Triple crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
The forecast for the Belmont Stakes calls for good weather.
NASCAR-LONG POND
Hamlin grabs pole
LONG POND, Pa. (AP) β Denny Hamlin turned a track-record of 181.415 mph in winning the pole for Sunday’s Winston Cup race at Pocono Raceway. It’s the third career pole at Pocono for Hamlin, who has won four times at the track. Kurt Busch was second in qualifying, followed by Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon.
Sprint Cup leader Matt Kenseth takes a two point lead over Gordon into the race. Kenseth qualified 26th.
INDYCAR-TEXAS
Power powers to pole
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) β IndyCar Series points leader Will Power will start on the pole at Texas for the second consecutive year.
Power had a two-lap average of 218.896 mph for his 34th career pole.
Josef Newgarden qualified second for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, just ahead of Chip Ganassi Racing driver Tony Kanaan (kuh-NAHN).
GOLF-ST. JUDE CLASSIC
Crane holds lead
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) β Ben Crane held a six-stroke lead when the second round of the St. Jude Classic was suspended for the day due to heavy rain. Crane followed yesterday’s 63 with a 5-under 65 that leaves him at minus-12. Carl Pettersen was 6-under with one hole to play, and Jason Bohn was at minus-6 with two holes remaining.
LPGA-MANULIFE FINANCIAL LPGA CLASSIC
Tied at the top
WATERLOO, Ontario (AP) β Defending champion Hee Young Park and Shanshan Feng are co-leaders in the second round of the LPGA Tour’s Manulife Financial Classic, a stroke ahead of Michelle Wie. Park had a 5-under 66 to match Feng at 11-under 131 at Grey Silo. Feng shot a 66.
