Davydenko ousts Federer in semis

Roger Federer was eliminated from the ATP World Tour Finals on Saturday in London, losing to Nikolay Davydenko 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in the semifinals.

Federer, whose serve was broken three consecutive times in the first set, came within two points of winning while leading 5-4 in the third set. But Davydenko held on and then broke Federer to take a 6-5 lead before serving out the win.

"I was a couple of points away but just couldn't get it done," said Federer, a four-time champion at the season-ending event. "He did well. I thought he played strong throughout, even though I don't think it was our best match we ever played against each other."

It was the Russian's first win over the top-ranked Swiss in 13 matches.

In the late match, U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro beat Robin Soderling 6-7 (1), 6-3, 7-6 (3).

'Transsexual sports writer' dies Los Angeles Times sports writer Mike Penner, who announced two years ago he was a transsexual and was changing his name to Christine Daniels, has died at age 52, the newspaper reported. The Times said it was believed he committed suicide. No cause of death was revealed.

Penner had returned to using the name Mike Penner last year and was a Times columnist at the time of his death. He worked there 25 years.

"I am a transsexual sports writer," Penner wrote. "It has taken more than 40 years, a million tears and hundreds of hours of soul-wrenching therapy for me to work up the courage to type those words."

Naslund, Forsberg team up Markus Naslund came out of retirement to play with childhood friend Peter Forsberg for hometown team Modo, getting an assist in a 4-1 win over Rogle in a Swedish League game in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden.

Naslund set up Forsberg to make it 1-0 in the first period as the two former NHL All-Stars needed little time to get reacquainted on the ice. Forsberg also had a assist.

"I felt quite all right," Naslund said. "I haven't really practiced since were eliminated from the playoffs [with the New York Rangers] last season, so it's not that strange that I feel a bit tired."

Ski jumping: Bjorn Einar Romoren of Norway cleared 139.5 and 139 meters in Kuusamo, Finland, and won the opener of the World Cup ski-jumping season.

Golf: Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy shot an 8-under 64 in four-ball, but Ireland's lead over defending champion Sweden and Italy shrunk to one stroke at the World Cup of Golf in Guangzhou, China. Sweden's Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson had a 10-under 62, and the Italian brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari shot an 11-under 61

Horse racing: Super Saver set a stakes record in winning the $191,250 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes for 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs. Ridden by Calvin Borel for trainer Todd Pletcher, Super Saver ran the 11/16 miles in 1:42.83, breaking the stakes record of 1:43.14 set by Captain Steve in 1999.

Skiing: Didier Cuche of Switzerland won the season-opening men's downhill on the World Cup stop in Lake Louise, Alberta. Cuche, third in last season's overall standings, earned his 11th World Cup victory.