Nadal wins on way to the French Open

Rafael Nadal won a record 18th Masters title by beating Roger Federer 6-4, 7-6 (5) in the Madrid final.

Nadal reversed the result of the 2009 final -- the last time they had played each other -- and moved one Masters title ahead of Andre Agassi and two in front of Federer.

Nadal, who will return to No. 2 in Monday's rankings, is 15-0 on clay this season, seemingly ready for the French Open, which begins Sunday on the slow clay of Roland Garros.

Venus Williams takes a fall

Funny things happen on clay. One happened to Venus Williams on Sunday in the Madrid Masters. The U.S. superstar, headed to the world's No. 2 ranking Monday, lost 6-2, 7-5 to unseeded Aravane Rezai of France in the final.

Brit first in Tour of California Mark Cavendish of Britain surged to the front in the waning meters and won the opening stage of the Tour of California.

Three-time defending race winner Levi Leiphiemer of RadioShack and teammate Lance Armstrong, the seven-time Tour de France winner, finished safely in the main field.

Danish rider Chris Sorensen won the first uphill finish of the Giro d'Italia, and Alexandre Vinokourov kept the overall leader's pink jersey.

Webber leads 1-2 team finish Mark Webber won the Monaco Grand Prix from the pole position and led Red Bull to a 1-2 finish at the famous street race.

Webber's fourth career win moved him atop the Formula One standings ahead of teammate Sebastian Vettel, who overtook Robert Kubica of Renault at the start and finished 0.4 seconds behind Webber. Kubica held on to third place.

Dixon takes 52nd Top Fuel win

Larry Dixon roared to his 52nd Top Fuel victory with a pass of 311.49 mph in 3.913 seconds at the Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga. Dixon tied Joe Amato for second on the NHRA career list.

With Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver also skipping the 1 1/2-mile classic following his eighth-place Preakness finish, it will mark the first time since 2006 that neither winner of the first two legs of the Triple Crown goes to the Belmont.

U.S. keeps going in worlds Ottawa Senators forward Nick Foligno scored twice and Brandon Dubinsky of the New York Rangers had a goal and two assists, leading the United States to a 4-0 victory over France in the relegation round of the hockey world championship in Cologne, Germany.

The Americans are playing for a spot in the world championships next year after three first-round defeats dropped them out of medal contention this year. The U.S. faces Italy on Tuesday in its final relegation-group game.

College baseball: Florida International's Garrett Wittels extended his hitting streak to 45 games, tying the third-longest in NCAA Division I history.

WNBA: Cappie Pondexter scored 22 points for the New York Liberty in an 85-82 victory over the Chicago Sky in New York. ... Erika DeSouza had 14 points and 11 rebounds and Atlanta held Indiana to four points in a 66-62 victory in Atlanta. ... Lauren Jackson scored 23 points, helping Seattle beat host Los Angeles 81-67.