Sports briefly: Top-ranked Andy Murray loses in Spain

Dominic Thiem upset top-ranked Andy Murray 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 to advance to the final against defending champion Rafael Nadal at the Barcelona Open on Saturday.

Nadal beat Horacio Zeballos of Argentina 6-3, 6-4 after the fourth-seeded Thiem dispatched Murray in windy conditions at the Real Club de Tenis.

Murray's defeat came a week after he exited the third round in Monte Carlo. That loss prompted Murray to enter Barcelona to regain his form for the French Open following a right-elbow injury.

Nadal, a nine-time champion at Barcelona, said he "wasn't surprised" by Thiem's first win over Murray in three attempts.

"Thiem is a specialist on clay, one of the best in the world," Nadal said. "It will be a tough match for me, but I am just happy to be back in the final."

Thiem started strong, breaking Murray's first two service games before adding a third break en route to taking the first set.

The ninth-ranked Austrian had a break point in the second set, but Murray held serve and broke him back to even the match at a set apiece.

Injured: Arkansas running back Rawleigh Williams, who was taken away in an ambulance at practice Saturday. The university announced his injury was a "stinger."

Withdrew: Lydia Ko before the third round of this week's LPGA Tour stop in Arlington, Texas. Ko, ranked No. 1 for 79 straight weeks, had an eye infection.

Simon Pagenaud took advantage of a caution flag that caught the other leaders on pit road to win the Verizon IndyCar race at Phoenix International Raceway.

Pagenaud raced to his 10th career victory and the first on an oval, and gave Team Penske its record-extending 189th series victory. He also took the season points lead. Penske drivers led all 250 laps.

Michigan wrapped up its spring practice in style in Italy, belting out a rendition of "The Victors," in what was their final act as a team in Rome.

"This has been the best week of practice this football team has ever had, being with you here in the great city of Rome," coach Jim Harbaugh shouted into the stands of Stadio de Marmi, a facility adjacent to Stadio Olimpico in the Eternal City. "There's never been a better practice venue than this one right here. And we are lucky, lucky, lucky to be with you here."

Golf: Swede Jonas Blixt and Australian Cameron Smith prolonged their bogey-free run to three rounds in the new team format at the Zurich Classic, deftly adjusting to gusting winds and posting a 4-under 68 to widen their lead to four strokes in Avondale, La. … Haru Nomura of Japan shot a 1-over 72 on another windy day on the LPGA Tour in North Texas to take a two-stroke lead through three rounds.

Soccer: Tim Melia posted his MLS-leading fifth shutout in Sporting Kansas City's 2-0 home victory over Real Salt Lake. … Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Bayern Munich ensured a record fifth straight Bundesliga title with a 6-0 rout of Wolfsburg in Berlin. … Carli Lloyd's goal for Manchester City wasn't enough to stop Lyon from advancing to an all-French final, where it will defend its Women's Champions League crown on June 1 against Paris Saint-Germain. Lyon won 3-2 on aggregate despite losing 1-0 at home to City in the return leg of their semifinal, with Lloyd scoring the winner.

Formula One racing: Sebastian Vettel stormed to the pole position for the Russian Grand Prix, ending a run of 18 poles for Mercedes.

Obituary: Cyclist Chad Young died from injuries sustained last Sunday during a high-speed crash at the Tour of Gila, becoming the first American rider to die in a prominent North American stage race in nearly two decades. Young was 21.