HOCKEY
Finland beats U.S. to gain semifinals Sami Lepisto's goal at 3:59 of overtime led Finland to a 3-2 victory over the United States on Wednesday night in the world hockey quarterfinals at Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Lepisto took a pass from Saku Koivu at the point and fired the puck through a crowd and underneath U.S. goalie Robert Esche for the victory. Finland advances to play Russia in the semifinals Friday at Quebec City.
"It's hard to lose like this, especially the way we played the third period," U.S. coach John Tortorella said. "We lost a tied faceoff. Really, we won it, but we didn't come up with the loose puck and it ends up going in the net."
Tuomo Ruutu and Anssi Salmela also scored for Finland. The Americans rallied with goals by former Gopher Phil Kessel and Drew Stafford 37 seconds apart to force overtime. The loss marked the seventh time in the past nine years the U.S. team failed to advance past the quarterfinals.
"It's a disappointment," U.S. forward Zach Parise said. "We didn't quit. Then, all of a sudden, you're packing your bags. It's a tough one for us right now."
In other games, Derek Roy had three goals and an assist as Canada defeated Norway 8-2, Maxim Afinogenov had two goals as Russia beat Switzerland 6-0 and former Wild player Mattias Weinhandl scored 3:15 into overtime in Sweden's 3-2 victory against the Czech Republic.
TENNIS
Federer, Djokovic win Top-ranked Roger Federer and No. 3 Novak Djokovic reached the third round of the Hamburg Masters tennis tournament. Federer beat Jarkko Nieminen 6-1, 6-3, Djokovic defeated Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3, 6-1, Rafael Nadal downed Potito Starace 6-4, 7-6 (6), and Janko Tipsarevic upset James Blake 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
• Top-seeded Ana Ivanovic lost but Venus and Serena Williams advanced to the third round of the Italian Open.
