Novak Djokovic called his Rogers Cup semifinal victory over Rafael Nadal one of the biggest victories of his career.

It turns out he was only getting warmed up.

Djokovic upset world No. 1 Roger Federer, 7-6 (2), 2-6, 7-6 (2), yesterday to win the $2.45 million Masters Series event in Montreal, solidifying himself as a serious contender to win the U.S. Open beginning later this month in New York.

It was third-seeded Djokovic's fourth tournament win this year and his first win in five career matches against Federer, whose 16-match Rogers Cup winning streak ended. The Swiss star won the tournament in 2004 and 2006, and sat out in 2005 with a foot injury.

More tennis

Ana Ivanovic hit 31 winners, including 23 off her powerful forehand, and beat Nadia Petrova, 7-5, 6-4, to win the East West Bank Classic in Carson, Calif. Ivanovic completed a big day for Serbs by winning her second tournament of the year. Her countryman Djokovic upset Federer in Montreal.

Soccer

Forward Abby Wambach and midfielder Carli Lloyd each scored twice as the U.S. women ripped New Zealand, 6-1, at Soldier Field in Chicago in the next-to-last tune-up before women's World Cup in China next month. The U.S. team plays host to Finland in its final international friendly at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., Aug. 25.

English megastar David Beckham resumed his tour of American soccer benches, sitting out the Los Angeles Galaxy's 1-0 loss to the host New England Revolution last night to rest his tender left ankle. Beckham has yet to start for the Galaxy since signing a five-year, $32.5 million contract to leave one of Europe's top leagues and give the sport a boost in the skeptical United States.

Golf

Catriona Matthew won the Scandinavian TPC in Loddekopinge, Sweden, shooting a 4-under 68 to beat Laura Diaz (68) and Sophie Gustafson (68) by three shots. Matthew finished with a 9-under 279 for her fifth victory. Matthew had birdies on four of the first five holes to take a 5-shot lead.

Maria Jose Uribe, 17, of Colombia took advantage of a late putting lapse by Amanda Blumenherst to beat the two-time college player of the year, 1 up, for the U.S. Women's Amateur championship in Carmel, Ind. Uribe, who will be a freshman at UCLA in the fall, and Blumenherst, a junior at NCAA champion Duke, were even going into the next-to-last hole in the 36-hole final round at Crooked Stick Golf Club.

Pro basketball

Erin Thorn made a jumper at the final buzzer to lift New York (13-17) to an 85-84 victory against the defending WNBA champion Detroit Shock (24-7), improving the Liberty's chances for a playoff berth. Tiffany Jackson scored 16 points, Janel McCarville had 14, and Thorn, Ashley Battle and Loree Moore added 11 for New York.

Horse racing

Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches will miss the Alabama Stakes Saturday and is scheduled to run in the $300,000 Ruffian Stakes at Belmont Park Sept. 8. Despite an encouraging workout at Saratoga yesterday, trainer Todd Pletcher said his star 3-year-old filly missed too much training time while undergoing a complete physical examination after two scheduled workouts were canceled a month ago.

Baseball

The Slippery Rock Sliders were held to six hits in a 4-0 loss to the Chillicothe Paints (37-39) in the Frontier League. Every Chillicothe batter had at least one hit. Bernie Dennis had two hits for the Sliders (21-54).

Cycling

South Park's Sinead Miller finished 39th overall and was the second American in the women's road race portion of the junior national world championships in Aguascalientes, Mexico. She covered the 81 kilometers in 2 hours, 24 minutes, 42 seconds.

High school

Zach Kessler resigned as athletic director at Moon to accept a similar position at Franklin Regional. Bill Moore, who previously spent 13 years as athletic director at Moon before retiring in 2004, will serve as Moon's interim AD.