Top-ranked Roger Federer beats No. 2 Novak Djokovic | Tennis

Tennis

Federer defeats Djokovic

Top-ranked Roger Federer of Switzerland won a record fifth Cincinnati-area title Sunday, dominating second-ranked Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the outset of a 6-0, 7-6 (9-7) victory for the Western & Southern Open championship in Mason, Ohio.

It was the first time in the tournament's history the two top-ranked men in the world met for the title.

Federer improved to 5-0 in Cincinnati-area finals and tied Rafael Nadal of Spain for the most Masters titles with 21. Nadal dropped out of the tournament with a sore knee that has sidelined him indefinitely.

Meanwhile, in the women's final, ninth-ranked Li Na of China beat No. 7 Angelique Kerber of Germany 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 for her first title of the season. Li lost in three finals earlier this year.

NBA

Durant is also a movie star

Adding to a résumé that already includes being a three-time league scoring champion and Olympic gold medalist, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder was a star as the movie "Thunderstruck" premiered in Oklahoma City.

It opens elsewhere Friday.

Former Sonic Durant, 23, strolled down a red carpet in a black T-shirt, gray vest, white jeans and black sneakers to answer questions about his acting skills. He plays himself in the film.

Durant, who was on set for 12 hours on some days, said the family friendly comedy was an opportunity to try something new.

"It's all about conquering your fears," he said. "That's one thing I did with this, stepping in front of a camera and people yelling, 'Action!' It's not the norm for me. I did something outside the box and I'm glad it turned out pretty well."

Williams gets extension

Monty Williams, coach of the New Orleans Hornets, has been rewarded with a four-year contract extension running through the 2015-16 season.

The new deal comes as Williams, 40, heads into the final year of the first contract he signed to be a head coach, in 2010.

Williams, who has a 67-81 record, declined to discuss his pay other than to say, "It's more than I deserve."

Gourdine dies at 72

Simon P. Gourdine, who became the highest-ranking black executive in pro sports in 1974 when he was named NBA deputy commissioner and who later served as executive director of the players union, died Thursday in Englewood, N.J.

Family members said Gourdine, 72, died after having back surgery.

WNBA

Silver Stars extend streak

Becky Hammon scored 13 of her 19 points in the first half to lead the visiting San Antonio Silver Stars past Phoenix 89-47, extending their franchise-best winning streak to 11 games and handing the Mercury its worst loss of all time.

Phoenix has lost eight in a row. The 42-point losing margin surpassed an 89-48 setback to the Storm in 2002.

Meanwhile, in other league games, Matee Ajavon scored 22 points as the host Washington Mystics beat the Chicago Sky 75-71 in overtime and the defending champion Minnesota Lynx defeated the Tulsa Shock 83-59.

The Lynx (17-4) clinched a playoff spot at the earliest point in franchise history; they secured a playoff berth in their 26th game last season.

Elsewhere

• The host New York Red Bulls rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat the Portland Timbers 3-2 in a Major League Soccer match.

Bright Dike and Darlington Nagbe gave Portland — which is winless in its last eight matches and last in the Western Conference — a 2-0 lead.

Tim Cahill got his first MLS goal and Kenny Cooper also scored for the Red Bulls before Heath Pearce's tiebreaking goal in the 83rd minute.

• Brian Carroll scored in the eighth minute and the Philadelphia Union got a 1-1 MLS draw with host D.C. United in a match that included two disallowed goals and three ejections.

United tied the score in the 71st minute on an own goal set up by Dwayne De Rosario's free kick.

• Adam Moffat scored in the 82nd minute to give host Houston a 2-2 MLS draw with Columbus.

• Danny O'Brien, a transfer from Maryland, will start at quarterback when No. 12 Wisconsin opens its football season, coach Bret Bielema said.

• Gene DeFilippo, 62, will retire as Boston College's athletic director on Sept. 30 after 15 years on the job. John Kane, senior associate AD, will take DeFilippo's place until a successor is named.

"In light of my recent bout with melanoma, which is treatable, this decision became clearer to me this summer," DeFilippo said in a statement.

• German cyclist John Degenkolb of the Argos-Shimano team won the second stage of the Spanish Vuelta while Spaniard Jonathan Castroviejo of the Movistar team kept the overall lead. The 21-stage event ends Sept. 9 in Madrid.

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