Top-ranked Roger Federer of Switzerland and defending champion Rafael Nadal of Spain will meet in the Monte Carlo Masters final after winning their semifinals on Saturday. Federer beat 12th-seeded Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-2, 6-4, and second-ranked Nadal downed Gaston Gaudio of Argentina 5-7, 6-1, 6-1.
Lance Armstrong’s teammates are doing a better job of beating him than his rivals are. Armstrong’s Discovery Channel teammate Paolo Savoldelli won Wednesday’s 17th stage of the Tour de France, three days after George Hincapie earned a stage victory of his own. Meanwhile, Armstrong has yet to win an individual stage so far.
The day after his teammates crumbled, Lance Armstrong surrendered. But it was a calculated move designed to make the coming days easier to manage. Armstrong relinquished the Tour de France leader’s yellow jersey on Sunday’s ninth stage, allowing Team CSC rider Jens Voigt to ride away in pursuit of stage winner Mickael Rasmussen.