Roger Federer kick-started the concluding phase of his season, winning his 39th-straight match over an American with a 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 defeat of Robby Ginepri on Tuesday at the Madrid Masters.

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AIMING FOR AFRICA: Venezuela created several chances but failed to finish, while New Zealand won a strained Oceania qualifier in Lautoka, Fiji
Gabriel Milito and Lionel Messi scored first-half goals and Argentina beat Venezuela 2-0 on Tuesday to win their second match in four days, giving it the early lead in South American World Cup qualifying.

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France and Argentina clash in Paris tomorrow in a World Cup third place play-off overshadowed by simmering French resentment at their opening night shock defeat to the Pumas five weeks ago.

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MR CONSISTENCY: Padraig Harrington, a first-time participant in the shootout between the season's major winners, said he holed the right putts at the right time
Irishman Padraig Harrington posted a three-under 69 to take a one-shot lead after the opening round of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf which features the season's four major winners.

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Jeff Carter and Sami Kapanen scored 34 seconds apart in the second period, and Martin Biron had his first shutout since joining Philadelphia as the Flyers beat the winless Atlanta Thrashers 4-0 in the NHL on Tuesday.

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In plotting to beat England in a Rugby World Cup final after narrowly failing in 2003, Eddie Jones says he's not out for revenge.

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Tiger Woods will have his own brand of sports drink next year under an endorsement deal announced Tuesday with Gatorade that marks a couple of firsts for the world's No. 1 golfer -- his first US deal with a beverage company and his first licensing agreement.

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INADEQUATE: Lee, who turned down a job with the junior England side last year to concentrate on Bolton, steered the club to just three wins
Sammy Lee left Bolton yesterday after only 14 games in charge, becoming the second Premier League manager to go this season.

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■ NEW ZEALAND
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