TAKING CHARGE: Rafael Nadal booked a semi-final showdown with Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, who defeated Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 (5), 6-2
Defending champion Rafael Nadal beat James Blake for the first time in their four meetings to move into the Pacific Life Open semi-finals on Thursday.

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By Paul Huang
Kao Chih-kang's walk-off single with the bases loaded scored the game-winner in the bottom of the 11th as the President Lions rallied from three down to top the Brother Elephants 7-6 at the Taipei County Baseball Stadium in Sinjhuang on Thursday evening.

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The US and Honduras booked their berths in the 2008 Beijing Olympic soccer tournament with victories over Canada and Guatemala on Thursday.

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A Serb swimmer has been suspended for the remainder of the European swimming championships for wearing a T-shirt proclaiming "Kosovo is Serbia" at a medal presentation.

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Two-time Olympic champion and world record holder Pieter van den Hoogenband missed the 100m freestyle heats yesterday at the European swimming championships because of illness.

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TEXAS TRIANGLE: Ray Allen returned from a three-game injury absence to nail a go-ahead three-pointer with just 31 seconds left, lifting Boston past the Dallas Mavericks
The Boston Celtics won again in Texas, overcoming the Dallas Mavericks 94-90 on Thursday to gain a rare sweep of the NBA's three Texas teams.

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Andre Ward stopped Rubin Williams late in the seventh round of their super middleweight bout on Thursday, keeping the Olympic gold medalist unbeaten as a professional.

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Mao Asada's opening move was heart-stopping -- and not in a good way.

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Undefeated welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather will drop Roger Mayweather as his trainer for a rematch with Oscar de la Hoya in September if his uncle continues to train Steve Forbes.

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Alex Kovalev had two goals and an assist and Carey Price made 34 saves to lift Montreal to a 4-2 victory over the Boston Bruins and push the Canadiens back into first place in the Eastern Conference on Thursday.

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Mongolian grand champion Hakuho drove Kaio out of the ring as he tied his record to fellow top ranker Asashoryu, who lost two bouts in a row at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.

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FRANK TALK: Valencia put their mediocre league form behind them to beat Barcelona. The Catalan club's manager, Frank Rijkaard, shouldered responsibility for the defeat
Juan Manuel Mata scored two goals on Thursday and Valencia held off a Barcelona rally to earn a 3-2 victory and a berth in the Copa del Rey final.

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After playing week in and week out alongside Wayne Rooney, Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung will get his first look at the North Korean version in next week's World Cup qualifier.

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McLaren's Lewis Hamilton edged his Ferrari rivals to post the day's fastest time in the closing moments of yesterday's practice sessions for the Malaysian Grand Prix.

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Liverpool may be out of contention for the Premier League trophy but Rafael Benitez's side could still have a major say in the outcome of the title battle on what could be a decisive Easter weekend.

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FAREWELL: Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming needs to score 113 runs in his final Test match, which begins today, to push his Test average past 40
An upbeat England go into the series-deciding final cricket Test against New Zealand today with an added bonus after New Zealand lost two frontline bowlers through injury.

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■ FOOTBALL

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