Nadal defeats Murray to reach final

Rafael Nadal beat Andy Murray, 7-6 (2), 6-3, to reach the final of the Rogers Cup on Saturday night at Toronto and put himself in line for his seventh title of the year.

He’ll face Nicolas Kiefer, who reached the final with a 6-7 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (5) win over Gilles Simon.

Nadal, who won in Toronto in 2005, hasn’t lost a set to Kiefer in three career meetings.

“You know, he’s definitely doing a lot of things better than he was in the past,” Murray said of Nadal. “I think he’s moving better on hard courts, and I think he’s sort of changing the pace of the ball a little bit more and not playing so far behind the baseline like he did in the past.

“That’s why I think he’ll be No. 1 in the world soon.”

Kiefer hasn’t won an ATP event since 2000 in Hong Kong and hasn’t appeared in a final since 2005 in St. Petersburg.

His match against Simon lasted 2 hours 59 minutes, mostly filled with ground strokes from the baseline.

TRACK AND FIELD

Bolt starts fast, looks strong to win the 200

Easing up and still easily winning, Usain Bolt is looking as if he’s right where he wants to be going into the Beijing Olympics.

The 100-meter world-record holder from Jamaica got off to a fast start in the 200 at the London Grand Prix and won in 19.76 seconds.

Wallace Spearmon of the United States was second in 20.27.

In other events, world champion Kerron Clement of the U.S. won the 400 hurdles in 48.36, and world indoor champion Lolo Jones of the U.S. came from behind to win the women’s 100 hurdles in 12.58.

PRO FOOTBALL

Eagles’ new cornerback Samuel suffers injury

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel left practice because of a strained hamstring. Coach Andy Reid said Samuel, who did not practice in the afternoon, probably will have an MRI today.

New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister sat out a practice because he had fluid drained from his surgically repaired left knee, then the team sent him for a precautionary MRI. . . . The New England Patriots signed veteran running back Lamont Jordan a day after he was released by the Oakland Raiders. . . . The Kansas City Chiefs signed defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey to a five-year, $51-million deal. Dorsey was the No. 5 overall pick in last spring’s NFL draft.

MISCELLANY

Boudia, Finchum win national title in diving

David Boudia and Thomas Finchum scored a career-high 464.04 points to win the 10-meter synchronized platform title at the U.S. national diving championships at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center in Pasadena in their final meet before the Beijing Olympics.

With Boudia and Finchum opting to compete only in synchro, Nick McCrory won his first national title with a career-high 521.70 points on individual 10-meter.

Nancilea Foster won the women’s 3-meter springboard title with 349.35 points, edging her Olympic teammate Christina Loukas, who had 340.95 points.

The U.S. Olympic Committee has opened an inquiry into allegations of abuse by a high-ranking USA Judo official. An independent counsel will investigate the accusations against Fletcher Thornton.

The New York Times reported Saturday that in sworn affidavits signed in 1981, several young athletes accused Thornton of drugging and sexually molesting teenage competitors he coached in the late 1970s.

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge expects up to 40 athletes to be caught doping at the Beijing Olympics, compared to 26 at the 2004 Athens Games.

Rogge based his prediction on the increased testing and the improved quality of tests, according to an interview published in the weekend edition of De Standaard.

Peoria Chiefs pitcher Julio Castillo was released from jail, one day after he was arraigned on a charge of felonious assault for hitting a fan in the head with a thrown baseball.

Oregon junior linebacker Kevin Garrett, a former standout at Harbor City Narbonne High, was suspended indefinitely for breaking team rules, Coach Mike Bellotti announced.

The Boston Bruins have bought out the final year of veteran right winger and former King Glen Murray’s contract.

Goaltender Mickey Jarboe made 19 saves to lead the Riptide to a 13-9 victory over the Philadelphia Barrage in a Major League Lacrosse match at the Home Depot Center.