Off the wire

TENNIS Federer advances

While top-seeded Novak Djokovic had a rest day when opponent Mikhail Youzhny became ill and withdrew from their quarterfinal on Thursday, Roger Federer had to play his way into their semifinal date at the Dubai Championships. The fourth-seeded Federer, who has won this title five times, won his 40th match at the Dubai Championships with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic. Federer had a slow start, falling behind 2-0 but quickly rebounded by winning the next six games. In the second set, Federer broke serve in the third and fifth games. Federer holds a slim 16-15 winning record over Djokovic. The Serbian, however, has beaten Federer in their last three matches, and nine of their last 12 meetings. The other semifinal will feature third-seeded Tomas Berdych against seventh-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany. Playing in his fourth quarterfinal of the season, Kohlschreiber’s6-2, 6-3 victory over Tunisian wild card Malik Jazirivictory was his 300th match-victory on the ATP Tour. Berdych, who was a finalist last year, fought past fifth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 6-3.

Top-seeded David Ferrer withdrew from his Mexican Open quarterfinal against South Africa’s Kevin Anderson with a left leg strain in the second set Thursday at Acapulco. Third-ranked Ferrer was leading 6-4, 2-2 when he suffered an inner thigh strain in his left leg. After seeking treatment in the locker room, the Spaniard returned to the court but lost the next two points before retiring. Ferrer said he will have an MRI today and then assess the extent of the injury. Anderson will next play Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov, who defeated Ivo Karlovic of Croatia, 6-4, 7-6 (4). On the women’s side of the tournament, top-seeded Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia, defeated New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic to move into the semifinals.

FOOTBALL Hall of Fame Game set

The Buffalo Bills and New York Giants will kick off the 2014 NFL preseason in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. The league announced Thursday the matchup for the Aug. 3 game. The contest will be played a day after the Hall of Fame inducts seven new members, including one each from the Bills and Giants. Wide receiver Andre Reed played 15 of his 16 seasons with the Bills from 1985-1999. Defensive end Michael Strahan spent his 15-season career with the Giants from 1993-2007, winning a Super Bowl in his final season. The other inductees are linebacker Derrick Brooks, punter Ray Guy, defensive end Claude Humphrey, tackle Walter Jones and defensive back Aeneas Williams. This is the first time the Bills and Giants will meet in the Hall of Fame Game. The Giants played in the first Hall of Fame Game in 1962 and followed with three other trips to Canton to play in the preseason classic (1972, 1985, and 2002). Buffalo will be playing for the fourth time (1974, 1989, and 2009).

The Washington Redskins have re-signed defensive lineman Chris Baker to a three-year contract worth $12 million. The deal announced Thursday includes $4 million of guaranteed money. Baker has spent two seasons with the Redskins, playing in 29 games. He started the final three games last season after Stephen Bowen was sidelined with a knee injury. Baker has played both tackle and end on the defensive line, and he’ll be a possible contender for a regular starting job at end in the team’s 3-4 alignment under new Coach Jay Gruden, especially with both Bowen and Adam Carriker recovering from major injuries.

Keeping key parts of their offense together for a long time is clearly a priority for the Philadelphia Eagles. The NFC East champions agreed to a five-year contract with wide receiver Riley Cooper and a seven-year deal with center Jason Kelce on Thursday. They gave All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters (Arkansas Razorbacks) a new five-year deal a day earlier. Cooper would have become a free agent next month after a breakout season in which he set career highs in receptions (47), yards receiving (835) and touchdowns (8). His deal is worth $25 million over five years with about $10 million guaranteed, according to a person familiar with the contract who spoke on condition of anonymity because terms weren’t announced.

Three Tennessee football players who received citations Feb. 9 in connection with a party have had their charges dropped, while four others have to perform community service to get their charges dismissed under agreements reached this week. Linebackers Jakob Johnson and Jalen Reeves-Maybin had their charges of providing alcohol to underage people dropped. Defensive lineman Malik Brown had his charge of underage consumption dismissed after paying court costs. Linebacker Curt Maggitt has to perform 16 hours of community service and in 60 days his charge of providing alcohol to underage people will be dropped. Offensive lineman Dontavius Blair, cornerback Justin Coleman and defensive lineman Dimarya Mixon also must perform 16 hours of community service to have their charges of underage consumption dismissed.

BASKETBALL Grizzlies claim Udrih

The Memphis Grizzlies have claimed guard Beno Udrih off waivers, adding an experienced player to their backcourt. The Grizzlies announced the move Thursday, a day after they sent rookie Jamaal Franklin to Fort Wayne of the NBA Developmental League to make roster space. The Knicks waived the 6-3, 205-pound Udrih on Monday after buying out his contract. Udrih, 31, signed with New York last summer and had 12 starts in his 31 games played averaging 5.6 points and 3.5 assists. Udrih was San Antonio’s first-round draft pick in 2004 and also has played with Sacramento, Milwaukee, Orlando over 10 seasons averaging 8.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 659 career games.

The NBA has suspended Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins for one game and fined him $20,000 for punching an opposing player and verbally abusing an official in a game earlier this week. Cousins has been suspended for punching Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley (Arkansas Razorbacks) in the stomach with 9:44 remaining in the first quarter of the Kings’ 129-103 loss on Tuesday night in Sacramento. He has been fined for verbally abusing a game official and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following an ejection with 8:21 remaining in the third quarter. Cousins, who leads the team in scoring (22.3 points per game) and rebounding (11.5 per game), will serve his suspension today when the Kings visit the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Atlanta Hawks have signed center Mike Muscala, a 2013 second-round draft pick, after completing the buyout of his Spanish League contract. The 6-foot-11, 230-pound Muscala averaged 14.6 points and led the ACB League in Spain with 7.8 rebounds per game.The Hawks lost All-Star center Al Horford to a season-ending surgery for his torn right pectoral muscle in December. Two more centers, Pero Antic (stress fracture in his right ankle) and Gustavo Ayon (right shoulder) also are injured. The Hawks held NBA rights to Muscala as he played for Blusens Monbus Obradoiro of the ACB League in Spain. Details of the buyout agreement were not released. The Hawks released center Dexter Pittman, who signed a 10-day contract on Saturday, to open a roster spot for Muscala.

MOTOR SPORTS

Stewart OK with Daytona

Tony Stewart does not consider the Daytona 500 a disaster, despite the engine problems that spoiled his return from a broken right leg. The three-time NASCAR champion wound up 35th in the season-opening race, but logged enough laps during Speedweeks that he’s confident he’s ready for the coming stretch of seven consecutive races. Stewart missed the final 15 races last year after breaking his leg in two places during a sprint car crash in Iowa. His first time back in a race car was Feb. 14, the day before he competed in the exhibition Sprint Unlimited. He also raced in the Budweiser Duel before the 500, giving him 672 miles of racing in three events.