AFP - Defending champion Ana Ivanovic and top seed Dinara Safina moved a step closer to a quarter-final showdown at the French Open on Friday as both brushed aside third round opponents.

AFP - John Terry has already lined up a farewell present for Guus Hiddink but he knows the only gift the out-going Chelsea manager really wants is victory in Saturday's FA Cup final.

Reuters - Kobe Bryant scored 35 points to guide the Los Angeles Lakers back to the NBA Finals with a 119-92 rout of the Denver Nuggets on Friday, as the visitors closed out their Western Conference series in style.

AP - Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra will not run in the Belmont Stakes, opening the way for jockey Calvin Borel to return to Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in his quest for a personal Triple Crown.

AP - Kyle Busch couldn't resist taking a poke at the driver who replaced him at Hendrick Motorsports.

AP - Out of breath and out of sorts, Venus Williams played her way right out of the French Open on Friday with her most lopsided Grand Slam loss since 2001.

AP - The Colorado Rockies fired manager Clint Hurdle on Friday, less than two years after their incredible "Roctober" run to the World Series, and replaced him with bench coach Jim Tracy for the rest of the season.

AP - Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers are heading back to the NBA finals after dispatching the pesky Denver Nuggets with a 119-92 victory in Game 6 on Friday night.

AP - Karine Ruby, a former Olympic snowboarding champion, died Friday in a climbing accident on France's famed Mont Blanc. She was 31.