Sports In Brief | May 14, 2012

Federer rallies to beat Berdych in Madrid final

MADRID — Roger Federer rallied to beat Tomas Berdych 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 and win the Madrid Open for a third time on Sunday.

Earlier, Serena Williams overpowered the top-ranked Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-3 to win the women’s final.

While Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal had blamed the new blue-clay court for their early exits, Federer’s biggest obstacle was to overcome an opponent who had beaten him in three of their previous five meetings.

“It is amazing to win here again,” said Federer, who will overtake Nadal as the second-ranked player behind Djokovic. “It has been a tough tournament. Tough to move, but you’ve got to try to make the most of it. Here there was some good tennis and some bad tennis, but you see that in all tournaments.”

Berdych hit 14 winners and made just two unforced errors in a dominant first set. However, Federer finally found his ground game and broke Berdych twice to even the score and force the third set, where he secured the victory after Berdych had saved three championship points.

City wins English title for 1st time in 44 years

MANCHESTER, England — In the closing moments of the Premier League’s most dramatic season, Manchester City had just enough time for one final, breathtaking twist.

With the club’s title hopes fading by the second, its anguished fans in disbelief in the stands, relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers clung to a one-goal lead after 90 minutes. City then threw all its attacking might forward to produce one of English soccer’s greatest comebacks.

Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero scored during injury time in a 3-2 victory that gave City its first league title since 1968. City finished ahead of crosstown rival Manchester United on goal difference.

“It’s a crazy finish for a crazy season,” City manager Roberto Mancini said. “I’ve never seen a final like this.”

By wire sources