Sports in brief

TENNISQuerrey advances in LA

American Sam Querrey defeated Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 6-7 (7), 7-6 (7), 6-4 to reach the Farmers Classic final for the second consecutive year. Querrey needed 2:47 to put away Tipsarevic at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. The American will defend his title against either top-seeded Andy Murray or No. 4 seed Feliciano Lopez.

Azarenka wins semi

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus reached the final of the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford University, upsetting top-seeded Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-3. Azarenka, who turned 21 Saturday, will play the winner of a match between Maria Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwanska. Azarenka reached her third final of the season and is looking for her first title of the year.

NHL

Niemi gets big raise

Goalie Antti Niemi has been awarded a $2.75 million salary for next season after helping the Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in June. The arbitrator's decision could force the Blackhawks to make some tough decisions in order to stay under the NHL's $59.4 million salary cap. Niemi earned $826,875 last season as a rookie. He played all but one period of the Blackhawks' postseason run to the championship, going 16-6 with a 2.63 goals-against average, .910 save percentage.

CYCLINGLandis can still fly

Floyd Landis joked around at the start with other riders at the Tour of the Catskills, then showed he still has a kick. Landis completed the first stage of the three-day event in the lead pack of 35 riders, finishing in 3 hours, 19.23. That left him tied for sixth, 34 seconds behind leader Aurelien Passeron of France. - AP