an initial heavy fine for a suspected first offense, followed by a point loss for a second and relegation for a third.Teams suspected of match-fixing a fourth time would incur a lengthy ban. Cyprus FA board me

WASHINGTON -- John Isner hit 18 aces and never faced a break point during a 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4 victory over Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus on Friday that put the American in the Citi Open semifinals. Isner won for the 10th time in his past 11 matches as he gets ready for the U.S. Open, which starts Aug. 26 on hard courts similar to those used in Washington. "Im in a good rhythm and Im serving well," said Isner, who has 49 aces and was broken only once in three matches this week. "Id like to think I can hold my serve no matter whats under my feet, but I do think this (surface) helps my serve." The 20th-ranked and eighth-seeded Isner, who won the hard-court title at Atlanta last week, will face unseeded Dmitry Tursunov of Russia for a berth in Sundays final. The 61st-ranked Tursunov overcame 13 double-faults with the help of 15 aces to beat a cramping Marinko Matosevic of Australia 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (4). Saturdays match against Isner -- who won the longest match in tennis history, 70-68 in the fifth set at Wimbledon in 2010 -- will be only Tursunovs second semifinal of the season, and his first at Washington since 2006. The semifinal on the other side of the mens draw pits top-seeded and two-time champion Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina against No. 3-seeded Tommy Haas of Germany. Del Potro, winner of the 2009 U.S. Open, grabbed 15 consecutive points during one stretch and defeated No. 7-seeded Kevin Anderson of South Africa 7-6 (0), 6-3. Like Isner, del Potro did not face a break point in the quarterfinals. The 35-year-old Haas defeated No. 11 Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3). Defending womens champion Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia returned to the semifinals by beating top-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany 7-6 (0), 3-6, 6-3, and now will play No. 3 Ekaterina Makarova of Russia. No. 4 Alize Cornet of France meets 64th-ranked Andrea Petkovic of Germany in the other semifinal. Makarova played only four points -- winning all of them -- and moved on when her quarterfinal opponent, Monica Niculescu of Romania, stopped after one game because of a left wrist injury. Cornet eliminated No. 5 Sorana Cirstea 7-6 (5), 6-2, and Petkovic advanced with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory over 79th-ranked Paula Ormaechea of Argentina. Petkovic is a former top-10 player whose career was sidetracked by injuries, including a stress fracture in her lower back and ankle and knee operations. "Im just so grateful for the second chance," Petkovic said. "I really think of it as a second chance." Cheap Blue Jays Jerseys .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. Authentic Custom Blue Jays Jersey . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. http://www.custombluejaysjersey.com/ . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. George Bell Jersey Large .ca. Hey Kerry, big fan of yours, just finished reading your book. I think that we all saw the Canucks/Flames line brawl just after puck drop. It was obvious that something was about to happen, even to the referees because the fourth lines were on to start. Blue Jays Jerseys China . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. NICOSIA, Cyprus -- The Cyprus Football Association is vowing to impose severe penalties on clubs suspected of match-fixing after UEFA ranked the countrys championship to be among the worst offenders in Europe.Marios Lefkaritis, the associations honorary president and a UEFA vice president, said that he was ashamed and shocked when told by UEFA of the problems extent.He said UEFA suspects six first-division matches and a domestic cup match may have been fixed since September. The Cyprus FA has received files on 75 matches suspected of being fixed since 2011, Lefkaritis said.Were among the top three or four countries that have the most matches suspected of being fixed, Lefkaritis told The Associated Press. It ceases to be a suspicion and becomes extremely worrying when you have a file sent to you about a suspected fixed match almost every week.Lefkaritis said most of the betting on the matches under suspicion has taken place in Asia. He believes that only those participating in the match can determine its outcome.The people who do the job are the players and the referees, who else? No one else can do this, Lefkaritis said.Cyprus FA president Costakis Koutsokoumnis was quoted by state-run radio as saying thatt hes aware of one player who has been implicated in nine matches suspected of being fixed.ddddddddddddHe also said that he regretted allowing a team suspected of being involved in match-fixing to be elevated to the first division this year.In an ad hoc general assembly meeting on Monday, the Cyprus FA said penalties would mirror those recommended by UEFA. They could include an initial heavy fine for a suspected first offense, followed by a point loss for a second and relegation for a third.Teams suspected of match-fixing a fourth time would incur a lengthy ban. Cyprus FA board members will agree on the specifics at their next meeting.We have to act right away, Koutsokoumnis told the assembly. Weve reached the tipping point. Soon well have neither sponsors, fans or even a championship.Cyprus football has been dogged by corruption allegations in recent years. Moreover, several bomb attacks against referees cars and properties have occurred.Cyprus justice minister, Ionas Nicolaou, said legislation is in the pipeline that will help police investigators prosecute match-fixing cases. ' ' '