UPI NewsTrack Sports

Federer easily advances at Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- World No. 1 Roger Federer tore past 10th-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, dropping just seven games Friday, and into the finals of the Australian Open.

The decision sets up a title match Sunday between Federer, who owns three Australian Open championships among his record 15 Grand Slam titles, and No. 5-seeded Scot Andy Murray, whose only other major tournament final appearance ended in a loss to Federer at the 2008 U.S. Open. Murray, however, holds a 7-6 overall advantage head-to-head against Federer.

The Swiss Federer was very sharp in dispatching Tsonga, from France, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in 88 minutes. Federer had just 13 unforced errors and didn't face a break point in earning his 18th Grand Slam final appearance in the last 19 tennis majors. He'll be looking to improve on his runner-up finish in the 2009 Australian Open.

Federer got the first of his five breaks against Tsonga in the fourth game of the first set and lost a mere eight points over his first seven service games in keeping Tsonga at length. A break in the sixth game of the second set helped put the Swiss player up two sets.

Tsonga had his serve broken in the third and fifth games of the third set before Federer sewed up the semifinal.

Murray has played exceedingly well during the Australian Open. He didn't lose a set until 14th-seeded Croat Marin Cilic took the first set to open their semifinal match Thursday, which Murray ended up winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

Patrick announcez Nationwide schedule

MOORESVILLE, N.C., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Danica Patrick has finalized her 2010 Nationwide auto racing schedule, starting Feb. 20 with the Statler Bros. 300 at Fontana, Calif.

The IndyCar driver will compete in 12 Nationwide races for JR Motorsports, which is owned by the popular Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"Like I've said before, we just want to be smart and calculative about this process," Patrick said at news conference Thursday. "The tracks we've selected not only compliment the IndyCar schedule, but will give me quality seat time at a variety of facilities."

She is undecided about driving in the Sprint Cup's Super Bowl of racing, the Daytona 500, Feb. 14 at Daytona Beach.

Patrick's IndyCar schedule with Andretti Autosport begins March 14 with the Sao Paulo (Brazil) Indy 300.

After the Sam's Town 300 at Las Vegas, her full-time IndyCar schedule will keep her way from Nationwide competition until the New England 200 June 26 at Loudon, N.H.

Ligety collects first win of the season

KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. skier Ted Ligety won his third consecutive giant slalom at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, with a 0.34-second margin of victory Friday.

Ligety completed the two runs in 2 minutes, 22.02 seconds. Austrian Marcel Hirscher was second in 2:22.36 and Norwegian Kjetil Jansrud was third at 2:22.53.

The American was second, 0.01 second behind Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal, after the first run and said he knew he needed to go all out in the second run to collect his first World Cup title of the year.

The successful second run allowed Ligety to repeat as champion on the course where he won giant slaloms in 2008 and 2009. He goes for four in a row Sunday with the regularly scheduled GS in Kranjska Gora.

Svindal ended up fourth on the day.

The win allowed Ligety to take the World Cup giant slalom lead with 292 points. Austrian Benjamin Raich and Italian Masimilliano Blardone are tied for second at 259.

Raich, with 927 points, is the overall World Cup leader while Swiss skier Carlo Janka is second overall with 865 points. Ligety's 547 points moved him into sixth overall after Friday's races.

Friday's giant slalom in Slovenia replaced a January event in Adelboden, Switzerland, called off because of dense fog.

Kurt Warner retires from the NFL

TEMPE, Ariz., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Kurt Warner announced his retirement Friday, ending a 12-year NFL career.

Warner, 38, flanked by his family, cited his faith in God for helping him reach superior levels of success in professional football.

The former Northern Iowa product won two MVP Awards and played in three Super Bowls.

He started 15 games this season, passing for 4,583 yards, 30 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

"It's been 12 unbelievable years, 12 of the best years of my life," Warner said at a news conference. "I'm excited about what's in front of me, and spending more time with my family."

The four-time Pro Bowl selection was sidelined by a concussion in the regular season and absorbed a hard hit from New Orleans' end Bobby McCray in a 45-14 loss to the Saints during the NFC Divisional Playoff game.

He retired with two years and $23 million left on his contract.

In his career, Warner completed 66.1 percent of his passes with 208 touchdowns, and 128 interceptions.