Top-ranked Roger Federer was eliminated from the ATP World Tour Finals in London yesterday, losing to Nikolay Davydenko, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, in the semifinals.

Federer, who was broken three straight times in the first set, came within two points of winning while leading 5-4 in the third set. But Davydenko held on and then broke Federer to take a 6-5 lead before serving out the win.

"I was a couple of points away, but just couldn't get it done," said Federer, a four-time champion at the season-ending event. "He did well. I thought he played strong throughout, even though I don't think it was our best match we ever played against each other."

It was the Russian's first win over Federer in 13 career meetings.

"All my family, everybody who supports me, wait for this moment, when I can beat Federer," Davydenko said. "I was thinking it coming maybe 2010 or '11. But in 2009, end of the season, it's good feeling."

Davydenko will face U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in today's final. The 21-year-old Argentine advanced by beating Robin Soderling, 6-7 (1), 6-3, 7-6 (3).

GOLF

IRELAND'S WORLD CUP LEAD DOWN TO ONE

Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy shot an 8-under 64 in fourball yesterday, but Ireland's lead over defending champion Sweden and Italy shrunk to one stroke at the World Cup of Golf at Guangzhou, China.

Sweden's Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson had a 10-under 62 and Italian brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari shot an 11-under 61 at the Mission Hills Golf Club, cutting into Ireland's three-stroke lead at the $5.5 million tournament in the southern Chinese city of Dongguan.

McDowell had five birdies, while McIlroy carded three for Ireland, which had a total of 26-under 190 in its bid to win a third World Cup.

Those three teams appear to be the only contenders heading into today's final round, which will be an alternate-shot format.

"Barring any disaster in the foursomes, I can't see any other teams but the top three winning," McDowell said.

AND WHAT'S MORE ...

Didier Cuche of Switzerland, who finished third overall last year, won the season-opening downhill yesterday at Lake Louise, Alberta for his 11th World Cup victory. ... Kathrin Hoelzl of Germany, who won the 2008 world championship without a victory, won yesterday's giant slalom at Aspen, Colo., for her first World Cup victory. ... Jang Mi-ran of South Korea set a world record in the clean and jerk, lifting 412.2 pounds to beat her old mark by 2.2 pounds, in the women's super heavyweight division at the World Weightlifting Championships in Goyang, South Korea.