TENNIS

FEDERER SURVIVES SCARE; RODDICK OUSTED IN CINCINNATI

Roger Federer survived a scare from Marcos Baghdatis yesteday to move into the quarterfinals of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters, which has been brutal to seeded players this week.

Federer beat Baghdatis 7–6 (5), 7–5, shortly after David Ferrer ousted defending champion Andy Roddick 7–6 (4), 6–4. Only four seeds remained, including James Blake, who had an evening match.

“It was a struggle out there for both of us,” Federer said. “It was tough to keep the ball in play, you know, it was really quick.”

Baghdatis has never beaten Federer in five matches, but pushed the no. 1 player in the world as he did a year ago in the Australian Open, when Federer won in four sets.

“Basically, I gave the first set away,” said Baghdatis, who helped Federer fight off two set points with a double-fault. Federer then won the tiebreaker, winning the first and last points with aces.

HOCKEY

DEVILS RETAIN DEFENSEMAN MARTIN WITH MULTIYEAR DEAL

The Devils kept a major piece of their defense together, signing Paul Martin to a three-year, $11.5 million contract yesterday.

Martin will earn $3 million this season, $4 million in 2008 and $4.5 million in 2009.

BASEBALL

RODRIGUEZ GETS KEY TO CITY FOR 500TH HOMER

Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez was presented yesterday with a key to the city in honor of his 500th home run.

A-Rod, who just turned 32, hit the milestone homer against the Kansas City Royals on Aug. 4, becoming the 22nd and youngest player to reach the mark. He received a key to the city from Mayor Michael Bloomberg at Yankee Stadium before a game against the Detroit Tigers while teammates and manager Joe Torre looked on.

“It will be something I hold dear to me for the rest of my life,” Rodriguez said.

JULIO FRANCO REPORTS TO CLASS A ROME BRAVES

Julio Franco arrived yesterday at the latest stop on his baseball odyssey — the Class A Rome Braves. With a smile on his face, he said he planned to “enjoy this to the max.”

A quarter century after his first game in the major leagues, the 48-year-old Franco was in Rome to play first base in a South Atlantic League game with the Greenville Drive.

“My goal while I’m here is to get some at-bats and contribute to the team any way I can,” said Franco, who was designated for assignment by the Atlanta Braves two weeks ago. After clearing waivers, he agreed to a minor league assignment.