LONDON >> Defending Olympic beach volleyball gold medalists Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser were unceremoniously eliminated by a seemingly overmatched Italian team on Friday.

Paolo Nicolai and Danielle Lupo of Italy were in command most of the match, winning 21-17, 21-19. Rogers and Dalhausser fell behind 12-7 in the second set before tying the score 19-19, but lost the next two points.

"It’s a little bit different when you win," Dalhausser said. "It takes about a month to sink in. When you lose, it smacks you right in the face the second the ball hits the sand."

On the women’s side, April Ross and Jennifer Kessy made it to the quarterfinals, beating Simone Kuhn and Nadine Zumkehr of Switzerland 21-15, 21-19.

TENNIS

Roger Federer of Switzerland rallied past Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina 3-6,

7-6 (5), 19-17 to reach the final. At 4 hours, 26 minutes, it was the longest three-set men’s match of the Open era.

Federer faces another tough challenge when he meets Britain’s Andy Murray in Sunday’s gold-medal match. Murray, who advanced with a 7-5, 7-5 victory over Novak Djokovic, lost to Federer in the Wimbledon final last month.

Serena Williams also clinched her first Olympic singles medal, beating No. 1-seeded Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-2. Today, Williams will face first-time Olympian Maria Sharapova, who beat Russian teammate Maria Kirilenko 6-2, 6-3.

BASKETBALL

Diana Taurasi scored 18 points and Tina Charles finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds to lead the U.S. women’s team to an 88-61 win over the Czech Republic.

Liz Cambage dunked in Australia’s 70-66 victory over Russia.

SOCCER

Abby Wambach slid into a pass in the 27th minute to knock home her fourth goal of the tournament and then celebrated with a cartwheel in the United States’ 2-0 win over New Zealand in the women’s quarterfinals.

Sydney Leroux added an insurance goal in the 87th minute for the Americans, who will play Canada on Monday. Canada advanced with a 2-0 victory over host Britain.

WATER POLO

Maggie Steffens scored three goals and the U.S. women’s team beat China

7-6 in its final preliminary-stage game.

The Americans will play 2012 European champion Italy in Sunday’s quarterfinals.

JUDO

As expected, Teddy Riner of France completed his collection of medals with a gold in the men’s over-200-pound class. In the final, Alexander Mikhaylin of Russia put up little fight against Riner, prompting the crowd to boo.

In the women’s over-172-pound final, Idalys Ortiz of Cuba beat Mika Sugimoto of Japan. Ortiz beat Tong Wen of China in the semifinals, Wen’s first loss since 2007.

SAILING

In the 49er class, the U.S. team of Erik Storck and Trevor Moore is 10th with four races to go. Australia is in first. In the men’s 470, Stuart McNay and Graham Biehl are sitting in 11th with six races to go. Britain is leading.

Zach Railey has his work cut out for him in the men’s Finn, as he is in 12th with one race to go before the final. Only the top 10 boats qualify.

After 10 races, Mark Mendelblatt and Brian Fatih are in sixth place in the men’s star. Britain is on top.

In the laser radial, Paige Railey is in ninth after eight races. Evi Van Acker of Belgium is the leader. The best position belongs to Sarah Lihan and Amanda Clark, who are fourth in the women’s 470 after just two races. Britain once again is in first.