NEW YORK (AP)—The Bryan brothers have won their ninth Grand Slam title, beating India’s Rohan Bopanna and Pakistan’s Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi in the men’s doubles final at the U.S. Open.

Bob and Mike Bryan captured their third title at Flushing Meadows and 65th overall with a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) victory Friday in a match in which neither team broke serve.

Ambassadors from India and Pakistan, neighboring countries with a decades-long history of tension, attended the match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Bopanna and Qureshi have been playing together since 2003, though the story of their attempt to promote peace through sports has gathered pace in the past few months.

After losing to Rafael Nadal in straight sets in the U.S. Open quarterfinals, Fernando Verdasco says his compatriot will still be an underdog against Roger Federer if the two face off for the title.

“He’s playing good,” said Verdasco. “If I am not wrong, I think that he will play the final against Roger. It’s gonna be a tough match, because I think Roger play really good in these conditions. It’s going to be a very tough final for Rafa if he plays against Roger in the final.

“I think if I need to bet here, I will bet for Roger. I think that he won five times here and he like these conditions.”

Nadal takes on Mikhail Youzhny in the semifinals, while Federer will face Novak Djokovic.

After losing to Rafael Nadal in straight sets in the U.S. Open quarterfinals, Fernando Verdasco says his compatriot will still be an underdog against Roger Federer if the two face off for the title.

“He’s playing good,” said Verdasco. “If I am not wrong, I think that he will play the final against Roger. It’s gonna be a tough match, because I think Roger play really good in these conditions. It’s going to be a very tough final for Rafa if he plays against Roger in the final.

“I think if I need to bet here, I will bet for Roger. I think that he won five times here and he like these conditions.”

Nadal takes on Mikhail Youzhny in the semifinals, while Federer will face Novak Djokovic.

ROME (AP)—Francesca Schiavone has been honored by Italy President Giorgio Napolitano for her French Open victory, which marked the first time an Italian woman won a Grand Slam title.

Napolitano signed a decree on Friday honoring the 30-year-old player with 11 career titles. The win against Sam Stosur at the Roland Garros final in June helped her improve to No. 7 in the world rankings.

Schiavone reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open this week, losing to Venus Williams.

Also receiving the honor were Olympic slalom champion Giuliano Razzoli and Paralympic winner Francesca Porcellato.

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal stayed on track for a highly anticipated showdown with No. 2 Roger Federer after defeating fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday night to reach the US Open semi-finals for a third straight year.

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Day 11 diary from the US Open.

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Most signs point toward Rafa vs. Roger in the U.S. Open final. If that does come to pass, Fernando Verdasco knows who he’d pick. After losing in straight sets to No. 1 Rafael Nadal on yet another semi-miserable, windblown night in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday, Verdasco walked away more impressed by the conditions — and by Roger Federer — than anything Nadal did.

Mikhail Youzhny beat 25th-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka 3-6, 7-6 (7), 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday to advance to his second career U.S. Open semifinal. On yet another windy day at Arthur Ashe Stadium, No. 12 Youzhny handled the conditions better. He committed 57 unforced errors to 71 by his opponent. Wawrinka led 1-0 and 2-1 in sets but couldn’t hold the lead either time.

Whether it’s starting a family or starting a business, Kim Clijsters and Venus Williams have figured out how to make life about more than hitting a fuzzy yellow ball. As for that tennis part — well, things are going pretty well there, too. In the featured semifinal at the U.S. Open on Friday, Clijsters tries to stay on track for her second straight title after a 2 1/2 -year layoff during which…

Top-seeded Americans Liezel Huber and Bob Bryan won their second Grand Slam title in mixed doubles Thursday. The pair beat Kveta Peschke of Czech Republic and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan 6-4, 6-4 in the U.S. Open final. Bryan and Qureshi will face each other again Friday in the men’s doubles final, two competitors with much mutual respect.