Releases » victory over eighth-seeded Gilles Muller of

CHENNAI, India - Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka entered the semifinals of the Chennai Open with a 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory over eighth-seeded Gilles Muller of Luxembourg on Friday.Defending champion Wawrinka, looking for a third title here, seized the initiative with a service break in the opening game.He was stretched in the second set by the left-handed Muller, but wrapped up the tiebreaker from 4-4.The weather was a bit tricky with the wind but I played aggressively, Wawrinka said.The top-seeded Swiss will play fourth-seed David Goffin of Beglium for a place in the final.Goffin got past unseeded Andreas Haider-Maurer of Austria 7-5, 6-2.Its going to be an interesting match (against Goffin). Hes a fine player and finished the last year strongly, Wawrinka said.Third-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain, the 2013 runner-up, advanced after a tough 7-6 (7), 6-4 win against Lu Yen-hsun of Taiwan.That was a good match, it took almost two hours, Bautista Agut said. He had a chance to win the first set but I was there all the time, and confident of winning.He said he was looking forward to his semifinal against Slovenian qualifier Aljaz Bedene, who ousted fifth-seeded Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.We have known each other for a long time, and Im happy to see him in the semis, Bautista Agut said of Bedene. Martin Jones Jersey .C. -- The Carolina Panthers announced Thursday theyve signed free agent wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery to a two-year contract, helping rebuild a depleted wide receiving corps. Tim Heed Sharks Jersey . -- Andy Granatelli, the former CEO of STP motor oil company who made a mark on motorsports as a car owner, innovator and entrepreneur, has died. http://www.officialsharksnhlshop.com/marc-edouard-vlasic-jersey/ . Villar connected off Joe Saunders (11-14), sending a drive well over the left-field fence for his first career homer. The Astros scored six times in the first three innings to chase Saunders. Melker Karlsson Sharks Jersey . Lisicki beat South African Chanelle Scheepers by a 7-5, 7-6 (7-1) margin. Next up for the Wimbledon runner-up will be Slovenian Polona Hercog, who outlasted Czech Petra Cetkovska 6-4, 5-7, 6-1. Kevin Labanc Jersey . -- Jimmie Johnson has a sixth NASCAR championship in hand and two legends within reach.ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Rays have signed 16-year-old Dominican Republic shortstop prospect Adrian Rondon for $2.95 million. The Rays completed the deal, which was announced Monday, after trading minor league pitcher Matt Ramsey to Miami for the Marlins second, third and fourth international bonus slots, a move whhich turn provided the team with $1,000,800 to go toward the signing of Rondon.dddddddddddd. Rays director of baseball operations Chaim Bloom describes Rondon as a solid defender who has a chance to be an above-average shortstop with a "terrific bat" that could help him develop into an elite player. ' ' '