Sports News Roundup: Ryder Cup controversy, Federer moves to Basel semis, NextGen ATP Finals

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Tennis: Federer reaches semi-finals after being stretched by Simon

Roger Federer was stretched to the limit by Gilles Simon before overcoming the valiant Frenchman 7-6(1) 4-6 6-4 to reach the semi-finals of his hometown Swiss Indoors tournament on Friday. The Swiss needed 2-1/2 hours to finally break his opponent's resistance as he claimed his 18th successive win at the tournament, which he is aiming to win for the ninth time.

ATP roundup: Federer tested, but moves into Basel semis

Top-seeded Roger Federer had to work for it, but he ultimately beat Frenchman Gilles Simon on Friday to advance to the semifinals at the Swiss Indoors Basel in Switzerland. The eight-time champion and hometown hero needed 2 hours and 36 minutes to complete the victory 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-4, as the first set took more than an hour alone. Federer quickly fell behind 3-0 to open the match but clawed back to 5-5 with a break after squandering four previous breakpoints. He then staved off a set point while serving down 5-6 before quickly handling the tiebreaker.

Tennis: Video Review system to trial at NextGen Finals

A Video Review system for judgment calls will be available to umpires and players for the first time at a tennis tournament when this year's NextGen ATP Finals starts in Milan next month, the men's governing body confirmed on Friday. Using Hawk-Eye technology, the Video Review will give players the chance to challenge judgment calls from the umpire such as whether a ball bounced twice or whether a player inadvertently made an illegal double hit.

Doping: Former Armstrong doctor's sanction lifted after team manager banned

A former doctor for Lance Armstrong's U.S. Postal Service (USPS) cycling team has had his lifetime ban lifted following his testimony against Armstrong team manager Johan Bruyneel, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said on Friday. Luis Garcia del Moral, a Spanish physician who worked with the Armstrong team and formerly practised sports medicine, "has been granted a reduced period of ineligibility that supersedes his previous lifetime sanction from USADA and he is no longer under sanction with immediate effect," USADA said in a news release.

As states chase sports betting gold, addicts left in the cold

On the day Jeff Wasserman's decades-long gambling addiction came to a head, the Delaware lawyer found himself parked outside a convenience store with three agonizing options: end his life, flee the country or come clean and get help. "I raised the white flag in my own mind," Wasserman, 63, said of the day he decided to seek help for a problem that had secretly consumed hundreds of thousands of dollars, his retirement savings and his career. "I knew that it was D-day."

Golf: Reed deflects questions over Ryder Cup controversy

Masters champion Patrick Reed said on Friday he was focused on winning the European Tour's season-long points race rather than making a point to his fellow Americans with his play at the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai. In his first start since featuring in the U.S. team's losing Ryder Cup cause, Reed tried to keep the focus on the future rather than open old wounds.

Golf: Former amateur champ Xiong tied with Champ in Mississippi

Former amateur champion Norman Xiong has made a rocky start to his professional career, but he took a step in the right direction by seizing a share of the halfway lead at the Sanderson Farms Championship in Mississippi on Friday. Xiong, born on the U.S. island territory of Guam to Chinese parents, carded five-under-par 67 in the second round at Country Club of Jackson on Friday and tied Cameron Champ at nine-under 135.

NFL notebook: Texans WR Fuller suffers season-ending knee injury

Wide receiver Will Fuller is out for the season with a torn ACL he suffered in the Houston Texans' 42-23 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night. The third-year wideout suffered the injury trying to make a catch in the end zone in the fourth quarter, according to the Houston Chronicle.

NBA notebook: Wolves lack interest in Rockets' offer for Butler

The Minnesota Timberwolves are showing "no inclination" to accept Houston's offer of four first-round draft picks and two players for disgruntled All-Star guard Jimmy Butler, according to a report. Shams Charania of Stadium said Friday that the Rockets have included players Marquese Chriss, 21, and Brandon Knight, 26, in the trade package. Neither has played yet this season, and both are injured -- Chriss with an ankle injury and Knight with a knee injury.

Golf: Finau surges to halfway lead in Shanghai

American Tony Finau powered through the front nine on his way to a three-shot lead after two rounds at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai on Friday. Slightly calmer winds than during the opening round at Sheshan International Golf Club allowed for some low scoring in the morning and Finau was at the forefront as he signed for five-under-par 67 to be 11-under overall.

(With inputs from Reuters)