World number one Novak Djokovic crashed out of the Rome Masters at the hands of Tomas Berdych on Friday while Maria Sharapova withdrew from the women's event through illness.

But Rafael Nadal stayed on course for a seventh title in the Italian capital with a three-set triumph over Spanish compatriot David Ferrer.

A group led by software magnate Vivek Ranadive of India has purchased the NBA's Sacramento Kings and will keep the team in the California capital, the city's mayor confirmed on Friday.

Mayor Kevin Johnson, himself a former NBA player, announced that a deal had been signed to keep the club in Sacramento -- a contract that includes a new 18,500-seat downtown arena as part of the lure to prevent a move to Seattle.

The son of the U.S. national swim team director is reporting that Michael Phelps is planning a comeback for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Peter Busch, whose father Frank oversees the American program, is a news anchor at a television station in Fort Myers, Florida. A brief story from the younger Busch posted on the station's website Friday said Phelps is plotting his return to the pool and hopes to compete at the next Olympics.

Two-time defending champion Maria Sharapova has withdrawn before her Italian Open quarterfinal match against seventh-seeded Sara Errani because of an illness.

The announcement comes less than 10 days before the start of the French Open, the year's second Grand Slam, which starts May 26.

Paul Stastny had two goals and two assists and Craig Smith had five assists on Thursday to give the United States a spot in the hockey world championships semifinals with an 8-3 pounding of Russia on Thursday.

It was the first time Russia or the Soviet Union had let in eight goals in the worlds or Olympics.

The Brazilian government announced that some of the security robots bought to improve public safety during the 2014 World Cup will be ready for the Confederations Cup in June.

The company iRobot said the 30 robots would be delivered by the end of the year, along with spares and other support gear. The government confirmed Thursday that some will already be in action in the six cities hosting Confederations Cup matches.

Racist and homophobic abuse by players in England will carry a minimum five-match ban from next season.

The Football Association says the sanction will be the entry-level punishment for the least serious discriminatory offenses, with longer bans possible.

Mario Balotelli and AC Milan strike partner Stephan El Shaarawy headline Italy's squad for upcoming matches against San Marino and the Czech Republic, while Antonio Cassano remained left out.

The Azzurri will host San Marino in a friendly in Bologna on May 31 then visit the Czechs in Prague on June 7 for a World Cup qualifier.

Maria Sharapova brushed aside America's Sloane Stephens 6-2, 6-1, to reach the Rome Open quarter-finals on Thursday.

She will face Italy's Sara Errani for a place in the semi-finals in a repeat of last year's French Open final which the Russian won.

Defending champion Rafael Nadal endured a three-set thriller before overcoming big-hitting Latvian qualifier Ernests Gulbis 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 on Thursday to reach the Rome Masters quarter-finals.

Gulbis, ranked 46th, and a winner in Rome in 2010 over Roger Federer on his way to the semi-finals, saved two match points in the third set, but finally went down when he sent a forehand wide to the massive relief of a dancing, celebrating Nadal.