BRISBANE, Australia - Roger Federer has a chance to go into the Australian Open with 1,000 career match wins to his credit after beating fourth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-2 on Saturday to reach the final of the Brisbane International.The 17-time Grand Slam champion came into the 2015 season with 996 wins and has had three more on the way to Sundays final, where hell meet third-seeded Milos Raonic. He has a 7-1 win-loss record against the 24-year-old Canadian, from Thornhill, Ont. who served 34 aces to grind out a 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4) win over second-seeded Kei Nishikori in the other semifinal.Its a goal for the season, so I still have time to get to a thousand, Federer said, smiling. I mean, its a really big number, no doubt about it. Love to get it tomorrow, especially in the finals in an ATP event where most of my wins have come.If not tomorrow, I hope it happens at the Australian Open. It would definitely be an incredible milestone to reach.Only Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl have won more than 1,000 matches.They were very consistent for a long time, very match tough, and definitely players and athletes you could look up to because their longevity was incredible, the 33-year-old Federer said. It would mean a lot to get to a thousand, but theyre still ahead of me.Maria Sharapova was scheduled to play Ana Ivanovic in the Saturday night womens final.The third-seeded Raonic appeared to grow in confidence as the match progressed against U.S. Open finalist Nishikori, earning three match points with an ace in the third tiebreaker and then clinching it after 2 1/2 hours with a stunning forehand service return.Raonic said hell be relying again on his serve, hoping to emulate the form that earned a win over Federer in Paris last year.Thats always been a key. Last few matches I started poorly. I would get broken right in my first service game, which is not the way to really go about things, especially against a top player and especially against Roger, he said. So Ive got to keep that pressure on him and then sort of step up when I can create my opportunities.Raonics win over U.S. Open finalist Nishikori was only his second in six head-to-heads between the pair.I felt I served really well. Thats held me around, especially in the beginning, because I felt he was getting more and more on top of me at the beginning from the baseline, Raonic said. That sort of kept me in it and sort of gave me a chance.Neither player dropped serve in the match, meaning Nishikori exited the tournament without being broken in a service game.Eventually, though, the quick points Raonic was able to pick up on his booming serve made the difference.Each set turned on one error at the same stage of the tiebreakers.Nishikori forced an error with a powerful service return in the first for a 5-4 lead. He served a double-fault in the second to give Raonic the 5-4 advantage with two serves to close.The last tiebreaker was on serve until Nishikori missed a forehand with the court wide open, and Raonic took over from there.Venus Williams won her first title of the year when she recovered from a set and a break down for a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over top-seeded Carolina Wozniacki in the final of the ASB Classic at Auckland, New Zealand.Her sister, Serena Williams, was aiming for a third Hopman Cup title when she partnered John Isner in the U.S. team against Poland in the final later Saturday in Perth, Australia. Tim Lopes Mariners Jersey . -- Howie Kendrick had a two-run single in his first game batting leadoff this season, Chris Iannetta hit a pair of RBI singles and the Los Angeles Angels beat Cleveland 6-4 Tuesday night, sending the Indians to their fifth straight defeat. David Segui Mariners Jersey . -- Those impatient for the Stanley Cup to return to Canada will have just one team to root for in the NHL playoffs -- the Montreal Canadiens. https://www.cheapmariners.com/2215k-tom-murphy-jersey-mariners.html . - Rookie Kyle Larson will start from the pole position Saturday night in the NASCAR race at Richmond International Raceway after a thunderstorm arrived just in time to wash out qualifying. Dave Henderson Mariners Jersey . -- New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft wanted to keep Logan Mankins with the team for a long time. Kyle Seager Jersey . Kelli Stack and Alex Carpenter also scored for the Americans, who avoided a repeat of Finlands upset at the Four Nations Cup in Lake Placid, N.Y., in November. Finnish goalie Noora Raty made 58 saves in that one, but the three-time Olympian could stop just 40 of 43 U. TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays have sent outfielder Kevin Pillar back to the minors, one day after the rookie threw his bat down the dugout steps when he was pulled for a pinch hitter. The Blue Jays selected outfielder Brad Glenn from Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday. Pillar was hitting .225 with no home runs and two RBIs, and was demoted to Triple-A. Pillar tossed his bat down the steps leading from the dugout to the clubhouse after Anthony Gose batted for him in thhe eighth inning Tuesday night against the Yankees.dddddddddddd Pillar then walked the length of the dugout and took off his batting gloves while having a brief and civil conversation with manager John Gibbons. On Wednesday, Gibbons said Glenn was promoted to increase offensive production. But Gibbons acknowledged that Pillars antics "didnt help him at all." "This is a team game," Gibbons said. "Theres no room for selfish play." ' ' '