Noteworthy

Nadal to go for record 31st Masters crown

MONACO — Rafael Nadal remained on course for a record 31st Masters title after beating Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-1 in the Monte Carlo semifinals on Saturday.

Nadal shares the Masters record with Novak Djokovic, whose 30 wins include two here.

The top-ranked Nadal will face Kei Nishikori, who beat No. 4-ranked Alexander Zverev 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Nishikori trails 9-2 against Nadal in head-to-heads, although Nishikori won their last encounter two years ago.

More tennis: Kristina Mladenovic rallied to beat CoCo Vandeweghe 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 and draw France level with defending champion United States in their Fed Cup semifinal. Sloane Stephens fought hard to beat Pauline Parmentier 7-6 (3), 7-5 in the opener. ... Petra Kvitova and Karolina Pliskova gave the Czech Republic a 2-0 lead over Germany in the other Fed Cup semifinal. Kvitova defeated Julia Goerges 6-3, 6-2, before Pliskova followed up with a 7-5, 6-3 win over two-time Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber in the World Group.

Autos: Defending champ Josef Newgarden will start from the pole at the Grand Prix of Alabama. Will Power will start second followed by Sebastien Bourdais and Ryan-Hunter Reay.

NFL: Human rights organization Amnesty International honored quarterback Colin Kaepernick with its Ambassador of Conscience Award, lauding his kneeling peaceful protests against racial inequality that launched a national sports movement.

Boxing: Adrien Broner and Jessie Vargas fought to a 12-round majority draw in a welterweight fight at Barclays Center. Jermall Charlo became the WBC interim middleweight champion by knocking out Hugo Centeno Jr. 55 seconds into the second. Gervonta Davis won the WBA super featherweight title with a knockout of Jesus Cuellar at 2:45 of the third round.

College basketball: Memphis forward Karim Sameh Azab was diagnosed with leukemia lymphoma and has started treatment.

— Wire reports