Larger text
Smaller text
Print
E-mail
Federer survives second match; Agassi target of attention
The injury-marred Tennis Masters Cup couldn't withstand the loss of another of its stars.
Top-ranked Federer, the two-time defending champion, got a quick rub on his right leg from a physiotherapist, then held off Ivan Ljubicic, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (4), on Tuesday to secure a spot in the semifinals.
"I was never in doubt I was going to finish that match -- maybe people in the stadium were," said Federer, laughing as he explained that he asked for treatment as a precaution "for my well being."
Playing with a heavy, black brace on his right ankle, Federer extended his winning streak to 33 matches and improved to 79-3 this year. That's three shy of John McEnroe's Open era record (82-3) for winning percentage in a season.
With a third consecutive unbeaten run at the Masters Cup, the 24-year-old Swiss star can equal McEnroe's mark here.
Federer is the only player ranked from among the top six still in contention in the season-ending event, which is supposed to feature the ATP Tour's top eight players.
Second-ranked Rafael Nadal, the French Open champion, and No. 5 Andre Agassi withdrew within an hour of each other Monday with foot and ankle injuries.
No. 3 Andy Roddick (back) and Australian Open champion Marat Safin (knee) withdrew because of injuries, and No. 4 Lleyton Hewitt -- the Masters Cup winner at Sydney in 2001 and here in 2002 -- stayed in Australia pending the birth of his first child.
Sixth-ranked Guillermo Coria was out of contention after slumping to 0-2 in round-robin play with a 7-5, 6-4 loss to fellow Argentine David Nalbandian.
Coria next plays Federer, while Nalbandian and Ljubicic meet to decide who will advance with Federer from the Red Group into the semifinals.
Chinese organizers took a swipe at Agassi because he didn't notify them before announcing he was quitting following his upset loss to Nikolay Davydenko. Agassi also retired after losing two matches at the 2002 Masters Cup.
Golf
In Henderson, Nev., Craig Stadler shot a 2-under-par 68 to help the Champions Tour win the Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge. Hale Irwin and Jay Haas each had 71s for the Champions Tour in the exhibition event at Lake Las Vegas Resort's SouthShore Golf Club. Mark Calcavecchia led the PGA Tour with a 70, Fred Couples added a 72 and John Daly finished with a 77. The LPGA Tour finished last, with Grace Park shooting a 74, Cristie Kerr adding a 75 and Lorena Ochoa following with a 78.Basketball
Villanova forward Curtis Sumpter had surgery to repair a ligament in his left knee that he tore last month in practice. Sumpter, a second-team All-Big East selection last season, tore his ACL on Oct. 19 and will be sidelined indefinitely. It was the second time in seven months Sumpter had surgery to repair the same torn ACL.
Baseball
In Boston, Atlanta assistant general manager Dayton Moore has told the Boston Red Sox that he's no longer interested in the GM job vacated by Theo Epstein.
Horse racing
The president of The Jockeys' Guild was voted out by riders claiming their organization has been mismanaged for years. L. Wayne Gertmenian, brought in to run the guild in 2001, was removed from his position after a vote by the union's new board of directors, the guild said in a two-page release. After a daylong conference call, the guild also removed Lloyd Ownbey as general counsel, as well as Matrix Capital Associates, a company operated by Gertmenian. At the heart of the issue was the belief by many members that Gertmenian and his board were responsible for allowing the riders' health care coverage to lapse. With riders at high risk of injury every time they climb aboard a thoroughbred, health insurance is a necessity.
Motor sports
Nextel Cup champion driver Kurt Busch had a 0.017 blood-alcohol level on a preliminary sobriety test, far below the state's impairment limit, Maricopa County sheriff's office said. Busch was detained Friday on suspicion of drunken driving and cited for reckless driving after a confrontation with Maricopa County deputies. He was suspended by Roush Racing for the rest of the season. Maricopa County sheriff's spokesman Lt. Paul Chagolla said the preliminary test is not admissible in court, but is designed to help indicate the presence of alcohol. The legal limit in Arizona is 0.08.
Olympics
In Phoenix, Brad Snyder, Bryan LaHair and Brandon Wood homered, and the United States got 26 hits in a 23-0 rout of Guatemala in the opening game of regional Olympic qualifying.
Soccer
The San Jose Earthquakes have permission to move the franchise for next season. Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber said that the league told the Earthquakes' ownership group at recent MLS meetings it could move the team in time for 2006. A decision on the club's new home will be made in the next 30 days, but Garber's announcement doesn't necessarily mean the franchise will relocate, the team said.
Swimming
Bethel Park senior Chelsey Bower signed a letter of intent to swim at Ohio University. Bower was a member of the WPIAL Class AAA champion girl's team as well as the gold medal 200-yard freestyle relay squad.
Off the field
Former junior featherweight champion Agapito Sanchez died from gunshot wounds during a fight outside his home. The 35-year-old boxer died at a Santo Domingo hospital hours after surgery to remove two bullets from his stomach, cousin Antonio Sanchez said.
