TENNIS:
ROME MASTERS: Federer loses his 6th match of year, falling to
Stepanek
ROME - Roger Federer lost his sixth match of the year, falling
to 27th-ranked Radek Stepanek 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7) in the quarterfinals
of the Rome Masters. BC-EU-SPT-TEN--ROME MASTERS. Has moved. By
Andrew Dampf.
GERMAN OPEN: Safina ends Serena Williams' win streak
BERLIN - Dinara Safina ended Serena Williams' 17-match winning
streak with a 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5) victory to reach the German Open
semifinals. BC-EU-SPT-TEN--GERMAN OPEN. Has moved. By Roy Kammerer.
ALSO:
ROME - BC-EU-SPT-TEN--ITALIAN OPEN-HENIN OUT. Has moved.
MADRID, Spain - BC-EU-SPT-TEN--SPAIN-DAVIS CUP VENUE. Has
moved.
SOCCER:
PREMIER LEAGUE: Grant still fuming over referee's call
COBHAM, England - If Chelsea fails to overtake Manchester United
for the Premier League title on Sunday, Avram Grant will know why.
The manager of Chelsea, which must beat visiting Bolton on Sunday
and hope that defending champion United slips up at Wigan, is still
dwelling on an eight-month-old refereeing decision.
BC-EU-SPT-SOC--CHELSEA-GRANT. Has moved. By Stuart Condie.
Manchester United reveal financial loss
LONDON - Manchester United's strong season on the pitch has been
marred by financial results showing the club posted a significant
loss last year, has increased debt to its creditors and is yet to
pay some transfer fees for its players. BC-EU-SPT-SOC--MAN
UNITED-FINANCES. Has moved. By Jane Wardell.
WITH:
MANCHESTER, England - BC-EU-SPT-SOC--MAN UNITED-FERGUSON. Has
moved. By Rob Harris.
Eriksson ready for last City game
MANCHESTER, England - Manchester City manager Sven-Goran
Eriksson is preparing for Sunday's match at Middlesbrough to be his
last with the club. BC-EU-SPT-SOC--MAN CITY-ERIKSSON. Has moved. By
Rob Harris.
ALSO:
NEWCASTLE, England - BC-EU-SPT-SOC--NEWCASTLE-KEEGAN. Has
moved.
MATCH FIXING: Porto, 2 other clubs, punished in Portuguese
match-fixing scandal
LISBON, Portugal - Authorities relegated Boavista and deducted
points from FC Porto and Leiria for attempting to fix league
matches in Portuguese soccer's biggest ever scandal.
BC-EU-SPT-SOC--PORTUGAL-MATCH-FIXING. Has moved. By Barry Hatton.
ALSO:
PRAGUE, Czech Republic - BC-EU-SPT-SOC--CZECH-ROSICKY OUT. Has
moved. By Karel Janicek.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - BC-LA-SPT-SOC--BRAZIL-CHAMPIONSHIP
PREVIEW. Has moved. By Peter Muello.
ATHLETICS:
DOHA SUPER GRAND PRIX: Americans Felix, Oliver shine in Qatar
DOHA, Qatar - Everyone knew about Allyson Felix. But David
Oliver? He established himself as a hurdler to watch at the Beijing
Olympics this summer by breaking the 13-second barrier over 110
meters. Felix broke 11 seconds in the 100 for the first time, and
later also won the 400 at the first major international meet of the
season. BC-ME-SPT-ATH--DOHA SUPER GRAND PRIX. Has moved. By Raf
Casert.
RUGBY
OTAGO-AUCKLAND: Blues look for help from Kiwi rivals
DUNEDIN, New Zealand - The Auckland Blues, still in the hunt for
a semifinal spot, take on the playing-for-pride Otago Highlanders
in an all-New Zealand Super 14 match at Carisbrook.
BC-AS-SPT-RUGU--OTAGO-AUCKLAND. Expected by 1000 GMT.
WITH:
BRISBANE, Australia - BC-AS-SPT-RUGU--QUEENSLAND-CANTERBURY.
Expected by 1200 GMT.
AUTO RACING:
FORMULA ONE: Massa leads Ferrari sweep of Turkish GP practice
sessions
ISTANBUL, Turkey - Nothing seems to slow down Felipe Massa in
Turkey. Two-time defending champion Massa led Ferrari's sweep of
practice sessions for the Turkish Grand Prix as drivers struggled
with technical problems in the deteriorating weather.
BC-EU-SPT-CAR--F1-TURKISH GP. Has moved. By Paul Logothetis.
WITH:
ISTANBUL, Turkey - BC-EU-SPT-CAR--F1-WOMEN DRIVERS. Has moved.
By Paul Logothetis.
INDY 500: Fast Dixon expects messy Indy 500 pole qualifying
INDIANAPOLIS - In the past, there was usually little strategy
involved in trying to win the pole for the Indianapolis 500. Just
hold the gas pedal down and drive. Thanks to the qualifying format
adopted two years ago, the opening day of time trials for the May
25 race could be a strategic nightmare. "This year, it's going to
be such a mess," said Scott Dixon, the fastest driver in this
week's rain-abbreviated practice on the 2.5-mile (4.02-kilometer)
Indy oval. BC-NA-SPT-CAR--IRL-INDY 500. Has moved. By Mike Harris.
WITH:
INDIANAPOLIS - BC-NA-SPT-CAR--IRL-INDY 500-ACCIDENTS. Has
moved.
ALSO:
DAKAR, Senegal - BC-AF-SPT-CAR--NEW DAKAR. Has moved.
CYCLING:
GIRO D'ITALIA: Italian dominance to be tested in Giro
MILAN, Italy - The recent domination of the Giro d'Italia by
cyclists from the host nation could be about to change as an
especially strong field gets set to begin the 2008 edition.
BC-EU-SPT-CYC--GIRO D'ITALIA PREVIEW. Has moved. By Eric Sylvers.
ICE HOCKEY:
WORLDS: Russia defeats Belarus 4-3 in shootout to remain
undefeated
QUEBEC CITY - Maxim Afinogenov scored two goals, Alex Ovechkin
added another and Alexei Morozov had the winner in the shootout to
give Russia a 4-3 victory over Belarus in a qualifying-round game
at hockey's world championship. BC-NA-SPT-HKY--WORLDS. Has moved.
GOLF:
ITALIAN OPEN: McGowan, Ruiz share lead after 1st round of
Italian Open; Daly 3 shots back
MILAN, Italy - Robert Karlsson of Sweden shot a course record
11-under 61 to take the lead after the second round of the Italian
Open. BC-EU-SPT-GLF--ITALIAN OPEN. Has moved.
PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Youth gives way to experience
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida - Kenny Perry, who first showed up at
Sawgrass 20 years ago, kept his wits and his patience in 35-mph
(56-kph) gusts and made only one bogey in a solid round of 2-under
70 that gave him a one-shot lead going into the weekend at The
Players Championship. BC-NA-SPT-GLF--PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP. Has
moved. By Doug Ferguson.
MICHELOB ULTRA OPEN: Rain plagues second round of LPGA
WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia - Rain delays plagued the second day of
the Michelob Ultra Open, where Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa
entered the round high on the leaderboard. BC-NA-SPT-GLF--MICHELOB
ULTRA OPEN. Expected to move after 0200 GMT. By Hank Kurz Jr.
BOXING:
WBC HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE: Peter reaches deal to fight Vitali
Klitschko
UNDATED - Samuel Peter will defend his WBC heavyweight title in
the fall against former champion Vitali Klitschko after the
fighters' camps finally reached a financial agreement for the
long-awaited fight. BC-NA-SPT-BOX--PETER-KLITSCHKO. Has moved. By
Greg Beacham.
ALSO:
UNDATED - BC-NA-SPT-HKY--NHL ROUNDUP. Expected by 0700 GMT.
UNDATED - BC-NA-SPT-BKB--NBA ROUNDUP. Expected by 0700 GMT.
UNDATED - BC-NA-SPT-BBL--AL ROUNDUP. Expected by 0700 GMT.
UNDATED - BC-NA-SPT-BBL--NL ROUNDUP. Expected by 0700 GMT.
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