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Sports Briefs: Federer loses Masters match, possibly rank
By The Associated Press
Friday, August 01, 2008 | No comments posted.
MASON, Ohio — Roger Federer lost another match and, perhaps, his longtime grip on No. 1, as well.
The world’s top-ranked player had another out-of-character setback, a three-set loss to Ivo Karlovic that left the Croat exulting on his back and opened the way for Rafael Nadal to take over the No. 1 spot by winning the Cincinnati Masters championship.
Nadal stayed on course for the seismic shift by beating Tommy Haas 6-4, 7-6 (0), reaching the quarterfinals with his 31st consecutive win. Three more wins and the top spot in the world rankings belongs to him next week.
Ernests Gulbis took advantage of James Blake’s erratic serve for a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 victory, leaving the United States shut out of the quarterfinals for the first time in the tournament’s history.
Third-seeded Novak Djokovic also advanced to the quarterfinals, beating Andreas Seppi 6-1, 6-2 to set up a rematch with Gulbis. Djokovic beat the Latvian in three close sets during the quarterfinals of the French Open.
Ivanovic eliminated from Rogers Cup
MONTREAL — Top-ranked Ana Ivanovic was knocked out of the Rogers Cup by Tamira Paszek, giving second-ranked Jelena Jankovic a chance to take over the top spot in women’s tennis if she can reach the final of the tournament.
Paszek, a 17-year-old Austrian ranked 94th in the world, won 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 over Ivanovic, who was playing with a sore right thumb she injured two weeks ago while practicing. The thumb was taped for the match against Paszek.
Jankovic, a Serbian compatriot of Ivanovic, advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Stephanie Dubois, the last Canadian left in the tournament.
Jankovic next will face 19-year-old Dominika Cibulkova, who upset 12th-seeded Nadia Petrova 7-6 (2), 6-2. Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated 15-year-old Michelle Larcher de Brito 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals.
Sharapova to miss Beijing Olympics
MONTREAL — Maria Sharapova will miss the Beijing Olympics because of a right shoulder injury.
The three-time Grand Slam singles champion said on her Web site Thursday that an MRI exam and other medical tests showed she has two small tears in tendons in her shoulder.
The right-handed Sharapova pulled out of the WTA tournament in Montreal because of the shoulder on Wednesday night — after winning a nearly three-hour match in which she double-faulted a whopping 17 times.
She was examined by a trainer midway through the three-set victory.
“After yesterday’s match, I knew there was something seriously wrong with my shoulder,” Sharapova said in a posting on her Web site under the headline: “No chance of me competing in Beijing.”
The Aug. 11-17 Olympic tennis tournament lost another top player earlier Thursday, when 2006 Australian Open runner-up Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus withdrew because of a wrist injury.
Others who won’t play in Beijing for various reasons include past Grand Slam singles champions Andy Roddick, Amelie Mauresmo and Mary Pierce.
SOCCER
Timbers owner seeking MLS team
PORTLAND — Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson said he will apply for a Major League Soccer expansion franchise.
MLS plans to expand to 18 teams by 2011, and the league has indicated it might choose the two expansion cities by early 2009. The Timbers play a step below the MLS in the United Soccer League First Division.
“There is no doubt in my mind that Major League Soccer in Portland would both add a tremendous amount to the league and have a phenomenally positive impact on our community and state,” Paulson said in a statement Thursday. “We have the most ardent and authentic soccer fan base in the United States, and Soccer City USA deserves a Major League Soccer team.”
Paulson said the expansion team would play at the Timbers’ current home — PGE Park in downtown Portland. That might not be in Portland’s favor because the stadium has a seating capacity of less than 20,000.
MLS has 14 teams playing this season. Seattle will join in 2009, and a Philadelphia expansion team will debut in 2010.
HOCKEY
Scotty Bowman joins Blackhawk front office
CHICAGO — Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman is joining the Chicago Blackhawks as a senior adviser for hockey operations.
A special consultant with the Detroit Red Wings since retiring from coaching following the 2002 season, the 74-year-old Bowman signed a three-year deal with Chicago.
The world’s top-ranked player had another out-of-character setback, a three-set loss to Ivo Karlovic that left the Croat exulting on his back and opened the way for Rafael Nadal to take over the No. 1 spot by winning the Cincinnati Masters championship.
Nadal stayed on course for the seismic shift by beating Tommy Haas 6-4, 7-6 (0), reaching the quarterfinals with his 31st consecutive win. Three more wins and the top spot in the world rankings belongs to him next week.
Ernests Gulbis took advantage of James Blake’s erratic serve for a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 victory, leaving the United States shut out of the quarterfinals for the first time in the tournament’s history.
Third-seeded Novak Djokovic also advanced to the quarterfinals, beating Andreas Seppi 6-1, 6-2 to set up a rematch with Gulbis. Djokovic beat the Latvian in three close sets during the quarterfinals of the French Open.
Ivanovic eliminated from Rogers Cup
MONTREAL — Top-ranked Ana Ivanovic was knocked out of the Rogers Cup by Tamira Paszek, giving second-ranked Jelena Jankovic a chance to take over the top spot in women’s tennis if she can reach the final of the tournament.
Paszek, a 17-year-old Austrian ranked 94th in the world, won 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 over Ivanovic, who was playing with a sore right thumb she injured two weeks ago while practicing. The thumb was taped for the match against Paszek.
Jankovic, a Serbian compatriot of Ivanovic, advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Stephanie Dubois, the last Canadian left in the tournament.
Jankovic next will face 19-year-old Dominika Cibulkova, who upset 12th-seeded Nadia Petrova 7-6 (2), 6-2. Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated 15-year-old Michelle Larcher de Brito 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals.
Sharapova to miss Beijing Olympics
MONTREAL — Maria Sharapova will miss the Beijing Olympics because of a right shoulder injury.
The three-time Grand Slam singles champion said on her Web site Thursday that an MRI exam and other medical tests showed she has two small tears in tendons in her shoulder.
The right-handed Sharapova pulled out of the WTA tournament in Montreal because of the shoulder on Wednesday night — after winning a nearly three-hour match in which she double-faulted a whopping 17 times.
She was examined by a trainer midway through the three-set victory.
“After yesterday’s match, I knew there was something seriously wrong with my shoulder,” Sharapova said in a posting on her Web site under the headline: “No chance of me competing in Beijing.”
The Aug. 11-17 Olympic tennis tournament lost another top player earlier Thursday, when 2006 Australian Open runner-up Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus withdrew because of a wrist injury.
Others who won’t play in Beijing for various reasons include past Grand Slam singles champions Andy Roddick, Amelie Mauresmo and Mary Pierce.
SOCCER
Timbers owner seeking MLS team
PORTLAND — Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson said he will apply for a Major League Soccer expansion franchise.
MLS plans to expand to 18 teams by 2011, and the league has indicated it might choose the two expansion cities by early 2009. The Timbers play a step below the MLS in the United Soccer League First Division.
“There is no doubt in my mind that Major League Soccer in Portland would both add a tremendous amount to the league and have a phenomenally positive impact on our community and state,” Paulson said in a statement Thursday. “We have the most ardent and authentic soccer fan base in the United States, and Soccer City USA deserves a Major League Soccer team.”
Paulson said the expansion team would play at the Timbers’ current home — PGE Park in downtown Portland. That might not be in Portland’s favor because the stadium has a seating capacity of less than 20,000.
MLS has 14 teams playing this season. Seattle will join in 2009, and a Philadelphia expansion team will debut in 2010.
HOCKEY
Scotty Bowman joins Blackhawk front office
CHICAGO — Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman is joining the Chicago Blackhawks as a senior adviser for hockey operations.
A special consultant with the Detroit Red Wings since retiring from coaching following the 2002 season, the 74-year-old Bowman signed a three-year deal with Chicago.
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