Orlando Sentinel, Times wires
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Tennis
Ailing Roddick loses at key biscayne
KEY BISCAYNE — A weakened Andy Roddick lost his opening match at the Sony Ericsson Open on Saturday 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) to Pablo Cuevas.
Roddick, the defending champion, had trouble breathing because of chest congestion and received three visits from a trainer during changeovers in the second set. He came down with a bronchial infection last month but didn't say if it was related. Roddick also was limping at the end of the match. He said he had an injury but declined to elaborate.
"I have to get some stuff looked at," Roddick said. "I didn't feel very optimistic throughout the day."
Roger Federer needed only about an hour to beat Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-3 in his opener. The win was Federer's 762nd, tying Pete Sampras for seventh in the Open era (beginning in 1968). Jimmy Connors is first at 1,241.
"It's nice tying Pete, but he could have played for many more years," Federer said. "He could still win some matches on tour now if he wanted to."
College football
Family allowed to seek damages against UCF
The family of ex-UCF receiver Ereck Plancher can seek punitive damages in a wrongful death lawsuit against the university, Orange County Circuit Judge Robert Evans ruled Friday.
Plancher, 19, died March 18, 2008, after an offseason workout supervised by coach George O'Leary and his staff. An autopsy found the stress of the workout triggered his sickle cell trait.
Evans said a jury must find neither water nor athletic trainers were present for the final portion of the workout in order to award punitive damages. WR Anthony Davis has said O'Leary ordered athletic trainers and all water to leave the indoor practice facility.
The case is scheduled to go to trial June 13.
Horses
Japanese horse wins $10 million Derby prep
Japan's Victoire Pisa won the World Cup, at $10 million the world's richest horse race and a Kentucky Derby prep. Transcend led for much of the way during the race in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before Victoire Pisa caught him down the stretch and won by a half-length.
More Derby preps: Animal Kingdom beat Decisive Moment by 2¾ lengths to win the $500,000 Spiral Stakes in Florence, Ky. The $285,000 prize gives it enough graded stakes earnings to run in the Derby. … Pants On Fire won the $1 million Louisiana Derby by a neck over Nehro in New Orleans.
Et cetera
College hockey: Mike Connolly had a shorthanded goal and three assists as visiting Minnesota-Duluth beat top-seeded Yale 5-3 to earn a Frozen Four berth. … Lee Moffie had a goal and an assist as Michigan beat Colorado College 2-1 in St. Louis to earn a Frozen Four berth. … Kevin Goumas scored twice as host New Hampshire beat No. 4 Miami (Ohio) 3-1. Today, it faces Notre Dame, which got a goal from Anders Lee in overtime to beat Merrimack 4-3, for a Frozen Four berth. … Brad Malone scored twice to lead No. 2 North Dakota over Rensselaer 6-0 in Green Bay, Wis. Today, it faces Denver, which got a goal from Jason Zucker in double overtime to beat Western Michigan 3-2, for a Frozen Four berth.
College swimming: Cal edged Texas to win the NCAA men's title in Minneapolis. Florida was fifth.
Greyhounds: Bow Timeless, Kelsos Ace High, Kiowa Sky Selma and Mohican Mink Mae won opening-round races of the $80,000 Distance Classic at Derby Lane in St. Petersburg. Qualifying resumes Wednesday.
Don Jensen, Times correspondent; Orlando Sentinel; Times wires