Times wires
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
tennis
serena: 'tough year' has been depressing
LOS ANGELES — Serena Williams told USA Today she's "at the end of (her) rope" after several physical setbacks that have kept her off the court since July.
"It's just been a tough year," Williams, 29, said in an interview published Wednesday. Shortly after winning her fourth Wimbledon title in July, Williams cut her foot on broken glass at a restaurant, leading to a pair of surgeries.
"I definitely have not been happy," she said. "Especially when I had that second surgery, I was definitely depressed. I cried all the time. I was miserable to be around."
Last month she suffered a pulmonary embolism and was hospitalized to remove a grapefruit-sized bruise from her stomach.
She has not set a timetable for her return but said it could come this summer.
BNP Paribas Open: Juan Martin del Potro beat Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (9-7) in the fourth round at Indian Wells, Calif. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer played later matches.
soccer
Man U manager gets 5-game ban
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was suspended for five matches by England's Football Association for criticizing an official after a Premier League match.
Ferguson said of Martin Atkinson's performance in United's 2-1 loss to Chelsea on March 1 that his league-leading team didn't get a "fair or strong referee." Ferguson appealed his suspension. The Football Association said an independent commission "found the charge of improper conduct relating to media comments proven."
Ferguson, also fined $48,000, earned a three-game ban, and two matches were added because of a previous suspended sentence. The suspension starts Tuesday.
European Champions League: Real Madrid reached the quarterfinals for the first time in seven years by sweeping aside Lyon, and Chelsea relied on its first-leg goals to oust FC Copenhagen.
alpine skiing
Vonn takes over World Cup lead
Lindsey Vonn took the lead from Maria Riesch in their duel for the overall World Cup title, finishing fourth behind winner and fellow American Julia Mancuso in the final downhill of the season at Lenzerheide, Switzerland.
Vonn earned 50 points for her lowest downhill finish this season, and Riesch failed to score after placing 17th. Vonn took a 27-point lead with three races left this week. Vonn is going for her fourth straight overall title.
men: Didier Cuche of Switzerland won his fourth World Cup downhill title, scoring enough points by finishing fourth at Lenzerheide, Switzerland, to overtake Austria's Michael Walchhofer, who placed 11th in his final downhill before retiring. Only Austria's Franz Klammer has won more titles in the discipline, five from 1975-83.
et cetera
cycling: The Leopard Trek team denounced a Belgian newspaper report that time-trial world champion Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland is using a revolutionary ball-bearing system that gives him a substantial advantage.
drugs: The criminal underworld controls "a significant proportion" of sports, including the distribution of doping substances and attempted bribery of drug-testing labs, World Anti-Doping Agency director general David Howman told the World Sports Law Report's antidoping conference outside London.
Times wires