Times wires
Saturday, February 9, 2013
TENNIS
NADAL IN TWO FINALS
VINA DEL MAR, Chile — Rafael Nadal beat Jeremy Chardy 6-2, 6-2 on Saturday, putting the Spaniard in both finals of the VTR Open after a seven-month layoff due to a left knee injury and a stomach virus.
Nadal was scheduled to play twice today, against Argentine Horacio Zeballos in the singles final and, with Juan Monaco, in the doubles final against Italian duo Paolo Lorenzi and Potito Starace. Nadal said he still has pain in his left knee but his focus is on becoming sharper.
FED CUP: Varvara Lepchenko won her singles debut to lift the United States to a 1-1 tie against host Italy in a first-round match in Rimini, after Sara Errani beat Jamie Hampton 6-2, 6-1. Lepchenko rallied past Roberta Vinci 2-6, 6-4, 7-5.
SOCCER
U.S. wins in coach's debut
Tom Sermanni won in his debut as the U.S. women's coach as Christen Press scored twice in the first half in a 4-1 defeat of Scotland in an exhibition at Jacksonville. Sermanni was hired in October.
ROWDIES: The NASL champions lost 4-0 to D.C. United of MLS at the Disney Pro Soccer Classic at Lake Buena Vista.
ET CETERA
HORSES: Tampa Bay Downs stewards are expected to conduct a hearing soon on the recent banning of Dr. Orlando Paraliticci from the Oldsmar grounds. Track management refused to discuss why it took the action against Paraliticci, a veterinarian with a clinic in Oldsmar. People can be banned from racing sites through private property rights. … Favorite Spectacular Sky held off Cheechako by a neck to win the $60,000 Manatee Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Ridden by Daniel Centeno, Spectacular Sky ($5.20) clocked 7 furlongs in 1 minute, 23.51 seconds. Appealing Stella was third. … Former Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom was second in what was expected to be his final U.S. race, the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap at Hallandale Beach, with Joel Rosario aboard. Point of Entry won the 11/8-mile race.
NFL: The Saints hired former Cowboys and Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan for the same post.
TRACK: Usain Bolt kicked off his season with a rare 400-meter run, winning a heat in 46.74 seconds in Kingston, Jamaica.
alpine skiing: Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal won the men's downhill at the world championships in Schladming, Austria.
Don Jensen, Times correspondent; Times wires
