Friday, May 18, 2007
Rafael Nadal cruised past the last man to beat him on clay, downing Igor Andreev, 6-4, 6-1, yesterday at the Hamburg Masters for his 79th straight win on the surface.
Top-ranked Roger Federer also advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Nadal is unbeaten on clay since he lost to Andreev in the quarterfinals of the Valencia Open on April 8, 2005. His streak includes 13 tournament titles.
"It was a long time ago. It doesn't matter to me," Nadal said. "What matters is that he is a very difficult player on clay, so it's good to have a win against him."
The No. 2 player in the world dominated the match, facing only two break points and saving both.
"I am happy with my game. The wind was a problem, it's difficult to play winners in such conditions," Nadal said. "But the court was a little faster than yesterday and it was better for me. I felt very comfortable on the court throughout the match." . . .
Serena Williams's clay-court game is rounding into shape ahead of the French Open.
Williams appeared frustrated at times but eventually overpowered Shahar Peer of Israel, 6-3, 6-3, to reach the quarterfinals of the Italian Open in Rome.
"I feel like everything is coming together," said Williams, seeded eighth.
She will face 14th-seeded Patty Schnyder, who beat Samantha Stosur, 6-4, 6-4.
· BASKETBALL: The Internal Revenue Service says Golden State Warriors owner Chris Cohan owes more than $160 million in back income taxes and penalties from the 1998 sale of a cable television company.
The IRS claims Cohan set up three tax shelters to avoid a hefty bill after selling cable TV company Sonic Communications to Charter Communications for more than $200 million. As a result, the government is demanding about $95 million in past due taxes and another $66 million in penalties from Cohan, federal court records show. . . .
Marcus Camby, the NBA's defensive player of the year, declined an invitation from USA Basketball Managing Director Jerry Colangelo to participate in the U.S. national team's camp in Las Vegas this summer because of a family matter.
· HOCKEY: Sabres center Dainius Zubrus is unlikely to play tomorrow when Buffalo hosts the Ottawa Senators in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Zubrus, acquired from Washington in March, has been hampered by a lower body injury.
· BOXING: Former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier has refiled a lawsuit against his daughter, days after she won a primary election for city judge in Philadelphia.
Jacquelyn Frazier-Lyde turned over some of the documents that are being sought, but hasn't fully accounted for the money she managed for her father from 1989 to 2004, Frazier's attorney said.
· COLLEGE BASKETBALL: North Carolina awarded Coach Roy Williams a four-year contract extension that will keep him with the Tar Heels through the 2014-15 season.
Williams will make up to $1.8 million each year plus incentives based on the Tar Heels' performance on the court and in the classroom.
· SOCCER: Kenny Cooper opened the scoring, and Juan Toja got the winning goal as visiting FC Dallas beat the Chicago Fire, 2-1, in an MLS game. FC Dallas is now 13-0-2 when Cooper scores. He connected in the 23rd minute on a penalty kick.
-- From News Services
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