Thursday, October 2, 2008
Serena Williams's game collapsed after she swept the first set yesterday in Stuttgart, Germany, leading to a 0-6, 6-1, 6-4 loss to China's Li Na that will cost her the No. 1 ranking.
By dropping the second-round match at the Porsche Grand Prix, Williams will be overtaken by Jelena Jankovic in Monday's new rankings, the WTA said. Williams gained the top spot when she beat Jankovic in the U.S. Open final three weeks ago.
"Obviously, I want to be number one, but I am not focusing on that. I am focusing on winning titles and that goes hand in hand" with getting No. 1, Williams said.
· CYCLING: It's just like old times for Lance Armstrong.
Hours after the French anti-doping authority challenged the seven-time Tour de France champion to agree to retest his 1999 urine samples to see whether a French newspaper was right when it reported they contained a banned substance, Armstrong rejected the notion, lashing out at the agency's leader, Pierre Bordry.
"Unfortunately, Mr. Bordry is new to these issues and his proposal is based on a fundamental failure to understand the facts," Armstrong said in a statement last night.
· PRO BASKETBALL: Guard Ben Gordon accepted the Chicago Bulls' one-year, $6.4 million tender offer just before the deadline last night. . . .
Portland Trail Blazers Coach Nate McMillan said center Greg Oden is fine after rolling his right ankle during the first day of training camp. . . .
The Golden State Warriors plan to meet with the representative for guard Monta Ellis next week to discuss any potential disciplinary action or fine because of his moped-related ankle injury.
· COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Kellen Moore threw for two touchdowns to lead No. 17 Boise State (4-0, 1-0 Western Athletic Conference) to a 38-3 victory over visiting Louisiana Tech (2-2, 0-1).
· AUTO RACING: Rusty Wallace reportedly is considering ending his three-year retirement to drive again -- possibly for Dale Earnhardt's race team.
Wallace's brother, Kenny, wrote in his SpeedTV.com blog that the 52-year-old former Cup champion is pondering a return to NASCAR's top series. Rusty Wallace retired after the 2005 season.
· BOXING: Oscar De La Hoya (39-5) said that he wants to fight at least a couple more times after taking on Manny Pacquiao (47-3-2) in a 147-pound bout on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas in what will be the biggest fight of the year.
· HIGH SCHOOLS: Oakton baseball coach Scott Rowland, 47, who led the Cougars to three Virginia AAA Northern Region titles and four state appearances, including a state crown in 2000 and runner-up finish in 2006, has stepped down after nine seasons.
-- From News Services and Staff Reports
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