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Sports Briefs: Spain battles Argentina to Davis Cup tie
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Published: November 22, 2008
Feliciano Lopez upset Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), 6-3, allowing Spain to escape the first day of the Davis Cup final tied 1-1 tie with Argentina yesterday in Mar Del Plata, Arentina.
David Nalbandian brushed aside David Ferrer 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in the opening singles, and del Potro was expected to comfortably handle Lopez on his favored hard court.
But Lopez took the two tiebreakers, and del Potro injured his right thigh in the sixth game of the fourth set. After treatment, he lost his serve and Lopez cruised to victory in 3 hours, 19 minutes, hushing the boisterous crowd of about 10,000 at Islas Malvinas Stadium.
Del Potro's injury and his defeat suddenly made today's doubles even more crucial for Argentina, a heavy favorite to win its first Davis Cup, and unbeaten at home for 10 years. Spain is looking to add to its home victories in 2000 and 2004.
Golf
■ Annika Sorenstam's storied LPGA Tour career is over.
Sorenstam shot a 3-over par 75 at the ADT Championship yesterday in West Palm Beach, Fla., leaving her 5 over through two rounds of the LPGA's season-ending event. Only 16 players advanced to the third round in the 32-woman event, and Sorenstam finished two shots out of that mix.
She announced six months ago she was leaving the tour at year's end to pursue business interests, get married and start a family. Sorenstam, 38, is still is No. 2 in the world rankings.
■ The Wyndham Championship will be part of the inaugural Kodak Challenge that tees off on the PGA Tour in January. Hole No. 15 at Sedgefield Country Club has been selected as a Kodak Challenge hole.
A player's lowest score relative to par on 18 of the Kodak Challenge holes will be counted. In the case of a tie, a sudden death playoff on the final hole will take place after conclusion of the last tournament of the Kodak Challenge, the Children's Miracle Network Classic.
Baseball
■ A key legal obstacle was removed yesterday for a new downtown Florida Marlins stadium, and the team will now determine whether the ballpark can open for the 2011 season.
Marlins president David Samson said the months of delay caused by a lawsuit challenging the ballpark's financing package might push the completion date to 2012.
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Jeri Beth Cohen issued formal, final orders ending a lawsuit filed by auto dealer Norman Braman against the proposal for several huge projects, including a 37,000-seat, retractable-roof stadium. Estimated to cost $515 million, the ballpark is to rise on the site of the now-demolished Orange Bowl.
■ Disorderly conduct charges against Roger Clemens' son and another minor league teammate have been dropped nearly three months after a restaurant disturbance.
Salem (Va.) Attorney Thomas E. Bowers said in a news release yesterday that he dropped the charges against Koby Clemens and Mark Ori.
An assault and battery charge against a third player, Jimmy Goethals, is set for a court hearing Dec. 2.
A spokesman for Bowers said the prosecutor agreed to drop the case against Clemens and Ori after their attorneys said they would perform community service. The two athletes spoke to four student groups Thursday in the Salem area about alcohol, drugs and peer pressure.
■ Experts presented recommendations to baseball yesterday that they hope will decrease the frequency of broken bats in major league games.
The recommendations will be reviewed by Major League Baseball's safety and health advisory committee, which includes players' union officials.
"We'll be announcing something soon," baseball spokesman Pat Courtney said.
MLB collected more than 1,700 broken bats over 21/2 months this year and met with manufacturers to discuss quality control after commissioner Bud Selig expressed concern over the increase in broken bats among maple models. Selig can't ban maple bats unilaterally because their use is subject to collective bargaining.
Olympics
■ Chicago presented its 2016 Olympics bid to a key international audience yesterday with a powerful endorsement from its highest-profile supporter in America: President-elect Barack Obama.
Obama made a personal appeal for the Olympics to come to his home city in a taped video message played to the general assembly of European Olympic Committees.
"The United States would be honored to have the opportunity to host the games and serve the Olympic movement," said Obama. "As president-elect, I see the Olympics and Paralympic Games as an opportunity for our nation to reach out, welcome the world to our shores and strengthen our friendships across the globe."
Obama, who lives a few blocks from Chicago's proposed 2016 Olympic stadium, offers a potential major boost for the city's chances of taking the Summer Games back to the United States for the first time since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Chicago is competing against Madrid, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro, which also made presentations yesterday to the European body. The International Olympic Committee will vote on the host city Oct. 2 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
"I deeply believe in the Olympic mission and have long supported hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in my home city of Chicago," Obama said in the 90-minute spot. "Over the past two years, I have spoken often about my belief that while we may come from different places and backgrounds, there are certain shared values that unite us, values at the heart of the Olympic movement: friendship, excellence and mutual respect."
Obama went out of his way to appeal to the international audience, which included up to two dozen voting IOC members.
"In the coming years, my administration will bring a fresh perspective on America's role and responsibilities around the world," Obama said. "But if we are to truly meet our shared challenges, we must all work together.
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