Sports: Hingis to play in Open

Hingis to play in Open

By Times staff writers, Times wires

Former champion Martina Hingis received a wild-card entry to the U.S. Open, which starts Aug.26.

Hingis, who missed the French Open and Wimbledon after ankle surgery, is playing this week in Montreal, her first tournament since May4.

Corina Morariu, formerly the world's top-ranked doubles player, also received a wild-card entry. She will compete in her first Grand Slam event since the 2001 Australian Open.

In May 2001, Morariu was diagnosed with leukemia and began chemotherapy. She is in remission and returned last month.

MORE TENNIS: Hingis beat Clarisa Fernandez 6-4, 6-2 in the second round of the Rogers AT&T Cup in Montreal. Jennifer Capriati won, but Kim Clijsters lost 6-4, 6-4 to Barbara Schett. ... Greg Rusedski upset top-ranked Lleyton Hewitt 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 at the RCA Championships in Indianapolis. Fifth-seeded Tim Henman withdrew with swelling in his right shoulder, allowing Martin Verkerk to reach the quarterfinals. Third-seeded Tommy Haas beat Michel Kratochvil 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. ... Defending champ Andy Roddick lost to Fernando Meligeni 6-4, 6-4 in the third round of the Legg Mason Classic in Washington. Andre Agassi reached the quarterfinals, beating Brian Vahaly 6-1, 7-6 (7-3).

OLYMPICS: The U.S. Olympic Committee's board of directors named Marty Mankamyer the next president, making her the second woman to head the committee. She had been the interim president since Sandy Baldwin resigned in May. ... France's Olympic committee questioned ice dance champions Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat about accusations their victory at Salt Lake City was fixed. The committee will deliver its findings Aug. 27 at a meeting of the IOC.

ARENA FOOTBALL: Storm receiver/linebacker Lawrence Samuels is one of 16 nominees for the man of the year award. It will be presented before Sunday's ArenaBowl. Samuels led the Storm in receptions (69) and receiving yards (771).

SWIMMING: Michael Phelps won the 400-meter individual medley at the U.S. Championships in Fort Lauderdale as both he and Erik Vendt broke the world record. Phelps finished in 4:11.09, ahead of Tom Dolan's 4:11.76 and .2 seconds ahead of Vendt.

COLLEGES: USF's Michelle Collier was named Conference USA preseason volleyball player of the year by the league's coaches. Alessandra Domingos also was named to the preseason all-conference team. ... The men's and women's awards for the top U.S. soccer player merged in the organizers' effort to create more prestige. The Hermann Trophy and Missouri Athletic Club Sports Foundation Player of the Year awards will become the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy.

BOXING: Lennox Lewis filed a lawsuit suit against his American promoter, claiming he has no obligation to Main Events. He said he fulfilled his last obligation by fighting David Tua in November 2000.

SKIING: Herman Maier cut short a training season in Chile and flew home to Austria after falling Wednesday. The former Olympic and world champion was hurt while attempting gate skiing for the first time since the car crash last year.

SOCCER: D.C. United midfielder Richie Williams was fined $1,000 by MLS for arguing with a referee. But the referee, Noel Kenny, will not be assigned any more games this season because he received his second failing grade of the season during Saturday's game. ... Los Angeles claimed forward Henry Zambrano and traded him to D.C. United. The United will forgo future considerations from the Chris Albright trade of seven months ago.

HORSES: The New York Racing Association asked the state for permission to close Belmont Park on Sept.11. The NYRA did not immediately respond.

TELEVISION: Comedian Jay Mohr confirmed ESPN canceled his show, Mohr Sports.

OBITUARY: Gary McQuay, a former Purdue basketball player, died of leukemia. He was 24. ... Jim Thompson, the executive officer of the Canadian Olympic Committee, died Wednesday of a heart attack. He was 60.

-- TIMES WIRES, FRANK PASTOR, PETE YOUNG