By JAMAL THALJI, TIMES WIRES
Published May 23, 2003
Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi are to become parents for the second time.
The tennis stars are expecting the baby in mid November, Graf's management company said Thursday. Agassi and Graf married in October 2001 and their first child, Jaden Gil, was born later that month.
Agassi announced after winning the Australian Open in January he would try to persuade Graf to play mixed doubles at the French Open, which starts Monday. Graf, who won 22 Grand Slam titles including six French Opens, was cool about the idea and Agassi admitted in March he was doubtful the duo would play together in Paris. That doubt is definite now.
FRENCH OPEN: Anna Kournikova (thigh) and Richard Krajicek (elbow) withdrew.
WORLD TEAM CUP: The United States lost 2-1 to the Czech Republic in Duesseldorf, Germany, denying the Americans a spot in the final. Tampa's James Blake beat Jiri Novak 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 to give the Americans a 1-0 lead. Then Radek Stepanek downed Todd Martin 6-2, 7-5, and the Czechs won the deciding doubles when Novak and Stepanek defeated Blake and Mardy Fish 6-3, 4-6, 6-1.
RAIFFEISEN GRAND PRIX: Top-seeded Andy Roddick advanced to the semifinals in St. Poelten, Austria, defeating Richard Krajicek 7-5, 6-1. Roddick faces clay-court specialist David Sanchez, who topped Mario Ancic 6-1, 6-4.
STRASBOURG OPEN: Wesley Chapel's Ashley Harkleroad topped Emilie Loit 6-1, 6-4 in France to reach the semifinals, her second of the year. She faces two-time defending champ Silvia Farina Elia.
SPANISH OPEN: Top seed Chanda Rubin beat Paola Suarez 6-2, 6-4, advancing to the semifinals.
OLYMPICS: French criticize London
French sports minister Jean-Francois Lamour knocked London's bid for the 2012 Games, saying Paris is better suited to host. "In London, there's nothing, no sports, no sporting movement, no infrastructure whose management and operation are shared by the state, local communities and the sporting movement," Lamour told Le Parisien. "On the other hand, the Stade de France is a model of success and know-how," he said, referring to the 80,000-seat Paris stadium that would house track and field. France announced Wednesday that Paris, which lost the 2008 Games to Beijing, is bidding for 2012.
TRIATHLON: Dot Richardson, two-time gold medalist and one of the most famous Olympic softball players, plans to submit a bid for Lake County to host the U.S. Olympic trials next year. Richardson, director of the USA Triathlon National Training Center in Clermont, said a formal bid application will be filed by June 15.
SPEED SKATING: Canadian Catriona Le May Doan retired, ending a career in which she won gold at the past two Winter Olympics. The 32-year-old, who struggled last season because of a sore back, holds the 500-meter world record (37.22 seconds).
OBITUARY: Ex-SI writer/editor dies
Kenneth Samuel Rudeen, longtime writer and editor at Sports Illustrated, died Wednesday. He was 73. Born in Kansas City, Mo., Mr. Rudeen started at the Kansas City Star and Times as a delivery boy and rose to obituary editor, then general assignment reporter. He was a correspondent while attending the University of Kansas and after his graduation in 1952 served with the Army in Korea. Three months after Sports Illustrated was founded in 1954, Mr. Rudeen joined the staff and became a reporter, writer and editor. Mr. Rudeen retired in 1991 as executive editor. One of his famous covers: posing New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath in Times Square, hence Broadway Joe. As an author, Mr. Rudeen wrote The Swiftest and children's books about Muhammad Ali, Wilt Chamberlain, Roberto Clemente and Jackie Robinson. He is survived by his wife, Anne, of New Port Richey.
ET CETERA
CYCLING: Italy's Gilberto Simoni won one of the toughest stages of the Giro d'Italia, increasing his overall lead to 44 seconds. Simoni, who won in 2001, completed the 115-mile stage in 5:10:30. World champion Mario Cipollini pulled out because of bruises from a fall Wednesday.
SOCCER: Manchester United is eyeing New York/New Jersey's Tim Howard. Nick Di Benedetto, spokesman for the MetroStars, said the British club inquired about purchasing Howard's contract, but no deal is imminent. Howard, MLS goalie of the year the past two seasons, leads the league with a .49 goals-against average. He has allowed three goals and has three shutouts.
