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MIAMI BEACH - Serena Williams said a sprained left ankle might prevent her from competing for the U.S. Fed Cup team next week against Belgium.
"Hopefully I'll be able to play," she said Monday. "I have a little doubt."
The injury forced Williams to retire from her quarterfinal tennis match Friday at Amelia Island. "The ankle is okay," she said. "It hurts but not as bad as the first two days."
Williams said if she can't play April23-24 in Delray Beach, sister Venus is eager to step in.
FAMILY CIRCLE CUP: Justine Henin-Hardenne , playing in her second event this season after a knee fracture and virus kept her out for seven months, upset 10th-seeded Jelena Jankovic 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in Charleston, S.C. Henin-Hardenne blew a 4-1 lead in the first set before rallying. MONTE CARLO MASTERS: Guillermo Coria beat Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-2, 7-5 in the first round of the clay-court event. Coria served for the match at 5-4 but was broken for the third time in the second set and needed four match points to finally win. Gaston Gaudio , who beat Coria in last year's French Open final, beat Christophe Rochus 7-6 (7-3), 6-2. And former French Open champ Juan Carlos Ferrero beat Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 6-1. HOCKEYBoyle to play for Canada
Lightning defenseman Dan Boyle was selected to play for Canada in the world championships April30-May15. Canada wanted to consider three other Lightning players, but Vinny Lecavalier (knee) and Brad Richards (abdomen) are recovering from surgery, and Martin St. Louis ' wife, Heather , recently had the couple's second child after a difficult pregnancy. One roster spot remains. It's possible but unlikely St. Louis could be added.
HORSESSteinbrenner colt at top
Bellamy Road , owned by Yankees boss George Steinbrenner , is the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby after winning Saturday's Wood Memorial by 171/2 lengths. The bay colt, trained by Nick Zito , was a 3-1 favorite when betting on final pool of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed. Tampa Bay Derby winner Sun King is second at 10-1 and Consolidator third at 12-1.
SANTA ANITA DERBY: The California Horse Racing Board filed a complaint against Martin Wygod , the owner of Sweet Catomine . The horse was an even-money favorite for Saturday's race but finished fifth. Afterward, Wygod said she bled in a workout, battled a foot problem and was in heat for the first time in the days before the race. But he didn't scratch her because Santa Anita had focused its publicity campaign around her. ET CETERASOCCER: The government threatened to close stadiums after 85 police officers were hurt in a wave of fan violence across Italy. Weekend games in Rome, Palermo, Udine, Cava dei Tirreni and Perugia turned violent, with visiting fans battling police at railway stations as they were led away from stadiums. Seventeen fans were arrested and 259 later identified and charged.
OLYMPICS: Citing the risk of equine diseases and problems with quarantine regulations, Beijing organizers want to move equestrian events at the 2008 Games to Hong Kong, more than 1,240 miles from the host city. The International Equestrian Federation opposes the move, and the IOC executive board will discuss it next week. Wei Wang of the Beijing committee, said 17 equine diseases are prevalent in Beijing and other mainland Chinese cities.
TRACK: The IAAF Council proposed a no false-start rule, meaning a sprinter in the Olympics or world championships who jumps the gun would be immediately disqualified. The NCAA already uses the rule. The full congress of the sport's world governing body will vote on proposal in August. If approved, the rule would take effect Jan.1, 2006. Previously, the first false start was charged to the field and a runner was disqualified for the next.