Briefs

U.S. team ousted from Fed Cup

By wire services
Published July 11, 2005

MOSCOW - The United States was without two of its best players for the Fed Cup against Russia, and it showed.

The defending champion Russians completed a 4-1 semifinal victory Sunday and will play for the title Sept. 17-18 in France. Australian Open champion Serena Williams and top-ranked Lindsay Davenport were out injured for the Americans.

With Russia leading 2-0 after the first day, Wimbledon champion Venus Williams kept her team alive by downing Russian Elena Dementieva 6-1, 6-2 in reverse singles. Russia clinched its spot in the final when Anastasia Myskina beat former Florida player Jill Craybas 6-2, 6-4. In doubles, Vera Douchevina and Dinara Safina defeated Williams and Corina Morariu 6-1, 7-5.

"It was difficult to find energy after so many weeks of playing," Venus Williams said. "I definitely was not my normal self for sure. ... It's a disappointment for the whole team."

In Aix-En-Provence, France, Amelie Mauresmo beat Nuria Llagostera Vives 6-3, 6-1 to clinch France's semifinal victory over Spain. France won 3-1; the doubles match was abandoned because of rain.

SWEDISH OPEN: French Open champion Rafael Nadal captured his seventh title of the year, defeating Czech Tomas Berdych 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the final at Bastad.

HALL OF FAME CHAMPIONSHIPS: Greg Rusedski defended his title in Newport, R.I., beating Vince Spadea 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 6-4 on his seventh match point. Rusedski, also the 1993 tournament champion, improved to 15-0 on Newport's grass courts.

SWISS OPEN: Argentina's Gaston Gaudio , seeded second, defeated Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4, 6-4 in Gstaad for his fourth title this year.

Baird edged for title

Peter Gilmour of Australia and the Pizza-La team beat Ed Baird of St. Petersburg 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the Open Regatta at the Swedish Match Cup in Marstrand. Gilmour became the first repeat winner of the Swedish Match Tour series. Gilmour and Baird were tied at 102 points coming into the eighth and final stage of the tour.

Milbrett hits century mark

Tiffeny Milbrett became the sixth woman to score 100 international goals, helping the U.S. team beat Ukraine 7-0 in an exhibition in Portland, Ore. Former UF player Danielle Fotopoulos scored twice.

CONCACAF GOLD CUP: In Los Angeles, Jared Borgetti scored twice to lead Mexico to a 4-0 rout of Guatemala and Teafore Bennett scored in the 80th minute to give Jamaica a 3-3 tie with South Africa. In Miami, Cornell Glen scored in second-half injury time to help Trinidad and Tobago tie Panama at 2, and Wilmer Velasquez scored twice in four minutes to help Honduras stun Colombia 2-1.

Unbeaten shines at Calder

Lost in the Fog improved to 8-0, winning the $300,000, Grade II Carry Back Stakes at Calder Race Course by 71/4 lengths, covering 5 furlongs in a stakes record 1:091/5. In two $500,000 Grade II races at Calder, Woke Up Dreamin won the Smile Sprint Handicap and Madcap Escapade won the Princess Rooney Handicap.

COLLEGES: Longtime Wichita State baseball coach Gene Stephenson was hired as the coach at Oklahoma. ... Michigan State receiver Agim Shabaj will enter the NFL's supplemental draft after being declared academically ineligible. ... Former Kansas basketball player J.R. Giddens told ESPN.com that he is transferring to New Mexico.

NBA: Memphis signed rookie Lawrence Roberts to a two-year contract.

BMX: Britain's Jamie Bestwick won the BMX Vert, Oklahoman Kenny Bartram topped FMX and Ryan Guettler won in BMX Dirt at the Right Guard Open in Denver.

[Last modified July 11, 2005, 01:01:12]