In brief

Kournikova keeps her options open

By wire services
Published December 11, 2005

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Anna Kournikova left open the possibility of a return to pro tennis.

The Russian, 24, who hasn't played professionally since 2003 because of back problems, said she doesn't have any plans to return to the WTA Tour any time soon but "the possibility is not completely out of the question."

Kournikova made the comments before Saturday's late exhibition match against Martina Hingis.

Hingis recently announced she is returning to the pro circuit. The Swiss player, 25, retired in 2002 after battling a series of injuries.

American Todd Hays finished third in the two-man bobsled World Cup event in Igls, Austria, to move into first in the season standings. Russia's Alexandr Zoubkov and Alexey Voevoda won in a combined time of 1:46.01, .02 and .22 faster than Switzerland and the Americans, respectively.

DOWNHILL: Michael Walchhofer led an Austrian sweep of a World Cup event in Val D'Isere, France. The defending champion finished two runs in 2:00.15, .52 and .95 ahead of Olympic champion Fritz Strobl and Hans Grugger. American Bode Miller tied for seventh but moved atop the season standings.

GIANT SLALOM: Spain's Maria Jose Rienda Contreras won the World Cup event in Aspen, Colo. After a decade without a victory, she has won three of the past four events, including the last two events of last season. She finished two runs in a combined 1:57.17, .34 faster than Sweden's Anja Paerson.

SPEED SKATING: Italy edged the United States to win the team pursuit, which will debut at February's Olympics, in a World Cup event in Turin, Italy. Stefano Donagrandi, Enrico Fabris and Ippolito Sanfratello completed eight laps in 3:49.57, 1.76 faster than Americans Chad Hedrick, KC Boutiette and Derek Parra. The Netherlands, a skating power, did not enter.

DOG SLEDDING: Four-time Iditarod champion Susan Butcher has sold or found temporary homes for most of her 90 dogs while she has treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia. She said she hopes to bring back 60 and compete "just for fun" in eight years, when her daughter is old enough.

GREYHOUNDS: Rambition beat Bob's Spider by .02 seconds in the Matinee Idol at Derby Lane in St. Petersburg.

SWIMMING: France's Laure Manaudou set a world record in the 400-meter free at the European short-course meet in Trieste, Italy. Manaudou, who set a record in the 800 free Friday, finished in 3:56.79, 2.84 better than American Lindsay Benko in January 2003 and 4.33 faster than Britain's Jeanne Jackson. Also, a day after setting a world record in the women's 200 free relay, the Netherlands set one in the women's 200 medley relay. Hinkelien Schreuder, Moniek Nuhuis, Inge Dekker and Marleen Veldhuis finished in 1:47.44, .87 faster than Sweden's 5-year-old record.

[Last modified December 11, 2005, 02:15:36]