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Despite bizarre injury, Federer into quarters

By JOHN C. COTEY and TIMES WIRES
Published October 6, 2006

TOKYO - Top-ranked Roger Federer injured his leg while having a nightmare in his hotel room, then recovered to advance to the Japan Open quarterfinals Thursday.

He hit the corner of his bed and had to be restrained by his girlfriend Miroslava "Mirka" Vavrinec, who is also his manager, Federer wrote on his blog for the men's professional tour. He sustained a bruised tibia.

"I must have had a nightmare. I jumped out of bed and stood up screaming in a state of shock," Federer wrote. "I did not know where I was, and I ran back and hit the corner of the bed, which is solid wood and sharp. Luckily Mirka was there. She grabbed me and told me to relax."

Federer later cruised past defending champion Wesley Moodie 6-2, 6-1. Federer established control early, breaking Moodie to go up 4-2 in the first set and serving five aces before beating the 13th-seeded South African in only 52 minutes.

PORSCHE GRAND PRIX: Top-ranked Amelie Mauresmo withdrew from the indoor tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, because of a right shoulder injury. She pulled out shortly before she was to play her first match in the second round.

BOXING

Clearwater's Thurman closes in on Olympic berth

Clearwater's Keith Thurman is a step closer to qualifying for the 2007 U.S. Olympic Trials after advancing to the semifinals of the National Police Athletic League Championships.

Thurman, who is trained by Ben Getty and fights out of the St. Pete Boxing Club, blanked Dallas' Kenneth Lane 16-0 in Oxnard, Calif.

"He looked real good, real sharp," Getty said.

It was Thurman's third victory of the tournament and came a day after he eked out a 4-3 decision over Fort Myers' Marcus Willis.

Thurman, rated No. 5 in 152-pound weight class by USA Boxing, edged Willis, ranked No. 8, and also had a first-round knockout of New York's Wes Wealms in his opening bout.

Demetrius Andrade, the top-rated 152-pounder, never showed up for the tournament, enhancing Thurman's standing as one of the favorites. "They are calling Keith the kid to beat," Getty said.

The National PAL event is the first of seven qualifiers for next year's U.S. Olympic Trials. The winner in each weight class receives an automatic berth to the trials.

Thurman fights tonight around 10:30.

- JOHN C. COTEY, Times staff writer

ET CETERA

BASKETBALL: Tests performed on Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade's right hand did not reveal the cause of pain that has nagged the reigning NBA Finals MVP for several months. Wade had an MRI exam Wednesday, which came back negative, and said he's taking medication for the problem. If that doesn't fix the issue, Wade suggested he may miss some time. "If it doesn't calm down in enough time, then I'll shut it down for a little while," Wade said. Coach Pat Riley said the problem is inflammation. ... Pacers coach Rick Carlisle signed a multiyear contract extension and added a new title as executive vice president of basketball operations. ... Allen Iverson and the 76ers were outplayed in the second half by Winterthur FC Barcelona, losing 109-104 in Barcelona, Spain, only the third time an international club has beaten an NBA team since 1988.

SOCCER: Pat Noonan is scheduled to have sports hernia surgery Monday in Germany, but might return to the New England Revolution for the MLS playoffs. He is expected to be out up to three weeks. ... Goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, 35, announced his retirement, three months after helping France reach its second World Cup final.

OBITUARY: George King, the former NBA player who coached West Virginia and Purdue and had a long run as the Boilermakers' athletic director, died. He was 78. Mr. King died in Naples, Purdue said on its athletic Web site.

GYMNASTICS: American champion Nastia Liukin injured her ankle in training and is not expected to compete in the all-around competition at the World Championships this month in Denmark.

Compiled from Times wires.

[Last modified October 6, 2006, 01:36:58]