Williams sisters advance; Murray upset
Williams sisters advance; Murray upset
MASON, Ohio — Serena and Venus Williams moved into the quarterfinals of the Western & Southern Open by handling the afternoon heat, humidity and wind. The conditions were too much for Andy Murray.
Murray’s off-day turned into the biggest upset of the tournament, a straight-sets loss Thursday that left him with hardly any hard-court time heading into the U.S. Open.
Murray lost 6-4, 6-4 to France’s Jeremy Chardy, an opponent he’d beaten easily the four previous times they’d played. Murray had trouble controlling his shots on a breezy, 85-degree afternoon.
Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Mardy Fish and Juan Martin del Potro also reached the quarterfinals Thursday.
On the women’s side, Serena Williams won her 19th straight match — her last 12 in straight sets — by beating Urszula Radwanska of Poland 6-4, 6-3. Williams hasn’t lost a set since the Wimbledon final, which she won.
Venus Williams beat Sara Errani 6-3, 6-0, a quick match after two long ones the last two days.
Federer beat Bernard Tomic 6-2, 6-4 on Thursday and has looked sharp in his two hard-court matches. Federer skipped the Rogers Cup last week.
Djokovic was on the court for only 30 minutes in the evening. Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko quit after losing the first set 6-0, bothered by a sore right shoulder. He called the trainer over at the break, then decided not to continue.
NFL referees lockout drags on
NEW YORK — Less than three weeks before the season kicks off, the NFL and the NFL Referees Association are no closer to an agreement to end the lockout of the officials.
As replacement officials work preseason games — and generally get criticized for their performances — the league and officials Thursday disputed such issues as full-time employees and adding officiating crews.
On Sept. 5, the Cowboys visit the Giants to open the season. Not since 2001 has the NFL played games that count in the standings with replacement officials, and that was for one week. This lockout began June 3.
The NFL is offering to add three full officiating crews, increasing the total number of officials to 140. League spokesman Greg Aiello said “this would reduce stress on the officials by allowing each official to work fewer games, would reduce travel, would allow us to do more intensive training, integrate younger officials more effectively, increase diversity, and improve quality of officiating.”
“The union flatly opposes this proposal …” Aiello added.
But the NFLRA insists the compensation being offered with such an increase would reduce their pay.
Michael Phelps again graces Wheaties boxes
NEW YORK — With another six Olympic medals around his neck, swimmer Michael Phelps is once again touting the breakfast of champions.
General Mills Inc. on Thursday unveiled limited-edition boxes of its Wheaties cereal featuring Phelps, who has won a record 22 Olympic medals. Phelps was last featured on the box after the 2004 Olympics.
After the 2008 Olympics, Phelps had jumped ship to rival Kellogg Co. to grace the boxes of Corn Flakes and Frosted Flakes.
General Mills didn’t disclose the terms of its latest deal with Phelps. The company also unveiled Wheaties boxes featuring volleyball player Misty May-Treanor, who won a gold medal in beach volleyball in London.
The limited-edition boxes will be available nationally starting next month.
NHL negotiations hit a critical fork in road
TORONTO — The first truly tense moments of the NHL’s collective bargaining negotiations have arrived.
With NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Players’ Association head Donald Fehr not scheduled to sit across from one another until the middle of next week and the sides unable to even agree on the core issues that need to be addressed, a sense of uneasiness has suddenly enveloped the talks.
After Wednesday’s session, in which the NHL dismissed the union’s initial proposal, Fehr set off for pre-scheduled player meetings in Chicago. The union boss will also oversee a session with players in Kelowna, British Columbia, before returning to Toronto to rese CBA discussions Aug. 22.
At that point, the league and the NHL Players’ Association will have just 24 days left to reach a new agreement and avoid a lockout. The current CBA runs out on Sept. 15. The regular season is slated to begin Oct. 11.
Orioles INF Betemit placed on 15-day DL
BALTIMORE — Infielder Wilson Betemit has been placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Baltimore Orioles with a wrist injury.
Betemit has torn cartilage in his right wrist, and an MRI also revealed “a pretty significant bone bruise,” according to Orioles manager Buck Showalter.
The move, announced Thursday, is retroactive to Aug. 12. Showalter expects Betemit to return Aug. 27, when he’s eligible to leave the DL.
Betemit is batting .264 with 12 homers and 37 RBIs in 97 games with Baltimore. He’s played first base, third base and left field.
The Orioles recalled 25-year-old first baseman Joe Mahoney from Triple-A Norfolk to fill out the roster. Mahoney made his major league debut July 7 against the Angels, going 0-for-3 before being optioned to Norfolk two days later.
Rockies activate OF Cuddyer from 15-day DL
DENVER — The Colorado Rockies activated Michael Cuddyer from the 15-day disabled list and have him in the lineup at first base against the Miami Marlins.
Cuddyer, who missed 11 games because of a strained right oblique, is hitting .260 with 15 home runs and 56 RBIs in 98 games in his first season with the Rockies.
Cuddyer was 6-for-9 with one homer and three RBIs in two rehab starts for Triple-A Colorado Springs this week.
To make room for Cuddyer on the active roster the Rockies optioned infielder-outfielder Matt McBride to Colorado Springs on Thursday.
From wire sources