■ Golf
Leonard out of British Open
Former champion Justin Leonard has pulled out of next week's British Open at Hoylake. The 34-year-old American decided to withdraw because of the imminent birth of his third child, the R&A organizers said in a statement issued on Saturday. His place in the field will be taken by Britain's Simon Khan, the next non-exempt player in the world rankings. Leonard won the British Open at Royal Troon nine years ago. The third major of the season starts on Thursday.
■ Boxing
Diaz defends WBA title
Juan Diaz successfully defended his WBA lightweight title on Saturday, methodically stopping Randy Suico of the Philippines in the ninth round. Diaz (30-0, 15 KOs), making his fifth title defense on the undercard of Shane Mosley's rematch with Fernando Vargas, moved adeptly and distributed patient punishment in just his third fight since January last year. The Texas native had a nine-month layoff caused by injuries and business problems before his unanimous victory over Jose Miguel Cotto in April. Referee Joe Cortez stopped the fight after the last of the "Baby Bull's" countless combinations to Suico's head. "Suico was very tough," Diaz said. "He came to take my title, and he was very strong. He came out punching from the opening bell."
■ Basketball
Bryant likely to miss worlds
Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers had minor surgery on his right knee on Saturday and is unlikely to be available for the US team at next month's World Basketball Championship, USA Basketball confirmed on Saturday. Bryant is still expected to attend part of the American team's training camp in Las Vegas and travel with the US squad to exhibitions in Asia and the world event, which will be held from Aug. 19 to Sept. 3 in Japan. USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo issued a statement on Saturday saying the recovery period Bryant faces from the surgery makes it "highly unlikely" he will be able to play in the world tournament.
■ Soccer
Deportivo take Estoyanoff
Deportivo Coruna have taken Valencia's Uruguay midfielder Fabian Estoyanoff on loan for next season, the Primera Liga club said on Saturday. "Our primary objective is get into Europe next season. I can't promise to score lots of goals but I will give the team my full commitment," Estoyanoff told a news conference. The 23-year-old, who signed a five-year contract with Valencia last year but played on loan with Cadiz last season, could make the move permanent at the end of next season. Estoyanoff has been capped 23 times by Uruguay and is the seventh recruit in coach Joaquin Caparros's restructuring of the Deportivo squad.
■ Tennis
Injury forces Davenport out
Three-time grand slam champion Lindsay Davenport on Saturday withdrew from the Bank of the West Classic with a back injury. Davenport's chronic bad back will keep her out of the event which will be held on the Stanford University campus beginning July 24. Sidelined since mid-March with a back injury, Davenport has won the US$600,000 event three times, most recently two years ago. She will be replaced in the draw by Alona Bondarenko of the Ukraine. The hardcourt tournament is one of a handful of West Coast events that the California native uses to tune-up for the US Open, which starts on Aug. 28.
■ Athletics
Chambers suffers injury blow
Dwain Chambers's hopes of capping his return from a drugs ban by making the British team for the European Championships suffered a blow on Saturday when injury forced him out of the trials. The 28-year-old Chambers picked up a quadracep injury which forced him to withdraw from the 100m final in Manchester and could jeopardize his chances of making the tournament in Gothenburg next month. In his absence Marlon Devonish won in 10.19secs ahead of Tyrone Edgar (10.23 secs) with Mark Lewis-Francis (10.28) third. Devonish and Edgar earned automatic selection for the team. The British selectors, who have the option of nominating the third 100m sprinter, will decide whether to include Lewis-Francis or hand a reprieve to Chambers.
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