■ TENNIS
Daniela Hantuchova wins
Second-seeded Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia outplayed Russia's Anastasia Rodionova on Thursday to enter the quarter-finals of the WTA Tour's Sunfeast Open. Hantuchova took just 57 minutes to post a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Rodionova in the second round, setting up a quarter-final encounter with eighth-seeded Chan Yung-jan from Taiwan. Hantuchova took an early lead when she forced the first service break in the second game of the opening set. Rodionova broke back in the third game and then held service to draw 2-2 level, but that was all she could do as Hantuchova broke her again in the sixth and eighth games to claim the set.
■ SOCCER
US to play 2010 hosts
The US will make a first-ever trip to South Africa to face the next World Cup hosts in November just ahead of the preliminary draw for the 2010 soccer showdown, US Soccer announced on Thursday. The US men will play South Africa at Johannesburg on Nov. 17, eight days before the draw in Durban decides the World Cup qualifying schedule for 156 nations. South American qualifying will start in October. The match, the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup, will be staged at Ellis Park, the site for one of the semi-final matches in the 2010 World Cup.
■ TENNIS
Srebotnik advances
Fourth-seeded Katarina Srebotnik routed Meghann Shaughnessy of the US 6-2, 6-0 on Thursday, advancing to the quarter-finals of the Slovenia Open. It is the fourth quarter-final birth of the year for Srebotnik, who hasn't won a tournament since 2005. The 26-year-old Slovenian, ranked 22nd, has repeatedly said winning a tournament at home would be her "dream." Srebotnik will next face sixth-seeded Emilie Loit of France, who beat Italian qualifier Nathalie Vierin 6-3, 6-4. Srebotnik leads 3-1 in previous encounters with Loit, who won the WTA Tour tournament in Acapulco earlier this year.
■ CYCLING
Perez wins 18th stage
Luis Perez of Spain won the 18th stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Thursday ahead of Cadel Evans of Australia and Franco Pellizotti of Italy. Denis Menchov of Russia retained an overall lead of 2:27 over Evans, with Carlos Sastre third. Perez, 31, who had announced before the stage he was to retire from professional cycling at the end of this season, crossed the finish in 3 hours, 43 minutes, 45 seconds -- 41 seconds ahead of the following pack. The 154km stage began at Talavera de La Reina and included two peaks, Mijares and Navalmoral, before finishing at the medieval walled city of Avila.
■ MOTORSPORT
Pedrosa fastest in practice
Spain's Dani Pedrosa clocked the fastest lap in yesterday's free practice session for the Grand Prix of Japan. Pedrosa, riding a Honda, had the fastest lap of 1 minute, 47.865 seconds in the afternoon session at the 4.8km circuit. He timed 1:48.249 to top the morning session. World championship leader Casey Stoner of Australia had the fifth-fastest lap of 1:48.444 on a Ducati while two-time defending champion Loris Capirossi of Italy was seventh with a time of 1:48.499. France's Randy De Pruniet had the second fastest time in the afternoon session, 0.389 seconds behind Pedrosa.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and