Dinara Safina, Svetlana Kuznetsova renew rivalry Saturday in French Open final

PARIS — The all-Russian women’s final at the French Open renews a rivalry dating back a decade, and Svetlana Kuznetsova hopes to fare better than the first time she faced Dinara Safina.

Islanders on the clock: Tavares, Hedman, Duchene wait to see who will go No. 1 in NHL draft

PITTSBURGH — Unlike this year’s NHL top draft prospects, Nicklas Lidstrom’s road to the Stanley Cup finals didn’t start at the Stanley Cup finals.

‘Hockey India’ formed to avoid FIH debarring India from international arena

NEW DELHI - Indian Olympic Association (IOA) formally endorsed the formation of Hockey India, a unified body comprising of men’s and women’s hockey associations at the national level.

Ichiro Suzuki extends hitting streak to 27 as Mariners edge Orioles 3-2

SEATTLE — Franklin Gutierrez tripled with one out in the bottom of the ninth before Adrian Beltre singled him home, sending the Seattle Mariners to a 3-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night.

Beltre homers then delivers winning single in Mariners’ 3-2 win over Orioles

SEATTLE — Franklin Gutierrez tripled with one out in the bottom of the ninth before Adrian Beltre singled him home, sending the Seattle Mariners to a 3-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night.

Play and not fight, Gill tells India and Pakistan cricket teams

NEW DELHI - Union Sports Minister MS Gill on Wednesday said that it is good that India and Pakistan are clashing on a cricket ground today, which is better than fighting ith guns and bullets

Spain finishes year at No. 1, while US has best spot in 2 years at No. 14 in FIFA rankings

ZURICH — European champion Spain completed a year atop FIFA’s world rankings, while the United States moved into its best position in two years at No. 14 in the latest monthly standings published Wednesday.

Buoyed by big series, commissioner sees NHL on a little run: ‘We think we’re doing OK’

No word yet about what NHL commissioner Gary Bettman wished for on his 57th birthday, but the guess here is that it wasn’t world peace.

India to meet Pakistan in Twenty20 warm up match today

OVAL - The Defending Champion India will take on Pakistan in the second warm up match of the Twenty20 world cup tournament here on Wednesday, which will be the first encounter between the two teams since Mumbai terror attacks of last November.

NHL GMs still not interested in adding rules to ban hits to head or staged fights

PITTSBURGH — NHL general managers still have little interest in outlawing otherwise legal hits that result in contact to an opponent’s head.

The Nicklaus Way at Memorial: Tournament golf that can be entertaining

DUBLIN, Ohio — The morning calm at Muirfield Village was shattered by a sound that was sure to be sweet music to players.

Memphis finds no proof former player cheated after investigation into NCAA allegations

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis was unable to find proof a former player cheated on his SAT exam in its internal investigation of NCAA allegations against the men’s basketball team.

Heads spinning? In wake of Nadal’s loss, Roger Federer leads scramble for French Open title

PARIS — Roger Federer said he won’t feel much impact from Rafael Nadal’s loss at the French Open until Sunday — if then.

Still Hurting: Cavs GM Danny Ferry, coach Mike Brown reflect on coming up short of NBA title

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Summer’s offseason arrived sooner than Cleveland general manager Danny Ferry had hoped, but it’s here.

Gazza hits it off with Emma Kate Dawson after toon fan revelation

LONDON - Retired English footballer Paul John Gascoigne a.k.a. Gazza is said to have hit it off with his Geordie girlfriend Emma Kate Dawson, after he discovered that she too was a massive Magpie fan.

I am not an Ashes traitor: Buchanan

SYDNEY - Former Australian coach John Buchanan last night denied suggestions he had sold out Australian cricket by meeting English officials last week.

‘I am not an Ashes traitor,’ says Buchanan

MELBOURNE - Former coach John Buchanan has denied suggestions that he had sold out Australian cricket by meeting with English officials last week.

Retired NFL players lash out at union seeking support during upcoming talks with league

LAS VEGAS — Retired football players angry with the NFL Players Association over disability and pension benefits said Sunday that the executive director of the union may be ahead of himself in seeking their support during upcoming contract talks with the league.

US ends training for WCup qualifiers, awaits arrival of members before heading to Costa Rica

MIAMI — The U.S. soccer team concluded five days of training on Sunday and was looking forward to the arrival of members who couldn’t participate in preparations for the team’s World Cup qualifying matches this week.

Stanley Cup flashback: Red Wings beat Penguins 3-1 in Game 1 of championship rematch

DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings gave Marc-Andre Fleury flashbacks. And, they weren’t good. Johan Franzen scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period and Chris Osgood made 31 saves, helping the defending champions beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 Saturday night in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals.

Stanley Cup flashback: Red Wings beat Penguins 3-1 in Game 1 of championship rematch

DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings gave Marc-Andre Fleury flashbacks. And, they weren’t good. Johan Franzen scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period and Chris Osgood made 31 saves, helping the defending champions beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 Saturday night in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals.

Stanley Cup flashback: Red Wings beat Penguins 3-1 in Game 1 of championship rematch

DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings gave Marc-Andre Fleury flashbacks.

Making his way on clay, Roddick reaches French Open’s 4th round for 1st time; Djokovic upset

PARIS — Rust-colored flecks of clay dotted Andy Roddick’s white attire, from the brim of his baseball cap, down the back of his shirt, to his ankle braces.

Washington’s bid for NCAA softball championship gets boost from late addition of Olympian

OKLAHOMA CITY — Danielle Lawrie’s first run at the Women’s College World Series title came up short. She’s hoping a little help from a fellow Olympian will change that this time around.

Andy Roddick, Serena Williams win at French Open; Novak Djokovic upset in 3rd round

PARIS — Novak Djokovic became the first big-name player to be eliminated from the men’s tournament at the French Open, while Andy Roddick and Serena Williams managed to stick around.

Suresh Kalmadi says India is ahead in countdown for Commonwealth Games

NEW DELHI - Chairman of the organising Committee of Commonwealth Games, Suresh Kalmadi has said that India is ahead of the deadline in the completion of the all facilities to host the Commonwealth Games at New Delhi in 2010.

Formula 1 teams meet entry deadline for 2010 championship

GENEVA — All 10 Formula One teams met Friday’s deadline to enter cars for the 2010 season, ending a threatened pullout by Ferrari and others in a dispute over a planned budget cap.

Now, a ‘Mongoose’ bat that could revolutionise the way cricket is played

LONDON - Former Australian batsman Stuart Law has become the first player to use the new Mongoose blade in a cricket competition.

South Africa promises effective transport system for Confederations Cup

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa will have an effective transportation system in place for next month’s FIFA Confederations Cup, said transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele.

Gazza dating glamour model half his age

LONDON - Geordie footie legend Paul Gascoigne a.k.a. Gazza is dating a 21-year-old blonde glamour model half his age.

Cricket World Cup 2011 to cost around 40-50 million dollars

MUMBAI - The Cricket World Cup to be staged in 2011 in the Indian sub-continent will cost around 40 to 50 million US dollars.

Sania makes a shocking first round exit from French Open

PARIS - Sania Mirza crashed out of French Open first round, losing 4-6, 6-7(3) to Kazakhstan’s Galina Voskoboeva at Roland Garros here Tuesday.

Munich set to land Gomez and Neuer

HAMBURG - Bayern Munich will make use of a special clause to sign VfB Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez for a Bundesliga record 30 million euros ($42 million ), the Bild daily reported Tuesday.

Zuma elated at IPL success in South Africa (Lead)

JOHANNESBURG - Five weeks ago, at the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Jacob Zuma was helping the African National Congress (ANC) he heads to prepare for national elections. On Sunday night, as South Africa’s president, he was profusely thanking all those responsible for the tournament’s billion rand boost to the country’s economy.

Glitz, glamour planned for IPL closing ceremony

PRETORIA - After five weeks of exhilarating cricket, the Indian Premier League (IPL) will draw to a close in an electrifying closing ceremony at Wanderers Cricket Stadium in Johannesburg Sunday.