IN BRIEF (Page 7)

Updated: 2012-02-12 07:58

(China Daily)

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Tennis

Australia finishes sweep of China

Lleyton Hewitt and Chris Guccione gave Australia a winning 3-0 lead in its Davis Cup Asia-Oceania qualifier against China, beating Zhang Ze and Li Zhe 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 in Saturday's doubles.

The match started an hour late due to rain on the grass courts.

On Friday in singles, Hewitt beat Chinese No 1 Zhang 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 (4) and Bernard Tomic put Australia up 2-0 by beating Wu Di 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Federer loses, giving US a lead

First, Mardy Fish put together a compelling rally to get the United States off to a fast start. Then John Isner bashed his way to a big upset.

Now Roger Federer and company are on the ropes on their home turf.

Isner jolted Federer with his big serve and booming groundstrokes on Friday, winning 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-2 to give the US a 2-0 lead against Switzerland in the first round of the Davis Cup.

Suez knocks out Sharapova

Top-seeded Maria Sharapova was ousted from the quarterfinals of Open GDF Suez in Paris, beaten by Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-4, 6-4.

Kerber, a US Open semifinalist, will next play Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium, who defeated Mona Barthel of Germany 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-3.

Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic also advanced, rallying past sixth-seeded Julia Goerges of Germany 3-6, 7-5, 6-1. Zakopalova will face second-seeded Marion Bartoli of France, who downed Roberta Vinci of Italy 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2).

Golf

Wi takes lead as Tiger lags

On a day when sunshine gave way to a light rain, two things stayed the same at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am: Charlie Wi was still atop the leaderboard, and Tiger Woods didn't hole enough putts to make up ground.

Wi escaped most of the rain at Pebble Beach, where he holed a wedge from the 13th fairway for eagle and limited the damage to a bogey on his final hole for a 3-under 69 that allowed him to open a three-shot lead in the three-course event.

Woods, meanwhile, again looked poised to make a move over at Monterey Peninsula. He missed a 5-foot birdie putt on No 9 and failed to make birdie on the par-5 10th when he pulled his second shot into the gallery. He had to settle for a 2-under 68, leaving him six behind.

Soccer

Redknapp on job: 'I'd consider it'

Enduring a five-year police investigation and two-week trial before cleared of tax fraud has prepared Harry Redknapp for the "aggravation" he knows would face as England coach.

With the European Championship only four months away, the Tottenham manager is the leading contender to replace Fabio Capello as head of the national team.

"If the opportunity comes, and I get asked, I'll have to consider it," Redknapp said Friday. "I'd be very surprised if I didn't finish the season with Tottenham, that's for sure."

Baseball

Orioles apologize to South Korea

The Baltimore Orioles have apologized to two South Korean baseball organizations upset with the club over its contract with a local high school pitcher.

The Korea Baseball Association said Friday that the Orioles violated local rules that bar the signing of student players until their graduation year. KBA officials said the Orioles signed 17-year-old left-hander Kim Seong-min last month.

Winter sports

Feuz wins on Sochi course

Emerging Swiss standout Beat Feuz celebrated his 25th birthday by winning the inaugural World Cup downhill Saturday on the course for the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Associated Press

(China Daily 02/12/2012 page7)