TENNIS, NBA, HOCKEY 4D www.hpe.com THURSDAY, JULY 1, 2010 THE HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE
Federer upset in Wimbledon quarterfinals WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — For the first time in eight years, Roger Federer won’t be striding onto Centre Court for the Wimbledon final. The six-time champion was upset in the quarterfinals by big-hitting Tomas Berdych on Wednesday, stopping his bid for a record-tying seventh title at the All England Club and extending his recent stretch of disappointing play. The 12th-seeded Berdych used his big serve and forehand to beat Federer 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, on Centre Court for the biggest victory of the Czech’s career. Berdych will meet No. 3 Novak Djokovic for a spot in the final, with No. 2 Rafael Nadal facing No. 4 Andy Murray in the other semifinal. It’s the first time since 2002 that Federer has failed to reach the final. Since losing in the first round eight years ago, Federer had played in the championship match a record seven consecutive times. He won the title six times and finished runner-up once, bolstering his reputation as the greatest player of all-time. Winner of a record 16 Grand Slam titles, Federer said he was unable to play his best tennis Wednesday because of pain in his back and right leg. “I couldn’t play the way I wanted to play,” said
Federer, who had been chasing the record of seven titles won by Pete Sampras and 19th-century player William Renshaw. “I am struggling with a little bit of a back and a leg issue. That just doesn’t quite allow me to play the way I would like to play. It’s frustrating, to say the least.” Berdych said he didn’t notice anything wrong with Federer. “I don’t know if he is just looking for some excuses after the match or something like that,” he said. “I think he was 100 percent ready.” Berdych ripped a clean forehand winner on his second match point to become the first Czech to reach the men’s semifinals since Ivan Lendl in 1990. “Not many other moments can compare to this one,” Berdych said. Berdych will next face Djokovic, who swept past Yen-hsun Lu in straight sets to reach the semifinals for the second time. The third-seeded Djokovic never faced a break point as he beat the 82ndranked Taiwanese player 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in less than two hours on Court 1. Nadal, who beat Federer in the 2008 final, lost the first five games of the match but rallied to defeat No. 6 Robin Soderling 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-1. It was a rematch of this year’s French Open final, which the Spaniard also won.
AP
Roger Federer waves farewell to the Centre Court crowd as he leaves following his quarterfinal loss to Tomas Berdych at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon on Wednesday.
Williams sisters fall in doubles WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — The bid by Venus and Serena Williams for a fifth consecutive Grand Slam title in doubles ended Wednesday with a loss in the Wimbledon quarterfinals. The sisters were beaten 3-6, 63, 6-4 by Russians Elena Vesnina and Vera Zvonareva. The Williamses climbed to No. 1 in doubles for the first time after
Free agents could shift NBA landscape NEW YORK (AP) — This summer’s biggest show in sports, kicking off at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, comes from a league that won’t play for months. It’s called “LeBron James: Free Agent.” The two-time MVP known more aptly than ever as the King is one of the most sought-after players to hit the market in the NBA — or any sport. Teams have spent years jockeying to get themselves in position for this moment — slashing their payrolls and even enlisting high-profile sympathizers ranging from a music superstar to a singing governor. James, who has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers since turning pro directly out of high school seven years ago, is the biggest prize in perhaps the NBA’s deepest free agency class ever, a crop of star players who could change the course of basketball with their decisions. “I think the landscape could really shift,” former Phoenix general manager Steve Kerr said. Dwyane Wade and
Chris Bosh, James’ classmates from the 2003 draft — and future teammates in Miami if they choose — are among this year’s free agents. So are perennial All-Stars such as Dirk Nowitzki, Amare Stoudemire and Joe Johnson. “We’ve never had anything like this in my time that I can remember,” New Jersey Nets president Rod Thorn said. “There have been big-time free agents before, but never this many teams that are trying to woo them. So it’s unprecedented.” So is the hype. Talk of James’ destination seems to change by the minute, considered a lock for Chicago in one report, then seemingly guaranteed to head to Miami in another. The rumor mill spun so out of control that an online sports book simply stopped taking action on James’ next team. Bottom line: James can get perhaps $125 million over six years by staying in Cleveland; $96 million over five years if he goes. (The exact figures can’t be determined until next
season’s salary cap is set in July). But leaving could put him in a better position to win a championship. Thorn is headed to Ohio, where James will welcome suitors to his home state Thursday. He’ll be joined by new Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov, coach Avery Johnson and hip-hop superstar Jay-Z, a partowner and James’ longtime friend. Then it’s back home for Prokorov and Johnson, minus Jay-Z, to make pitches the next day in New York to Wade and Bosh. The Knicks plan to drop in on James, too. They can afford to pay him and another player the NBA maximum next season, which might be what the Knicks need to finally get going again after a franchise-record nine straight losing seasons. “We’ve had to live through some tough times in order to get where you think you start rebuilding the franchise,” team president Donnie Walsh said. “We have that opportunity
winning the French Open. They were bidding for their 13th major championship. Serena, who will play in the semifinals of singles Thursday, wore a bandage on her right shoulder. Zvonareva is in the semifinals of singles for the first time, and they could meet in the final. The match turned when Venus
CELTICS KEEP RIVERS
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BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers will return for another season, staying with the team he led to the NBA finals twice in three years for a run at another championship. “Doc is a fantastic coach and leader and I am thrilled he is coming back for the upcoming season,” Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca said Wednesday in an e-mail to The Associated Press. Rivers’ decision was first reported in the Boston Herald. Four hours later, the Celtics released a statement confirming Rivers would return. now. How well, how fast we can rebuild the team can be shortcut by getting great players.” They’ll have plenty of competition. The Heat, Nets, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers also can afford to offer a player about $16.6 million next season, which is the maximum someone with James’ amount of NBA experience can make. Chicago and New Jersey made trades in recent days to push them closer to joining the Knicks with enough to offer two max deals, and the Heat can keep Wade, give an additional max contract and have enough left over for another quality player.
double-faulted on break point in the second set, giving the Russians a 4-2 lead. Serena lost serve in the third game of the final set, and the sisters didn’t manage a break in the last two sets. The defeat was only the fifth in 60 matches for the Williamses over the past three years. They fell to 29-2 at Wimbledon.
Chandler staying; Felton might leave Bobcats CHARLOTTE (AP) –Tyson Chandler is staying in Charlotte — for now. Tyrus Thomas is likely back — at least for one more season. Raymond Felton, though, may have played his final game with the Bobcats, which could lead to a flurry of activity to shore up the backcourt. While not a factor in the LeBron James, Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh sweepstakes, the Michael Jordan-owned Bobcats face some intrigue of their own as free agency begins Thursday. The first question was solved Wednesday morning, when agent Jeff Schwartz told the Bobcats their center Chandler wouldn’t opt out of the final year of his deal and become an unrestricted free agent. Chandler had been hoping to get a contract extension, but the Bobcats declined. With uncertainty surrounding the terms of the next labor agreement, Chandler and his representatives considered forfeiting $12.7 million due next season and search for a longterm deal elsewhere. But the 7-foot-1 Chandler, who was held to 50 games last season and 45 the year before in New
Orleans because of foot and ankle injuries, didn’t have bargaining power. While it means the Bobcats keep their depth at center, they’re also strapped for salary-cap space with Chandler’s contract. After giving Thomas a one-year, $6.2 million qualifying offer to make him a restricted free agent, the Bobcats have nearly $67 million committed to 11 players for next season. That includes an extra $1 million for bonuses Gerald Wallace received for making the All-Star team ($500,000) and all-defensive team ($500.000) that will count toward next season’s cap. With the luxury tax projected to kick in around $68-69 million — and with Jordan stating publicly he won’t exceed it — Felton’s future in Charlotte looks bleak. His uneven career — and major struggles in the playoffs — don’t help him, either. Felton averaged 12.1 points and 5.6 assists while shooting a careerbest 46 percent from the field last season. But he was then thoroughly outplayed by Orlando’s Jameer Nelson in Charlotte’s first-round playoff sweep.
Brind’Amour retires, moves to ’Canes front office RALEIGH (AP) — Rod Brind’Amour is retiring after 21 NHL seasons to take an unspecified frontoffice job with the Carolina Hurricanes. The team’s former captain said Wednesday that his decision was made simpler after he talked with general manager Jim Rutherford and they decided the aging veteran wouldn’t fit with the Hurricanes’ rebuilding plan. Trying to find a roster spot on another team
“never, ever felt right,” he said, and Rutherford asked him to remain with the organization in some ‘Amour capacity. “The only question would be how much do I want to play” for another team, Brind’Amour said. “When I knew for sure the direction the team was going and I wasn’t going to be a part of it
as a player, and (Rutherford) said, ’We want you to come on and do whatever — we’ll figure that out. Just be a part of our organization.’ “I said, ’I’m done. It’s over,”’ he added. “I don’t want to go play anymore, and certainly don’t want to play anywhere else.” Brind’Amour would have made $3 million in 2010-11, the final year of his contract. The Hurricanes had the option to buy out his contract
for $2 million, and Rutherford said they will pay him $1 million this year and $1 million next year, in addition to the salary for his new job. The GM said Brind’Amour is getting married in a few weeks, and after he returns from his honeymoon, the two will sit down to figure out what his new responsibilities will be. “This is not just a gift to him at this point in his career,” Rutherford said.
“I feel very strongly that Rod’s got a lot to offer the Hurricanes, as he’s already done.” The decision wasn’t entirely unexpected. The captain of Carolina’s 2006 Stanley Cup championship team, Brind’Amour turns 40 in August. Nearly three months ago, he wrapped up his worst statistical season in which he yielded his captaincy to Eric Staal and slipped to the team’s fourth line. The Hurricanes’ lead-
ing scorer since the franchise moved from Hartford in 1997, Brind’Amour had just nine goals and 10 assists last season. He finished his career with 452 goals and 732 assists in 1,484 regular-season games over 21 years with St. Louis, Philadelphia and Carolina. Additionally, he had 51 goals and 60 assists in 159 career playoff games, and scored 12 goals during the Hurricanes’ run to their only Cup.