HOOPS: Fredette to stay at BYU
In Provo Utah, BYU guard Jimmer Fredette said he’s coming back for his senior season.
Fredette said yesterday that he’s withdrawing his name from the NBA draft pool so he can keep his college eligibility. He had pre-draft workouts with the Knicks and Nets.
Fredette declared early for the draft in April, but did not hire an agent. An honorable mention AP All-American, Fredette averaged 22 points while leading the Cougars to a school-record 30 wins as a junior. Penn State guard Talor Battle and Florida forward Alex Tyus also withdrew their names for the draft pool.
TENNIS: Federer falls in semifinals
In Oeiras, Portugal, Roger Federer was knocked out of the Estoril Open semifinals yesterday, falling 6-2, 7-6 (5) to defending champion Albert Montanes of Spain.
The top-ranked Swiss made 19 unforced errors in the first set, mostly on his backhand. He was more consistent in the second set.
* In Rome, Jelena Jankovic lost the Italian Open final to unseeded Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, falling 7-6 (5), 7-5 to the Spaniard’s array of touch volleys and drop shots.
The seventh-ranked Serb beat hard-hitting Venus and Serena Williams in her previous two matches, but struggled against Martinez Sanchez’s clay-court shotmaking in this warmup for the French Open in two weeks.
* In Belgrade, Serbia, John Isner edged Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 7-5, 7-5 to reach the final of the Serbia Open final.
AUTO: Hamlin sweeps Darlington
In Darlington, S.C., Denny Hamlin became the first driver in 17 years to sweep Darlington Raceway, winning the Sprint Cup race last night after late mistakes took Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton out of contention.
* In Barcelona, Spain, Mark Webber claimed his second pole position of the Formula One season, leading a Red Bull 1-2 at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Webber secured Red Bull’s fifth straight start from first place on the grid with a lap time of 1 minute, 19.995 seconds at the Circuit de Catalunya. Sebastian Vettel trailed for the Austrian team’s third 1-2 start of the season. Lewis Hamilton of McLaren will start third ahead of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, and overall F1 leader Jenson Button was fifth.
ETC: Canada wins opener
In Mannheim, Germany, Canada defeated Italy 5-1 in its world hockey championship opener behind a goal and assist each from Steve Stamkos, Rene Bourque and Matt Duchene.
* In Turin, Italy, Sweden’s Fredrik Andersson Hed shot a 9-under 63 for a six-stroke lead after the third round of the Italian Open.