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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Maria Sharapova ousted in Miami Open

Daria Gavrilova celebrates after upsetting Maria Sharapova. (Associated Press)
From Staff And Wire Reports

TENNIS: Maria Sharapova is 0-5 in Key Biscayne finals. This year her loss came at the start.

Seeded No. 2, Sharapova was upset in her opening match of the Miami Open by wild-card Daria Gavrilova, 7-6 (4), 6-3.

The 21-year-old Gavrilova, who was born in Moscow and is based in Australia, earned her first victory over a top-10 player with a poised, aggressive effort before a near-capacity stadium-court crowd.

Sharapova said she went into the match knowing little about Gavrilova. But Gavrilova was well acquainted with the Siberia-born Sharapova.

“I have been dreaming about beating Maria since I was probably 12, when I saw her win Wimbledon,” Gavrilova said. “She was my idol. She was just huge in Russia.”

Sharapova lost serve four times, struggled with her return and found herself in a succession of long rallies, thanks to the 5-foot-5 Gavrilova’s defensive skills.

Venus Williams began her 16th appearance at Key Biscayne by beating qualifier Urszula Radwanska 6-3, 6-2. Radwanska’s sister, Agnieszka, won, as did former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki.

Rinne leads Predators into first place

NHL: Pekka Rinne made 28 saves for his 40th win, and the Nashville Predators moved into first place in the Central Division by beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 in Tampa, Florida.

Mike Ribeiro, Paul Gaustad and Mike Santorelli scored for the Predators, who took a one-point lead over St. Louis. The Blues have played one fewer game.

Rinne had a career-best 43 wins in 2011-12.

Kings win third straight, drop Isles: Anze Kopitar scored with 4:23 left, defenseman Alec Martinez had two assists, and the Los Angeles Kings won their third straight on their road trip by beating the slumping New York Islanders 3-2 in Uniondale, New York.

Kopitar, who had a goal and five assists in his previous three games, got to a deflected puck off a drive by defenseman Andrej Sekera and fired it past Jaroslav Halak for his 16th goal.

Jonathan Quick made 25 saves in his 400th NHL game. He has won at New Jersey, the New York Rangers, and the Islanders on this trip that has two games left.

Quick has won in his 100th, 200th, 300th and 400th NHL games.

Rangers clinch playoff spot, top Sens: Chris Kreider had two goals and an assist and the New York Rangers clinched a playoff spot with a 5-1 win over the host Ottawa Senators.

Cam Talbot made 23 saves for New York, which handed Ottawa’s Andrew Hammond his first regulation-time loss.

The Rangers also ended Ottawa’s seven-game winning streak.

Ilyasova’s career-high 34 lifts Milwaukee

NBA: Ersan Ilyasova had a career-high 34 points and the Milwaukee Bucks held off the Indiana Pacers 111-107 in Milwaukee.

Khris Middleton added 17 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo had 16 for the Bucks. They have won two straight after breaking a six-game losing streak.

C.J. Miles scored 26 points, Hill added 24 and C.J. Watson had 23 for the Pacers.

49ers waive ex-Dolphin Martin

NFL: The San Francisco 49ers have waived offensive lineman Jonathan Martin.

The Niners acquired Martin last March in a deal with Miami. Martin had left the Dolphins in October 2013 after accusing teammate Richie Incognito of bullying. An NFL investigation determined Incognito and two other Dolphins offensive linemen engaged in persistent harassment of Martin.

Martin started seven games at right tackle last season in place of injured Anthony Davis. He struggled in that role and allowed 7 1/2 sacks, according to STATS.

Heyward-Bey re-signs with Steelers: The Pittsburgh Steelers have re-signed free-agent wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey to a one-year contract.

Heyward-Bey, a 2009 first-round draft pick by Oakland, has 172 career receptions for 2,413 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Shelby signs tender with Dolphins: Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Derrick Shelby signed his restricted tender offer and will make $2.4 million this year.

Shelby, who had 21 tackles and three sacks last year, provides depth in a front four upgraded with the recent signing of tackle Ndamukong Suh.

Hoffman battles wind, leads Texas Open

GOLF: Charley Hoffman took advantage of calmer afternoon conditions to take the first-round lead in the wind-swept Texas Open in San Antonio, shooting a 5-under 67.

After wind gusts threatening 40 mph pummeled the morning starters, Hoffman faced steady 15 mph wind in the afternoon at TPC San Antonio.

He had the lone bogey-free round, birdieing Nos. 2, 3, 9, 11 and 17.

Spokane native Alex Prugh had a 76. Max Homa had a 69, and Phil Mickelson and Ryan Palmer shot 70.

Mickelson, winless since the 2013 British Open, lost the clubhead off his 8-iron when it came flying off while he hit from a fairway bunker on the 12th hole.

Lee leads Kia Classic: Mirim Lee birdied all four par-5 holes and finished with a bogey-free 7-under 65 to take the first-round lead in the Kia Classic at Carlsbad, California.

Lee took the outright lead with an 8-foot putt on the par-5 fifth – her 14th hole in her afternoon round at Aviara – and hit a wedge to 3 feet to set up her final birdie on the par-5 eighth. The 24-year-old South Korean player won LPGA Tour events last year in Michigan and China.

American leads Volta a Catalunya

MISCELLANY: Tejay Van Garderen of the United States climbed steadily after breaking away from the pack and hung on to his lead to win the fourth stage of the Volta a Catalunya in La Molina, Spain by three seconds, while Bart De Clerq of Belgium took the overall lead.

On the mountainous 117-mile ride from Tona to La Molina, Van Garderen fended off an attack by Richie Porte of Australia who finished second, and Alberto Contador, who was third, eight seconds behind.

Russian leads figure skating worlds: Elizaveta Tuktamysheva landed a triple axel for the first time in an international competition and took a massive lead after the short program in the women’s event at the figure skating world championships in Shanghai.

The 18-year-old Russian is looking to win her first world championship gold after a dominant season that saw her capture seven titles in nine events, including the European Championships and Grand Prix Finals.