Clijsters will face Kuznetsova
Top-seeded Kim Clijsters and Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova recorded straight set wins Saturday to advance to the final of the clay court J&S Cup in Warsaw, Poland.
Clijsters defeated Elena Dementieva 7-5, 6-4, avenging her loss to the Russian in Fed Cup play almost two weeks ago.
The ninth-ranked Dementieva broke the Belgian twice to open the match, but she was unable to take advantage.
In the other semifinal, Kuznetsova overpowered fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze 6-1, 6-1 to advance to her third straight J&S Cup final today.
•Former champions David Nalbandian and Nikolay Davydenko will play in the Estoril Open final today in Oeiras, Portugal.
Top-seeded Nalbandian beat Albert Portas 7-5, 6-1, while second-seeded Davydenko rallied to defeat Carlos Moya 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
In the women’s event, sixth-seeded Zheng Jie will play eighth-seeded Na Li in an all-Chinese final.
Men’s basketball
Lowe hired
North Carolina State hired Detroit Pistons assistant Sidney Lowe as its head coach, bringing the former Wolfpack player back to the school he led to a national championship under Jim Valvano.
The 46-year-old Lowe replaces Herb Sendek, who took a job at Arizona State. Lowe will continue working with the Pistons through the playoffs.
Soccer
Lalas, Overbeck in
Former national team stars Alexi Lalas and Carla Overbeck will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame this summer in Oneonta, N.Y.
The elections of Lalas and Overbeck, both defenders, were announced at halftime of the MLS match between the New England Revolution and the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Induction ceremonies are set for Aug. 28.
Men’s hockey
Sweden wins
Olympic champion Sweden beat Ukraine 4-2 behind Fredrik Emvall’s two goals in an opening qualification-round game at hockey’s world championships in Riga, Latvia.
In the other Group B game, Switzerland beat Italy 3-1. Russia pounded Kazakhstan 10-1 in its opening Group C game.
Belarus upset Slovakia 2-1 in Group C.
The U.S. team, which defeated Norway in its Group D opener Friday, plays Denmark today.
Baseball
Marathon affair
The Nashville Sounds and New Orleans Zephyrs tied a Pacific Coast League record for the longest game, going 24 innings over two nights before the Zephyrs won 5-4 Saturday night in Nashville, Tenn.
The game was the third 24-inning game in the league’s history and eight hours long.
Track and field
Two go 9.95
Asafa Powell matched the fastest 100 meters in the world this year Saturday, winning the Jamaica International in 9.95 seconds.
Earlier Saturday, world and Olympic champion Justin Gatlin also finished in 9.95 seconds in the Osaka Grand Prix in Japan.
Men’s volleyball
UCLA wins title
Steve Klosterman and Damien Scott helped UCLA win its NCAA-record 19th volleyball title, leading the Bruins (26-12) to a 30-27, 30-27, 30-27 victory over Penn State (21-9) in State College, Pa.
Klosterman had 14 kills and seven digs and Scott added 12 kills for the Bruins.