Djokovic captures Sony Ericsson Open
Novak Djokovic succeeded where Roger Federer failed, and his reward was the Sony Ericsson Open title.
The precocious 19-year-old Serb beat qualifier Guillermo Canas 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in Sunday’s final in Key Biscayne, Fla.
Canas upset the top-ranked Federer twice last month, including in the fourth round Tuesday. But the 29-year-old Argentine’s relentless baseline game failed to faze Djokovic, who dominated with his versatile shotmaking and held every service game.
With his first ATP Masters Series title, Djokovic became the youngest men’s champion in the tournament’s 23-year history.
Seeded 10th, Djokovic will improve to a career-high No. 7 in the rankings today.
Skiing
Cochran edges Ligety
Jimmy Cochran edged Ted Ligety in the second run of the slalom, winning another national title on the same mountain where he won twice in 2004 at the U.S. Alpine Championships in Girdwood, Alaska.
Cochran and Ligety were tied after the first run. Cochran went right before Ligety in the second run and finished in 53.81 seconds for a combined time of 1:45.72.
Ligety, the Olympic gold medalist in the combined last year and defending national champion in the slalom, was .32 seconds slower and finished second. Bode Miller moved up four spots after the first run and finished third (1:47.15).
Basketball
Salukis extend Lowery
Chris Lowery will stay put at alma mater Southern Illinois University, agreeing to a seven-year contract extension that will pay him $750,000 a season to coach the Salukis.
The deal triples Lowery’s salary this season, when he guided Southern Illinois to a school-record 29 wins, and the program’s highest ranking, No. 11, in the Associated Press men’s basketball poll.
Miscellany
Steinbrenners out
The family of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner withdrew from the group that was bidding to run New York thoroughbred racing.
“The Steinbrenner family and all of their related entities will withdraw from the Excelsior bid,” family spokesman Howard Rubenstein said. “The reason is to pursue other opportunities.”
Since 1955, the New York Racing Association has held the right to operate Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga race tracks. NYRA’s franchise expires Dec. 31, and the next franchise holder could run racing for up to 20 years.
•Olympic champion Chris Hoy of Britain won his fourth 1-kilometer sprint title at the cycling world track championships in Palma De Mallorca, Spain.
Hoy finished in 1 minute, 0.999 seconds, nearly a full second ahead of Francois Pervis.
Favorite Theo Bos won his third men’s sprint championship in the past three years, beating Gregory Bauge of France for his first medal at this year’s worlds.