Canadians get long-awaited win

The days of the Crazy Canucks may be back.

Erik Guay won for the first time on the World Cup circuit Saturday at Garmisch- Partenkirchen, Germany, to give Canada its first downhill victory in 13 years. He was joined by two other Canadians in the top 10 – Jan Hudec (fifth) and Manuel Osborne-Paradis (seventh).

Guay was timed in 1 minute, 56.80 seconds on the Kandahar course, one of the most demanding on the circuit. He beat Friday’s winner, Andrej Jerman of Slovenia, by a half-second.

The top American was Scott Macartney, who was tied for 23rd. Bode Miller did not start because of a sore neck.

“Austria’s Michaela Kirchgasser won a giant slalom on a steep and demanding course for her first World Cup victory at Sierra Nevada, Spain.

She rallied from third place after the first run and completed the two trips down the Fuente del Tesoro course in 2 minutes, 14.41 seconds.

“Zach Lund of the United States won a skeleton race in Koenigssee, Germany, to clinch the overall World Cup title a year after missing the Turin Olympics because of a drug suspension.

Lund finished his two heats in 1 minute, 35.97 seconds at the event, which also served as the European Championships. Alexander Tretiakov of Russia was second in 1:36.13 to claim European gold.

Tennis

Henin wins title

Top-seeded Justine Henin beat Amelie Mauresmo 6-4, 7-5 to win the Dubai Open at Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for the fourth time.

The Belgian player beat the second-seeded Frenchwoman in 1 hour, 42 minutes to add to her titles of 2003, 2004 and 2006.

It was Mauresmo’s second consecutive final, after she won in Antwerp, Belgium, last week.

“Venus Williams capped her first tournament back from an injured left wrist in winning fashion, beating top-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel 6-1, 6-1 in the Cellular South Cup at Memphis, Tenn.

This event is merely a Tier III tournament and far below her last victory at Wimbledon in 2005, her fifth Grand Slam. But her 34th career title came in her first tournament since losing in the second round at Luxembourg last October.

Andy Roddick got a little revenge against Andy Murray for last weekend’s semifinal loss in San Jose, beating the young Scot 6-3, 7-6 (4). Tommy Haas downed American Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-4 and looks to defend his title.

“Third-seeded Ivan Ljubicic advanced to the final of the ABN Amro tournament at Rotterdam, Netherlands, with a 4-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4) win over top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko of Russia.

Ljubicic’s opponent in today’s final will be Mikhail Youzhny of Russia, who saved three match points to beat fifth-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia 3-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5.

Miscellany

Leipheimer leads

Argentina’s Juan Jose Haedo won the sixth stage at Santa Clarita, Calif., of the Amgen Tour of California, but American Levi Leipheimer retained the overall lead with one day left in the cycling race.

Haedo emerged from a large pack to win the 105.4-mile run from Santa Barbara in 3 hours, 56 minutes, 5 seconds.

Leipheimer finished 25th in the main group and maintained his 21-second margin over CSC’s Jens Voigt of Germany.

“Shalane Flanagan won the 3,000 meters in the U.S. Indoor Track & Field Championships in Boston, finishing in 8:56.74.

Shayne Culpepper made a midrace surge to win her first national title in the mile, finishing in 4:34.42.

Amy Acuff won the women’s high jump at 6-3 1/2, while the men’s high jump was won by Tora Harris who cleared 7-3 3/4.