In brief: Malisse tops Koubek for Chennai Open title
Third-seeded Xavier Malisse of Belgium captured the second title of his career, defeating Austria’s Stefan Koubek 6-1, 6-3 Sunday in the final of the Chennai Open at Chennai, India.
The 37th-ranked Malisse, whose only previous ATP Tour title came in 2005 at Delray Beach, Fla., took advantage of serving struggles by the unseeded Koubek, ranked No. 80.
Malisse reached the final by defeating top-seeded Rafael Nadal in the semifinals, while Koubek emerged as a surprise finalist after stopping two-time tournament winner Carlos Moya.
“Top-seeded Anna Chakvetadze of Russia beat Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain 6-0, 6-4 in the only completed first-round singles match at the rain-delayed Hobart International tennis tournament in Hobart, Austrailia.
Steady showers forced postponement or suspension of most of the first-round and qualifying matches.
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams is scheduled to play her first-round match against Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden today.
Winter sports
U.S. skiers falter
Marc Berthod’s improbable World Cup victory was helped by nearly impossible conditions in a race in which all three American men failed to finish at Adelboden, Switzerland.
Berthod captured his first victory, starting from the 60th position and taking advantage of slushy, deteriorating slopes to win a slalom and become the first Swiss man to win a World Cup race in nearly three years.
The 23-year-old won with a two-run time of 1 minute, 47.42 seconds.
“Marlies Schild won her second slalom race in four days and captured her fifth win this World Cup season at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.
Schild had a two-run time of 1 minute, 40.96 seconds.
“Tobias Angerer of Germany won the men’s competition and Virpi Kuitunen of Finland took the women’s title in the inaugural Tour de Ski race at Val Di Fiemme, Italy.
Angerer covered the 11-kilometer course in 33 minutes, 39.5 seconds, while Kuitunen finished the 10-kilometer pursuit in 36:36.7.
“Anders Jacobsen of Norway won the Four Hills title with jumps of 137.5 and 142 meters in a World Cup ski jumping event at Bschofshofen, Austria.
“Russia’s Albert Demtchenko won the men’s singles at a luge World Cup event in Koenigsee, Germany, finishing his two heats in 1 minute, 35.472 seconds.
“Freestyle skier Cord Spero of Canada won an aerials event for his first World Cup victory at Ste-Adele, Quebec. His quadruple-twisting triple back flip received a score of 120.36.
“Nikolay Kruglov won a biathlon World Cup event in the 12.5-kilometer pursuit race at Oberhof, Germany, finishing in 36 minutes, 18.2 seconds.
College football
Anderson on to NFL
Arkansas defensive end Jamaal Anderson will skip his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft.
Anderson was a first-team All-SEC selection and an honorable mention All-American as a junior this season. The Little Rock native led the SEC in sacks with 13.5.
“Sophomore Sidney Rice, South Carolina’s career leader in touchdown receptions, is giving up his final two seasons to enter the NFL draft.
“Montana State officially canceled its football game at North Dakota State next season.
The move came on the heels of a proposal to add a 12th game for Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) teams that was defeated on Saturday.
Without a 12th game, Montana State apparently will opt for another date with a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly I-A) opponent. NDSU may have to go the same route.