Fast Break
BASKETBALL
Donovan may be backing out
Billy Donovan might not be done with the Florida Gators.
FoxSports.com, citing two anonymous sources, reported Sunday night that Donovan was having second thoughts about coaching the NBA’s Orlando Magic and attempting to return to the Gators.
Donovan agreed to a five-year, $27.5 million contract with the Magic on Thursday, but FoxSports.com reported that he has approached both sides about getting out of the deal.
The Gators moved quickly to replace Donovan, contacting Virginia Commonwealth coach Anthony Grant soon after Donovan’s decision. Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley had been scheduled to meet with Grant on Saturday in Richmond, Va.
But that meeting never took place, and Grant said Sunday night that he hadn’t been offered the job.
TENNIS
Federer matches McEnroe streaks
Roger Federer prepared for a long day on court, even though it’s been quite a while since he’s had one at a Grand Slam.
“I’ve got enough shirts for five-set matches in the bag,” he said. “I only used one today, which was good.”
Federer tied the Grand Slam record for most consecutive sets won, taking his streak to 35 by beating No. 13 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-4 Sunday in Paris to reach the French Open quarterfinals.
The No. 1-ranked Federer matched another Open era mark with 11 straight-set Grand Slam victories in a row. John McEnroe set both records in 1984, during Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
Federer wasn’t aware of his accomplishment until asked about it after the match.
“It is something which is quite special, I would say,” he said. “But I’m focused on Roland Garros and I want to win my matches. And if I can win in three sets, so much the better – but I’m not looking for these types of records.”
He hasn’t lost a set at a major tournament since dropping the second set of last year’s U.S. Open final against Andy Roddick.
Federer won the next two sets that day to win that title, then won all seven of his matches at the Australian Open in straight sets.
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
Morton KO’d in pro debut
Former NFL receiver Johnnie Morton was knocked out less than a minute into his first professional mixed martial arts bout, then was suspended from the sport for refusing to take a drug test.
Morton’s debut Saturday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum ended 38 seconds into the first round, when he caught a right hand to the head from Bernard Ackah of the Ivory Coast.
Morton, who played for the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chief, was hospitalized but not seriously hurt, Armando Garcia, executive director of the California State Athletic Commission, told the Los Angeles Times.