In brief: Roddick wins, reveals split with coach

Andy Roddick used his strong serve to upset Rafael Nadal 7-6 (5), 6-2 Thursday and reach the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships at Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and then announced he has split with coach Jimmy Connors.

Roddick said that Connors resigned about a week ago because he wanted to spend more time with his family.

He credited the eight-time Grand Slam champion for having greatly improved his backhand and boosted his “fighting spirit.”

The sixth-ranked Roddick closed the match with one of his 17 aces, and had numerous service winners against the second-ranked Spaniard. One ace was 149.75 mph, breaking the Dubai serve record he set a day earlier.

Roddick will next face third-ranked Novak Djokovic, who beat Igor Andreev 6-2, 6-1.

Also, Nikolay Davydenko edged Andy Murray 7-5, 6-4, and Feliciano Lopez defeated fourth-ranked David Ferrer 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the other semifinal match at Dubai.

Football

Christie retires as a Bill

Steve Christie finally got his wish, retiring as a member of the Buffalo Bills, after the team’s most prolific kicker signed a one-day contract.

“Regardless of where I ended up playing following my career in Buffalo, I knew that I wanted to retire a Bill,” Christie said a day after completing his 24-hour stint. “My best years and really the bulk of my career was in Buffalo. … So to retire here was not only closure, for me it was a necessity.”

Christie’s 15-year NFL career ended after he completed the 2004 season with the New York Giants, though he held off submitting his retirement papers until last year. The southern Ontario native broke into the league with Tampa Bay in 1990, and also played for San Diego.

With the Bills, Christie hit 13 game-winning field goals in the final minute or overtime.

“Indiana suspended record-setting quarterback Kellen Lewis indefinitely for violating unspecified team rules.

Golf

Bryant leads PODS

Bart Bryant birdied his last two holes for a 6-under-par 65, giving him a one-shot lead among players who were lucky to beat the rain in the PODS Championship at Palm Harbor, Fla.

Ernie Els, coming off a victory in the Honda Classic that ended a 0-for-47 drought on the PGA Tour, was part of the afternoon wave that did not finish the first round because of a 2 1/2 -hour storm delay.

As usual, John Daly created the day’s biggest buzz. After ducking into a Hooters hospitality tent during the rain delay, he emerged with Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden as his caddie for the rest of the afternoon. College basketball

Long Beach St. spanked

The NCAA imposed stiff penalties on the Long Beach State men’s basketball program.

Penalties against the 49ers include three years’ probation, forfeiting their 18 victories from the 2005-2006 season, reduced recruiting and fewer scholarships. The limited probation will allow the 49ers basketball team to participate in postseason play.

The case involved improper benefits, improper transportation and phone contacts, unethical conduct by members of the coaching staff and a failure to appropriately monitor the program by the school or the former head coach, the NCAA said.

The violations by members of the coaching staff occurred between August 2004 and the end of August 2005, according to the NCAA.

Larry Reynolds was the head coach at that time. His contract was not renewed after last season despite a 24-8 record, a Big West Conference championship and a spot in the NCAA tournament.

Former Gonzaga coach Dan Monson is the current coach.

“George Washington basketball star Maureece Rice has been dismissed from the program for “failure to adhere to team rules,” the school said.