Sampras Serves Up a Japan Open Title

Top-seeded Pete Sampras, wielding an aggressive forehand to go with his big serve, beat fellow American Richey Reneberg, 6-4, 7-5, in the Japan Open final Sunday at Tokyo to win his second tournament in a row.

Sampras regained the world’s top ranking from Thomas Muster by winning a week earlier at Hong Kong. He protected it with his latest triumph, his fourth in eight tournaments this year.

In the women’s final, top-seeded Kimiko Date forced errors with her sharpshooting and speedy retrieving to beat American Amy Frazier, 7-5, 6-4, for her fourth title in five years.

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Muster, of Austria, rolled over Marcelo Rios of Chile to win the $925,000 Barcelona Open.

In a battle of left-handers, Muster needed 2 hours, 19 minutes to defeat the sixth-seed Rios, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, to win the first prize of $132,000.

Olympics

After nearly breaking his mast the previous day, Sam Kerner of Hawaii won both Finn class races at the U.S. Olympic Yachting trials to launch himself back into contention for the Olympic team.

Kerner moved up to fifth place overall in the trials, while Mark Herrmann of Bothell, Wash., took over first place.

In the Star class, America’s Cup veteran John Kostecki and crew Tom Olsen moved into sole possession of first place overall with two second-place finishes. Sailing continues through next Sunday. Winners claim a spot in the Olympics.

Miscellany

The Miami Dolphins are expected to announce this week a contract extension for quarterback Dan Marino that will likely pay him $6 million per year over three years.

Mark Lenzi, making a comeback after two years of retirement, won his first U.S. national diving title since 1993 by taking the 3-meter event at the National Diving Championships at Oxford, Ohio.

Lenzi, the 1992 Olympic 3-meter springboard champion, defeated former Olympic teammate Kent Ferguson, 692.67-646.02.

Slovakian canoeist Michal Martikan, 16, paddled past reigning world champion David Heard o the Ocoee River in southeast Tennessee to become the youngest athlete ever to win a canoe or kayak World Cup race.

American Scott Shipley was also a winner, powering the course and finishing two runs without any penalties and a best time of two minutes and 28.70 seconds.

Slovakia, fighting for hockey recognition since the country separated three years ago from its Czech neighbors, got it on opening day of the World Ice Hockey Championships at Vienna, Austria by tying Canada, 3-3. . . . Mexico’s Dionicio Ceron won the London Marathon for the third year in a row, breaking away from the field three miles from home to win in 2 hours, 10 minutes. Britain’s Liz McColgan won the women’s race in 2:27.54. . . . Henrique Cristomo of Portugal won the men’s division with a time of 2 hours, 12 minutes and 16 seconds, and Alina Tecuta topped the women’s field in the Paris Marathon with a time of 2:29:32. . . . Pascal Richard won the Liege-to-Bastogne-to-Liege classic at Liege, Belgium, defeating American Lance Armstrong and fellow-Swiss Mauro Gianetti in a sprint finish with a time of 7 hours, 6 minutes and 53 seconds. . . . Brazil’s Sandra Pires and Jackie Silva defeated countrywomen Monica Rodrigues and Adriana Samuel, 12-6, 10-12, 12-10, to win the FIVB women’s beach volleyball event in Recife, Brazil. . . . Fourth-seeded Scott Ayakatubby and Brian Lewis defeated second-seeded Adam Johnson and Jose Loiola, 15-6, to win the $115,000 Association of Volleyball Professionals Open at San Diego.