Martinez Is Finally a Winner Against Seles

Conchita Martinez, who had never even won a set in 11 previous matches against Monica Seles, defeated her nemesis, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, Friday to reach the semifinals of the Bank of the West tournament at Palo Alto.

Martinez, seeded sixth, pumped her right fist as she completed the victory over the second-seeded Seles.

“It’s been many, many years. I can’t explain how happy I am,” Martinez said.

Martinez advanced to a semifinal match Saturday against third-seeded Amanda Coetzer, who defeated No. 7 Kimberly Po, 7-5, 6-4.

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Top-seeded Sergi Bruguera advanced to the semifinals of the Croatia Open by defeating Dutchman Paul Haarhius, 6-3, 6-4. . . . Second-seeded Yevgeni Kafelnikov was upset by 10th-seeded Filip Dewulf of Belgium, 7-5, 7-5, in the Generali Open at Kitzbuehel, Austria.

Golf

John Daly made a late save from the water to survive the cut at the Greater Hartford Open, his first tournament since his abrupt exit from the U.S. Open, and Wayne Levi strengthened his lead after two rounds.

Levi has a four-stroke lead after shooting a five-under-par 65.

Daly shot 70 at the TPC at River Highlands and was one over for the tournament, two shy of the cut.

“It’s a relief,” said Daly, who underwent alcohol rehabilitation in March for the second time. He said he was suffering from the effects of anti-depressants when he quit the U.S. Open last month.

Australian Noel Ratcliffe set a course record with a seven-under 65 to take a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the Senior British Open at Portrush, Northern Ireland. Two-time defending champion Brian Barnes withdrew with a knee injury after shooting a 75.

Tammie Green and Anna Acker-Macosko matched the tournament record with eight-under 64s to share the first-round lead in the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic at Warren, Ohio.

Hockey

Goaltender Byron Dafoe has agreed to a new two-year contract with the Kings. Dafoe went 13-17-5 last season with a career-best 3.11 goals-against average.

The Carolina Hurricanes acquired defenseman Enrico Ciccone from the Chicago Blackhawks for defenseman Ryan Risidore and a fifth-round pick in the 1998 draft. . . . The St. Louis Blues acquired center Darren Turcotte from the San Jose Sharks for left wing Stephane Matteau. . . . The Chicago Blackhawks traded veteran forward Murray Craven to the Sharks for Finnish left wing Petri Veras and a sixth-round draft choice in 1998. . . . The Dallas Stars re-signed free-agent left wing Benoit Hogue to a one-year deal.

Miscellany

John Lounsbury, the agent at the center of a scandal that ultimately led to Massachusetts and Connecticut being stripped of their placement in the 1996 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, confirmed details published by the Boston Globe, saying he gave $40,000 in cash and gifts to Marcus Camby while he was at Massachusetts, and provided additional spoils to former Connecticut star Ray Allen and other college athletes. . . . A three-member NASCAR panel has denied an appeal by Tony Furr, crew chief for Pepsi 400 winner John Andretti, and upheld the $50,000 fine levied against him when inspectors found an illegal carburetor mounting before that race.

Names in the News

Michael Carbajal, badly bloodied in his loss a week ago, is calling it quits as a fighter after a decade during which he held three major titles. Carbajal was 45-4 with 30 knockouts. . . . The Golden State Warriors signed first-round draft pick Adonal Foyle, who has a broken left foot, to a three-year contract. As the eighth pick in the draft, Foyle can receive a maximum of $5.102 million over the three years. . . . Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson, banned for life from international competition after testing positive for drugs, lost his bid to end his exile. Ontario Judge Moira Caswell rejected Johnson’s application to have his ban declared an illegal restraint of trade.

Michelle Smith, Ireland’s triple Olympic gold medal winner, failed in her bid to earn a $33,000 bonus by breaking break the world short-course record in the 200-meter butterfly. Smith’s performance at the Olympics prompted allegations she had used performance-enhancing drugs, which she has denied. . . . Nevada Las Vegas basketball recruit Lamar Odom, upset by allegations he cheated on his ACT test, said he will not play at UNLV and will pursue a pro career. . . . Peter Graf, the father of Steffi Graf, will begin serving his German prison term for tax evasion next week. . . . Warren Harper, who was head football coach at Texas El Paso, an assistant at Oklahoma and a scout for the Seattle Seahawks, has died at 65.