Kournikova Pulls Off Upset, Makes Hingis Eat Her Words

Anna Kournikova finally got some revenge on Martina Hingis.

After losing badly to the world’s top-ranked player in their four previous matches, including three Grand Slam events, Kournikova defeated Hingis, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), in the quarterfinals at the German Open on Friday at Berlin.

It was the biggest career win for the 16-year-old Russian.

“I’m been praying this win would come,” Kournikova said. “I’m just very happy.”

Kournikova, still seeking her first title, will face Conchita Martinez in today’s semifinals. The Spaniard beat Japan’s Ai Sugiyami, 6-3, 6-3.

Jana Novotna, the third-seeded Czech, also advanced, with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory over Romania’s Irina Spirlea. She will face 18-year-old French qualifier Amelie Mauresmo, who downed Austria’s Barbara Paulus, 6-4, 6-2.

On Thursday, Hingis had dismissed talk that Kournikova was another emerging rival for her No. 1 status. The other is Venus Williams, who has beaten her twice.

“I know she can play, but she’s never shown it against me,” Hingis said of Kournikova. “She was always too nervous.”

This time, Kournikova was poised against the Swiss star. She used her power to win some spectacular rallies.

“I didn’t think about who was on the other side of the net,” Kournikova said. “I just played my game. I think she was surprised by that.”

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One day after surprising top-ranked Pete Sampras, Michael Chang was defeated by unseeded Albert Costa, 6-2, 6-1, in the quarterfinals of the Italian Open at Rome.

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Karolj Seles, father and coach of Monica Seles, died Thursday in Sarasota, Fla., after a long bout with stomach cancer. He was 64.

College Football

The NCAA is warning all Division I members not to renege on paying up if they lose an appeal of a $67-million penalty in what could be the worst financial disaster in NCAA history.

On May 4, a federal jury in Kansas City awarded about 1,900 former restricted earnings coaches more than $22 million in back pay and damages. The amount was automatically tripled because the NCAA was in violation of antitrust.

The Penn State Board of Trustees unanimously approved an $84-million project to add nearly 10,000 seats to Beaver Stadium to meet rising ticket demand, university President Graham Spanier said.

Pro Football

The Jacksonville Jaguars have re-signed restricted free agent linebacker Bryan Schwartz and signed linebacker Kevin Hardy and guard Rich Tylski to contract extensions. . . . The Philadelphia Eagles hired Tom Modrak, a former Pittsburgh Steeler executive, as director of football operations.

Miscellany

Boston College and Jim O’Brien, the school’s former basketball coach, settled O’Brien’s slander and breach-of-contract suit out of court.

O’Brien, now coach at Ohio State, was more concerned with restoring his reputation, and getting the school to state that he wasn’t fired, than in collecting financial damages, said his attorney, John J. Bonistalli.

Chris Magruder went four for six and drove in three runs to lead 19th-ranked Washington over No. 1 Stanford, 12-8, to complete a two-game sweep at Seattle and give the Huskies a second consecutive Pacific 10 baseball championship.

Tony Woodruff, a former Fresno State football player who was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1982, pleaded not guilty to charges of embezzling more than $103,000 in a welfare fraud scheme.

Bill Elliott, who needed assistance to get in and out of his car because of injuries from two wrecks in the past three weeks, captured the pole for Winston Cup racing’s 14th annual all-star event at Concord, N.C.

Elliott posted a speed of 142.084 mph in the unique qualifying format that requires drivers to run three laps and make a pit stop to have two tires changed.

Evander Holyfield says he wants to fight Lennox Lewis in November in a heavyweight title unification bout.

Mighty Duck season-ticket prices will increase an average of 10.19%. Tickets available on game day in the rear terrace section of the Arrowhead Pond will remain $15, and wheelchair tickets on the plaza level will stay $35.

Olympic champion Czech Republic defeated Switzerland, 4-0, to collect the bronze medal at the World Ice Hockey Championships.