Rusedski Ousts Martin; Agassi Cruises to Win

Greg Rusedski of Britain saved four match points and rallied to beat Todd Martin, and top-ranked Andre Agassi crushed Andrei Pavel of Romania in 54 minutes Friday to reach the semifinals of the $2.45-million Eurocard Open tennis tournament at Stuttgart, Germany.

Rusedski, seeded fifth, fired 22 aces in clinching a 4-6, 7-6 (12-10), 6-4, victory over Martin, who had won six of their previous seven meetings. The last time they met, in the fourth round of the U.S. Open last month, Martin rallied from two sets down to oust Rusedski.

Agassi rolled over Pavel, 6-2, 6-1, and later said he was in the best shape of his life.

Defending champion Richard Krajicek of the Netherlands, seeded eighth, eased into the semifinals by beating Mariano Zabaleta of Argentina, 6-3, 6-2, and Sweden’s Thomas Enqvist, seeded 13th, upset No. 6 Marcelo Rios of Chile, 6-4, 6-2.

Agassi will face Enqvist in the semifinals, with Rusedski playing Krajicek, another big server.

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Pete Sampras will launch his comeback from injury in the second round of next week’s Paris Open against either Spain’s Francisco Clavet or the Czech Republic’s Jiri Novak.

The former world No. 1 and two-time Paris Open winner, out of action for two months because of a strained right hip and herniated disk, got a tough draw for the $2.55-million event. Top-seeded Agassi is in the same half of the draw as third-seeded Sampras, who has a first-round bye.

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Top-seeded Mary Pierce rallied to beat Irina Spirlea of Romania and turn the $520,000 Generali Ladies tournament into an all-French affair at Linz, Austria.

Joining Pierce in the semis are Sandrine Testud, Amelie Mauresmo and Sarah Pitkowski.

Pierce defeated Spirlea, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3; Testud stopped compatriot Nathalie Tauziat, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3; Mauresmo advanced when Barbara Schwartz of Austria retired with an arm injury while trailing, 3-6, 7-5, 4-1, and Pitkowski crushed Denisa Chladkova of the Czech Republic, 6-2, 6-0.

Olympics

Under pressure from critics in Congress, the International Olympic Committee has faces an important test in Lausanne, Switzerland, this weekend in completing reforms driven by the bribery scandal.

IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch could be pressed to push through some key recommendations, especially those calling for an age limit of 70 and a ban on members visiting Olympic bid cities.

IOC 2000, an 80-member reform commission, was set up earlier this year to reshape the 105-year-old organization after the scandal surrounding Salt Lake City’s winning bid for the 2002 Winter Games.

The chief advisor on U.S. drug policy turned conciliatory and said there was a role for the IOC in creating an international agency to combat drugs in sports.

But Barry McCaffrey repeated his opposition to a “unilateral” solution from the IOC. He earlier derided the IOC proposal as “crazy,” but was less combative in this round of talks in Paris.

“I think you’ll find that there will be a dialogue in the coming weeks and that there will be a solution and that the IOC’s role can be strengthened,” he said.

McCaffrey was wrapping up a six-day trip to four European countries to discuss drug control.

Motor Racing

John Force led funny car qualifying in the NHRA Matco Tools Supernationals at Baytown, Texas, with a run of 4.811 seconds at 321.12 mph.

Mike Dunn led top fuel with a run of 4.561 at 319.60.

Kenny Roberts of the United States won the provisional pole for Sunday’s Argentine Grand Prix 500cc motorcycle race in Buenos Aires, the last on the Road Racing World Championship 1999 calendar.

Roberts sped his Suzuki around the 2.64-mile Oscar Galvez circuit for a best lap of 1 minute 46.720 seconds. Brazil’s Alex Barros was second on a Honda at 1:47.108.

Defending Formula One champion Mika Hakkinen of McLaren was the fastest, and chief rival Eddie Irvine of Ferrari slumped to 10th in a practice session for the season-ending Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.

David Coulthard, McLaren’s other driver, crashed after clocking the second-fastest lap time of 1 minute 41.894 seconds, behind Hakkinen’s 1:41.746.

IRL driver Sam Schmidt, who suffered severe foot injuries during a race at Fort Worth on Oct. 17, was released from Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Schmidt, 34, broke both feet in the collision with Scott Sharp at Texas Motor Speedway. Part of Schmidt’s right big toe had to be amputated.

Miscellany

Washington Wizard guard Rod Strickland was acquitted of all charges stemming from an April 24 traffic stop in a Washington neighborhood. A jury of seven men and five women deliberated for five hours before finding the NBA standout not guilty of a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

The Utah Starzz, who have battled low attendance for the last three years, signed a three-year contract extension with the WNBA.

Brazilian stars Pretinha and Roseli combined for nine goals at Cleveland, powering the World Team past the United States, 15-7, in the third game of a 12-city indoor women’s soccer exhibition tour.

USC freshman Michala Kwasny (1:59.37 in the 200-yard individual medley) and Mission Viejo’s Chad Carvin (4:20.31 in the 500 freestyle) set pool records on the first day of the USC Invitational.

Skier Picabo Street will not compete in this weekend’s Alpine World Cup opener at Tignes, France, but U.S. team officials refused to rule out a possible comeback before the end of the season. Street broke her left leg and tore ligaments in her right in a 1998 spill.

Jennifer Rodriguez won the 500-meter race and brothers Cory and Kip Carpenter each won events in a World Cup qualifier for the U.S. speedskating team at West Allis, Wis. In the men’s 500, Kip Carpenter won in 37.19 seconds to edge Cory, who finished in 37.30. Cory Carpenter won the 1,000 in 1:13.50, KC Boutiette was second in 1:14.02 and Derek Parra of San Bernardino was third in 1:14.03.