Pierce Upset in Clay-Court Debut

Two weeks before she’s to defend her French Open championship, a tired and distracted Mary Pierce lost in straight sets Tuesday to Nadia Petrova of Russia in the first round of the Italian Open tennis tournament at Rome.

The 10th-seeded Frenchwoman, struggling with her timing and stamina, lost, 6-2, 6-4, in her first match this year on European clay.

Top-seeded Martina Hingis of Switzerland routed Tatiana Panova of Russia, 6-2, 6-3, in the second round.

Defending champion Gustavo Kuerten, weary from his five-set title-match loss Sunday in the Italian Open, was defeated by Max Mirnyi of Belarus in the first round of the German Open at Hamburg. Mirnyi defeated the world’s No. 1 player, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5), in the Tennis Masters Series event, a key tuneup for the French Open. . . . Anna Kournikova withdrew from the French Open because of a foot injury that has prevented her from playing in a tournament since February. . . . The U.S. Open generates $420 million a year and is a greater financial boon to New York than the Yankees and Mets combined, a study found.

Football

Cleveland Brown owner Al Lerner remained hospitalized after brain surgery, a source told the Associated Press.

The operation took place Monday at Cleveland Clinic Hospital, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Neither the Browns nor the hospital would confirm the surgery or if the 68-year-old billionaire was a patient.

Horse Racing

Victor Espinoza, dumped by trainer Bob Baffert after he rode Congaree to a third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, was hired by trainer Nick Zito to ride A P Valentine in Saturday’s Preakness at Pimlico.

Espinoza became expendable aboard Congaree after veteran Triple Crown rider Jerry Bailey became available to ride Baffert’s colt in the Preakness. A P Valentine, seventh in the Derby, was ridden at Churchill Downs by Corey Nakatani, who will be riding Mr. John in the Preakness.

Jurisprudence

Statements to investigators by Denver Bronco linebacker Bill Romanowski and his wife cannot be used in their prescription drug trials because officers entered their home illegally, a judge in Castle Rock, Colo., ruled.

District Judge Thomas Curry called the statements “the fruit of a poisonous tree” because federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents and county officers entered the Romanowskis’ home Aug. 20, 1999, without consent or warrant.

Romanowski is charged with illegally obtaining and possessing the prescription diet drug phentermine, an appetite suppressant that also stimulates the central nervous system. His trial is scheduled June 26.

Julie Romanowski is accused of illegally obtaining the drug for him. Her trial is scheduled Aug. 14.

Rashard Casey, former Penn State quarterback, has sued police in Hoboken, N.J., saying he received hate mail and death threats after being charged last spring with assaulting an off-duty officer.

Dale Earnhardt’s widow can be questioned about her motives for wanting to seal the autopsy photos of her husband, a judge in Daytona Beach, Fla., ruled.

Lawyers for a student newspaper at the University of Florida trying to get access to the photos will ask Teresa Earnhardt if NASCAR played a role in her decision to keep the photos private.

Defensive end Jeremiah Parker of the New York Giants and his girlfriend have been charged in Paterson, N.J., in connection with the death of the woman’s 4-year-old son.

Passaic County authorities said Parker took Elijah Lamont Kelly to St. Joseph’s Wayne Hospital on Saturday after he’d found the boy unconscious on the floor of a bedroom in his condominium.

The child was transferred later that day to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Paterson, where he died about 2 p.m. Monday. Authorities said the boy was injured when his mother, 19-year-old Tauleah Kelly, shook him.

Kelly has been charged with child endangerment, neglect and two counts of aggravated assault.

Parker was charged with one count of child endangerment and one count of neglect.

Miscellany

Winston Cup driver Joe Nemechek suffered a broken right shoulder in a crash during testing at Dover, Del., and might have to sit out NASCAR’s all-star race, the Winston, Saturday.

A Japanese national swimming coach dying of cancer rented a gun at a Florida shooting range and fatally shot himself.

Yutaka Terao, 58, of Tokyo, collapsed along the firing line Monday at the Revere Gun Range near Pompano Beach, and paramedics determined he had shot himself in the head.

Ely Callaway retired from the golf equipment company that bears his name, four weeks after complications from surgery to remove his gall bladder.

Callaway, 81, was replaced as president and chief executive officer of Callaway Golf by Ron Drapeau, formerly senior executive vice president of manufacturing.

Adline Kerketa scored twice as India stunned the United States, 2-0, dashing American hopes of qualifying for the championship round of the Women’s Junior World Cup field hockey tournament at Buenos Aires.