Hewitt Overcomes Errors to Outlast Agassi, 7-5, 6-3

Lleyton Hewitt outlasted Andre Agassi, 7-5, 6-3, Friday night in a battle of baseline bombers to advance to the semifinals of the $2.95-million Cincinnati Masters Series at Mason, Ohio.

Hewitt, the No. 1-ranked player in the world, and Agassi, a former No. 1, provided some brilliant and some spotty tennis in the match that lasted 1 hour 41 minutes.

“He made some errors early, and I knew that would change,” Agassi said. “I expected him to not go down without a fight.”

Agassi committed 30 unforced errors and failed to hold serve five times; Hewitt committed 29 unforced errors and failed to hold twice, both times in the first set.

“I was struggling early in the week and knew I had to step it up tonight,” Hewitt said. “I feel comfortable, and I think I’ve gotten better and better as the week has gone along.”

Hewitt will play Fernando Gonzalez, who eliminated 12th-seeded Andy Roddick, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (6).

Earlier, eighth-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero beat Wayne Arthurs, 6-4, 7-6 (2), and No. 16 Carlos Moya beat Rainer Schuettler, 7-6 (3), 6-1, to set up the other semifinal.

Motor Racing

Driver Ricky Rudd won the pole for Sunday’s Winston Cup race, turning a lap of 122.696 in a Ford at Watkins Glen, N.Y.

Michael Waltrip qualified second in a Chevrolet at 122.635. The Pontiac of Tony Stewart was third at 122.485. Earlier this week, NASCAR put Stewart on probation for the rest of the season for an altercation with a photographer last Sunday at the Brickyard 400.

A late red flag helped Patrick Carpentier win the provisional pole for Sunday’s CART Mid-Ohio Grand Prix in Lexington.

Carpentier posted a fast lap of 121.253 mph with about 90 seconds to go in the one-hour qualifying session when Tony Kanaan and Toro Takagi both spun out. Kanaan was able to continue, but Takagi lost power, bringing out both the red flag signaling a temporary stoppage and the checkered flag ending the session.

Points leader Mike Bliss won the pole for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ Federated Auto Parts 200 at Nashville Superspeedway in Gladeville, Tenn. Bliss, five points ahead of Terry Cook and 29 in front of Jason Leffler after 14 of 22 events, drove his Chevrolet to a track-record speed of 157.322 mph on the 1.333-mile concrete oval.

More than 600 cars will begin qualifying today, with final eliminations on Sunday, for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Pomona Raceway.

National top-alcohol dragster driver Duane Shields of Las Vegas and Darren Nicholson of Mission Viejo, who is fifth overall but first in the Pacific division, are among those at the Budweiser Summer Nights of Fire presented by Big O Tires.

Also competing is Steve Gasparelli of West Covina, who leads the Pacific division in top-alcohol funny car and is fifth nationally.

Top-alcohol dragster and funny-car qualifying sessions take place at 1:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Qualifying in other classes such as comp eliminator, super comp, super gas and super street begin at 10 a.m.; eliminations begin Sunday at 11 a.m.

College Football

Tailback Julius Jones is academically ineligible to play for Notre Dame this season but could return next season, Coach Tyrone Willingham confirmed. Willingham had previously declined to comment on Jones’ status.

Willingham said that Jones is not a Notre Dame student this semester because of “academic difficulties,” but said he can apply for reinstatement next school year.

Alabama junior starting fullback Donnie Lowe, who has had three concussions since the beginning of the 2001 season, failed a physical and will not play this season, Coach Dennis Franchione sais.

“The risk factor is too large” for him to play this year, said Franchione, who added that Lowe may be able to take a medical redshirt season.

Colorado Coach Gary Barnett has received a new five-year contract worth up to $8 million. The University of Colorado Board of Regents voted, 8-1, to approve the contract extension, which runs through July 31, 2007.

Hockey

Defenseman Marcus Ragnarsson signed a one-year, $2.3-million contract with the San Jose Sharks shortly before his arbitration hearing was set to begin. Ragnarsson, a seven-year veteran who has spent his entire NHL career with San Jose, had five goals and 20 points last season while making $1.675 million.... Center Doug Gilmour re-signed with the Montreal Canadiens, agreeing to a one-year deal with an option for the 2003-04 season. The 39-year-old Gilmour will enter his 20th NHL season and second with Montreal.

Miscellany

The Orlando Magic signed first-round draft pick Ryan Humphrey. Terms of the deal were not disclosed but according to the rookie scale of the collective bargaining agreement, the 19th overall pick would get a three-year contract worth about $2.85 million....The Boston Celtics re-signed forward Walter McCarty. McCarty averaged 3.8 points and 2.3 rebounds last season, his fifth with the Celtics after being acquired from New York in 1997.

Ashanti Cook, a 6-foot-3 point guard from Westchester who originally signed with New Mexico, has signed with Georgetown after receiving a release from his letter of intent in the wake of Lobo coach Fran Fraschilla’s resignation.

Olympic and world champion Konstantinos Kenteris of Greece ran the fastest 200 meters in the world this year, finishing in 19.86 seconds at the European Athletics Championships at Munich, Germany. France’s Stephane Diagana won the 400 hurdles in 47.58 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year.

Paul Hamm won his first national title at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Cleveland, ushering in a new era in convincing fashion. The loss was Blaine Wilson’s first at a major meet in the United States since the Olympic trials in 1996, and spoiled his bid to become the first man to win six U.S. titles. Hamm finished with 114.375 points, 2.375 ahead of Wilson.