U.S. Wins in Hopman Cup

Monica Seles and Jan-Michael Gambill led the United States to a 3-0 victory over France in its opening match Monday in the Hopman Cup at Perth, Australia.

Seles, who led Yugoslavia to a Hopman Cup title in 1991, defeated Virginie Razzano, 6-3, 6-4. Gambill beat Arnaud Clement, 6-4, 6-4, before Seles and Gambill won doubles, 6-1, 6-4.

Australia, seeded second and playing in Group B, beat defending champion Switzerland, 3-0, on Sunday, and Spain defeated Argentina, 3-0.

Defending champion Meilen Tu of the U.S. lost to unseeded Selima Sfar, 6-3, 6-2, in the first round of the ASB Bank Classic today at Auckland, New Zealand....Meghann Shaughnessy of the U.S. beat Spanish qualifier Nuria Llagostera-Vives, 6-2, 6-2, to reach the second round of the Australian Women’s Hardcourt Championship at Gold Coast....Top-seeded Yevgeny Kafelnikov beat Daniel Vacek of the Czech Republic, 7-6 (0), 6-4, in the first round of the Qatar Open at Doha.

College Football

Former Purdue quarterback Brandon Hance said he has decided to transfer to USC.

Hance, Purdue’s starter for most of this season, said he accepted a scholarship offer from Trojan Coach Pete Carroll late last week.

“USC is pretty much the school I had in my head all along,” said Hance, a former All-City quarterback at Woodland Hills Taft High. “I’m excited. All I ask for is a fair opportunity. I have confidence in my ability. The rest comes down to competition.”

This year, Hance completed 136 of 258 passes for 1,529 yards and eight touchdowns with 10 interceptions.

Florida quarterback Rex Grossman said that Coach Steve Spurrier might remove him from the Orange Bowl starting lineup as punishment for missing curfew on the team’s second night in Miami.

Spurrier was not immediately available for comment. Sports information director Norm Carlson said he hadn’t heard of Grossman missing curfew, and that Grossman has practiced all week.

Horse Racing

Trainer Richard Mandella began 2001 by being voted into the Racing Hall of Fame. On the last day of the year, he added to his stakes collection when favored Paga notched a nifty 11/4-length victory in the $118,150 Monrovia Handicap at Santa Anita.

Ridden on Monday by Mike Smith, Paga completed the 61/2-furlong, downhill grass run in 1:15 over a course listed as firm. Twin Set finished second, half a length in front of Impeachable, a 24-1 shot in the 13-horse field. Paga’s win price was $6.60.

Earlier in the day, Pat Valenzuela scored his first win since Feb. 2, 2000, when he booted home 7-1 shot Rich Musique for trainer Vladimir Cerin. Valenzuela, suspended later that February when he tested positive for an amphetamine, was recently given a conditional riding license and returned Wednesday.

Winter Sports

Travis Mayer and Shannon Bahrke earned berths in the Winter Olympics freestyle competition with victories in the U.S. Ski Team Gold Cup at Park City, Utah.

Mayer, 19, of Steamboat Springs, Colo., won the men’s moguls event, accumulating 27.56 points out of a possible 30. Bahrke, 21, of Tahoe City, Calif., won the women’s moguls.

Passings

Billy Wells, the star of Michigan State’s 1954 Rose Bowl victory against UCLA, died Christmas Day at his home in Altadena, longtime friend Palmer Casey said. He was 70. See story, Page B10.