Stomach Virus Sidelines Hewitt at Ordina Open

Top-seeded Lleyton Hewitt withdrew from the Ordina Open, and No. 2 seed Roger Federer was upset by Sjeng Schalken on Friday at Den Bosch, Netherlands.

Hewitt, the world No. 1 from Australia, has a stomach virus and wasn’t sure when he’d be fit to play again.

Schalken, who defeated Federer, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, will face Spain’s Tommy Robredo in the semifinals after Robredo ousted Swiss qualifier Yves Allegro, 6-4, 6-2.

In the women’s final, Russia’s Elena Dementieva will face Greece’s Eleni Daniilidou, who upset defending champion Justine Henin of Belgium, 4-6, 7-6 (9), 6-3. Dementieva routed Slovakian Tina Pisnik, 6-2, 6-0.

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Jonas Bjorkman reached the final of the Samsung Open in Notthingham, England, with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Greg Rusedski. Bjorkman will face Wayne Arthurs on Sunday for the title. Arthurs defeated Michel Kratochvil, 7-6 (5), 6-2, to reach his first tournament final.... Chanda Rubin and Anastasia Myskina earned straight-set victories to advance to the final of the Eastbourne grass-court tournament in England. Rubin beat Daja Bedanova, 6-4, 6-1, and Myskina upset third-seeded Daniela Hantuchova, 6-2, 6-1, to set up today’s final.... A knee injury has forced Karol Kucera to withdraw from Wimbledon. Kucera was replaced in the draw by Brian Vahaly of Atlanta.

Colleges

The biggest name in USC’s football recruiting class--Long Beach Poly tailback Hershel Dennis--has qualified academically to join the team in summer training camp. Dennis achieved a passing score on the SAT on his last remaining try.

In all, four highly touted Long Beach Poly players committed to USC last spring. Dennis, a Super Prep All-American, will be joined by offensive tackle Winston Justice.

The other two--safety Darnell Bing and defensive tackle Manuel Wright--were awaiting results of the ACT, their final chance to qualify for next season. If they are not eligible, USC coaches hope they will attend junior college and qualify for the spring semester.

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Karen Dennis, who headed the women’s U.S. Olympic track and field team that won seven medals in 2000 at Sydney, has been fired by Nevada Las Vegas.

Athletic Director John Robinson said in a statement that Dennis’ contract won’t be renewed.

Dennis, who coached 16 All-Americans in 27 events during her 10 years at UNLV, said she was not given any reason for her dismissal or those of assistant coaches Don Giardina and Qingyi Zheng.

The Las Vegas Sun quoted unidentified UNLV athletic department sources as saying there had been friction between Dennis and her coaching staff in recent years, and that some of her athletes felt she directed most of her coaching attention to a select few performers.

Hockey

Chicago Blackhawk captain Tony Amonte isn’t expected to be back next season because of salary issues, team owner Bill Wirtz says.

“For all intents and purposes he’s gone,” Wirtz told the Chicago Tribune.

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Montreal captain Saku Koivu agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Canadiens. Koivu accepted the Canadiens’ qualifying offer worth $3.3 million.... The Boston Bruins signed General Manager Mike O’Connell to a five-year contract extension.

Miscellany

Jason Leffler of Long Beach used a fast lap of 117.971 mph to top qualifying for today’s O’Reilly 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in Millington, Tenn.

High schools must increase the padding area where pole vaulters land to make the sport safer, the governing body for high school sports said.

Beginning with the 2002-03 indoor track season, schools will be required to increase the width of the landing pad to 19 feet 8 inches and the length to 16 feet, 5 inches, the National Federation of States High School Assn. said.

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A U.S. Olympic Committee bid task force next week will begin visiting the four cities competing to become the U.S. candidate to host the 2012 Summer Olympics. The visits will begin in Washington on Friday, followed by New York, Houston and ending in San Francisco on July 15.