Agassi Reaches Italian Open Final

Andre Agassi will attempt to erase the memory of a defeat 13 years ago.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion defeated Jiri Novak, 7-5, 6-4, Saturday at Rome to advance to today’s final of the Italian Open for the first time since a five-set loss to Alberto Mancini in 1989. Agassi will play Germany’s Tommy Haas, a 6-1, 7-5 winner over Andy Roddick. The tournament has never had two Americans in the final since it started in 1930.

Agassi used sharp groundstrokes and strong return of serve to break the 14th-seeded Czech player once in each set in front of a sellout crowd on center court.

“This is a great opportunity for me,” Agassi said. “To get through all the matches so far has been great.”

Agassi, 32, produced his best previous result at Rome in 1989, losing in five sets to Mancini after squandering a match point.

“That was 13 years ago, so I’ve managed to forget a bit,” Agassi said.

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Serena Williams reached her first clay-court final, and Jennifer Capriati fell two victories short of regaining the world’s No. 1 ranking by losing to Justine Henin in the German Open at Berlin.

Henin turned the match around after a two-hour rain break, defeating Capriati, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1. Williams defeated unseeded Anna Smashova, 6-3, 6-2.

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Top-seeded Henrieta Nagyova defeated Vera Zvonareva, 6-1, 6-4, in a semifinal of the J&S; Cup at Warsaw. Elena Bovina defeated Silvija Talaja, 1-6, 6-2, 7-5, to reach her second WTA Tour final.

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The UCLA women’s tennis team advanced to the round of 16 in NCAA tournament play after defeating Washington, 4-1, in a regional final Saturday at L.A. Tennis Center. UCLA (18-4) rebounded from dropping the doubles point to advance to play May 16 at Stanford. USC (18-7) toppled Oral Roberts, 4-0, and plays host to Oregon at noon today at Marks Stadium in another regional final. The USC-Oregon winner will play UCLA.

The UCLA, USC and Pepperdine men’s tennis teams advanced to the second round of NCAA tournament play with one-sided victories Saturday. UCLA (20-8) defeated UC Santa Barbara, 4-0. The Bruins play San Diego State (18-8) at noon today at L.A. Tennis Center. Pepperdine (23-5) faces Minnesota (17-7) at noon today at Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center in Malibu after beating Richmond, 4-0. USC (20-5) defeated Oral Roberts, 5-0, and plays at noon today at Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Okla., against Arkansas.

Hockey

Washington Capital forward Peter Bondra scored his second goal with 1:40 remaining to give Slovakia a 4-3 victory over Russia and the gold medal in the world championships at Goteborg, Sweden.

Bondra picked up a long crossing pass from forward Zigmund Palffy of the Kings and flicked in a wrister from the left circle.

King defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky scored 22 seconds into the first period, beating goalie Maxim Sokolov with a sizzling shot from the left point.

Pro Football

New Orleans Saint owner Tom Benson, who fired Randy Mueller as general manager Thursday, agreed to terms with Coach Jim Haslett on a four-year contract extension and promoted Mickey Loomis to general manager, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported.

Haslett, 46, is 18-16 in two seasons with New Orleans. The Saints won the NFC West title in 2000 and won their first playoff game.

Jurisprudence

Texas fullback Brock Edwards was sentenced at Austin to two years probation and 200 hours of community service and was ordered to pay $5,700 in restitution after pleading guilty to assault in a fraternity fight last year.

Miscellany

Shawn Crawford was timed in 9.94 seconds and Tim Montgomery in 9.95 to give the United States a 1-2 finish in the men’s 100 meters in the IAAF Japan Grand Prix at Osaka.

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In an Arena Football League game, the Avengers trailed by 10 points at halftime and scored only 10 points in the second half in a 78-44 loss at San Jose.

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China remained perfect in seven events in the USA Diving Grand Prix, winning three gold medals at Coral Springs, Fla.

Tainling Wang won the men’s three-meter final. Troy Dumais, of Ventura, finished eighth. Ting Li won gold in women’s platform.