Blake Can’t Handle Labadze

Irakli Labadze used a strong forehand Thursday to upset third-seeded James Blake, 7-6 (2), 7-5, in the second round of the Kroger St. Jude tournament in Memphis, Tenn.

Labadze, a left-hander ranked 118th in the world, reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 2001 in Shanghai. Until this week, he had not won an ATP match this year, losing in the first round of six different tournaments.

“He hit winners from well behind the baseline, and I let that get to me a bit,” said Blake. “He is one of the few guys that I feel can give me a little trouble like that, and I wasn’t playing my game the way I’d like to, so it’s disappointing to lose.”

Labadze will play Brian Vahaly, who defeated Eric Taino, 6-2, 6-4. Vladimir Voltchkov beat Jeff Morrison, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, and will play Taylor Dent, a 7-6 (8), 7-6 (4) winner over Jan-Michael Gambill.

On the women’s side, sixth-seeded Laura Granville saved match point in upsetting top-seeded Silvia Farina Elia, 2-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4, to reach her first WTA semifinal.

Granville will play third-seeded Amanda Coetzer, who beat Stephanie Foretz, 7-5, 6-4.

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After losing her first two matches of 2003, Jennifer Capriati has won two straight and advanced to the semifinals of the Dubai Open by defeating Conchita Martinez, 6-2, 6-3.

Capriati next faces Justine Henin-Hardenne, who defeated Anastasia Myskina, 6-1, 6-4.

The other semifinal will pair Monica Seles and defending champion Amelie Mauresmo. Seles beat Iroda Tulyaganova, 6-1, 7-5, and Mauresmo beat Lina Krasnoroutskaya, 6-2, 6-4.

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Top-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero defeated Jonas Bjorkman, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, to reach the quarterfinals of the ABN Amro tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Ferrero will next play Raemon Sluiter, who beat Jarkko Nieminen, 7-6 (7), 2-6, 6-3.

Winter Sports

Bente Skari of Norway defended her title in the 10-kilometer classical cross country race for her second gold medal of the Nordic world championships at Val di Fiemme, Italy.

Skari’s time of 25 minutes 47 seconds was 21 seconds faster than Estonia’s Kristina Smigun, who won her second silver medal.

Hilde Pedersen of Norway won the bronze medal. She finished 29.7 seconds behind. The top American finisher was Wendy Wagner in 38th place, nearly three minutes behind.

Golf

Patricia Meunier Lebouc shot a six-under-par 66 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the ANZ Ladies Masters at Gold Coast, Australia.

Laura Davies, seeking her third victory in the event, and Michelle Ellis were tied for second at 67, and Karrie Webb, a four-time Masters winner, topped a group at 68.

Miscellany

Bob Gibson has been sued by a man who contends the Hall of Fame pitcher punched and kicked him last year in a road rage incident in Omaha.

In the lawsuit filed Feb. 13, Miguel B. Sanchez seeks $4,711 for lost wages, bloodied clothes and medical bills. He also seeks unspecified damages for pain and suffering.

Joe Quezada accepted the L.A. Marathon’s Patsy Choco Courage Award on behalf of himself and 12 family members at a luncheon at the Wilshire Grand Hotel.

Quezada and six family members ran their first L.A. Marathon last year in memory of Joe’s sister, Bertha, who died of Lou Gehrig’s Disease the day of the 2001 race.

The 13 family members present at the luncheon will run in this year’s race March 2. The late Patsy Choco completed the 1993 L.A. Marathon while battling breast cancer.

Pyewacket, skippered by Roy Disney, won the 17th biennial yacht race from Marina del Rey to Puerto Vallarta, covering the 1,125 nautical mile course in an elapsed time of five days 4 hours 50 minutes 43 seconds.

Mike Tyson weighed in at 225 3/4 pounds and Clifford Etienne weighed 222 3/4 for their bout Saturday night at the Pyramid Arena in Memphis.