Shaughnessy’s Upset Bid Fails Against Capriati

Jennifer Capriati overcame Meghann Shaughnessy’s bid for a second consecutive upset, rallying to win, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4, in the quarterfinals at the Nasdaq-100 Open on Wednesday at Key Biscayne, Fla.

Shaughnessy eliminated three-time champion Venus Williams in the fourth round and was four points from victory against Capriati in the second-set tiebreaker. But Capriati played her best tennis down the stretch, holding her final five service games to close out the 2 1/2-hour marathon.

“I was actually frustrated through most of the match,” said Shaughnessy, seeded No. 23. “I had the chance and didn’t take it.”

In today’s semifinals, sixth-seeded Capriati will play No. 12 Chanda Rubin, who beat No. 4 Justine Henin-Hardenne, 6-3, 6-2. Top-seeded Serena Williams plays No. 3 Kim Clijsters in the other semifinal.

On the men’s side, No. 5 Carlos Moya earned his first semifinal berth at Key Biscayne, winning the final five points to edge American wild-card entrant Robby Ginepri, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (4).

Pro Football

The Miami Dolphins are interested in acquiring 12-time Pro Bowl linebacker Junior Seau, who has asked the San Diego Chargers to release him so he can seek a free-agent deal.

And Seau’s agent, Marvin Demoff, says his client is interested in the Dolphins.

“There are four criteria Junior wants in a team,” said Demoff, who was first contacted by the Dolphins last week. “He wants to play for a competitive team and with other good players. He wants a good grass field and a good facility. Miami fits all those criteria well.”

Cleveland Brown President Carmen Policy has agreed to a five-year contract extension.

Policy, who has 10% ownership in the club, is in the final year of his contract. Terms were not disclosed.

Kansas City Chief star Priest Holmes had hip surgery and is expected to be running at full speed in June.

Holmes, the NFL’s offensive player of the year, underwent arthroscopic surgery in Miami on Tuesday. The 29-year-old running back missed the last two games of the season. He finished with 1,615 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns.

Jurisprudence

Anwar Phillips, Penn State’s starting nickel back, waived his preliminary hearing and did not appear on charges of sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault at State College, Pa. He was ordered to stand trial on felony charges. His attorney, Tony DeBoef, did not immediately return a call from Associated Press.

Phillips told police that he had sex with a female student and that he did not think she wanted to have sex, according to court documents. On Dec. 12, Phillips accepted a two-semester expulsion from the university, effective Jan. 13, the first day of the spring semester.

Penn State athletic officials have acknowledged that they knew of the university sanction in December, but Phillips still was allowed to play in the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1.

When asked Wednesday, Coach Joe Paterno would not say why Phillips was allowed to play in the bowl game or whether he might return to the team.

Auto Racing

NASCAR is hiring an expert on the use and effects of dietary supplements that contain the stimulant ephedra.

“We’re talking to an expert in that field,” NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said. “It’s not so much a health expert as it is a drug expert, although I hate to ever use the word drugs in relation to NASCAR.”

NASCAR does random drug tests, but ephedra is not among its banned substances.

Al Shuford, head trainer for Chip Ganassi Racing, was quoted by USA Today as saying an estimated 80% of NASCAR’s crew members have at least tried ephedra.

Golf

Martha Burk believes it is “appalling” that women who fight for the United States in Iraq face discrimination at home at private golf clubs such as Augusta National.

“Broadcasting the Masters now and showcasing a club that discriminates against women is an insult to the nearly quarter-million women in the U.S. armed forces,” she said at a news conference at New York.

Burk, chairwoman of the National Council of Women’s Organizations, was invited by City Council members and representatives of civil rights groups denouncing CBS and the club for its all-male membership.

Several council members introduced a resolution condemning Augusta National and asking CBS not to broadcast the tournament. The resolution will not be voted on until next month. The Masters will be held April 10-13.

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T.J. Simers’ column will appear Friday.