Belgians to Sit Out Fed Cup

Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne will not participate in the Fed Cup, leaving Belgium without the world’s Nos. 1 and 2 players for a semifinal match against the United States next month.

The top-ranked Clijsters complained the tournament should not be held in Moscow, because of poor attendance when the event was staged there two years ago.

Henin-Hardenne, the U.S. Open and French Open champion, pulled out last month because of a back injury.

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Henin-Hardenne defeated Conchita Martinez of Spain, 6-0, 7-6 (1), in the second round of the indoor Porsche Grand Prix at Filderstadt, Germany.

In first-round matches, Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia defeated Lisa Raymond, 6-3, 6-4, and Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria defeated Jelena Dokic of Serbia and Montenegro, 7-5, 6-0.

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Wimbledon champion Roger Federer of Switzerland defeated David Ferrer of Spain, 6-2, 6-2, in the first round of the CA Tennis Trophy at Vienna. The top-seeded Federer is 63-14 this season, tied with Andy Roddick for the most victories on tour.

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Robby Ginepri celebrated his 21st birthday with a first-round victory over Raemon Sluiter of the Netherlands, 7-6 (5), 6-3, in the Lyon Open in France.

Marat Safin of Russia lost to Fabrice Santoro of France, 6-1, 6-4, in only 63 minutes.

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Jurisprudence

Attorneys for former Baylor basketball player Carlton Dotson, who is accused of murdering teammate Patrick Dennehy in June, said in a court appearance at Chestertown, Md., that they have not decided whether to appeal a warrant for his extradition to Texas.

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Miscellany

Olympic champion Janica Kostelic of Croatia had surgery to remove cartilage from her right knee and will sit out the opening races of the World Cup ski season.

It was the fourth operation in five months for the three-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Cup champion.

The National Invitation Tournament said it will no longer have a third-place game in its 32-team postseason tournament.

The Ice Dogs open the exhibition season at Fresno on Friday night and will play host to Fresno on Saturday night at Lakewood.

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Passings

Dean Thompson, one of Southern California’s most popular and most successful sprint car drivers, died of a ruptured aneurysm. He was 53. Story in Section B.

Ed Carroll, a former athletic director at Cal State Fullerton, died Saturday of cancer. He was 53. Carroll was Fullerton’s athletic director from 1985 to 1991. He was an associate athletic director at UC Irvine the last 12 years.

A memorial service will be held Friday at UC Irvine.