U.S. Faces Tough Davis Cup Playoff Against Slovakia

Led by U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick, the United States must defeat Slovakia on clay in this weekend’s playoff match at Bratislava, or be demoted to the Davis Cup’s second tier. That hasn’t happened in 15 years.

However, a victory in the World Group playoff would keep the Americans in the 16-team top division with hopes for 2004 and a record 32nd title.

“This is the start of our run to try to win this thing, and we have to get through this match first,” said Roddick.

Captain Patrick McEnroe on Thursday selected Mardy Fish as his No. 2 singles player ahead of James Blake.

In Thursday’s draw, Roddick was pitted against Dominik Hrbaty in today’s first singles, with Fish playing Slovakia’s top player, Karol Kucera, in the second match.

Twins Bob and Mike Bryan, making their Davis Cup debut, face Karol Beck and Michal Mertinak in Saturday’s doubles. In Sunday’s reverse singles matches, Roddick plays Kucera and Fish plays Hrbaty.

Kucera defeated Fish in three sets last month in the second round of the U.S. Open -- their only meeting. Roddick is 2-0 against both Kucera and Hrbaty. Fish and Hrbaty have never played.

In the Davis Cup semifinals starting today, Argentina plays at Spain without injured stars Guillermo Coria and David Nalbandian.

The Australia-Switzerland match in Melbourne features a Wimbledon final rematch -- Mark Philippoussis of Australia against champion Roger Federer in the second singles.

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Top-seeded Elena Dementieva defeated Petra Mandula, 6-3, 7-6 (1), and second-seeded Chanda Rubin beat Barbara Schett, 7-6 (1), 6-2, to advance to the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Open.

Dementieva next plays Maria Sharapova, who beat Maria Antonia Sanchez-Lorenzo, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Rubin will face Anca Barna. Third-seeded Ai Sugiyama defeated unseeded Tian Tian Sun, 7-6 (9), 6-4.

Pro Hockey

Goaltender Marty Turco of the Dallas Stars agreed to a three-year contract worth $12 million after holding out the first week of training camp.

Turco set a modern NHL record with a 1.72 goals-against average last season. He was also an All-Star in his first season as the starter, finishing 31-10-10.

Turco will rejoin the Stars tonight when they return home for an exhibition game against the New York Rangers.

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Right wing Marian Gaborik of the Minnesota Wild is prepared to sit out much of the season while he waits for a better contract.

Gaborik, who has already missed seven days of camp, is playing in the Slovakian league. He led the Wild with 65 points last season and scored 30 goals.

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Forward Chad Kilger of the Montreal Canadiens was released from Montreal General Hospital, three days after his left eye was injured by an accidental high stick in practice.

Olympics

Jerome Young and his U.S. 1,600-meter relay teammates should know by the end of the month if they will be stripped of their gold medals from the Sydney Olympics.

The World Anti-Doping Agency and the IOC are investigating accusations that Young tested positive for steroids in 1999 but was cleared on appeal by U.S. officials and allowed to run in Sydney.

WADA chairman Dick Pound said he expects a decision from the joint commission before Oct. 1, the deadline for resolving any cases from the 2000 Summer Games.

Young ran in the opening round and semifinal heats. The Americans were anchored by Michael Johnson in the final and beat Jamaica.

Pound has said the accusations against Young undercut the legitimacy of the U.S. victory. He has pushed for the U.S. medals to be removed.

Boxing

Mike Anchondo successfully defended his World Boxing Council super-featherweight youth championship when Silverio Ortiz was unable to answer the bell for the fifth round in the co-main event at Santa Ana Stadium.

Anchondo (22-0, 18 knockouts) broke the nose of Ortiz (13-4) with a left uppercut in the second round in front of about 2,000. In the main event, junior-welterweight Juan Valenzuela (18-6) defeated Eleazar Contreras (20-4-2) by majority decision to win the vacant WBC Continental Americas title.

Basketball

Cal State Fullerton senior guard Ralphy Holmes has been suspended indefinitely by the team as he faces one charge of felony vehicle theft.

Holmes, the Titans’ top returning player, is due in Orange County Superior Court for a pre-trial hearing Oct. 1. He pleaded not guilty to the charge in an arraignment hearing July 16. The maximum penalty in California for a felony auto theft charge is a one-year jail sentence and a $5,000 fine.

Fullerton Coach Bob Burton confirmed the suspension and said the legal issues could affect his status this season. Holmes is currently enrolled for the fall semester. The first day of practice is Oct. 18.

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The Indiana Pacers are close to signing veteran Kenny Anderson to help improve their depth at point guard, according to the team’s Web site.