Federer’s Streak Ends; Roddick Nearly Falls

Top-ranked Roger Federer’s 23-match winning streak ended in a first-round upset Tuesday. No. 2 Andy Roddick rallied to avoid one of his own.

Federer lost a second-set tiebreaker to former doubles partner Dominik Hrbaty and couldn’t recover, falling, 1-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4, in the Tennis Masters Cincinnati. The world’s top player hadn’t lost in the first round since the 2003 French Open.

“I had a great run,” said Federer, whose last loss was to Gustavo Kuerten in the third round at Paris. “The streak’s ended now. I’m going to take a few days off.”

He nearly had some familiar company.

Roddick, who lost to Federer in the championship at Toronto on Sunday, struggled against Max Mirnyi but held on to win, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 6-3.

Roddick was reminded of Federer’s fate as Mirnyi repeatedly charged the net to win points and keep it close.

“You think about it,” said Roddick, who has won 19 of his last 20 matches on hard courts. “It comes to your mind and goes through to the other side. Roger’s match didn’t have anything to do with mine. I was not out there trying to avoid the upset.”

Fifth-seeded Tim Henman and seventh-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero also advanced in first-round matches.

Federer’s winning streak was the longest on the men’s tour since Pete Sampras won 24 in a row in 1999. He had won his last four tournaments.

Fifth-seeded Jennifer Capriati outlasted Alina Jidkova, 7-6 (3), 7-5, after a rain delay to set up a third-round match against Mary Pierce in the Rogers Cup at Montreal. Pierce beat Nicole Pratt, 6-1, 6-1.

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Basketball

Former UCLA forward Trevor Ariza signed with the New York Knicks. Terms were not disclosed.

All-Star forward Antoine Walker is headed to the Atlanta Hawks in a four-player deal with the Dallas Mavericks, according to media reports.

Jason Terry and Alan Henderson will be sent to Dallas in exchange for Walker and Tony Delk when the deal is finalized today, according to ESPN.com, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Dallas Morning News.

The Hawks also reportedly will receive a future first-round pick.

The New Orleans Hornets signed unrestricted free agent Rodney Rogers to a one-year contract, addressing the possibility that Jamal Mashburn may be hobbled by a knee injury next season.

Free-agent forward Robert “Tractor” Traylor is returning for a second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, a league source told Associated Press.

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Hockey

Boston will pay defenseman Sergei Gonchar $5.5 million next season -- a 51% raise that was ordered by an arbitrator and accepted by the Bruins, who had the option of walking away from the decision.

Gonchar was sent by Washington to Boston near the March trade deadline. His salary arbitration hearing Sunday was the first of the NHL off-season.

Denis Gauthier and the Calgary Flames agreed on a contract before the defenseman’s salary arbitration hearing.

Rookie-of-the-year finalist Trent Hunter signed a one-year contract with the New York Islanders.

Veteran forward Stu Barnes signed a two-year contract extension through the 2006-07 season with the Dallas Stars.

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Miscellany

Despite the presence of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, two of golf’s marquee players, the made-for-television Battle at the Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., on Monday night posted the lowest national and overnight ratings in the history of ABC’s prime-time golf telecasts.

The national rating dipped to 3.6 with a 6 share, down from a 4.6 and an 8 share last year when Woods and Ernie Els played Mickelson and Sergio Garcia.

The overnight rating, which measures the 55 largest TV markets in the United States covering nearly 70% of the country, was 4.2 with a 7 share, down from last year’s 4.8 with an 8 share.

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Passings

Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Murphy, who covered the New York Mets from the team’s inception in 1962 until his retirement after last season, died at the Hospice of Palm Beach County in Florida. He was 79.

Murphy had battled lung cancer since his retirement. Story in Section B.