Roddick, Agassi Win at Cincinnati Masters

Andy Roddick defeated Nicolas Kiefer for the third time in three weeks, this time 6-4, 6-4, in the second round of the Tennis Masters Cincinnati on Wednesday.

In an evening match delayed at the start and interrupted twice by rain, Andre Agassi rallied after a second-set lapse and defeated Thomas Johansson, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1.

Lleyton Hewitt beat Gustavo Kuerten, 6-3, 6-4, and Carlos Moya beat Ivan Ljubicic, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

Dominik Hrbaty, who upset Roger Federer on Tuesday, lost to Jonas Bjorkman, 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-3.

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Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova overcame spotty serving and defeated Kristina Brandi, 6-1, 6-4, in her opening match at the Rogers Cup in Montreal.

Elena Dementieva was upset, 6-1, 6-4, by Gisela Dulko, and Nadia Petrova was beaten, 6-4, 6-7 (6) 7-5, by Elena Likhovtseva.

French Open champion Anastasia Myskina, playing with a sore leg, advanced with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Arantxa Parra.

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Silvia Farina Elia defeated Julia Schruff, 6-2, 6-3, to reach the quarterfinals at the Nordic Light Open at Stockholm.

Defending champion Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi defeated Melinda Czink, 6-2, 6-1.

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French Open finalist Guillermo Coria of Argentina will skip the Athens Olympics because of tendinitis in his right shoulder.

Soccer

Major League Soccer canceled a Sept. 22 exhibition game between its All-Stars and Real Madrid because of scheduling problems.

The Spanish League rescheduled games that made the original date impossible for Real Madrid, which proposed Aug. 31 as an alternative for the game, supposed to be played in Spain.

But MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis said playing Aug. 31 would place undue burden on players as they prepare for World Cup qualifying games.

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England Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is expected to keep his job when the Football Assn. announces its verdict today on a sex scandal that has shocked the English game.

The 141-year-old English governing body has been thrown into crisis after revelations that Eriksson and the organization’s chief executive, Mark Palios, had affairs with Faria Alam, a 38-year-old secretary.

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Argentina climbed seven places to fourth in the monthly FIFA rankings, returning the two-time World Cup champions to the top 10 as a consolation after losing to Brazil on penalties in the final of the Copa America.

Argentina moved behind Brazil, France and Spain. The Czech Republic and the Netherlands each dropped a place, while the United States dropped three places into a tie for 10th with Turkey.

Hockey

All-Star goaltender Tomas Vokoun agreed to terms on a three-year contract with Nashville. Vokoun, 27, was 34-29-10 with a 2.53 goals-against average last season.

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Defenseman Eric Brewer agreed to a one-year contract with Edmonton. Brewer had seven goals, 18 assists and 67 penalty minutes in 77 games for the Oilers last season.

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Right wing Richard Zednik signed a three-year contract with Montreal. Zednik had 26 goals and 24 assists for the Canadiens last season.

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Winger Jason Blake agreed to a three-year contract with the New York Islanders.

Miscellany

A victims’ counselor and a sexual-assault prevention expert have resigned at the University of Colorado, saying they were weighed down by the sex scandal involving athletes.

Heather Sturm left her job at the Rape and Gender Education Program, and Amy Robertson is stepping down as head of the school’s victim assistance office.

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Former Pro Bowl linebacker and Ohio State standout Chris Spielman, 38, will replace his college coach, Earle Bruce, as coach and general manager of the Arena Football League’s Columbus Destroyers.

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Washington forward Chamique Holdsclaw might not be ready to play when the Mystics resume their WNBA season Sept. 1 after the Olympic break. She has sat out three of the last four games because of a “minor medical condition.”