Venus Williams Is Ousted at Dubai

Venus Williams lost in the Dubai Open quarterfinals in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, 6-2, 6-3, to unseeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova.

The second-seeded Williams was playing in her first tournament in three weeks after a right leg injury. She returned to the WTA circuit at last month’s Australian Open after a six-month layoff.

Williams said she hit for a couple of hours while on vacation in London and for only an hour a day after arriving in Dubai.

“That’s not nearly enough to be ready,” she said. “It’s been a very strange few weeks, that’s for sure. I’ve had a good time off the court, but now I would like to enjoy my time on the court.”

Top-seeded Justine Henin-Hardenne reached the semifinals, routing eighth-seeded Conchita Martinez, 6-1, 6-0.

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Serena Williams withdrew from next week’s Qatar Open in Doha because of flu, further delaying the six-time Grand Slam champion’s return to tennis.

Williams, 22, hasn’t played since beating older sister Venus in July’s Wimbledon final. She withdrew from the Paris Open earlier this month because she hadn’t fully recovered from knee surgery in August.

Golf

Frank Lickliter II, the defending Chrysler Classic of Tucson champion, had four straight birdies late in the first round and finished with a nine-under-par 63 to begin his title defense with a two-shot lead.

Per-Ulrik Johansson had an eagle, eight birdies and a bogey through 17 holes but three-putted from 36 feet for a double bogey on No. 18 and shot 65.

The Southern California Golf Show will take place this weekend at the Long Beach Convention Center. The hours are today from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and kids 10 and under are free. Information: www.scgolfshow.com.

Boxing

Mike Tyson avoided a return to jail by agreeing to plead guilty to disorderly conduct in a brawl outside a Brooklyn hotel last year.

Under the agreement, he will perform 100 hours of community service, teaching and instructing children in boxing.

Unbeaten Joan Guzman (21-0) retained his World Boxing Organization junior featherweight title by knocking out Agapito Sanchez (33-8-2) in the seventh round at San Diego.

Top contender Vitali Klitschko will face Corrie Sanders on April 24 for the World Boxing Council heavyweight title made vacant by the retirement of Lennox Lewis, Klitschko’s promoter Peter Kohl said.

Miscellany

A judge denied the request by an Olympic synchronized swimmer to withdraw her no-contest plea in a fatal car accident.

Tammy Crow entered the plea last month in the February 2003 crash that killed her two passengers. She was sentenced to a three-month jail term for vehicular manslaughter, but the judge postponed the sentence so she could compete in the Athens Olympics.

Lee Roy Selmon resigned as athletic director at the University of South Florida, citing health problems that he would not disclose. He will remain with the university as its chief athletic fundraiser.

Passings

Retired horse trainer John Russell died Wednesday at his home in Del Mar. Story, Section B.