Top-Ranked Federer Is Upset

With a brilliant variety of shotmaking, Rafael Nadal, a 17-year-old left-hander from Spain, defeated top-ranked Roger Federer, 6-3, 6-3, in the third round of the Nasdaq-100 Open at Key Biscayne, Fla.

“I was afraid he could win 6-1, 6-1,” Nadal said. “I played almost perfect tennis.”

Federer, the reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champion, lost for only the second time in 25 matches this year. The loss was an upset but no fluke: Nadal has been touted as a future top-10 player and showed himself worthy of the hype.

“He hit some really incredible shots, and that’s what youngsters do,” Federer said. “I’ve heard a lot about him and saw some of his matches, so this is not a big surprise.”

Nadal, the nephew of a professional soccer player, did everything but kick the ball over the net. He hit winners from both sides, won 13 points at the net and closed out one game with a nifty crosscourt drop shot that brought a roar from the crowd.

In the women’s draw, top-seeded Serena Williams cleared another hurdle in her comeback from an eight-month layoff by beating Elena Likhovtseva, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.

Williams was playing for only the second time since undergoing knee surgery in August, and she survived some shaky moments and erratic groundstrokes. She won the first five games but committed 34 unforced errors -- plus several foot faults -- and needed five match points to secure the victory.

“I never felt as if I was going to lose,” Williams said. “I just felt ... when was I going to win?”

Her path to the final became easier when fourth-seeded Jennifer Capriati lost to No. 25 Eleni Daniilidou, 6-2, 6-4.

Williams said she’s excited about her comeback and relieved that her knee feels fine, but she’s expecting a few stumbles.

“This is my first time back, and obviously I’m not in my best form,” she said. “I’m going to miss some shots, but that’s OK. If I have to miss, I’m going to miss. I’m going to keep going for it.”

Her next opponent will be 16-year-old Russian Maria Sharapova, who beat No. 13 Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi, 7-5, 6-2.

Second-seeded Venus Williams struggled early but played a flawless tiebreaker and beat No. 27 Daniela Hantuchova, 7-6 (0), 6-2.

College Basketball

Texas El Paso promoted assistant Doc Sadler to head coach. He replaces Billy Gillispie, who left last week to become coach at Texas A&M.;

Sadler inherits a team that was 24-8 this season, finishing second in the Western Athletic Conference. The Miners lost to Maryland in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Sadler was the athletic director and basketball coach at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith from 1998 to 2003. He was 120-39 while leading the Lions to two appearances in the junior college national tournament.

Miscellany

UCLA scored four runs in the fourth inning and five in the fifth to defeat USC, 13-7, in front of 1,794 people at Dedeaux Field, averting a sweep in the nonconference series. The Bruins (14-10) also ended an 11-game losing streak to the Trojans (12-14) at Dedeaux Field.

Quarterback Andy Kelly scored on a three-yard run with three seconds left to give the Detroit Fury a 72-71 Arena League victory over the Chicago Rush in front of 14,837 at Rosemont, Ill. Kelly threw seven touchdown passes, five to Thabiti Davis, who had 12 catches for 194 yards.... John Kaleo threw seven touchdown passes, four to Tacoma Fontaine, in the Austin Wranglers’ 65-60 victory over the Philadelphia Soul in front of 11,132 at Austin, Texas.

Paul Cayard and Phil Trinter will represent the U.S. sailing team in the Star class in the Athens Olympics, sealing their spot with a fifth-place finish in the Olympic trials at Coconut Grove, Fla. Cayard, 44, and Trinter, 35, finished no worse than sixth, won four races and had three second-place finishes in the 16-race event.