This Defeat Costly for Clijsters

Elena Dementieva ended Kim Clijsters’ bid for the WTA’s top ranking, defeating the U.S. Open champion, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, Friday in the quarterfinals of the Porsche Grand Prix at Filderstadt, Germany.

The second-seeded Clijsters would have unseated Maria Sharapova at No. 1 by winning the tournament, but instead was dealt only her second loss in 29 matches by the fifth-seeded Dementieva.

Top-seeded Lindsay Davenport beat eighth-seeded Anastasia Myskina, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1. In the semifinals, she will play Daniela Hantuchova, who beat Flavia Pennetta, 6-3, 6-4.

Dementieva plays third-seeded Amelie Mauresmo, who beat sixth-seeded Nadia Petrova, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Wesley Moodie, playing in his second match of the day, defeated second-seeded Radek Stepanek, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (6), and will play seventh-seeded Jarkko Nieminen in the semifinals of the Japan Open at Tokyo. Moodie had earlier beaten Luis Horna, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (2), 6-4.

Nieminen beat fourth-seeded Taylor Dent, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (3). Earlier, he beat ninth-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan, 2-6, 7-6 (6), 7-5.

As expected, Australian Open champion Serena Williams won’t be playing in any more tour events this year, withdrawing from tournaments in Zurich, Switzerland and Philadelphia.

Williams cited left knee and ankle problems, which have bothered her most of 2005. She would have been hard-pressed to qualify for the season-ending WTA Championships at Staples Center in November.

Another Argentine tennis player is reported to have tested postive for drugs. Doubles specialist Mariano Hood, 32, said he tested positive at the French Open for the banned substance Finasteride, and is the sixth Argentine to test positive since 2001.

GOLF

Montgomerie Clings

to One-Shot Lead

Colin Montgomerie shot a one-under-par 69 for a one-shot lead over John Daly (67) and David Howell (67) after two rounds of the American Express Championship at Harding Park in San Francisco.

Montgomerie, whose round was four shots worse than his opening round, salvaged his round on the 18th by making a four-footer for bogey that put him at seven-under 133.

Tiger Woods shot a 68 that left him at 135 with a group that included Mark Calcavecchia (68), Jim Furyk (67) and Sean O’Hair (67). There are 13 players within three shots of the lead.

Dawn Coe-Jones shot a five-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead over seven players after two rounds of the Longs Drugs Challenge at Auburn, Calif.

Doug Tewell was one of nine players to complete the first round of the rain-delayed Greater Hickory Classic at Conover, N.C., and his two-under 70 got him the clubhouse lead.

OLYMPICS

Baseball Will Push

for Reinstatement

Three months after being cut from the 2012 Olympics, baseball found out how close the vote was. It lost its place in the Olympics by three votes, International Federation President Aldo Notari told Associated Press.

The result -- 54-50 against, with 53 votes in favor needed to remain -- was tight enough for the sport to push for a vote of reinstatement in February.

IOC President Jacques Rogge called for outside “independent observers” to investigate allegations that seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong tested positive for EPO at the 1999 race.

Both the International Cycling Union and the World Anti-Doping Agency have announced separate inquiries into the case, but Rogge said he preferred a fully independent probe.

SOCCER

Costa Rica Seeks

World Cup Berth

Costa Rica can nail down a place in soccer’s 2006 World Cup tonight with a victory over the United States at Ricardo Saprissa Stadium in San Jose, Costa Rica.

The U.S., which already has qualified for Germany ‘06, has simplified the task for the Ticos by not taking a full-strength team to Central America. Coach Bruce Arena elected to rest more than half a dozen starters.

In another key regional qualifying game today, Guatemala (2-4-2) plays Mexico (6-1-1) at San Luis Potosi, Mexico. If the Guatemalans lose, Costa Rica (4-3-1) will qualify regardless of its result against the U.S. (6-1-1).

BASEBALL

Twins Take LeCroy

Off 40-Man Roster

Designated hitter Matthew LeCroy was among three players taken off the Minnesota Twins’ 40-man roster. General Manager Terry Ryan also declined the $8.5-million option on the contract of right-hander Joe Mays.

JURISPRUDENCE

Pacers’ Johnson Gets

One Year of Probation

Anthony Johnson of the Indiana Pacers was sentenced to a year of probation after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor assault charge for his role in the Nov. 19 fighting that broke out during a game against the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

He was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, directed to attend counseling and fined $250.

MISCELLANY

McDonnell Is Out

of 710 Picture

Drive-time sports talk show host Joe McDonnell learned Friday that he would no longer be part of radio station 710’s lineup.

McDonnell was told of the decision by station manager Bob Koontz after doing a show from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., leading up to ESPN Radio’s baseball playoff coverage.

“I can’t really say anything until Nov. 6, after my contract expires,” McDonnell said.

The station put out a news release saying the “Big Show” with Steve Mason and John Ireland would be moving from the 1-4 p.m. time slot to the 3-6 p.m., effective next week. There was no mention of McDonnell.

World Cup ski champion Bode Miller questions why some performance-enhancing drugs are illegal, saying they might improve the safety of skiers.

Miller believes an endurance-boosting drug such as EPO could keep oxygen flowing to the brain of a skier battling fatigue.

“I’m surprised it’s illegal,” said Miller, 27, an Olympic medal favorite, in an interview posted this week on the Ski Racing Magazine website.

Eddy Curry officially joined the New York Knicks after a team of doctors cleared him to play. The 22-year-old forward spent the past several days since being traded from Chicago going through a battery of heart tests.

After Afleet Alex worked a half-mile in 46 seconds at Belmont Park, his trainer, Tim Ritchey, indicated that the colt’s Breeders’ Cup prep race would be the $200,000 Perryville, which is about seven furlongs, at Keeneland on Friday.

Dubawai, who would have given Sheik Mohammed of Dubai a good chance to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Belmont Park on Oct. 29, has been retired because of a ligament injury.