Nadal Leaves Federer in an Unusual Place Again

Rafael Nadal called his latest clay-court victory over top-ranked Roger Federer easier than the one at the French Open tennis tournament.

Yet Federer says he is closer to beating Nadal on clay.

Second-ranked Nadal defended his Monte Carlo Masters title with a 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-6 (5) victory over Federer on Sunday, handing the seven-time Grand Slam champion his second loss of the year. Nadal has beaten Federer four times in five meetings. Two of the victories have been on clay after he won in four sets last June at Roland Garros.

Federer, who had 78 unforced errors on his least-favorite surface, is 28-2 this year.

“I was beating him easier today than in Paris,” Nadal said. “To begin the clay season like this, for me, is unbelievable.”

Nadal extended his winning streak on clay to 42 matches and can pass Bjorn Borg’s mark of 46 and move behind Guillermo Vilas (53) if he wins this weekend at Barcelona.

Federer appeared in his 12th consecutive final, but his winning run in Masters series matches ended at 29. His previous Masters defeat came at Monte Carlo in a quarterfinal loss to Richard Gasquet of France last year.

Jamea Jackson was 2-0 in her Fed Cup debut in Ettenheim, Germany, helping the U.S. overcome the absence of Venus and Serena Williams and Lindsay Davenport to reach the semifinals. Jackson beat Martina Mueller, 7-6 (2), 6-2, to give the U.S. an insurmountable 3-1 lead in the best-of-five series.

Then, in the doubles, Germany’s Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Jasmin Woehr beat Shenay Perry and Vania King, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. Earlier, Groenefeld had defeated Jill Craybas, 6-2, 7-5.

The U.S. will travel to Belgium for the Fed Cup semifinals on July 15-17. Belgium beat Russia, 3-2, when Kim Clijsters outplayed Maria Kirilenko, 6-1, 6-4, and Justine Henin-Hardenne beat Elena Dementieva, 6-2, 6-0, at Liege, Belgium.

Italy upset France, 4-1, at Nancy, France, to set up a semifinal against Spain, which ousted Austria, 5-0, at Valencia, Spain.

Francesca Schiavone came back from a match point down in the second set to beat top-ranked Amelie Mauresmo, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4. Flavia Pennetta beat Nathalie Dechy, 6-4, 6-2, to give the Italians an insurmountable 3-1 lead.

MOTOR RACING

Schumacher Ends13-Race Drought

Michael Schumacher held off Fernando Alonso in a tight duel in Imola, Italy, to take the San Marino Grand Prix for his first victory in 13 races.

Schumacher covered 62 laps in 1 hour 31 minutes 6.486 seconds, with Alonso two seconds behind. McLaren’s Juan Pablo Montoya was 15.8 seconds back for third. Schumacher earned a record seventh win at Imola and the 85th of his career.

Last year, Alonso held off a surging Schumacher.

SOCCER

FC Dallas Wins in Injury Time

Aaron Pitchkolan scored four minutes into injury time for FC Dallas to edge the Kansas City Wizards, 2-1, in Major League Soccer in Frisco, Texas.

FC Dallas won despite playing one man down after the 68th minute when defender Chris Gbandi was ejected for picking up a red card for a foul on Davy Arnaud.

Kansas City had tied it at 1-1 only two minutes before Pitchkolan scored on Alex Zotinca’s first goal of the year. Kenny Cooper scored FC Dallas’ other goal.

With a late goal by Daniel Bilos, Argentine Clausura leader Boca Juniors was beating Velez Sarsfield, 3-2, when the game was suspended because of fan violence in Buenos Aires.

Bilos put Boca ahead in the 88th after a free kick by Daniel Diaz. Violence erupted because it was Diaz’s second free kick, after the first was ruled out by referee Sergio Pezzotta. Goalkeeper Gaston Sessa was unable to hold the ball on the second attempt and Bilos converted.

Velez players immediately surrounded the referee, while indignant fans began throwing bottles and other objects, one of which hit linesman Jose Rebollo.

DIVING

Boudia Rallies for Platform Title

David Boudia won the U.S. Open platform diving championship in Indianapolis.

Boudia, who trailed synchronized diving partner Thomas Finchum after the preliminary and semifinal rounds, totaled 491.650 points over the final round of six dives. Finchum finished second with 456.350.

Finchum and Boudia, the reigning U.S. synchronized platform champions, went on to easily win the synchronized diving with 420.240 points, nearly 60 more than the next finisher.

Kelci Bryant retained her women’s three-meter title, totaling 335.25 points. Christina Loukas was second with 310.80. Bryant and Ariel Rittenhouse won the three-meter synchronized event with 297.600.

Greg Ferrucci, injured in Saturday’s three-meter springboard when he hit his head on the board, remained in an Indianapolis hospital.

Meet director Eric Barnes said Ferrucci had a serious concussion but no back or spinal cord injuries.

MISCELLANY

Ex-Bruin Manning Arrested in Westwood

NFL defensive back Ricky Manning Jr. was arrested on suspicion of assault Sunday after a fight at a restaurant near the UCLA campus.

Manning, a 25-year-old restricted free agent who signed an offer sheet with the Chicago Bears on Friday after three seasons with Carolina, was arrested at about 3 a.m. after he allegedly hit a man in the face along with four or five companions at a restaurant in Westwood, said officer Mike Lopez, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department.

Police did not know what prompted the fight.

Manning was released after posting $30,000 bail.

Manning’s deal with the Bears is worth up to $21 million.

Chace Stanback, a 6-foot-7 junior forward from Los Angeles Fairfax, has committed to UCLA. He averaged 17.5 points, eight rebounds and 3.5 assists last season.