Sharapova Advances to Dubai Final

Third-seeded Maria Sharapova defeated second-seeded Lindsay Davenport, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, on Friday to reach the final of the Dubai Open at Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

She’ll play fourth-seeded Justine Henin-Hardenne, who defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-2, 7-5. Henin-Hardenne will play for her third Dubai title in four years.

Because rain postponed quarterfinal matches on Thursday, the semifinals were also played on Friday.

In the earlier quarterfinals, Sharapova defeated Martina Hingis, 6-3, 6-4; Henin-Hardenne beat seventh-seeded Francesca Schiavone, 6-4, 7-6 (5); and Davenport beat Maria Kirilenko, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo’s run of three consecutive tournament wins ended with a 7-6 (11), 6-4 loss to Kuznetsova. Mauresmo, ranked No. 2 in the world, won the Australian Open and tournaments in France and Belgium this season.

Qualifier Julien Benneteau upset top-seeded Andy Roddick, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4), in the quarterfinals of the Regions Morgan Keegan championships in Memphis, Tenn.

Benneteau, ranked 122nd in the world, had lost twice previously to Roddick, including in the Australian Open earlier this year in straight sets. But he kept the world’s No. 3-ranked player from reaching the semifinals for a second consecutive week by serving more effectively.

Today, Benneteau will play sixth-seeded Tommy Haas, a 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-4 winner over Dmitry Tursunov of Russia.

Second-seeded Nikolay Davydenko defeated Daniele Bracciali, 6-4, 6-2, to reach the semifinals of the ABN Amro at Rotterdam, Netherlands. He will play sixth-seeded Radek Stepanek, who beat Novak Djokovicc, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (2).

In other quarterfinal matches, Christophe Rochus beat Arvind Parmar, 6-3, 6-3, and Jarkko Nieminen defeated Olivier Rochus, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3).

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PRO FOOTBALL

Patriots Opt to Not Tag Vinatieri

Adam Vinatieri may get a chance to test free agency after the New England Patriots declined to protect the man who kicked two Super Bowl-winning field goals with the franchise player tag.

The designation would have forced the team to commit to a one-year, $3 million offer to Vinatieri. Without the tag, the team will not be compensated if he signs with someone else.

The Patriots have until Friday to sign Vinatieri.

The San Francisco 49ers won a coin toss and will get the sixth pick in the NFL draft in April, followed by the Oakland Raiders.

The Bay Area teams both finished 4-12 last season, tying for the sixth and seventh picks. Because they also tied on strength of schedule, a coin toss was required.

The draft will be held in New York on April 29-30. Houston, New Orleans, Tennessee, the New York Jets and Green Bay have the first five picks.

Matt Nagy threw two touchdown passes and Robert Thomas ran for two scores in the Georgia Force’s 51-19 Arena Football League victory over the Kansas City Brigade in Atlanta.... John Kaleo threw two touchdown passes and also ran for two scores to help the Columbus Destroyers beat the Arizona Rattlers, 42-26, in Columbus, Ohio.

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SOCCER

Hip Injury Sidelines Galaxy’s Dunivant

Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant has a strained left hip flexor that will prevent him from going to Germany for the U.S. national team’s exhibition game against Poland on Wednesday.

Dunivant was injured while working out after practice earlier this week and was a late scratch from the Galaxy’s 0-0 tie with Costa Rican champion Deportivo Saprissa Thursday night at the Home Depot Center in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup quarterfinals.

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HOCKEY

Demitra Unable to Practice With Kings

The Kings’ Pavol Demitra is unable to practice with the team because of bleeding behind his right eye, club officials said. He was injured when struck by the puck while playing for Slovakia during Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals of the Olympic hockey tournament.

Demitra, who leads the Kings’ with 21 goals, was examined by a team doctor and will be re-evaluated after the bleeding stops. He is scheduled to see doctors again on Tuesday.

The Kings are also without forward Alexander Frolov, who team officials said is week-to-week because of a shoulder injury. Frolov was injured while playing for Russia in the Olympics.

-- Chris Foster

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MISCELLANY

Former Boxer Page Is Hospitalized

Former World Boxing Assn. heavyweight champion Greg Page, who sustained brain damage during a 2001 fight, was hospitalized and in critical condition. The 47-year-old was transferred to the intensive care unit at Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Ky., a day after being admitted, hospital officials said. He has acute respiratory failure, sepsis, hypothermia and seizures.

Daron Rahlves is scheduled to compete in the Jeep King of the Mountain Alpine skiing and snowboarding world championships today and Sunday in Squaw Valley, Calif. Rahlves, of Sugar Bowl, Calif., one of the best speed-event racers in U.S. history, is in fifth place in the overall World Cup standings, third in the downhill.

As expected, NBC received its highest rating of the Winter Olympics for its coverage of the women’s skating final Thursday night -- a 15.8 with a 24 share. The audience of 25.7 million was also the largest of the Games.

In Los Angeles, NBC’s coverage received a 14.8/24. Salt Lake City ranked No. 1 with a 30.5/46.

The 15.8 was NBC’s highest rating in 18 months, and it was the most-viewed Thursday for any network this season.