Federer ties Connors’ record

Roger Federer tied Jimmy Connors’ record of 160 consecutive weeks as the top-ranked player in men’s tennis Monday.

The 10-time Grand Slam champion has held the No. 1 ATP Tour ranking since Feb. 2, 2004, and is assured of breaking the record next week.

Connors was No. 1 from July 1974 to August 1977.

Federer couldn’t be reached for comment.

The ATP rankings began on Aug. 23, 1973.

Venus Williams overcame struggles with her serve after a four-month layoff to defeat Akiko Morigami, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, in the opening round of the Cellular South Cup at Memphis, Tenn.

She will face Caroline Wozniacki, 16, tonight. Wozniacki beat Stephanie Foretz, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3.

Williams, ranked 53rd in the world, was playing in her first tournament since October and had played only two matches since July because of a nagging left wrist injury.

Unseeded Bethanie Mattek defeated two-time champion Lisa Raymond, 6-2, 7-5.

On the men’s side, fifth-seeded Xavier Malisse retired while leading, 6-4, 2-2, in his match with Teimuraz Gabashvili because of an injury to his right wrist.

Top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko reached the second round of the ABN Amro with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Michael Berrer at Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Fifth-seeded Novak Djokovic beat qualifier Florent Serra, 7-6 (6), 6-4.

Eleni Daniilidou upset seventh-seeded Li Na, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (3), in the first round of the Dubai Open in the United Arab Emirates.

Patty Schnyder defeated Francesca Schiavone, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3.

Defending champion and second-ranked Justine Henin had a bye in the first round.

PRO FOOTBALL

Colts tag Freeney

as franchise player

The Indianapolis Colts made defensive end Dwight Freeney their franchise player, keeping him with the Super Bowl champions for at least one more season while they work on a long-term contract.

Freeney, 27, is guaranteed $8.6 million, the average salary of the top five defensive ends next season. He would have become an unrestricted free agent March 2 without a new contract.

The franchise tag means the Colts could keep him by matching any offer sheet he signs with another team. If they chose not to match it, the Colts would get the other team’s first-round draft picks in 2007 and 2008 as compensation.

Meanwhile, Coach Tony Dungy confirmed that he will return, quashing talk that he might step down after becoming the first black coach to win a Super Bowl.

Linebacker Louis Green, 27, signed a contract extension with the Denver Broncos. Terms were not released.

The Carolina Panthers released defensive end Al Wallace, 32, in a move that will save more than $1 million in salary-cap space.

Wallace, acquired from Miami in a 2002 trade, never missed a game in five seasons with the Panthers.

The Tennessee Titans released veteran left guard Zach Piller, five months after he had a season-ending ankle injury. Piller, 30, played eight seasons with the Titans.

The Chicago Bears hired Luke Butkus, nephew of Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus, as their assistant offensive line coach.

Butkus, a linebacker waived by the Bears in 2002, was a graduate assistant at Oregon.

JURISPRUDENCE

Cassell, other players cleared in assault case

The Clippers’ Sam Cassell, the Miami Heat’s Gary Payton and retired NBA player Jason Caffey were cleared of assaulting a male exotic dancer and his stripper fiancee during a confrontation outside a downtown Toronto strip club in 2003.

Justice William Bassel ruled that although Payton probably sparked a dispute with foul language and taunts, he is “not on trial for his vulgar ... and offensive conduct.”

MISCELLANY

Puerto Rican jockey

Caraballo dies in race

Puerto Rican jockey Manuel Caraballo died at a hospital after being trampled during a race in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, authorities said.

Caraballo, who had more than 40 years of experience and was semiretired, fell from his horse Emilin on Sunday.

His age was not available.

Chivas USA signed Cuban forward Maykel Galindo. Galindo, 26, gained political asylum in the United States while playing for Cuba at the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup in Seattle.