Efforts to save WTA event at Carlsbad are dashed

Any chance of the annual San Diego women’s pro tennis tournament remaining in the area after this year’s event ended Thursday.

That was confirmed by Richard Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda, which has been the longtime sponsor of the Acura Classic, held at the La Costa Resort in Carlsbad. This year’s event will begin July 28.

Colliver said that, after owners Raquel Giscafre and Jane Stratton sold their sanction rights back to the women’s tennis tour last year, efforts by Honda to keep the WTA event in the area had been continuing.

“It’s not going to happen here now,” said Colliver, who said Honda had continued to be committed to making the $3 million-plus investment and that La Costa had agreed to extend its hotel and facilities contract for four more years.

-- Bill Dwyre

Fabrice Santoro used steady two-handed groundstrokes to wear down Frank Dancevic in a 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-4 victory that put him in the quarterfinals of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships at Newport, R.I.

David Ferrer defeated Nicolas Massu, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, to reach the quarterfinals of the Swedish Open at Bastad.

Russian wild card Igor Andreev upset eighth-seeded Potito Starace, 6-3, 7-5, in the second round of the Swiss Open at Gstaad.

Mardy Fish was given one of the three wild-card spots for the Countrywide Classic, which starts Monday at UCLA. The tournament draw is today, and there are two more wild cards to be awarded.

-- Lisa Dillman

PRO BASKETBALL

Howard signs five-year extension with the Magic

Former No. 1 draft pick Dwight Howard signed a five-year contract extension worth approximately $80 million with the Orlando Magic.

Howard averaged a team-best 17.6 points and 12.3 rebounds last season, making his first All-Star game.

He has not missed any of Orlando’s 82 regular-season games in three seasons, and already holds the franchise record for consecutive games played (246).

The Detroit Pistons and forward Amir Johnson agreed to a three-year, $11-million contract, keeping the restricted free agent with the team that drafted him from high school.

Johnson has played in only 11 NBA games in two seasons.

Jacque Vaughn and Matt Bonner each signed multiyear deals to remain with the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs. Terms were not released.

HOCKEY

New Jersey expected to name Sutter as coach

Brent Sutter resigned as coach and general manager of the Western Hockey League’s Red Deer Rebels -- a team he owns -- amid speculation he will be named coach of the New Jersey Devils.

New Jersey is the only NHL team without a head coach for next season. The job has been vacant since General Manager Lou Lamoriello fired Claude Julien with three games left in the regular season and took over behind the bench.

The Devils called a news conference for today to make what they called a “major announcement” but declined to provide details.

The Ducks signed center Brandon Segal to a two-year contract and defenseman Joe Callahan to a one-year deal. Both played in the American Hockey League last season.

Segal, who turned 24 on Thursday, had 20 goals and nine assists but a minus-nine rating for the Milwaukee Admirals. The Ducks acquired his rights from the Nashville Predators on June 26 in exchange for future considerations.

Callahan, a 24-year-old free agent, had a goal and 13 assists for the San Antonio Rampage.

-- Ken Fowler

The New York Rangers and free-agent forward Brendan Shanahan have agreed to terms on a new contract, the club said.

Shanahan, 38, played 67 games for the Rangers last season, collecting 29 goals and 33 assists.

All-Star defenseman Sheldon Souray agreed to a five-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers. Souray had career highs of 26 goals and 64 points last season with Montreal.

MISCELLANY

Chargers, Ravens make supplemental picks

The San Diego Chargers selected Paul Oliver, and the Baltimore Ravens chose Jared Gaither in the supplemental draft.

Oliver, a Georgia cornerback, was picked 28th in the fourth round.

The Ravens selected Gaither, a Maryland tackle, 31st in the fifth round.

It marks the first time since 1998 that two players were taken in the supplemental draft. With the selections, San Diego and Baltimore will forgo the corresponding picks in the 2008 draft.

Ronny Thompson, the son of Hall of Fame coach John Thompson, has told Ball State he will resign after one season as the Cardinals’ basketball coach.

Thompson coached the Cardinals to a 9-22 record last season, and the school has said he and his staff broke NCAA rules by being at voluntary off-season team workouts.

Crystl Bustos and Kelly Kretschman hit two-run homers, and the United States opened its title defense at the World Cup of Softball with a 9-1 victory over Venezuela at Oklahoma City.