Henin wins final tuneup for Wimbledon

Defending champion Justine Henin defeated second-seeded Amelie Mauresmo, 7-5, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (2), Saturday in the final of the Eastbourne International in England, the final grass-court tuneup before Wimbledon starts Monday.

The matchup was a repeat of the 2006 Wimbledon final won by Mauresmo.

The top-seeded Henin remained unbeaten in eight matches at Eastbourne. It was her fifth title this year and third win in four matches over Mauresmo since losing to her at Wimbledon.

“It’s another title for me and gives me confidence,” Henin said. “Amelie is one of the best players on grass, and she proved it last year in Wimbledon.”

Henin said the strong winds throughout the nearly three-hour match made it difficult for both players to make shots.

“It’s been tough, it’s been the biggest opponent for both of us,” Henin said. “I’m a little bit tired because of the wind, not because of the tough match.”

Mauresmo said that her mistakes caused the defeat.

“The serve let me down a little bit,” she said. “Not enough first serves in, definitely, and a few volleys here and there that I had the occasion to put away and I didn’t. Plus she played well in the key moments.”

The last time Eastbourne staged a repeat of the Wimbledon final was in 1979, when Chris Evert defeated Martina Navratilova, after Navratilova had won the 1978 Wimbledon title.

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Ivo Karlovic hit 21 aces, including one at 153 mph, to win the Nottingham Open in England with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over eighth-seeded Arnaud Clement.

The victory gives Karlovic his first title on grass heading into Wimbledon. Andy Roddick has the fastest serve on record, 155 mph in 2004.

“To tell the truth I didn’t really expect to win,” said Karlovic, who won his first ATP Tour title in April on clay in Houston. “I came here to play a few matches. I was the last player in the draw.”

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Second-seeded Ivan Ljubicic earned his first grass-court championship, beating Peter Wessels, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (4), in the Ordina Open at Den Bosch, Netherlands.

Third-seeded Anna Chakvetadze won the women’s final by defeating top-seeded Jelena Jankovic, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3.

SOCCER

Lilly, Wambach lead U.S. past Brazil, 2-0

The U.S. stars were too much for Brazil’s women at East Rutherford, N.J. -- right from the opening minute.

Kristine Lilly and Abby Wambach scored in the first 17 minutes, with Lilly putting home a brilliant free kick at 58 seconds, in a 2-0 victory. It was the first meeting between the teams since the Americans’ 2-1 overtime victory for the gold medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

While the Brazilians looked like a team that barely has played together for three years, the U.S. women continuously challenged with dangerous long balls and probing runs.

Lilly, in her record 327th international game, scored her 123rd goal for the national team. The 35-year-old player, in her 20th year on the squad, sent a left-footed free kick from the corner of the box that soared into the upper corner of the net over goalkeeper Andrea.

Wambach, victimized by a steady flow of fouls, got satisfaction in her typical way -- with a header into the net. It came off a free kick from midfield by Cat Whitehill that Wambach ran onto from the left side and perfectly deflected for a 2-0 lead.

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Freddy Adu scored once, set up the game winner and nearly added a spectacular third goal as the U.S. Under-20 men beat Chile, 2-1, in an exhibition at East Rutherford. It was their final game before heading to Canada for the Under-20 World Cup.

Adu got his fourth goal of the year for the U-20s in the 34th minute off a superb play by Josie Altidore, who sped down the right wing and dribbled into the penalty area. He played the ball to the middle for an unmarked Adu, who beat advancing goalkeeper Christopher Toselli with a right-footed shot.

Adu’s long pass to Robbie Rogers in the 77th minute led to the second U.S. goal. Rogers sent a rising 15-yard shot into the top of the net.

Moments later, Adu was at the top of the area when a floating ball came to him. He attempted a long backheader that soared off the top of the crossbar.

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A physical and terms of a four-year contract are all that remain to complete the transfer of Arsenal striker Thierry Henry to FC Barcelona, which agreed to pay Arsenal $32 million for the 29-year-old Frenchman.

Arsenal confirmed on its website that it had reached an agreement to send Henry to Barcelona. Thierry is expected to be presented by his new team on Monday.

“I still must pass a medical on Monday, but yes, I have chosen Barcelona,” Henry said in the French sports daily L’Equipe on Saturday. “I will sign there for the next four seasons.”

SAILING

Alinghi easily wins America’s Cup opener

Switzerland’s Alinghi began its America’s Cup title defense by defeating challenger Emirates Team New Zealand by 35 seconds off Valencia, Spain. It was the start of a sailing showdown for the oldest trophy in international sports.

Alinghi, which had not raced in competition since April, will try to extend its lead today when the best-of-nine final for the Auld Mug resumes. It was the sixth consecutive victory for Alinghi, going back to its 5-0 sweep of the Kiwis in 2003.

Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth stretched his unbeaten streak in America’s Cup races to 16, going back to Black Magic’s sweep in 1995 of American yacht Young America, skippered by Dennis Conner.

ACTION SPORTS

White gets victory in skateboard vert

Olympic snowboard gold medalist Shaun White of Carlsbad won the skateboard vert event at the Dew Action Sports Tour’s Panasonic Open in Baltimore.

White scored a 94.25 to win his third career Dew event. Brazil’s Bob Burnquist was second with a 91.00, and Andy MacDonald of Boston beat Bucky Lasek of Baltimore on a tiebreaker after each finished with an 87.50.

Jamie Bestwick won his fifth consecutive BMX vert event, and ninth in 10 entries. Chad Kagy was second.

On Friday night, BMX dirt bike athlete Stephen Murray of England was injured while attempting a double back flip. He was taken to a hospital for surgery and was in critical but stable condition.

MISCELLANY

Bramlet leads Hamburg to World Bowl title

Casey Bramlet passed for 347 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Hamburg Sea Devils to a 37-28 victory over the Frankfurt Galaxy in the World Bowl at Frankfurt, Germany. Bramlet, allocated by the Washington Redskins, was named the most valuable player in helping Hamburg win its first NFL Europa championship.

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Darcy Marquardt and Jane Rumball of Canada won the 136th annual U.S. Nationals Rowing Regatta on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J.

Marquardt and Rumball, the 2006 world women’s pairs champions, edged Americans Anna Mickelson and Megan Cooke for the title.