Federer defeats Almagro on clay

Top-ranked Roger Federer defeated Nicolas Almagro, 6-3, 6-4, on Tuesday in the second round of the Rome Masters, a year after struggling to a three-set win over the Spaniard.

Federer converted breaks early in each set and faced only one break point, saving it midway through the first set by kicking a second serve wide that Almagro returned into the net.

“I wasn’t too happy when I saw the draw come out because he’s a great clay-courter and a very dangerous player on any surface,” Federer said of Almagro, who won the clay-court tournament in Valencia the last two years.

“So to come through convincingly in two sets, not being broken and both times racing away with the lead with an early break, was perfect.”

Rome is a key clay-court warmup for the French Open, which begins May 27, the only Grand Slam event that Federer hasn’t won.

James Blake advanced after defeating Gael Monfils, 7-6 (4), 6-3. Blake’s victory avenged a five-set loss to Monfils at last year’s French Open.

“I feel like I’ve gotten better. Whether or not this one match proves it, I don’t know. But I definitely feel like I’ve gotten better on clay,” said Blake, who reached the semifinals of the clay-court tournament in Houston last month.

Jose Acasuso advanced after upsetting eighth-seeded Ivan Ljubicic, 6-4, 6-3. Ljubicic committed 33 unforced errors and Acasuso made only nine.

Former No. 1 Marat Safin overcame a shaky start before beating American qualifier Amer Delic, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. Radek Stepanek advanced when 11th-seeded Tommy Haas retired because of a right shoulder injury. Stepanek was leading, 6-3, 3-2.

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Elena Dementieva rallied to beat Mara Santangelo, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, in the first round of the rain-delayed German Open at Berlin.

The 10th-seeded Russian overcame 10 double faults and a 3-0 deficit in the third set.

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Top-seeded Marion Bartoli defeated wild card Kristyna Pliskova, 6-1, 6-2, to advance to the second round of the Prague Open in the Czech Republic.

SOCCER

Galaxy beats Red Bulls, 3-1, in extra time

Landon Donovan, Kyle Martino and Santino Quaranta all scored in extra time to lead the Galaxy past the New York Red Bulls, 3-1, in a U.S. Open Cup qualifier at Carson.

HOCKEY

European team to play NHL club in new event

Europe’s best club will challenge an NHL team next year in the Victoria Cup.

The International Ice Hockey Federation said the winner of the European Champions Cup will participate in the new tournament, which will include an unidentified NHL team and at least one other European club.

IIHF President Rene Fasel said he hoped to get a team “with some history” for the inaugural tournament, scheduled for September 2008. The other European team could come from the tournament’s host city.

Eventually, the IIHF aims for Stanley Cup champions facing their European counterparts each year.

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The Kings signed center Brady Murray, son of St. Louis and former Kings Coach Andy Murray, to an entry-level contract on Tuesday. Murray, 22, played in the Swiss A-League last season and had 12 goals and 32 points in 38 games.

Drafted by the Kings in the fifth round in the 2003, Murray is a former University of North Dakota standout who also played on the U.S. gold medal team at the World Junior (under 20) Championships in 2004.

-- Lonnie White

MISCELLANY

Receiver Smith signs extension with Panthers

Steve Smith agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Carolina Panthers that will keep him with the team through the 2012 season.

His agent, Derrick Fox, said he wasn’t authorized to release exact figures, but said the Los Angeles native will be among the five highest-paid receivers in the NFL.

Smith, 28, had three years left on a six-year, $27-million contract.

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Evander Holyfield will fight Lou Savarese on June 30 in El Paso in his quest to win another heavyweight title.

It will be the fourth Texas bout in the four-time heavyweight champion’s comeback bid.

Holyfield, 44, has won all three fights since returning from a two-year layoff, improving to 41-8-2. Savarese, 41, is 46-6.

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A day after admitting involvement in the Spanish doping scandal, Giro d’Italia cycling champion Ivan Basso said he intended to cheat in “a moment of weakness” but never did, and is ready to accept his punishment.

Basso said he made contact with a doctor at the heart of the Spanish investigation, Eufemiano Fuentes, and gave him a blood sample with the intention of doping -- but never actually did.

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Scott Seaton died after crashing into a wall during a sprint car race. He was 51.

Seaton, of Cedar Springs, Mich., died Saturday after his car crashed at Auto City Speedway in Genesee County, Mich.

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USC has received letters of intent from Simi Valley Stoneridge Prep basketball players Angelo Johnson and Mamadou Diarra. Johnson, a 5-foot-10 point guard, averaged 13.7 points and 4.1 assists last season. Diarra, a 6-11 forward, averaged 8.1 points and 6.4 rebounds.

-- Ben Bolch

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USC and Boston College are close to finalizing details on a two-game football series that would begin in 2011, a USC official confirmed. USC and Syracuse are in discussions about a two-game series.

-- Gary Klein

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Marta Fernandez scored a team-high 16 points and added six rebounds as the Sparks won their exhibition opener, beating the Phoenix Mercury, 91-71, at US Airways Center.