Federer has last word against Canas in Madrid

Top-ranked Roger Federer overlooked his recent history against 13th-seeded Guillermo Canas, and easily defeated him, 6-0, 6-3, on Thursday in the third round of the Madrid Masters tennis tournament.

Canas, who defeated Federer in consecutive tournaments in March, was broken at love in the second game.

Two more breaks of serve gave Federer the first set in 21 minutes.

Canas held serve for 1-1 in the second set. But Federer, the defending champion, abandoned the ground strokes and came to the net. He scored 14 of his 17 overall winners at the net in the second set.

Federer, who won 32 of his 41 service points, broke Canas again in the sixth game before holding serve for the rest of the way.

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Top-ranked Justine Henin eased into the quarterfinals of the Zurich Open with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Vera Zvonareva. She will next play Agnieszka Radwanska, who upset seventh-seeded Daniela Hantuchova, 6-3, 6-3.

Second-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova also advanced, bouncing back from a first-set loss to defeat Sybille Bammer, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Playing in her first match of the tournament, Henin needed time to adjust, committing four double faults in the opening set. She broke Zvonareva early but allowed her to immediately recover her serve in the following game. Henin made the decisive break at 3-3 when Zvonareva hit the ball long, and then broke again at 5-3.

In the second set, Zvonareva was able to hold only her opening serve. At 2-1, Henin built up three break points but needed only one, taking the game with a cross-court forehand winner. She broke twice more to close out the match.

GOLF

Allen shoots 63 for first-round lead

Michael Allen brought several dozen friends to Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. He gave his hometown gallery plenty to cheer about, matching his career-low round with a seven-under-par 63 to take the first-round lead in the Fry’s Electronics Open.

Nick Watney, Rich Beem and Frank Lickliter II were two strokes back, with Lickliter posting the day’s only bogey-free round.

It wasn’t as much fun for Grayhawk member Phil Mickelson, No. 2 on this year’s money list and the biggest name in the tournament. Mickelson hit three balls into the desert and finished with a one-over 71, eight strokes behind Allen.

HORSE RACING

Trainer Biancone reaches settlement

Thoroughbred trainer Patrick Biancone, accused of medication violations, has reached a settlement with Kentucky racing authorities that will bar him from racing anywhere for six months.

In exchange, Biancone won’t attempt an appeal. For an additional six months, he won’t work as a trainer, but may go to the races, as long as he stays in public areas, the agreement released Wednesday said.

Biancone has agreed not to appear at the Breeders’ Cup Championships on Oct. 26-27 at Monmouth Park in New Jersey, although the suspension doesn’t go into effect until Nov. 1.

Seven horses are pre-entered in his name for eight races, but Biancone will withdraw as trainer of record under the agreement. He isn’t prohibited from receiving prize money from the championships.

BASEBALL

Nationals will retain entire coaching staff

The Washington Nationals will retain their entire coaching staff in 2008.

The team announced that pitching coach Randy St. Claire, hitting coach Lenny Harris, bench coach Pat Corrales, third base coach and spring training coordinator Tim Tolman, first base coach Jerry Morales and bullpen coach Ricardo Aponte will again be on Manager Manny Acta’s staff.

JURISPRUDENCE

Former NBA player Clark is arrested

A former NBA player wanted on drug and weapons charges in Illinois was arrested when U.S. marshals stopped him aboard a commercial bus heading out of Houston.

Keon Clark, 32, who last played for the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns, was scheduled for trial in August 2006 in Illinois for possession of marijuana, two counts of possession of a controlled substance and two counts of firearm possession.

COLLEGE SPORTS

Beringhele named baseball coach at CSLA

Vince Beringhele, formerly the associate head coach at Loyola Marymount, has been named interim head coach at Cal State Los Angeles, Golden Eagles Athletic Director Dan Bridges announced. Beringhele replaces Pat Shine, who resigned after one season to become associate head coach at UC Irvine.

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Brook Lopez, a 7-foot sophomore who was already academically ineligible for the start of Stanford’s season, has been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules. He will not be able to practice or participate in any team activities while serving the suspension, basketball Coach Trent Johnson said.

MEDIA

Patrick will write for Sports Illustrated

Dan Patrick, whose morning syndicated radio show is carried by KLAC 570, has entered into a partnership with Sports Illustrated. He will write a weekly column for the magazine beginning in January and SI Digital will re-launch danpatrick.com early next year. The website will offer an audio simulcast of his radio show, which will regularly feature Sports Illustrated writers.

-- Larry Stewart