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Top-seeded Roddick upset in the first round

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From Times Staff and Wire Reports

Top-seeded Andy Roddick was upset by Fabrice Santoro in the first round of the Lyon Grand Prix on Wednesday at Lyon, France.

Santoro, 34, hit three aces in the last game to complete a 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-4 victory.

Fourth-seeded Richard Gasquet also advanced with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 over Christophe Rochus.

David Nalbandian lost to Stanislas Wawrinka, 7-6 (5), 6-2, in the first round of the Swiss Indoors at Basel, Switzerland, three days after beating Roger Federer to win the Madrid Masters.

Trying to clinch one of the final three spots in the season-ending Masters Cup next month, fourth-seeded James Blake defeated Oscar Hernandez, 6-3, 6-4.

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Top-seed Anna Chakvetadze defeated Francesca Schiavone, 6-0, 6-2, to reach the quarterfinals of the Generali Ladies at Linz, Austria.

Top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko beat Filippo Volandri, 6-1, 6-1, to reach the second round at the St. Petersburg Open in Russia.

BASEBALL

Yankees interview Pena, could make hire soon

Tony Pena, the New York Yankees’ first-base coach, became the third and apparently final candidate interviewed to replace manager Joe Torre.

The Yankees could make a decision this week after already speaking to broadcaster Joe Girardi and bench coach Don Mattingly.

De Jon Watson, the Dodgers’ director of player development, was promoted to assistant general manager, player development.

SOCCER

Liverpool stays winless with 2-1 loss at Besiktas

Five-time champion Liverpool extended its winless streak to three games in this season’s Champions League, losing at Besiktas, 2-1.

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Defending champion AC Milan beat Shakhtar Donetsk, 4-1, Real Madrid downed Olympiakos, 4-2, Chelsea beat Schalke, 2-0, and Benfica defeated Celtic, 1-0.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Top Pittsburgh recruit transfers over eligibility

Darnell Dodson, a 6-foot-6 guard who was a key member of what Pittburgh Coach Jamie Dixon called his best recruiting class, plans to transfer to Miami Dade College after failing to gain eligibility.

UC Santa Barbara was picked to win the Big West Conference men’s basketball title according to polls by conference coaches and media that covers the conference.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo was picked second in both polls and Cal State Fullerton was third in the media poll and tied with Pacific for third in the coaches poll.

Defending champion UC Riverside was picked in both polls to win the women’s title and UC Santa Barbara was second.

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MISCELLANY

Chivas will leave early because of wildfires

Chivas USA will fly to Kansas City today, a day ahead of schedule, for its first-round playoff game Saturday against the Wizards because of the poor air quality created by the wildfires in the Southland.

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International Boxing Federation welterweight champion Kermit Cintron (28-1, 24 knockouts) has orally agreed to fight unbeaten Paul Williams (33-0, 24 KOs) on Feb. 2, Williams’ promoter said.

The bout, which would also unify Williams’ World Boxing Organization title, could be held at Los Angeles’ new, 7,100-seat Nokia Theater, Dan Goossen said.

PASSINGS

Hume, a Canadian wrestling champion, 54

Peter Hume, a Canadian national wrestling champion in the 1970s, died after he was stricken at his home in Mechanicville, N.Y. He was 54.

Cynthia Phipps, a thoroughbred owner and breeder, died of injuries suffered in a fire at her Manhattan apartment, The Jockey Club said. Phipps was 62.

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