Davenport loses to Lisicki in Fed Cup match

It wasn’t the best of days for Lindsay Davenport, who struggled during a stunning loss on the opening day of a Fed Cup quarterfinal match against Germany at La Jolla on Saturday.

Playing in her native Southern California, Davenport didn’t have much go her way in losing, 6-1, 7-5, to 18-year-old Sabine Lisicki. Ashley Harkleroad, making her Fed Cup debut, evened the best-of-five series at 1-1 with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Tatjana Malek.

The final three matches are scheduled for today, and rain is forecast. Weather permitting, Davenport will get a chance to rebound when she plays Malek in the first reverse singles match.

Harkleroad will play Lisicki, followed by the doubles match, in which Davenport is scheduled to play.

Maria Sharapova won her Fed Cup debut and defending champion Russia split with Israel in the opening singles matches at Ramat Hasharon, Israel, while Spain and China took 2-0 leads in the first round. Sharapova defeated Tzipi Obziler, 6-0, 6-4, and Israel’s Shahar Peer rallied to beat Dinara Safina, 0-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Nuria Llagostera Vives of Spain upset Francesca Schiavone of Italy, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-2, and Anabel Medina Garrigues defeated Flavia Pennetta, 6-2, 6-3, at Naples, Italy.

In Beijing, Li Na defeated Alize Cornet of France, 6-3, 6-1, and Peng Shuai beat Virginie Razzano, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, to put China within one victory of its first appearance in the Fed Cup semifinals.

WINTER SPORTS

Maze wins downhill; Vonn ties for fifth

Tina Maze of Slovenia won a World Cup downhill at St. Moritz, Switzerland, while Lindsey Vonn of Vail, Colo., tied for fifth and missed a chance to tie the U.S. record for downhill victories.

Vonn was attempting to match the U.S. downhill record of nine wins held by Picabo Street and Daron Rahlves.

Maze traveled the Corviglia course in 1 minute 44.38 seconds to edge Maria Holaus of Austria by 0.34 of a second. Lara Gut of Switzerland was third in 1:44.73, despite falling just before the finish and crossing the line on one ski.

Vonn tied with Elisabeth Goergl of Austria, 0.42 of a second off the pace after a shaky run in foggy conditions.

Maze took advantage of improved visibility and a faster course with a late start at 47th. She skied under occasional sunny skies instead of fog.

A men’s World Cup downhill at Val d’Isere, France, was canceled because of heavy snowfall. Officials called off the race after course workers were unable to prepare the Face de Bellevarde course for the race. A super-combined is still scheduled today.

Thomas Morgenstern of Austria won a World Cup ski jump event at Sapporo, Japan. It was his eighth victory of the season.

After a first jump of 125.5 meters on the large hill, Morgenstern posted the longest jump of the meet at 131.5 and finished with 261.6 points.

Janne Happonen of Finland was second with 249.9 points. Martin Koch of Austria was third with 249.3.

Tatjana Huefner of Germany set a World Cup record by winning her fifth consecutive World Cup luge race at Altenberg, Germany.

Huefner’s time of 1 minute 47.290 seconds led a sweep for Germany. Silke Kraushaar-Pielach was second in 1:47.611, followed by Natalie Geisenberger in 1:47.652.

SOCCER

Arsenal wins to take Premier League lead

Emmanuel Adebayor’s two goals lifted Arsenal to a 3-1 victory over Manchester City that moved it into first place in the English Premier League standings, two points ahead of Manchester United, which drew, 1-1, at Tottenham.

Adebayor scored in the ninth and 88th minutes at the City of Manchester Stadium and set up Eduardo da Silva’s 26th-minute goal. Arsenal has 60 points.

Tottenham went ahead at White Hart Lane on a goal by Dimitar Berbatov in the 21st minute. Carlos Tevez scored for United in the 90th minute.

Galaxy forward Landon Donovan and Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan are among the 22 players named by U.S. national team Coach Bob Bradley to travel to Houston to prepare for the May 8 exhibition against Mexico at Reliant Stadium.

BASEBALL

Belliard leads Licey in Caribbean Series

Washington Nationals second baseman Ronnie Belliard homered and drove in four runs to lead the Dominican Republic’s Licey Tigers to a 6-4 victory over Venezuela’s Aragua Tigers at Santiago, Dominican Republic, in the first round of the Caribbean Series.

Belliard homered in the third inning off Jose Santiago and had a two-run double in the fourth. New York Mets prospect Anderson Hernandez and Juan Francisco also drove in runs for Licey.

Colorado Rockies reliever Jose Capellan yielded one run, four hits and struck out three in five innings for Licey. Santiago gave up eight hits and five runs in five innings.

TRACK AND FIELD

Chambers takes first step to run for Britain

Dwain Chambers cruised to the 60-meter qualifying time for the indoor British track and field trials, and headed for a battle with the national team’s governing body.

Chambers, who served a two-year ban for doping, won in 6.60 seconds in the final of the Birmingham Games at the National Indoor Arena.

However, UK Athletics said he must be drug tested for a year before being considered for the British team.

His time is good enough for a spot at the British trials at Sheffield next weekend, and Chambers also wants to run at the indoor world championships next month.

UK Athletics said Chambers cannot compete in its championships or trials because he has not been drug tested since his ban ended. It said Chambers must be drug tested for a 12-month period.

MISCELLANY

U.S. routed in Olympic field hockey qualifier

Lucas Vila scored three goals to lead Argentina to a 9-1 victory over the U.S. in the first round of an Olympic field hockey qualifying tournament at Auckland, New Zealand.

The Americans must win the six-team event to advance to this summer’s Beijing Games.

The U.S. men have appeared in the Olympics six times, most recently in 1996.