Venus defeats Serena to reach semifinals

Venus Williams defeated her sister Serena, 5-7, 6-1, 6-0, Thursday to reach the semifinals of the WTA Tour’s season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships at Doha, Qatar, a match Serena Williams called her worst of the year.

“I just couldn’t keep a ball in play,” she said. “Everything was off.”

Venus Williams is 3-0 in round-robin play of a tournament that features the top eight players. Serena Williams dropped to 1-1, but can still advance to the semifinals if she defeats Elena Dementieva today.

Dementieva beat Dinara Safina, 6-2, 6-4, eliminating Safina from the championships. Top-ranked Jelena Jankovic defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova, 7-6 (6), 6-4, to secure a semifinal spot.

OLYMPICS

Swedish wrestler gets two-year ban

The Swedish wrestler who dropped his medal in protest at the Beijing Olympics was banned for two years along with his coach for “scandalous behavior,” the sport’s governing body said.

The wrestling federation, known as FILA, suspended Ara Abrahamian and coach Leo Myllari and banned Sweden’s wrestling federation from hosting international events for two years.

Abrahamian disputed a penalty call that decided his semifinal bout against Andrea Minguzzi in the Greco-Roman 84-kilogram division.

During the medal ceremony, the Armenian-born wrestler took the bronze medal from his neck and dropped it on the mat as he walked away.

The International Olympic Committee stripped Abrahamian of the medal and expelled him from the Games.

GOLF

Matteson takes lead in Florida

Troy Matteson opened with an eagle, had three straight birdies at the turn and shot a career-low nine-under 63 to take a one-shot lead in the first round of the Children’s Miracle Network Classic at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Jimmy Walker, who needs a victory in the PGA Tour’s final tournament to avoid going back to Q-school, opened with a 64 and was one shot behind with Scott Verplank and Kevin Streelman.

Former PGA champion Rich Beem, who needs to finish in the top five to avoid losing his card for the first time in 10 years, was among those at 65.

The most notable round might have been a 70 from Erik Compton, playing on a sponsor’s exemption. Compton, 28, received his second heart transplant just six months ago and recently advanced through the first stage of Q-school.

The PGA Tour granted him permission to use a cart, the first time someone has rode in a tour event since Casey Martin.

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Henrik Stenson birdied No. 16 with a five-foot putt and then holed a 20-foot birdie on No. 18 for a seven-under 65 and a one-stroke lead over Sergio Garcia, Anthony Kim, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott in the first round of the HSBC Champions tournament at Shanghai, China.

ETC.

Leaf investigated by Texas police

Police in the Texas Panhandle are investigating a minor drug allegation made against former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf, who this week was put on leave from his job as an assistant football coach at West Texas A&M.; Canyon police Chief Bobby Griffin says the investigation is in its preliminary stages, but confirmed the allegation was that Leaf obtained a controlled substance by fraudulent means. . . . A sale to buy a minority interest in horse of the year Curlin failed to produce an acceptable offer. The sale was by sealed bid, and the next step is a private sale of the 20% stake in the career money winner among North American horses. The 80% majority interest held by winemaker Jess Jackson isn’t affected by the sale.

Manchester United Manager Alex Ferguson faces a ban from the sideline after being charged by the English Football Assn. for conduct toward a referee. The 66-year-old Ferguson jabbed his finger at Mike Dean in anger over the referee’s decisions during Saturday’s 4-3 victory over Hull. Ferguson has until Nov. 19 to appeal the charge.

PASSINGS

James, 61; won gold at ’68 Games

G. Larry James, who won gold and silver medals in track in the 1968 Olympics, died of cancer at Galloway Township, N.J. He was 61.

James teamed with Vince Matthews, Ron Freeman and Lee Evans on the U.S. 1,600-meter relay team, which won gold in Mexico City. He also won an individual silver medal in the 400 meters.