Roger Federer, Serena Williams win opening matches at French Open

Roger Federer lost an argument. His tennis was more persuasive.

Miffed by a line call in his first match as French Open defending champion, Federer quickly regrouped Monday to win the opening set two points later, then went on to beat Peter Luczak, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.

Top-ranked Serena Williams encountered a stressful situation herself late in the first set, when she erased three break points before going on to beat Stefanie Voegele, 7-6 (2), 6-2.

No. 3-seeded Novak Djokovic, a two-time semifinalist, beat Evgeny Korolev, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3. No. 4 Andy Murray rallied from two sets down for the fourth time in his career and beat Richard Gasquet, 4-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-2, 6-1.

Americans Taylor Dent and John Isner also advanced. Dent won a match at Roland Garros for the first time in his 12-year career, beating Nicolas Lapentti, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (3).

Fifth-seeded USC reached the final of the NCAA men’s tennis tournament, defeating top-ranked Virginia, 4-2, at Athens, Ga. The Trojans (24-3), seeking a second straight NCAA title, will play Tennessee for the championship at 3 p.m. PDT Tuesday.

San Diego Chargers safety Kevin Ellison, who played at USC, was arrested in Redondo Beach on Monday afternoon on suspicion of possessing 100 tablets of Vicodin, police said.

Ellison, 23, was speeding in a school zone and was pulled over in a routine stop, the Redondo Beach Police Department said.

Officers searching his vehicle uncovered the Vicodin tablets, Sgt. Peter Grimm said.

Ellison was released from jail Monday evening after posting $10,000 bail. He is scheduled for a court appearance in Torrance on July 7, Grimm said.

--Robert J. Lopez

The University of Michigan met a Monday deadline to respond to the NCAA’s allegations that the Rich Rodriguez-led football program committed as many as five major violations in the first days of his Wolverines tenure.

Athletic Director David Brandon said last week there would be “total transparency” when the school releases its report Tuesday. The report probably will include self-imposed sanctions, which could include a loss of scholarships and less practice time.

ETC.

Rangers file for bankruptcy protection

The Texas Rangers have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an effort to spur completion of the stalled $575-million sale of the team — and maybe clear the decks for the new owners to make pennant-chasing decisions this summer.

The bankruptcy filing comes four months after Tom Hicks announced an agreement to sell the team to a group led by Hall of Fame pitcher and team President Nolan Ryan and Pittsburgh attorney Chuck Greenberg.

The state of New York is expected to lend the New York Racing Assn. $25 million to preserve thoroughbred racing seasons at Belmont, Saratoga and Aqueduct.