Associated Press
PARIS ó Roger Federer and Venus Williams rallied to advance to the third round of the French Open on Thursday.
Federer had a tough match on his least favorite surface, trailing 5-1 in the third set before getting past Jose Acasuso 7-6 (8), 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-2. Williams came close to an early exit, needing to save a match point before defeating Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-5.
Andy Roddick defeated Ivo Minar of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (2) to match his best showing at Roland Garros.
Federer reached the last three finals in Paris, but the clay-court major remains the only Grand Slam tournaments he hasn’t won.
Fifth-seeded Jelena Jankovic joined the seven-time Grand Slam champion in the third round by defeating Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 6-1, 6-2, and Serena Williams cruised past Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain 6-2, 6-0.
ADENHART UPDATE
SANTA ANA, Calif. ó A grand jury has indicted the man accused of killing Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two others when a minivan smashed into their car last month.
Orange County prosecutors say Andrew Gallo was indicted on three counts of murder and three other felonies for the April 9 crash. Police say Gallo had nearly triple the legal blood-alcohol level when his minivan ran a red light and crashed in Fullerton.
Adenhart died hours after he made his season debut by pitching six scoreless innings. Two others were also killed and a third was critically injured.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
NEW YORKó Beginning in 2010, ballots in the final regular-season USA Today coaches’ college football poll will be kept confidential ó one of a handful of changes on tap for the poll that helps decide who plays in the BCS national championship game.
The American Football Coaches Association had asked Gallup to study its poll and recommend how to make it more accurate and credible.
– FOGELSVILLE, Pa. ó Joe Paterno says he’d like to see either Rutgers, Pittsburgh or Syracuse join the Big Ten.
The Penn State coach also knows who he wants to keep out: Notre Dame.
Paternohas long pushed for Big Ten expansion. A 12th team could ease scheduling difficulties and clear the way for a lucrative conference title game. Penn State joined as the conference’s 11th team in 1990.
ESPN
BRISTOL, Conn. ó ESPN has notified about 100 employees that they will be losing their jobs.
ESPN employs about 5,400 people worldwide, including about 3,400 at its Bristol, Conn. campus.
– BRISTOL, Conn. ó ESPN college football analyst Lee Corso is recovering from a minor stroke but plans to be back for the start of the season this fall.
The 73-year-old former coach suffered no permanent damage and is expected to make a full recovery.
The former Florida State player joined ESPN in 1987 after coaching stops at Louisville, Indiana, Northern Illinois and with the Orlando Renegades of the USFL. He’s been a featured analyst on College GameDay since its inception.
NCAA GOLF
TOLEDO, Ohio ó North Carolina State’s Matt Hill made three birdies on the homeward nine holes and held off his closest pursuers to win the individual title Thursday in the NCAA Division I golf championship at Inverness Club.
Hill, a sophomore, shot his third consecutive 2-under 69 to finish at 6-under 207.Clemson junior Kyle Stanley matched the day’s low round with a 66 to finish second, two strokes back.