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UPI NewsTrack Sports

Posted on: Thursday, 26 June 2008, 18:00 CDT

Roddick, Blake lose at Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England, June 26 (UPI) -- Americans Andy Roddick and James Blake were knocked out of The Championships during second-round play Thursday at Wimbledon.

The four-set upset of Roddick, seeded sixth, and the ninth-seeded Blake's five-set loss means five of the top nine seeds are out of the Wimbledon men's draw. Even world No. 2 Rafael Nadal had problems before putting away his second-round win.

Nadal opened the day's dramatics by losing the first set to Ernests Gulbis before getting a 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 win that took nearly three hours.

Roddick was ousted, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), by Janko Tipsarevic. Roddick fired 27 aces in the match but Tipsarevic broke Roddick's serve twice and didn't lose a game on serve.

Blake's fifth-set issues resurfaced. He won two of the first three sets before Rainer Schuettler finished off the 6-3, 6-7 (8-10), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 decision. Blake is 3-11 in fifth sets in his career.

Eighth-seeded Richard Gasquet advanced on a walkover and Andy Murray, seeded 12th, posted an easy 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win over Xavier Malisse. He draws Tommy Haas in the third round. Haas advanced Thursday with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 upset of 23rd seeded Tommy Robredo.

Astros suspend Chacon for insubordination HOUSTON, June 26 (UPI) -- The Houston Astros suspended pitcher Shawn Chacon indefinitely for insubordination.

The 30-year-old right-hander got into a scuffle with General Manager Ed Wade before Wednesday night's game against the Texas Rangers.

Wade told Chacon that he was being sent to Houston's bullpen and Chacon then informed the Astros he wants to be traded.

I don't agree with the decision, Chacon told Houston's KRIV-TV. I would say if they don't want me to start for them they should trade me to a team that might need a starter because I am sure there are other teams that do.

A report by the Houston Chronicle said that Chacon grabbed Wade and threw him to the ground.

Chacon is 2-3 with a 5.04 ERA in 15 starts (85 2/3 innings) this season.

In his previous start at Baltimore on June 19, he surrendered six earned runs and eight hits in five innings of a 7-5 loss to the Orioles.

Sharapova out at Wimbledon WIMBLEDON, England, June 26 (UPI) -- Third-seeded Maria Sharapova was routed in straight sets Thursday during second-round play of The Championships at Wimbledon.

While second-seeded Jelena Jankovic cruised in straight sets and defending champion Venus Williams shook off a poor first set in winning Thursday, Sharapova's fall caught the most attention.

Alla Kudryavtseva, ranked 154th in the world and making her second appearance at Wimbledon, broke Sharapova's serve five times en route to a 6-2, 6-4 victory. Sharapova committed 22 unforced errors and double faulted eight times in making her earliest exit from a Grand Slam event since the 2003 U.S. Open.

Jankovic swept by Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1, 6-3 and advanced to the third round where she'll meet Carolina Wozniacki.

Williams had problems before topping Anne Keothavong for a 7-5, 6-2 victory. Williams needed to overcome six double faults and 26 unforced errors in moving into the third round.

Tamarine Tanasugarn turned in an upset, beating No. 13 Vera Zvonareva, 7-6 (12-10), 4-6, 6-3. Shuai Pend eliminated 26th-seeded Sybille Bammer, 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 6-3, and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez knocked off 32nd-seeded Sania Maria, 6-0, 4-6, 9-7.

In matches involving top seeds No. 5 Elena Dementieva rallied to beat Timea Bacsinszky, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3; ninth-seeded Dinara Safina was a 6-3, 6-2 winner over Su-Wei Hsieh; and 16th-seeded Victoria Azarenka advanced with a 6-1, 6-3 pasting of Sorana Cirstea.

Italy fires national soccer team coach ROME, June 26 (UPI) -- Italy has fired soccer coach Roberto Donadoni after a scoreless draw in a quarterfinal match against Spain at the Euro 2008 tournament eliminated his club.

Donadoni, who is paying the price for the failing to advance past the quarterfinals, said he was proud of his time in charge, which ended with a penalty shootout loss to Spain Sunday.

Over the last two years my Italy side has done something good and one game can't change that, he said in a statement. It was a stupendous experience and I would do it all again immediately. I would do everything again because I have a clear conscience for everything I have done.

His successor will be former national team coach Marcello Lippi, who guided the Italians the past two years.

Lippi led Italy to the 2006 World Cup title with solid victories against France in the semifinals and Germany in the title match.

Larrazabal early leader in Paris golf PARIS, June 26 (UPI) -- Pablo Larrazabal shot 6-under-par 65 Thursday to forge a one-stroke lead after the first round of the European Tour's Open de France golf tournament.

The young Spaniard started the tournament in Paris by sinking a birdie putt on the first hole and took the outright lead with a birdie on the par-five third.

He closed the round with his lone bogey.

I played good today, he said. I am happy with the score.

Oliver Fisher of England and Ireland's Peter Lawrie share second place at 5-under 66.

Fisher's bogey-free round included a birdie on the par-four 17th.

I just played nicely all day, Fisher said. Today I just went out there and did what I normally do and made a few putts on the par-fours. It was a solid round.

Lawrie's up-and-down round included a double-bogey at the first hole.

Argentina's Angel Cabrera, the 2007 U.S. Open champion, is alone in fourth at 4-under 67.

Source: United Press International

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