Sports 2000

Rafael Nadal lost at the French Open for the first time Sunday. Nadal had won his first 31 matches at Roland Garros, including the past four championships. He was attempting to become the first man to win five straight French Opens but Robin Soderling, the 23rd seed from Sweden, defeated him, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-4, 7-6 (2). The men’s draw is now in upheaval. Andy Murray, the 3rd seed from Britain, is the best seed left in the top half of the bracket. Second-seed Roger Federer remains in the bottom half. He’ll play Monday against Tommy Haas.

Dinara Safina, the top-ranked woman in the world, continued to cruise through her draw after smashing Aravene Rezai, 6-1, 6-0. Safina will face Victoria Azarenka in a quarterfinal match. Azarenka dismissed the defending champion, Ana Ivanovic, today, 6-2, 6-3.

Detroit forged a two-game advantage in the Stanley Cup final after a 3-1 win tonight over visiting Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh hosts Game 3 Tuesday.

Steve Stricker won the Invitational at Colonial following a playoff against Tim Clark and Steve Marino. Mark McNulty won the Champions Tour event at West Des Moines, Iowa after emerging from a four-hole playoff over Fred Funk and Nick Price. Christian Cevaer claimed the European Open in Kent, England.

Scott Dixon won the IndyCar Series race in Milwaukee. Jimmie Johnnson took the NASCAR checkered flag in Dover.

Detroit outlasted Pittsburgh, 3-1, in the first game of the Stanley Cup final. Game 2 is Sunday. The first four games of the series will be played in six nights. Every team has such stretches during the regular season but the Stanley Cup final games haven’t been contested on consecutive days since 1955. NBC really wants the weekend dates.

Dwight Howard scored 40 points to lead Orlando to the Eastern Conference championship by defeating visiting Cleveland in Game 6, 103-90. LeBron James was held to 25 points for Cleveland. Orlando visits Los Angeles for the Game 1 of the Finals Thursday.

Chelsea claimed England’s FA Cup with a 2-1 triumph against Everton. About 10 weeks from now, the English Premier League season will begin again. World football season seems to last about as long as golf season. I’m disappointed my favorite EPL side, Newcastle, was relegated. I wouldn’t mind seeing some U.S. teams sent to the minors each year. Would inspire the bottom-end teams to play harder.

Venus Williams was bounced from the French Open Friday in the first major upset of the tournament. Williams, the third seed, was humbled by Agnes Szavay, the 29th seed from Hungary, 6-0, 6-4. Speaking of humbiing, Rafael Nadal cruised into the second week by crushing Lleyton Hewitt, 6-1, 6-3, 6-1. Nadal extended his French Open winning streak to 31 matches.

Los Angeles played an excellent team game to dominate Denver, 119-92, and win the Western Conference. Denver was close in the first half but seemed to let the game get out of hand in the second half as Los Angeles shot nearly 60 percent from the floor. The biggest margin of the game was the final score.

Steve Stricker leads by one stroke after two rounds of the Invitational at Colonial. Tim Clark is in second place at 13-under par. Vijay Singh sits at 12-under par after 36 holes.

Colorado, barely 200 games removed from winning the National League pennant for the first time in 2007, fired its manager today. Clint Hurdle was replaced by bench coach Jim Tracy. Tracy formerly managed Los Angeles and Pittsburgh.