Off the wire

LITTLE ROCK — GOLF

Youngest female pro

Alexis Thompson, 15, became the youngest female golfer to turn professional, signing an endorsement agreement. Thompson will compete in her first professional event at the Shoprite LPGA Classic in Galloway, N.J., which starts today. Thompson’s decision to enter pro golf comes after she wentundefeated in the U.S. Curtis Cup victory last week over a team from Great Britain and Ireland. Thompson posted four victories and one tie in the matches. Three years ago, at 12, the native of Coral Springs, Fla., became the youngest player to qualifyfor the U.S. Women’s Open. Her brother Nick, 27, competes on the PGA Tour. While on tour, Thompson will continue her education through home schooling by her parents and other teachers. Thompson will turn 16 in February. Michelle Wie, now 20, turned pro a week before her 16th birthday in October 2005.

TENNIS

Cowboys Tennis off

The Cowboys Tennis Classic, scheduled for July 10 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, has been called off. A tersely worded statement from Cowboys Stadium officials Wednesday said “a future date has not been set and all tickets will be refunded.” No reason was given for what the statement called a “postponement.” Last month, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had announced the event to be held six days after Wimbledon at his $1.2 billion stadium. It was to host two best-of-3 matches, featuring Serena Williams against Maria Sharapova, and Andy Roddick against John Isner.

Roger Federer was the No. 1 seed for Wimbledon ahead of Rafael Nadal in a reverse of their world rankings. Federer, the defending champion and six-time Wimbledon winner, received the top seed Wednesday even though Nadal recently replaced him at No. 1. There were no surprises in the women’s seedings, with Serena Williams at No. 1 and sister Venus at No. 2. The women’s seedings stuck to the rankings, setting up the possibility of a fifth all-Williams Wimbledon final. Serena beat Venus last year for her third Wimbledon title. Nadal moved into the top spot after winning the French Open, while Federer slipped to No. 2 after losing in the quarterfinals in Paris. Wimbledon uses its discretion to seed players based on their grass-court record. The draw will be held Friday, with the two-week Grand Slam tournament starting Monday. Nadal beat Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final, but was injured and unable to defend his title last year. Novak Djokovic is seeded No. 3 and Andy Murray No. 4 in line with their rankings.Three-time Wimbledon runner-up Andy Roddick was seeded No. 5, two spots above his ranking.

Top-seeded Justine Henin advanced to the quarterfinals of the Unicef Open in Den Bosch, Netherlands, in her first grass-court tournament in three years. Henin defeated Roberta Vinci 6-3, 6-3 in their second-round match. On the men’ side, third-seeded Tommy Robredo lost to Simon Greul 6-1, 6-4.

French Open finalist Samantha Stosur and fifth-seeded Kim Clijsters, who is playing her first tournament since injuring her foot in a Fed Cup match in April, reached the quarterfinals of the Eastbourne (England) International. Stosur outlasted Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, needing three match points to close out the match. Clijsters, who won the Eastbourne title in 2005, needed just 38 minutes to beat Lucie Safarova 6-1, 6-0. On the men’s side, top-seeded Nicolas Almagro was carried off court on a stretcher after he slipped while trying to turn on the baseline and suffered a right hip injury. He retired against Denis Istomin while trailing 6-4, 1-0.

FOOTBALL

Redskins want bonus back

The Washington Redskins are going to see if they can recoup all or part of a $21 million bonus from disgruntled two-time All Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, an official within the NFL with knowledge of the deliberations told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The team decided to take the action after Haynesworth failed to report for a mandatory two-day minicamp. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Coach Mike Shanahan said he told Haynesworth in February that the Redskins would agree to release him and let him go to another team - in exchange for not paying him the $21 million bonus due April 1. The Redskins can fine Haynesworth up to $9,442 for missing the minicamp practice, hardly a dent in the money he’s collected from the team for one season’s worth of work. He has been paid $32 million of the $41 million guaranteed in theseven-year, $100 million contract he signed as a free agent last year. Shanahan could release Haynesworth, try to trade him, look through the contract legalese to see if there’s a way to get some of the bonus money back or keep him on the roster and force another showdown when training camp opens July 29.

Brett Favre’s doctor indicated Wednesday that his recent ankle surgery went well and the quarterback has a few more weeks of rehabilitation before he’ll decide if he’ll return for a 20th NFL season. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews said there were no problems with last month’s arthroscopic procedure, which removed scar tissue and bone spurs from Favre’s left ankle. Favre turns 41 in October. He has a contract with the Minnesota Vikings that will pay him $13 million if he plays in the 2010 season. He has given few hints in the offseason. The Vikings have said they will give Favre all the time he needs to make a decision about whetherto return. Minnesota Coach Brad Childress reiterated that he would be fine with Favre skipping training camp just as he did last season.

NFL and union officials discussed adding two games to the regular season when they met Wednesday in New York for their first negotiating session since February. Teams would still play a total of 20 exhibition plus regular-season games under the proposal. The league would go from four in the preseason and 16 in the regular season to two and 18. The collective bargaining agreement expires in March, which could lead to a work stoppage during the 2011 season.

BASEBALL

KC to host All-Star Game

The 2012 All-Star Game is coming to Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Commissioner Bud Selig made the formal announcement Wednesday at the newly renovated ballpark, following through on a promise he made when Jackson County voters approved a sales tax increase in 2006 to finance work at Kauffman and Arrowhead Stadium, home of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, that totaled more than $500 million. Selig was a close friend of Ewing Kauffman, the late founder of the Royals and recalled attending the All-Star Game with him in 1973, the year the facility opened as Royals Stadium. Selig said the economic impact of an All-Star game will approach $70 million for Kansas City.

San Diego Padres catcher Yorvit Torrealba was suspended for three games after making contact with an umpire. Torrealba said he planned to appeal the penalty. That would allow him to keep playing until a hearing was held. Torrealba was ejected in the ninth inning of Monday’s 6-3 home loss to the Toronto Blue Jays for arguing with umpire Larry Vanover after taking a called third strike. He was also fined an undisclosed amount. Torrealba said the brim of his helmet made contact with Vanover. Torrealba is hitting .277 in 32 games, splitting time with Nick Hundley.