Off the wire

LITTLE ROCK — TENNIS

U.S. team finishes Switzerland

The United States completed its 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the first round of the Davis Cup on Sunday, with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning the closing singles matches in Fribourg, Switzerland. Harrison made his Davis Cup debut, defeating Michael Lammer 7-6 (0), 7-6 (4) to extend the Americans’ lead to 4-0. Isner, who upset Roger Federer in four sets Friday, then beat Marco Chuidinelli 6-3, 6-4 to give the U.S. its first sweep since a 2004 first-round series against Austria. “It was really exciting to be out there,” Harrison said. “To be part of this week was a huge experience.” The U.S. willplay at France in the April 6-8 quarterfinals. In other pairings, Argentina will face Croatia, Austria against Spain and Czech Republic against Serbia. Harrison was selected by captain Jim Courier after the U.S. sealed its victory Saturday, when Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan beat Olympic doubles champions Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka. Federer and Fish had been scheduled to meet in Sunday’s first match. Courier praised Harrison’s maturity and all-around game. “You see the weapons. He has got a lot of upside and I look forward to sitting on the bench and watching it firsthand,” Courier said. “This was a great experience for Ryan and for me.” Harrison, ranked 95th, dominated the first-set tiebreaker against the 251stranked Lammer with volley winners and strong serves, clinching it with a powerful passing shot. “I got the first point off and that was pretty big. After that, it just kind of flowed,” Harrison said. Courier, a Davis Cup and four-time Grand Slam winner, suggested the 17th-ranked Isner is on the verge of a career breakthrough. “I learned that John can beat anyone at any time, because no one has a chance if he plays the way he plays, and serves the way he serves, unless they play incredible defensive tennis,” Courier said. Isner cruised against Chiudinelli, the 190th-ranked childhood friend of Federer, and served his ninth ace on match point. “I definitely played top-notch tennis this weekend in tricky conditions - in Europe, in February, on clay,” Isner said. “No matter the surface, no matter the opponent, a lot of times the ball, the point, the match is going to be in my control.”

Angelique Kerber won her first WTA title Sunday by overpowering second-seeded Marion Bartoli 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3 in the Open GDF Suez final in Paris. Kerber clinched the victory with a forehand winner. “I knew I had nothing to lose,” Kerber said. “She was the favorite today.” After a first set with four service breaks, Kerber capitalized on an unforced error from Bartoli to take a 4-1 lead in the tiebreaker. She clinched the opening set when Bartoli’s backhand sailed long. Kerber then whipped a forehand cross-court winner to break for a 2-0 lead in the next set. But the U.S. Open semifinalist failed to serve out the match at 5-3, and Bartoli won five consecutive games to even the match with an ace. Kerber jumped to a 4-0 lead in the final set. Bartoli saved four match points at 5-2 but Kerber converted her fifth match point in the next game.

Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova won her second consecutive Pattaya Open title Sunday, defeating Russia’s Maria Kirilenko 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-3 in Pattaya, Thailand. This was Hantuchova’s fifth career title and her first since winning in Thailand a year ago. “Even after I lost the first set, I kept fighting and never looked back,” said Hantuchova, who successfully defended a title for the first time. “This is special for me.” Hantuchova, seeded third, won in 3 hours, 14 minutes. Kirilenko hadalready spent more than 9 1/2 hours on court just to get to the final, her first on the WTA Tour in nearly 16 months. She was a break up in the first set before eventually taking it on a tiebreaker when Hantuchova netted a backhand after 1 hour, 14 minutes. Hantuchova won the second set after an early break before Kirilenko needed treatment on court for a right hip injury. The Russian double-faulted to give Hantuchova the crucial break and a 5-3 lead in the deciding set. Hantuchova closed the victory with help of two forehand winners down the line.

HORSE RACING

Stormy’s Majesty, Blue win

Stormy’s Majesty and Beautiful But Blue scored front-running victories Sunday in $75,000 stakes races for New York breds at Aqueduct in New York. Stormy’s Majesty held off 4-5 favorite Inherit the Gold by a half length in the Mr. G.J.G with Chuckie Lopez aboard for trainer Dominic Galluscio. The 5-year-old won for the seventh time in 15 starts, paying $12.80. Beautiful But Blue stretched her winning streak at Aqueduct to three races with a two-length victory over Peggy Jane in the Windswept Wings for 3-year-old fillies.Junior Alvarado rode for trainer Tom Bush. Beautiful But Blue ran the one mile, 70 yards in 1:45.42, paying $11.20.

Irish-bred filly Indigo River came from next-to-last to win the $73,950 Sweet Life Stakes on the downhill turf course Sunday at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden by Joel Rosario for trainer Jeff Mullins, the favorite was sixth in the field of seven 3-year-old fillies coming down the hillside, moved up to fourth as they came on to the main track and rallied three-wide to beat Vionnet by 1 1/2 lengths. Indigo River covered about 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:13.36 paid $5.20, $3.20 and $3. Vionnet paid $6 and $4.20. Dypsy paid $5.80 to show.

HOCKEY

Lidstrom sets record

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom has played in his 1,550th game, the most by an NHL player who spent his entire career with one team. Lidstrom broke the mark Sunday night against the Philadelphia Flyers and was given a standing ovation when the feat was announced during the first period. Former Red Wings player Alex Delvecchio played 1,549 games, spending his entire career with Detroit’s franchise from the 1950-1951 season to 1973-1974. Gordie Howe played in a team-record 1,687 games for Detroit, but ended his NHL career with the Hartford Whalers. Lidstrom, 41, has won four Stanley Cups and the Norris Trophy seven times.

BASEBALL

LSU freshman suspended

LSU Coach Paul Mainieri says a freshman pitcher from Bossier City has been suspended indefinitely after being arrested and booked with drunken driving. The Associated Press reported Sunday that 19-year old Carson Baranik was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison early Saturday on one count each of first-offense DWI, disobeying a red light and reckless operation of a vehicle. The right-hander was expected to earn time as a reliever this season. Baranik was drafted in the 41st round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft by the Cincinnati Reds but decided to enroll at LSU.

ATHLETICS

UConn hires AD

Connecticut has hired Warde Manuel as its new athletic director. Manuel had been the AD at the University at Buffalo for six years. The university said Sunday that he would sign a five-year contract, with the school holding the option for a two-year extension. He will be paid a base salary of $450,000 and is eligible for a $100,000 performance incentive annually if certain academic and athletic goals are achieved and for another $100,000 in deferred compensation after five years. A native of New Orleans, the 43-year-old Manuel played football and ran track at Michigan. He will be formally introduced today. Jeff Hathaway retired under pressure as AD in August after UConn President Susan Herbst ordered an outside review of his handling of the department.