Off the wire

TENNIS Djokovic defends title

Novak Djokovic opened the defense of his Dubai Championships title with a straight sets victory over Denis Istomin, while second-seeded Juan Martin del Potro had to retire from his first-round match on Tuesday. Top-seeded Djokovic was a 6-3, 6-3 winner over 54th-ranked Istomin of Uzbekistan. Del Potro was not so fortunate, being forced to retire against Somdev Devvarman of India after losing the first set tiebreaker 7-6 (3). Third-seeded Tomas Berdych extended his winning streak to eight matches with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Romanian qualifier Marius Copil. Berdych, who reached the final in Dubai last year, won the Rotterdam title two weeks ago. Fifth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France secured a 6-2, 6-4 win over Victor Hanescu of Romania.

Third-seeded Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic cruised into the second round of the Brazil Cup with a 6-3, 6-3 win over 17-year-old Croatian Donna Vekic on Tuesday. Zakopalova was runner up to Kurumi Nara of Japan at last week’s Rio Open. Brazilian Teliana Pereira, who made her second WTA semifinal in Rio before falling to Zakopalova, defeated seventh-seeded Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor of Spain 6-4, 6-3. Second-seeded Garbine Muguruza of Spain beat South African Chanelle Scheepers 6-2, 6-1 in a second-round match.

BASKETBALL James back to practice

LeBron James took part in non-contact drills Tuesday and said he should be able to play Thursday for the Miami Heat against the New York Knicks. James missed Sunday’s victory over Chicago after breaking his nose in the previous game. He said he plans to try out a new protective mask in practice today and will wear it in games while his nose heals. James did a lot of running and other conditioning Tuesday, and worked with his teammates on offensive sets. He said he’s still in a little pain, but feels better every day.

A person familiar with the talks says the Sacramento Kings and guard Jimmer Fredette are working on a buyout of his contract. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because talks were ongoing, says the sides hoped to finalize an agreement by the end of the week. Fredette would be a free agent if he clears waivers. Yahoo Sports first reported the negotiations. The Kings drafted Fredette with the 10th pick in 2011 after a sensational run at BYU, where he won The Associated Press’ player of the year award his senior season. Fredette never lived up to the fanfare in Sacramento, though the franchise’s turmoil - and playing for three different coaches - didn’t help his cause. Fredette is averaging 5.9 points and 11.3 minutes this season.

Greg Anthony will call his first Final Four and national championship game as CBS Sports and Turner Sports make some changes for their coverage of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Anthony will join Steve Kerr, Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Ernie Johnson will be hosting studio coverage from the Final Four for the first time, with Charles Barkley, Clark Kellogg and Kenny Smith. Also, former Duke star Grant Hill will be a studio analyst working from Atlanta throughout the tournament. The Final Four is on April 5 and will be televised on TBS for the first time. The title game is on April 7 and will air on CBS.

FOOTBALL Bowl loses money

Tax returns show that the Fiesta Bowl and its related entities collectively lost money in the 2012-13 fiscal year but still have large reserves. Annual tax returns indicate the bowl and its entities together had $1.3 million in losses, with three entities losing money and a fourth recording a gain. The bowl’s tax returns also reported $26.2 million in reserves. The foundation that runs the Fiesta Bowl posted a gain, while the money-losing entities include the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, which features lower-tier teams. Losses also are reported for a community events program and a foundation created to help the Fiesta Bowl host national title games. The Fiesta Bowl will host college football’s 2016 National Championship Game.

GOLF Rose withdraws

U.S. Open champion Justin Rose has withdrawn from the Honda Classic to rest his right shoulder. Rose first hurt his shoulder last August during The Barclays. While he played out the remainder of the year, it forced him to wait until the Northern Trust Open at Riviera two weeks ago to play for the first time. Rose said physical therapy is helping the tendinitis in his right shoulder, but he felt that four weeks in a row of tournament golf would be too much. He plans to play next week at the Cadillac Championship, where he is a past champion.

Former PGA champion Steve Elkington caused more outrage on Twitter when he made a disparaging remark about Missouri defensive end Michael Sam while trying to criticize coverage of him. Sam announced two weeks ago that he is gay. He worked out this week at the NFL combine in Indianapolis and is projected as a mid- to late round pick in the draft. Elkington first tweeted that ESPN’s coverage of Sam was embarrassing. He followed with this tweet: “ESPN reporting Michael Sam is leading the handbag throw at NFL combine … No one else expected to throw today.” Elkington later deleted his tweet and said he supported Sam. The PGA Tour said Tuesday in a statement that public commentary that is clearly inappropriate falls under its regulations of conduct unbecoming a professional.

BASKETBALL Knicks guard faces weapons charges

NEW YORK - New York Knicks point guard Raymond Felton was arraigned Tuesday on two weapons possession charges after a lawyer for his wife turned in a loaded semi-automatic handgun to a Manhattan precinct.

Felton did not enter a plea in Manhattan Criminal Court following his early morning arrest at a stationhouse. He was released on $25,000 bail.

Prosecutors charged Fenton with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. A judge ordered him not to have contact with his wife, Ariane Raymondo-Felton. His lawyer says he has no plans to. They are getting divorced.

Police said the gun was delivered to a station house Monday before the Knicks’ loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Prosecutors say the unregistered, Belgian-made FN Herstal pistol was loaded with 18 rounds of ammunition in a magazine.

Felton turned himself in at12:50 a.m., not long after the Knicks lost to the Dallas Mavericks in a buzzer-beater at home, police said.

A Knicks spokesman said the team had no immediate comment.

Raymondo-Felton is a student at the Fordham University School of Law, a spokesman confirmed. Court records show she filed for divorce from Felton last week.

The Knicks did not play Tuesday. Felton had eight points and seven assists Monday in the Knicks’ 110-108 loss to Dallas.

The Knicks brought the point guard back for a second stint in New York in July 2012, opting to let Jeremy Lin leave, and Felton helped the Knicks win the Atlantic Division last year. But he has had a disappointing season, averaging 10.4 points and shooting 40 percent while missing 16 games with a series of injuries.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank said the league was monitoring the case. It could fine or suspend Felton but usually waits until after the legal case has been resolved.