TENNIS
Serena out at Bastad
Serena Williams made an unexpected withdrawal Thursday from the WTA clay event in Bastad, Sweden, prior to facing a Czech who has beaten her on the surface. Even tournament organizers had admitted this week they were somewhat surprised the world No. 1 honored her commitment by showing up at the event in the Swedish woodlands. Williams won an opening second-round match over Belgian qualifier Ysaline Bonaventure 6-2, 6-1. But the dream ended as the 33-year-old withdrew citing an old elbow injury just a few days after winning her sixth Wimbledon title at the weekend. Klara Koukalova had defeated Williams on clay in 2009 in Spain but trailed 4-1 in their career series. "Thank you for being so understanding. I always feel so much support here and hope I can come back," the 2013 champion told Swedish TV. "I'm devastated," she added. "When I was warming up in the morning I hurt my elbow as I had major problems with it previously. The doctors said it was best that I did not make it worse. I had the same problem at Roland Garros and Wimbledon." Williams is due to play next month in California, Canada and Ohio before the Aug. 31 start of the U.S. Open.
• Unseeded Danka Kovinic of Montenegro reached the Bucharest Open quarterfinals for a second consecutive year when she upset fourth-seed Julia Goerges of Germany 6-4, 6-7 (8), 6-2 on Thursday. Kovinic, the first Montenegrin woman to make a WTA quarterfinal two years ago in Budapest, made the last eight for the third time this year in a match of long rallies for nearly three hours. To reach her first semi, she will have to go past seventh-seeded Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia, who overpowered Denisa Allertova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-2. Second-seeded Roberta Vinci lost in a second consecutive tournament to Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia, 6-1, 6-1. Krunic also prevailed against the Italian in the Wimbledon first round.
FOOTBALL
Vols under investigation
The University of Tennessee is being investigated by federal authorities over a complaint about the university's response to a sexual assault report. Chancellor Jimmy Cheek told students, faculty and staff Thursday in a letter that the complaint had been filed with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights. Cheek wrote that privacy laws prevent disclosing details of the complaint but promised full cooperation with the investigation. Tennessee has had some off-field issues in recent months involving its football team. The most notable featured the indictments of former linebacker A.J. Johnson and suspended defensive back Michael Williams in February on aggravated rape charges. Both were suspended in November, the day before they were named as subjects of a rape investigation. Johnson has since graduated and completed his eligibility. Former defensive back Riyahd Jones was named in February as a suspect in an ongoing rape investigation in which no arrests have been made or charges have been filed, though the woman said the incident happened after Jones already had left the team. Wide receiver Von Pearson is suspended from the team after Knoxville Police named him a suspect in a rape investigation. As of June 3, the Department of Education had 129 open sexual assault cases at 116 schools across the country. Any university found to be in violation of Title IX risks losing federal funding.
HORSE RACING
Drug standards sought
Two congressmen are introducing a bill that would establish uniform drug and medication standards in thoroughbred racing in 2017. If passed, the legislation would allow the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to create a drug agency specifically for racing -- a first for the sport. USADA, an independent agency, is the national anti-doping organization in the U.S. for the Olympics. The Thoroughbred Horseracing Integrity Act of 2015 is being presented Thursday by representatives Andy Barr, R-Ky., and Paul Tonko, D-N.Y. They co-chair the Congressional Horse Caucus. The racing industry is regulated on a state-by-state basis with a patchwork of regulations. Supporters of the bill have been trying for years to set uniform rules, drug testing and penalties at tracks nationwide. The bill is supported by the Coalition for Horse Racing Integrity. Among those in the coalition are the Breeders' Cup, The Jockey Club, the Humane Society of the United States and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association.
BASKETBALL
Mbah a Moute fails physical
The Sacramento Kings have voided the contract of forward Luc Mbah a Moute after he failed a team physical. The Kings made the announcement Thursday, two days after he signed his free-agent deal. The team had hoped he could add depth and defense to the second unit. Mbah a Moute averaged a career-high 9.9 points to go with 4.9 rebounds per game with Philadelphia last season. He has averaged 6.8 and 4.9 rebounds in seven NBA seasons.
Sports on 07/17/2015