TENNIS
Serena withdraws at Indian Wells
Serena Williams withdrew before her semifinal at the BNP Paribas Open on Friday night with a right knee injury, 14 years after her sister Venus did the same thing and triggered an angry reaction from fans that had driven Serena to boycott the tournament. The world’s top-ranked player was set to play third-seeded Simona Halep in the second semifinal.
Williams was back at Indian Wells for the first time since 2001, having ended her boycott that began after she won the title in 2001 as a 19-year-old and was heavily booed. She was supposed to play Venus in the semis, and Venus withdrew 20 minutes beforehand with a knee injury, angering the crowd. Serena went on to win the title, but fans booed her throughout the match and she vowed never to return to the desert event. The sisters’ father, Richard, later said he heard racial taunts and there was speculation at the time that he decided in advance which sister would win their matches against each other. Williams announced the news on her Instagram account while the first semifinal was in the third set, shortly after tournament officials confirmed it. Roger Federer defeated Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-0 and Milos Raonic outlasted Rafael Nadal 4-6, 7-6 (10), 7-5 in a nearly three-hour match to set up a semifinal showdown. Federer improved to 15-1 this year, with his only loss coming against Andreas Seppi in the third round of the Australian Open. Federer avenged that defeat in the same round at Indian Wells. He earned his first straight-set victory over Berdych since 2011 in Paris and just his second 6-0 set ever in 19 career matches against the Czech.
BASKETBALL
Thunder forward likely done for season
OKLAHOMA CITY — Reigning NBA MVP Kevin Durant likely won’t return this season.
General Manager Sam Presti said Friday that Durant still has pain in his right foot, well after he was expected to be ready to return. When asked if the best thing would be to shut him down for the season, Presti said: “Essentially, that’s the direction that we’re taking right now, in terms of removing him from all basketball-related activities.”
Now Oklahoma City faces the prospect of trying to make the playoffs without the four-time scoring champion. The Thunder led the New Orleans Pelicans by a game for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference playoffs heading into Friday night’s games.
Durant is averaging 25.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists, but he’s played in just 27 of the team’s 68 games this season. He last played Feb. 19 against Memphis and had surgery three days later to replace a screw that was causing discomfort in the right foot that he broke during the preseason. At the time, Brooks said Durant could return to the lineup in 1-2 weeks.
The Thunder had hoped to get a boost from Durant’s return, but Presti said Durant’s long-term health is his primary concern. Presti said he is unsure of the source of the current pain, so Durant will see specialists in the coming days.
“He’s not making the progress that we had hoped and anticipated him making,” Presti said. “He still has some soreness in his foot, and the protocol that’s in place calls for him to be able to compete on the floor without that at this stage.”
This is the latest in a barrage of bad news the Thunder have dealt with this season. Serge Ibaka, a versatile forward who is the team’s best defensive player, could miss the rest of the season after having an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee earlier this week. Guard Russell Westbrook missed 14 games early in the season with a broken bone in his left hand. Center Steven Adams recently returned from missing 11 games with a broken right hand. And newcomer Enes Kanter, who was supposed to cushion the blow from losing Ibaka, missed Friday’s game against Atlanta with a sprained left ankle.
BASEBALL
Eaton, Sox agree to deal
Outfielder Adam Eaton and the Chicago White Sox agreed Friday to a $23.5 million, five-year contract that includes team options for 2020 and 2021. Eaton hit .300 with 26 doubles, 10 triples, 1 home run, 35 RBI, 76 runs and 15 steals last season, his first with the White Sox following a trade from Arizona. “It’s going to be a little easier on my part to go out and play,” said Eaton, 26, and a 19th-round pick by the Diamondbacks in 2010. “It almost brings a tear to my eye. I’ve been looked over my whole life. I could say I dreamed about it, but really I didn’t. Just dreaming about putting a professional uniform on in Missoula, Montana. To sign a contract for five years in the big leagues is crazy. … I never thought I’d be here.” The deal replaces a $560,000, one-year deal agreed to March 11. He gets $850,000 this year, $2.75 million in 2016, $4 million in 2017, $6 million in 2018 and $8.4 million in 2019. Chicago has options for $9.5 million in 2020 and $10.5 million in 2021. If either option is declined, Eaton would receive a $1.5 million buyout.
David Price is getting the nod as opening-day starter for the Detroit Tigers, ending Justin Verlander’s run of having that honor for seven consecutive seasons. Tigers Manager Brad Ausmus announced the decision about the starter for April 6 against Minnesota on Friday. Price was acquired from Tampa Bay at the July 31 trade deadline and had a better season than Verlander. After a dominant run which included the 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young Award, Verlander struggled last year, going 15-12 with a 4.54 ERA. Price went 4-4 with a 3.59 ERA for Detroit and had a 3.26 ERA overall.
Commissioner Rob Manfred said Major League Baseball expects to make a decision on possible discipline against Los Angeles Angels star Josh Hamilton by opening day. Manfred said Friday that “we are working toward a result.” Hamilton has had a long history of drug and alcohol abuse, and has been suspended in the past. The Angels said Hamilton met with baseball officials last month, but neither side provided details on the reason for the session. Hamilton is recovering from shoulder surgery and his status for opening day was in jeopardy even before the meeting with MLB. “I expect a decision before opening day. Obviously with Josh Hamilton recovering from surgery, that may give us some more time because he won’t play,” Manfred said. Hamilton, 33, is going into the third season of a five-year, $125 million contract with the Angels. The outfielder has 31 home runs and 123 RBI in two injury-interrupted seasons with the Angels.
FOOTBALL
Saints, Harris reach terms
The New Orleans Saints have agreed to terms with tackle Bryce Harris on a one-year contract. Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced the deal Friday. Harris, 6-6, 300 pounds, has appeared in 34 career games with 4 starts in 3 seasons, 2 at left tackle and 2 at right tackle. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Atlanta Falcons in 2012 out of Fresno State, Harris was added to New Orleans’ active roster off the Falcons practice squad in Week one of his rookie campaign. In 2014, he played in all 16 contests, primarily contributing on the club’s special teams units and opened the last two at left tackle in place of an injured Terron Armstead (Arkansas-Pine Bluff).
The New York Jets and former Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson have agreed to a one-year contract. Vickerson, 32, had 12 tackles in 15 games for the Chiefs last season. He is expected to give the Jets depth on the defensive line after Kenrick Ellis signed with the Giants as a free agent. Defensive tackle Leger Douzable is also a free agent. Vickerson also has been with Miami, Tennessee, Seattle and Denver during his 10-year career. He has 165 career tackles, 6 1/2 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. Vickerson was a seventh-round pick of the Dolphins out of Michigan State in 2005.