Radwanska continues roll, makes Sydney final

SYDNEY — Top-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska has advanced to the Sydney International final, running her 2013 winning streak to eight matches with a 6-3, 6-4 win on Thursday over former French Open champion Li Na.

Radwanska, who lost in last year's Wimbledon final to Serena Williams, won the Auckland WTA tournament last week and goes into next week's Australian Open as the fourth-seeded player.

The Pole wasn't feeling pressure to extend her winning streak.

"Actually when I was going on court, of course if I win, great; if not, I mean, not that big deal because I really had a lot of matches here and in Auckland," she said. "I'm really ready for the Australian Open. It's always hard to say, but I think of course winning two tournaments in a row is a good thing."

Radwanska will play Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia in Friday's final. Cibulkova beat second-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

In men's action, young Australian Bernard Tomic took a major step toward winning his first career ATP Tour title by downing defending champion Jarkko Nieminen.

The 20-year-old, ranked 64th, clawed back from dropping the opening set to oust the Finn, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-2 in a night quarter-final.

Tomic will take on either Italian third seed Andreas Seppi or Spanish eighth seed Marcel Granollers in Friday's semi.

Tomic's only previous tour semifinal ended in defeat against Andy Murray last January in Brisbane.

"I'm ready to go for tomorrow's semifinal," Tomic said. "I'm really confident now and I got a shot to get into the final for the first time in my career."

"So the next match is a big match and I'm going to do everything I can to win tomorrow.

"To get the chance to play (my) first Tour event final and to do it in Australia is going to be unbelievable, but I've got to play two quality players to do so."

The towering Kevin Anderson earlier Thursday became the first South African to reach the Sydney semifinals in nine years with victory over Denis Istomin.

The 36th-ranked Anderson accounted for the Uzbek 6-4, 6-3 in 84 minutes and will face last year's finalist Julien Benneteau of France in Friday's last four.

The last South African to reach the final four was Wayne Ferreira.

Benneteau, who lost to Nieminen in last year's final, was too strong for American qualifier Ryan Harrison, winning 6-4, 6-2.

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Colts head coach Pagano makes emotional return to team

INDIANAPOLIS — Chuck Pagano stepped to the podium Monday, hugged his team owner, thanked his family for their support and wiped a tear from his eye.

He might, finally, turn out the lights in his office, too.

Nearly three months to the day after being diagnosed with leukemia, the Colts' first-year coach returned to a team eager to reunite with a boss healthy enough to go back to work.

"I told you my best day of my life was July 1, 1989," Pagano said, referring to his wedding date. "Today was No. 2. Getting to pull up, drive in, get out of my car, the key fob still worked. I was beginning to question whether it would or not. When I asked for Bruce (Arians) to take over, I asked for him to kick some you-know-what and to do great. Damn Bruce, you had to go and win nine games? Tough act to follow. Tough act to follow. Best in the history of the NFL. That's what I have to come back to."

The comment turned tears into the laughter everyone expected on such a festive occasion.

For Pagano and the Colts, Monday morning was as precious as anyone could have imagined when Pagano took an indefinite leave to face the biggest opponent of his life, cancer.

In his absence, all the Colts did was win nine of 12 games, make a historic turnaround and clinch a playoff spot all before Sunday's regular-season finale against Houston, which they pegged as the day they hoped to have Pagano back. If all goes well at practice this week, Pagano will be on the sideline for the first time since a Week 3 loss to Jacksonville.

Pagano endured three rounds of chemotherapy to put his cancer in remission.

That Pagano's return came less than 24 hours after Indy (10-5) locked up the No. 5 seed in the AFC and the day before Christmas seemed fitting, too.

"I know Chuck is ready for this challenge. In speaking to his doctor multiple times, I know that the time is right for him to grab the reins, get the head coaching cap on and begin the journey," owner Jim Irsay said. "It's been a miraculous story. It really is a book. It's a fairytale. It's a Hollywood script. It's all those things but it's real."

The reality is that he's returning to a vastly different team than the one he turned over to Arians, his long-time friend and first assistant coaching hire.

Back then, the Colts were 1-2 and most of the so-called experts had written them off as one of the league's worst teams. Now, they're ready to show the football world that they can be just as successful under Pagano as they were under Arians, who tied the NFL record for wins after a midseason coaching change.

Pagano also has changed.

The neatly-trimmed salt-and-pepper hair and trademark goatee that were missing in November have slowly returned, and the thinner man who appeared to be catching his breath during a postgame speech in early November, looked and sounded as good as ever Monday.

He repeatedly thanked fans for their prayers and letters, the organization and his family for their unwavering help and promised to provide comfort and support to other people who are facing similar fights. During one poignant moment that nearly brought out tears again, Pagano even recounted a letter sent to him by a 9-year-old child who suggested he suck on ice chips and strawberry Popsicles in the hospital and advised him to be nice to the nurses regardless of how he felt — and he never even paused.

"I feel great, my weight is back, my energy is back and again, it's just a blessing to be back here," Pagano said.

In the minds of Colts players and coaches, Pagano never really left.

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Snedeker makes strong push to move into lead

ATLANTA — Brandt Snedeker gave himself the opportunity he wanted in the FedEx Cup. He also has the company he expected.

Steady hand: Brandt Snedeker putts on the 16th hole during the third round of the Tour Championship. AP

Snedeker played one of his best rounds this year at just the right time Saturday, making a collection of tough putts and relying on his short game to pick up a couple of other birdies on his way to a 6-under 64 that gave him a share of the lead with Justin Rose in the Tour Championship.

That means he now only has to win Sunday at East Lake to claim the FedEx Cup and its $10 million prize, the richest payoff in golf.

So does Rory McIlroy, who was only three shots out of the lead.

Ditto for Tiger Woods, four shots behind.

The Tour Championship has never had so much at stake for so many top players.

"It's going to be one of the most exciting Sundays of the year," McIlroy said after a 68. "Great to be in the mix."

McIlroy, who won the last two FedEx Cup playoff events, had his 11th consecutive round in the 60s. Woods salvaged an important par after his shot ricocheted off a Georgia pine and wound up with a 67.

Snedeker, McIlroy and Woods were among the top five seeds coming into the Tour Championship, giving each the best shot at the $10 million because they only have to win the Tour Championship no matter what anyone else does at East Lake.

They won't be the only players with a chance to win at least one trophy — the Tour Championship — on Sunday. Rose will be in the final group with Snedeker, and while it's unlikely he can win the FedEx Cup, the Englishman surely would settle for his second win of the year against a strong field.

"I have the advantage of just playing the Tour Championship," said Rose, who won a World Golf Championship at Doral in March. "The whole year, we've been grinding for the FedEx Cup, and it's still possible. It's not an easy golf course. Things can happen out there. But for me, it's about one tournament."

Snedeker and Rose were at 8-under 202.

Ryan Moore spoiled his round with a bogey on the 17th and still had a 65, putting him alone in third at 6 under.

Jim Furyk, the 36-hole leader, was tied for the lead until he pulled his tee shot into the water on the 17th, hit the next tee shot into the gallery, his fourth shot into a bunker and made triple bogey that sent him tumbling down to a 72. He was still in the mix at 205, along with McIlroy and Masters champion Bubba Watson, who had a double bogey on the 16th hole and shot 70.

Typical of the FedEx Cup playoffs, there was plenty of star power in contention, with 11 of the top 14 players on the leaderboard headed to the Ryder Cup next week.

For now, the attention shifts in a big way to the $10 million payoff.

"My first goal for this week is achieved," Snedeker said. "And that is to have a chance going into Sunday. It should be a lot of fun."

Snedeker also shot a 64 in the second round of the British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, though he rated this one as better. There was no wind at Lytham, and the conditions were relatively soft. East Lake demanded a crisp game as the wind rustled pine branches and the greens became firm.

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Hoffenheim makes offer to Usami

OSAKA — Japanese Olympic hopeful Takashi Usami has had an offer to join German first-division club Hoffenheim from Bayern Munich, a Gamba Osaka source said Wednesday.

Usami, who had been on loan to Bayern from Gamba this season, made just three appearances in the Bundesliga and his deal expires at the end of June.

Hoffenheim are the second Bundesliga club after Nurnberg to make an offer for Usami. The 20-year-old has told Gamba he wants to continue playing abroad and the former Asian club champions have expressed their willingness to respect his wishes.

On Tuesday, German daily Bild said Usami was expected to be on the same terms as he was at Bayern with Hoffenheim, who finished 11th in the championship.

Bild said Usami would receive a monthly salary in the neighborhood of €80,000 and would cost Hoffenheim a fee of €300,000.

Bayern have had a disappointing campaign in 2011-12, having settled for runnerup to Borussia Dortmund in both the Bundesliga and the German Cup. They have one match remaining on Saturday, when they host Chelsea in the Champions League final.

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Serena makes return, dreading new season

BRISBANE, Australia — After winning the first match she's played since her U.S. Open final defeat last September, Serena Williams admitted she's dreading another season of grueling workouts but still can't live without tennis.

Take it or leave it: Serena Williams hits a shot during her 6-2, 6-3 win over South Africa's Chanelle Scheepers at the Brisbane International on Monday. AP PHOTO

The 30-year-old Williams had her service broken in the opening game Monday before settling in and beating Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa 6-2, 6-3 at the Brisbane International. She needed just 68 minutes to advance, firing seven aces and taking advantage of eight double-faults by Scheepers.

She was asked after the match whether her four-month layoff indicated she may have fallen out of love with tennis.

"It's not that I've fallen out of love . . . I've never really liked sports, I never understood how I became an athlete," Williams said.

She added, laughing, that she's never liked working out and "I don't want anything that has to do with working physically.

"If it involves sitting down or shopping I am excellent at that. I don't love tennis today . . . but I can't live without it so I am still here."

Williams has said previously that she plans to cut down on her schedule in 2012.

"I just want to be able to do other things I am doing and expand on that," she said Monday. "I think that will help keep my motivation up. I have always been preparing myself for life after tennis."

Not that the 13-time Grand Slam winner is planning on retiring any time soon. She'll play young Serbian Bojana Jovanovski in the second round in her only warmup tournament before the Jan. 16 start of the Australian Open, a major she has won five times.

In other matches Monday, top-seeded Samantha Stosur of Australia, who beat Williams for the U.S. Open title, advanced with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Anastasiya Yakimova of Belarus and sixth-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia defeated Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 6-4, 6-2.

Former No. 1-ranked Ana Ivanovic beat Tamira Paszek of Austria 6-3, 6-3 and American qualifier Vania King defeated Melinda Czink of Hungary 6-3, 6-4.

Ivanovic will play Australian Open defending champion Kim Clijsters in the second round.

The last time the two met, former French Open champion Ivanovic blew five match points at Miami last March. Ivanovic had three break points when leading 5-1 in the deciding set before Clijsters came back to win 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) and improve her career record with Ivanovic to 4-0.

LONDON — Andy Murray has hired eight-time Grand Slam winner Ivan Lendl as his coach.

The fourth-ranked Briton will begin working immediately with Lendl as he prepares for the Australian Open next month.

Murray says in a statement he hopes Lendl will provide "fresh insight," adding that "Ivan's impact on the game is unquestionable."

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Mao makes spirited return at nationals

KADOMA, Osaka Pref. — Skating just over two weeks after the death of her mother, former two-time world champion Mao Asada put together a courageous Christmas Eve performance to place second after the women's short program at the national championships.

Dazzling return: Mao Asada skates during the women's short program on Saturday at the national championships in Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture. Mao is in second place with 65.40 points. KYODO PHOTO

Mao, appearing in her first competition since her mother Kyoko on Dec. 9 passed away aged 48 after a lengthy battle with liver cirrhosis, sailed through her fluidly composed program, landing all of her jumps cleanly to score a season-best 65.40 points.

Seventeen-year-old Kanako Murakami took top spot with 65.56 points while Akiko Suzuki, silver medalist at the Grand Prix Final in Quebec earlier this month, placed third.

With the Osaka crowd behind her all the way, Mao kept her emotions in check as she glided around the Namihaya Dome rink to "Sheherazade" by Nikolai Rimski-Korsakov, opening with a double axel and comfortably landing a triple flip-double toe and a triple loop in a skate free of any major errors.

"I feel relieved. I have had so many messages of support and I really wanted to try hard today. I felt like so many people were watching over me," said the 21-year-old Mao.

"I felt a different kind of tension but I was able to stay focused. I had a solid skate and hopefully I can build on that in the free program."

A resurgent Mao had been set to compete at her first Grand Prix Final in three years in Quebec but made a frantic return to Japan from Canada on the eve of the women's short program after learning that her mother was in a critical condition. Kyoko died before Mao could reach her bedside.

Murakami, who has struggled this season with boot problems and failed to qualify for the Grand Prix Final, landed a triple combo jump and had a clean triple flip and double axel for 65.56 points, her best score of the season.

"I think I did well. I was confident about my jumps and took care of the rest of my program and it went as well as I hoped," said the former junior world champion.

"I didn't make any mistakes and I am really pleased. I was hoping to score more than 60 points but I was surprised with my score."

Suzuki had her opening triple-triple downgraded and took third with 59.60.

"I've gained confidence competing in events this season but it's never that easy at the national championships," said Suzuki, winner of the NHK Trophy in Sapporo in November.

"I want to show how much progress I have made since last season in the free skate."

Defending champion and reigning world gold medalist Miki Ando is taking time out of competition this season but was watching Saturday's short program from the stands.

Daisuke Takahashi won the men's title with 254.60 total points, followed by defending champion Takahiko Kozuka (250.97) and Yuzuru Hanyu (241.91).

The nationals, which double as a qualifier for the world championships in Nice, France, in March, wraps up with the women's free skate on Sunday.

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What Makes A Country Into A Sporting Giant?

Holder Jubilo makes successful start

Japan Under-22 striker Ryohei Yamazaki and Yuki Kobayashi were on target as Jubilo Iwata began its defense of the revamped Nabisco Cup with a 2-0 win over struggling Avispa Fukuoka in the first leg of Sunday's first round.

Yamazaki opened the scoring after 13 minutes and Kobayashi sealed victory midway through the second half but last year's beaten finalist Sanfrecce Hiroshima was held 2-2 at home to Kawasaki Frontale.

Hiroshima came from a goal down to lead 2-1 through David Mujiri but Takanobu Komiya snatched an equalizer for the visitors two minutes from time.

In other games, Genki Haraguchi sealed Urawa Reds' 2-0 win at home to Montedio Yamagata, Yuki Nakashima's stoppage time goal earned Vegalta Sendai a 1-0 win at J. League leader Kashiwa Reysol, while Mike Havenaar gave Ventforet Kofu a 1-0 win at home to Shimizu S-Pulse.

Yokohama F. Marinos were held 1-1 at home to Vissel Kobe, Rogerinho leveling for Vissel in the third minute of second-half injury time.

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Moore makes endorsement history

MINNEAPOLIS — Top WNBA draft Maya Moore has become the first female basketball player to sign an endorsement deal with the Jordan Brand, a division of Nike Inc.

The Oregon-based sportswear business in basketball great Michael Jordan's name announced the agreement Wednesday.

Moore was selected by the Minnesota Lynx out of the University of Connecticut last month. Considered one of the best players to turn pro in years, she won two national titles at UConn and is a two-time winner of the Associated Press Player of the Year award.

In a statement issued by the company, Jordan says he's "thrilled" to welcome Moore to the commercial team. He says her "hunger and determination to make an impact off the court makes her a valuable addition."

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Ishikawa makes cut for major

KYODO — Ryo Ishikawa shot his second straight even-par 71 on Friday to make the cut at the Japan PGA Championship for the first time in four starts.

The 19-year-old star was in danger of missing the cut after a bogey on the third hole and a double bogey on the next, but bounced back with birdies at Nos. 5, 11 and 18 at Onotoyo Golf Club

Ishikawa is tied for 26th at the midway point in the first major of the year.

Winless veteran Hiroo Kawai turned in the day's best score, a 67, to tie for the lead at 4-under 138 with Michio Matsumura (71) and American Jay Choi (72).

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Vettel makes Turkish GP look easy

Istanbul — Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel cruised to victory in the Turkish Grand Prix on Sunday, clinching his third win of the season ahead of teammate Mark Webber to extend his lead in the standings.

The Formula One champion was never in trouble at Istanbul Park after starting from the pole for the fourth consecutive race and winning by a comfortable 8.8 seconds.

"Throughout this race we had this cushion and were able to act, rather than react," Vettel said. "We never really had anybody close behind, which would have been a different situation."

The 23-year-old Vettel became F1's youngest champion last year and is an odds-on favorite to repeat as he already leads McLaren's Lewis Hamilton by 34 points and Webber by 38.

"I think the day you start to think you are unbeatable is the day you get beaten, for sure," Vettel said. "There is always someone, at some point, who teaches you a lesson, who gives you a hard time and beats you."

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Lack of action makes it tough for Albirex BB

The Niigata Albirex BB will enter the postseason after a remarkably light schedule in recent weeks. So light in fact that it's easy to forget when the team actually played games in back-to-back weeks.

That occurred the final weekend of February and first weekend of March.

The Albirex (19-19), making preparations for this weekend's final regular-season series against the brilliant Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix (39-5), had 12 of their final 16 games canceled due to the aftermath of March 11 earthquake, which caused three Eastern Conference foes - the Sendai 89ers, Saitama Broncos and Tokyo Apache - to end their seasons early.

It remains to be seen if Niigata coach Masaya Hirose's club will struggle to elevate its game due to an unnatural amount of free time and lack of competition in the latter stages of the season. But Hirose has had ample time to conduct practices and individual workouts to prepare his charges for the postseason, as well as make veteran post player George Leach, who joined the team after Saitama pulled the plug on its season, familiar with the team's playbook.

Leading scorer Julius Ashby (16.6 points per game), Yuichi Ikeda, among others, will need to play consistent, aggressive basketball to carry the team to the Final Four on May 21-22 at Ariake Colosseum.

The Albirex, idle since April 3, are 1-3 against the Phoenix in 2010-11.

The Eastern Conference's playoff picture is as follows: Hamamatsu is the top seed, while Niigata is No. 2. The No. 3 seed Akita Northern Happinets (17-31) will face the Albirex in the opening round, while the fourth spot belongs to the Toyama Grouses (12-30), who have the daunting task of facing the defending champion Phoenix in the playoffs. Both series are set for May 7-8.

In the Western Conference, the playoff picture won't be finalized until after the completion of Sunday's games. Here's a rundown on the top six Western teams before the weekend series begin:

* Ryukyu Golden Kings (32-16) * Osaka Evessa (31-17)

* Rizing Fukuoka (29-19)

* Shiga Lakestars (28-20)

* Kyoto Hannaryz (26-20)

* Shimane Susanoo Magic (24-24)

The top two West seeds will earn a bye until the Western Conference semifinals, while Nos. 3 and 4 will play host to the fifth- and sixth-place teams in series scheduled for either April 27-28, 29-30 or April 30-May 1, depending on which teams wind up as the third and fourth seeds.

If two teams finish with identical records, the league uses a cumulative point differential as the tiebreaker, meaning the difference in average points scored vs. points allowed weighs more heavily than a team's head-to-head record against a foe.

One thing is certain: The Evessa, the league's only team with multiple titles (three), wants to avoid having to play on the road in the opening round. So Osaka, two games ahead of Fukuoka in the standings, must avoid getting swept by the Rizing this weekend and face the possibility of statistics determining which team is the No. 2 seed. This season, the Evessa and Rizing are 2-2 against each other.

"Considering the injuries and the roster changes we've made this season, entering the postseason as a possible No. 1 or 2 seed is quite an accomplishment," Osaka forward Lynn Washington said. "(Coach) Ryan (Blackwell) has done a good job with trying to keep everyone focused during these trying times. Out of these next two games we have to win at least one to lock up the 2 seed. We want to play at home in the playoffs."

Asked to assess the team's current status a week before the playoffs start, Washington said: "The improvements we are making are for the sake of team chemistry. We are again dealing with a 'meshing process' with our team now. However, things are going smooth."

If the Evessa secure a top-two spot, they'll be off until May 7-8, when the West's playoff semifinals will be held.

Upcoming games: The rest of the final week of the regular season features the following matchup: Toyama vs. Akita, Kyoto vs. Shimane,

Miyazaki vs. Ryukyu and Takamatsu vs. Shiga.

Impressive play: Nobody believes Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf is the same explosive scorer he was during his All-American days at Louisiana State, when, then still known as Chris Jackson, he garnered nationwide attention for scoring 30-plus points game after game with ease. But he still remains a steady offensive force for the Kyoto Hannaryz.

Now 42, Abdul-Rauf is scoring 15.1 ppg and still has near-automatic success at the free-throw line (80-for-90). In the Hannaryz's series-finale win over the Golden Kings last Sunday, the veteran guard had 17 points, five assists and four steals.

The former NBA standout has 12 20-point games this season, his second in Japan. He has 108 assists and 55 turnovers. Blessed with terrific shooting mechanics and a never-ending commitment to fitness, Abdul-Rauf defies the notion that a 40-something guard can't succeed at the pro level anymore.

Exhibit A: He is 212-for-421 on 2-point shots. What's more, he has knocked down 37 3-pointers to keep defenders honest.

This week, New York Post columnist Peter Vecsey highlighted Abdul-Rauf's solid play this season in his comprehensive column, featuring many tidbits that don't get published in print or online, that circulates among league insiders and subscribers.

Tough finish: The Oita HeatDevils lost their 11th straight game last Sunday, a two-point setback to Shimane, to close out the season. The HeatDevils went 16-32 under L.J. Hepp and his replacement, Tony Hanson, who began the season as the assistant coach. Matt Lottich scored a team-best 16.0 ppg. Damian Johnson averaged 15.9 and Kimitake Sato scored 11.1.

Around the league: The Japan Basketball Association's 42-man provisional roster for this summer's East Asian and Asian Championship tournaments was announced recently, and it didn't surprise most observers that only two bj-league players, Shimane guard Takumi Ishizaki and Hamamatsu center Atsuya Ota, were named to the roster.

Said one league insider, "They expand to 42 and still can't give (Shiga guard Masashi) Joho, (Tokyo guard) Cohey (Aoki) or J. (Saitama forward Kazuya Hatano) a chance?" ...

The Tokyo Apache are hosting a fundraising event on Sunday afternoon from 1 to 4 at Okubo Park in Shinjuku ward. All-Star guard Cohey Aoki, known for his sharpshooting skills, will lead the Apache Shooting Challenge, a 90-second drill in which participants take shots from various locations on the court. The drill helps individuals measure their shooting range and accuracy.

To participate in the event, individuals are asked to make a donation to help the team's disaster relief efforts, which will aid victims of the March 11 earthquake.

Apache players Darin Satoshi Maki, Takanori Goya, Reina Itakura, Tomoya "Chomo" Nakamura, Kensuke Tanaka and Minoru Kimura will also be on hand for the festivities. ...

Expansion talk: A league source passed along the following details via e-mail: "On April 19 the Kagoshima Pro-Basketball organization will officially become Kagoshima Pro-Basketball Inc. They almost joined the bj-league for 2011-12, but now looks like they are seriously trying for the next round of expansion." Stay tuned.

Do you have a story idea about the bj-league?

Send an e-mail to edward.odeven@japantimes.co.jp

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