Agassi falters in first step of comeback

Andre Agassi played his first match in more than three months, and it showed. Agassi dropped a 6-4, 6-4 decision to Tim Henman in the first round of the grass-court tournament at Queen's Club in London, a tuneup for Wimbledon. Agassi had played only eight matches since the US Open in September because of a bad back, with his last appearance coming at the Indian Wells tournament in March. ``I felt good physically, and mentally I was looking forward to it," Agassi said. ``But feeling good in a match is a whole different proposition." Defending champion Andy Roddick opens today against Canadian qualifier Frank Dancevic . . . At Halle, Germany, Jarkko Nieminen of Finland beat Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, in the first round of the Gerry Weber Open. Also, Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic stopped Boris Pashanski of Serbia, 7-5, 6-2.

Despite losing to No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the French Open final, Roger Federer strengthened his hold on the No. 1 world ranking. Federer picked up extra points because he fared better this year than last at Roland Garros, when he lost to Nadal in the semifinals. Nadal won the title both years. They're followed by the same men who were Nos. 3-6 before the French Open: David Nalbandian, Ivan Ljubicic, Roddick, and Nikolay Davydenko. James Blake, who reached the French Open's third round for the first time, moved up one place to No. 7, tying his career high . . . French Open women's champion Justine Henin-Hardenne jumped two spots to No. 3 behind No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo and Kim Clijsters.

The Toronto Blue Jays released second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo and recalled infielder Russ Adams from Triple A Syracuse. Toronto sent Adams down last month after the shortstop repeatedly had trouble making throws to first. Nine of his 10 errors were on throws, so the Blue Jays converted him into a second baseman, and he becomes the starter. ``I'm getting more and more comfortable there every day," said Adams, who spent 16 days at Syracuse learning his new position . . .Toronto righthander A.J. Burnett threw five no-hit innings in a rehab start for Syracuse, while Los Angeles Angels ace Bartolo Colon went seven innings for Triple A Salt Lake, giving up six runs and nine hits in a rehab outing . . . The Padres signed third baseman Matt Antonelli, a former St. John's Prep star from Peabody, to a $1,575,000 deal. He was San Diego's first-round pick (17th overall) in this year's draft. Antonelli batted .333 with 11 home runs and 38 RBIs this year at Wake Forest . . . The Angels activated center fielder Darin Erstad, sidelined since May 1 because of irritation in his right ankle . . . Moe Drabowsky, known as much for his pranks as his pitching during a career that spanned from 1956-72, died Saturday in Little Rock. He was 70.

Right guard Shawn Andrews, a first-round pick in 2004, signed a seven-year contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles. Andrews broke his right leg in the first game of his rookie season, but started 16 games last year and was an alternate for the NFC Pro Bowl squad . . . The Bears signed fullback J.D. Runnels, their sixth-round draft choice out of Oklahoma, where he was primarily used as a blocking back. He had 51 receptions and 450 yards rushing while scoring six touchdowns in four years . . . Green Bay Packers president John Jones underwent open heart surgery and is in stable condition.

Josh Rodriguez homered and drove in five runs, helping rally Rice to a 9-5 win over Oklahoma at Houston and a berth in the College World Series. The Owls took the deciding game of the best-of-three Super Regional series and will return to Omaha for the first time since winning the national title in 2003. Also gaining berths were Georgia and Miami. The Bulldogs turned back South Carolina, 11-6, as Bobby Felmy tripled and homered in a seven-run seventh. Danny Valencia's second home run of the game, a seventh-inning grand slam, helped the Hurricanes rout Mississippi, 14-2 . . . Kansas State basketball coach Bob Huggins will earn at least $800,000 in guaranteed compensation per year the first three years of his five-year contract, provided he does nothing ``which results in material injury to the reputation of the university," according to the terms of the pact. Huggins, 52, signed a contract with the Wildcats, ending two months of haggling over details after accepting the position in April . . . Thomas Clayton, Kansas State's leading rusher last year, has been suspended for one game following a misdemeanor battery conviction and will miss the Sept. 2 opener against Illinois State . . . Texas pitcher Cat Osterman won the Honda Award as the top college softball player. The lefthander went 38-4 with a national-best 0.37 ERA.

Nick Nuyens of Belgium won the third stage and took the overall lead at the Tour de Suisse. Nuyens edged Linus Gerdemann and Joerg Jaksch in the 118-mile stage . . . Champ Car driver Mario Dominguez and Forsythe Racing announced they have ended their relationship, effective immediately . . . Mike Quarry, the younger brother of former heavyweight contender Jerry Quarry who lost to Bob Foster in his bid for the light heavyweight crown in 1972, died in Los Angeles of pugilistic dementia. He was 55 . . . Neroli Fairhall, a gold medalist in archery at the 1982 Commonwealth Games and the first wheelchair-bound athlete to compete in the Olympics (Los Angeles, 1984) died Sunday in Wellington, New Zealand. She was 61 . . . Andy Bean, Rick Marcos (Lakeville), and Scott Spence (Bristol, R.I.) had 68s, and Kirk Hanefeld (Acton) and Scott Masingill had 69s in qualifying at Bay Club in Mattapoisett to earn spots in the US Senior Open in Hutchinson, Kan., July 6-9 . . . Rhode Island's Joey Iaciofano and Scott Ehrkich of Pennsylvania share the first-day lead at the Vermont Open at Lake Morey CC in Fairlee at 5-under-par 65.