Roddick wins match, loses coach

Andy Roddick used his strong serve to upset second-seeded Rafael Nadal, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, yesterday and reach the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships in the United Arab Emirates, and then announced he has split with coach Jimmy Connors. Roddick said Connors resigned about a week ago because he wanted to spend more time with his family. "I still have the utmost respect for Jimmy," Roddick said. Roddick will next face third-ranked Novak Djokovic, who beat Igor Andreev, 6-2, 6-1. Also, Nikolay Davydenko edged Andy Murray, 7-5, 6-4, and Feliciano Lopez beat David Ferrer, 6-4, 6-3 . . . Evgeny Korolev upset top-seeded Fernando Gonzalez, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), in the second round of the Tennis Channel Open at Las Vegas. In another surprise, unseeded American Robby Ginepri beat third-seeded Marcos Baghdatis, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3.

The Connecticut Sun acquired former UConn star Barbara Turner in a trade with Houston that sends forward Megan Mahoney to the Comets. The 6-foot Turner averaged 4.2 points in 22 games with the Comets. At UConn, Turner finished ninth on the career scoring list with 1,629 points, and was 10th in rebounds with 797. She played on two NCAA title teams for UConn . . . Utah forward Andrei Kirilenko will miss tonight's game at Phoenix and is doubtful for tomorrow's home game against Denver. Kirilenko has an injured right hip . . . Brandeis senior guard Jaime Capra was named the University Athletic Association's women's player of the year . . . Northeastern sophomore guard/forward Matt Janning was named to the Colonial Athletic Association's all-conference second team.

Federal prosecutors in San Francisco said they have "overwhelming" proof that former Olympic cyclist Tammy Thomas lied when she told a grand jury that she never used steroids, including a high-end bicycle they allege she traded for performance-enhancing drugs when she was low on cash. The prosecutors outlined their case against Thomas in court papers as they prepare for what will likely be the first case to go to trial as part of the government's wide-ranging steroids probe that has implicated dozens of elite athletes, including baseball stars Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. Eight people connected to the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, or BALCO, have pleaded guilty to drug charges or perjury, including track legend Marion Jones, who admitted lying to investigators about using steroids. Thomas's trial is set to begin March 24.

PGA Tour player Tripp Isenhour was charged with killing a hawk on purpose with a golf shot because it was making noise as he videotaped a TV show Dec. 12 at the Grand Cypress Golf course in Orlando, Fla. He was charged with cruelty to animals and killing a migratory bird. According to court documents, Isenhour attempted several shots before witnesses said he hit the hawk. The bird fell to the ground, bleeding from both nostrils. Isenhour said in a statement, "There was neither any malice nor deliberate intent whatsoever to hit or harm the hawk. I was trying to simply scare it into flying away." . . . US Solheim Cup captain Beth Daniel selected Meg Mallon and Kelly Robbins as her assistants for the 2009 matches outside Chicago.

Reigning Mexican League champion Atlante defeated the Revolution, 1-0, in an exhibition game at Playa de Carmen. Revolution players received eight cautions before Chris Albright and Jeff Larentowicz and an Atlante player were red-carded in the 81st minute . . . Austrian skier Mario Scheiber will miss the rest of the World Cup season after tearing ligaments in his left shoulder during a training run in Innsbruck, Austria . . . Ole Einar Bjoerndalen won the 10-kilometer race in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, to secure the overall biathlon World Cup sprint title . . . Vancouver Canucks defenseman Mattias Ohlund will miss 4-6 days after an MRI revealed bone chips in his left knee . . . UMass-Boston's Ryan Donovan was named ECAC East men's hockey goalie of the year . . . Two Syracuse football players - including the younger brother of troubled former NFL quarterback Todd Marinovich - have been charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief, police said. Paul Chiara and Mikhail Marinovich were arrested after breaking into a sports equipment room at Manley Field House early Sunday morning . . . The fledgling All American Football League, which was set to open training camps next week, may have to postpone the season unless it finds additional financial backing.