Roddick takes Dubai title; Serena wins

Andy Roddick won his second title in three weeks by rallying past Feliciano Lopez, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-2, in the Dubai Tennis Championship final yesterday in the United Arab Emirates. "The whole time, I felt I was playing well," said Roddick, who won in San Jose, Calif., last month. "The biggest thing this week was the way I played my forehand." Roddick ousted second-ranked Rafael Nadal and third-ranked Novak Djokovic on his way to the final. Roddick said the victory boosted his confidence to challenge for Grand Slam titles. "If I keep the form I kept this week, I'll definitely be a threat again," said Roddick, who split with coach Jimmy Connors Thursday . . . Serena Williams defeated older sister Venus, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), to reach the final of the Bangalore (India) Open. Serena will play Patty Schnyder in today's final. Schnyder defeated Yan Zi, 6-3, 6-4, in the other semi . . . Kevin Anderson beat Robby Ginepri, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, to advance to the final of the Tennis Channel Open in Las Vegas. He'll face Sam Querrey, a 7-5, 6-2 winner over Guillermo Canas.

LoLo Jones led a 1-2 American finish in the women's 60-meter hurdles at the World Indoor Championships in Valencia, Spain, winning in 7.80 seconds. Teammate Candice Davis finished second in 7.93. "It's my first medal and it's gold," Jones said. "How cool is that?" China's Liu Xiang won the men's 60-meter hurdles, dominating from the heats to the final. Dayron Robles did not keep his part of the bargain in the most touted event of the three-day championships. The Cuban was eliminated in the heats when he wrongly assumed a false start. Liu moved into the lead halfway through the final to win in 7.46 seconds. American Allen Johnson took silver in 7.55. Russian Yelena Isinbayeva won her third straight world indoor pole vault title, holding off rising US vaulter Jennifer Stuczynski. Both cleared 15 feet 7 inches, but the Russian needed fewer attempts. Both failed three times at 15-11. The United States is on top of the medal standings with three golds and eight overall; Russia is second with four overall.

Jose Canseco is expected to by interviewed by IRS agent Jeff Novitzky, who is aiding in the steroids perjury investigation of Roger Clemens, the New York Daily News reported. Canseco's attorney, Robert Saunooke, told the newspaper that Novitzky has asked to meet with the former major league slugger. No date has been set for the meeting. The FBI took over the Clemens case after Congress asked the Justice Department to look into Clemens's testimony at a Feb. 5 deposition and a Feb. 13 hearing. Novitzky, who played a major role in the BALCO steroids case, is expected to be part of the Clemens investigation . . . Freddie Bynum will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and miss at least five weeks, ending his bid to be Baltimore's starting shortstop Opening Day.

Pyro, the 4-5 favorite, muscled his way to the lead and ran off with a 3-length victory in the $600,000 Louisiana Derby in New Orleans. In the toughest Kentucky Derby prep yet, Pyro made easy work of eight rivals. Under Shaun Bridgmohan, the colt moved through an opening between the leaders in the stretch before cruising to his third win in six career starts. My Pal Charlie finished second and Yankee Bravo was third . . . John Buchar won the men's slalom to power the University of Denver to the NCAA Skiing Championship title in Bozeman, Mont. David Chodounsky finished third in the slalom for Dartmouth, which claimed fourth. Middlebury finished fifth and Vermont sixth . . . The Red Wings recalled right wing Darren McCarty from Grand Rapids (AHL) . . . Nebraska offensive lineman Andy Christensen was arrested early yesterday and charged with sexually assaulting a woman at a Lincoln, Neb., bar. Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said the junior has been suspended from the team . . . Japan's Daisuke Naito (32-2-3, 20 KOs) kept his WBC flyweight title with a draw against Thailand's Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in Tokyo.