On surface, Federer undaunted by loss

Tennis
Against everyone else, on any other surface, Roger Federer is almost unbeatable. Against Rafael Nadal, on clay, he's a mere mortal. The top-ranked Swiss star lost his fifth straight match to Nadal on clay yesterday at the Monte Carlo Masters, 6-4, 6-4, and the second-ranked Spaniard extended his winning streak on the surface to 67 matches. Nadal won the title in Monaco for the third straight year. The two-time defending French Open champion is 14-0 in clay-court finals, and 4-0 against Federer. But despite Federer's latest setback, the 10-time major champion believes he's still on the right track to win the only major that eludes him. Federer has four Wimbledon titles, and three at both the US and Australian opens, but still needs the French Open to complete the sweep. "I feel this match gave me some information," Federer said. "I'm absolutely in the mix with him on clay. I feel like I'm in good shape for the rest of the clay-court season, and it's going to come down to the French Open to see who wins." Nadal beat Federer on clay last year in the finals of the Monte Carlo Masters, the Rome Masters, and the French Open. He also beat Federer in the 2005 Monte Carlo semifinals. Only at the Rome Masters did Nadal have to save a match point against Federer on clay. "Today's match was very close. For sure, it's a surprise to win in two sets against the No. 1," Nadal said. "I was confident because I was playing my best tennis this week." Federer won his previous two meetings with Nadal on other surfaces.

With Serena Williams sidelined with slight inflammation in her right knee, Fed Cup teammate Vania King showed she can do more than sing. The 18-year-old King won raves for her rendition of the national anthem to start the weekend, then substituted yesterday for Williams and sealed the US team's victory over Belgium in Delray Beach, Fla. King beat Kirsten Flipkens, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, giving the Americans an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. After King won, Venus Williams beat Yanina Wickmayer, 6-1, 6-2. The Americans will play Russia in the semifinals July 14-15 at a US site to be determined. Russia advanced by beating Spain, 5-0. France and Italy, also 5-0 winners, will meet in the other semifinal. Fifth-ranked Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Anabel Medina Garrigues, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0, on clay in Moscow to give Russia its clinching win over Spain. Host Italy got its deciding point against China when Tathiana Garbin beat Zhang Shuai, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, on clay in Castellaneta Marina. Tatiana Golovin gave France its victory over visiting Japan by beating Ai Sugiyama, 7-6 (7-3), 6-0, on outdoor clay in Limoges.

Hockey

Alexei Cherepanov and Egor Averin scored late in the third period to help Russia beat the United States, 6-5, in Tampere, Finland, in the final of the under-18 world championship, ruining the American team's bid for a third straight title. Cherepanov beat goalie Josh Unice with a wrist shot to give Russia a 5-4 lead at 11:52. Averin made it 6-4 at 17:45, beating Unice with a shot between the pads. The US pulled Unice for an extra skater with 40 seconds left, and with only seconds to go Colin Wilson got the Americans within a goal. Wilson and teammate James Vanriemsdyk topped the final scoring list with five goals and seven assists each . . . Dallas defenseman Sergei Zubov will be a game-time decision for the seventh game of the Stars' first-round series with the Canucks tonight in Vancouver after leaving Game 6 with a "torso injury," but coach Dave Tippett expects him to play. Brenden Morrow, who scored in overtime in Game 5 to keep Dallas in the series, also plans to play despite limping off the ice late in Game 6 after being slashed on the back of the leg by Alexandre Burrows . . . Sweden superstar Peter Forsberg has ruled himself out of the world championships in Russia, according to Swedish newspapers. The 33-year-old, whose NHL team Nashville was ousted from the playoffs by San Jose, has been plagued by injuries in recent years. Forsberg, a two-time Stanley Cup winner and two-time Olympic gold medalist, said he would decide this summer whether he might continue to play professionally.

Miscellany

Cubs broadcaster and former All-Star Ron Santo remained hospitalized while undergoing tests for an irregular heartbeat. The 67-year-old Santo, a nine-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner at third base for the Cubs, was admitted to the hospital Saturday night . . . Cubs manager Lou Piniella said he still hasn't decided what to do with an outfield that is jammed with five players. With Alfonso Soriano slated to move to left field from center when he returns to the starting lineup today, the Cubs could stick with rookie Felix Pie in center. That means Matt Murton, Cliff Floyd, and Jacque Jones will be vying for playing time in right . . . Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter, placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 2 with persistent swelling in his right elbow, has been increasing his rehab work and has reported no problems . . . Manny Mayorson's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth lifted the New Hampshire Fisher Cats to a 4-3 victory over the Portland Sea Dogs . . . American entry BMW Oracle Racing posted its third straight win as the Louis Vuitton Cup racing series resumed off Valencia, Spain, after five of the previous six days had been postponed because of a lack of wind. BMW Oracle Racing improved to 3-0 by defeating Shosholoza of South Africa. Also remaining undefeated was Italian boat Luna Rossa, which won against United Internet Team Germany . . . Shot-putter Parry O'Brien, who won two Olympic gold medals and a silver medal, died Saturday at 75 of a heart attack, his wife told the Los Angeles Times. Obituary, Page D12 . . . Janez Brajkovic, a 23-year-old Slovenian, overcame a flat tire and preserved a 12-second win over Christian Vande Velde in the final stage of the weeklong Tour de Georgia, a circuit bike race through the streets of downtown Atlanta. Brajkovic was stricken by illness and fever earlier this month, making him doubtful for the race. But he recovered in time, then pulled away from more prominent Discovery Channel teammates such as George Hincapie, 2005 Tour de Georgia winner Tom Danielson, and Levi Leipheimer.