Sports Desk

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

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TENNIS

Sharapova Beats Petrova To Win Generali Ladies, Now Ranked No. 2

Maria Sharapova won her fifth title of the season yesterday, beating defending champion Nadia Petrova 7–5, 6–2 in the Generali Ladies final and advancing to no. 2 in the rankings.

Sharapova has won 16 straight matches and has not lost since before the start of her successful run to the U.S. Open title.

The top-seeded Russian overtook Justine Henin-Hardenne in the rankings and now trails only Amelie Mauresmo. Sharapova needs to win the season-ending WTA Championship in Madrid, Spain, to finish on top.

Gasquet Wins Lyon Title

Richard Gasquet won his third title of the season yesterday, beating Marc Gicquel 6–3, 6–1 in an all-French final at the Lyon Grand Prix.

Gasquet, seeded fourth, dropped only two sets during the tournament. His other championships came in Nottingham, England, and Gstaad, Switzerland.

“It is my first title in my home country and it means a lot,”

GOLF

Garcia Miscue Gives Harrington The Order of Merit

Padraig Harrington captured the Order of Merit yesterday with a big boost from Sergio Garcia, whose bogey on the final hole of the Volvo Masters moved the Irishman into a three-way tie for second and allowed him to win the money title.

Jeev Milka Singh hit a spectacular shot over the pond and onto the par-5 17th green for a two-putt birdie that sealed his victory in the season-ending event on the European Tour. Singh closed with a 1-over 72 for a one-shot victory after a bogey on the last hole.

Even more dramatic was the race for the Order of Merit, the most prestigious prize in Europe behind the majors and the Ryder Cup.

Paul Casey was atop the money list by about $275,000 going into the tournament, developed food poisoning at the start of the week and never seriously challenged. He shot 69 to tie for 21st, then had to wait to see how it unfolded. Casey would have won the money title had Garcia simply made par.

Choi Wins Chrysler Championship

One pure shot from the first fairway sent K.J. Choi to an easy victory yesterday in the Chrysler Championship.

Choi hit a 3-wood into 20 feet for an eagle on the opening hole, staking him to a big lead he never surrendered at Innisbrook. He closed with a 4-under 67 for a four-shot victory over Paul Goydos and Brett Wetterich, making him eligible for the next two tournaments — the Tour Championship next week, and the winners-only Mercedes-Benz Championship to start next year.

Tiger Ends His PGA Tour Season Early

Tiger Woods is skipping the Tour Championship next week for the first time in his career, saying he was mentally and physically tired from a hectic stretch through the Ryder Cup.

“I’m confident that this extended break will help me to recharge my batteries for the 2007 season,” Woods said on his Web site.

It was a huge blow to the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake, the PGA Tour’s version of an All-Star game for the top 30 players on its money list.

BASEBALL

World Series Ratings Hit Record Low For 2nd Straight Year

A World Series to remember for the St. Louis Cardinals was one to forget when it came to television ratings.

The Cardinals’ five-game victory over the Detroit Tigers averaged a record-low 10.1 television rating and 17 share, Fox said yesterday. This year’s rating dropped 9% from the previous bottom, an 11.1 for a four-game sweep by the Chicago White Sox over the Houston Astros last year.

What made the low rating more remarkable was that this year’s Series went five games and was not a sweep. St. Louis’ 4–2 victory in Friday night’s finale got a 10.3/18 in figures compiled by Nielsen Media Research, just above the record low for a Game 5, a 10.0/17 for the San Francisco Giants’ 16–4 rout of the Anaheim Angels in 2002.

Cardinals Parade Through St. Louis

The party keeps going for the St. Louis Cardinals, and Tony La Russa suspects some of his younger players may be beyond his reach.

“For those of you who have been on the streets, I am not responsible for Tyler Johnson and Chris Duncan,” the manager joked yesterday. “I just hope they quit celebrating the day before spring training starts in ‘07.”

Thousands of fans lined downtown for a parade celebrating the franchise’s first World Series title since 1982. The ballpark was packed, too, just like the regular season, for a rally capped by a daylight fireworks display.

“Awesome,” Albert Pujols said. “I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a little boy.”

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Florida QB Leak Believes He Played With A Concussion

Coach Urban Meyer found one possible reason for Florida’s offensive struggles against Georgia: Quarterback Chris Leak may have played with a concussion.

Leak told Meyer after the 21–14 victory Saturday that he felt like he sustained a concussion in the first half. Leak didn’t notify team doctors, trainers or anyone on the coaching staff.

— Associated Press

NY Sun
NEW YORK SUN CONTRIBUTOR

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.


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