TENNIS

Federer Is Latest Big Name To Skip Paris Masters

Roger Federer pulled out of the Paris Masters because of fatigue yesterday, and tennis officials promised to take steps to make sure the game’s elite players abide by commitments to the top tournaments.

The withdrawal by the game’s no. 1 player came a day after he won the Swiss Indoors for his 11th title this year. No. 2-ranked Rafael Nadal said Sunday he would not compete in Paris because of an abdominal injury. Andy Roddick and David Nalbandian also have withdrawn.

FOOTBALL

Bush Confident He’ll Play Sunday vs. Tampa Bay

Reggie Bush said his left ankle injury against Baltimore was more of an aggravation of a sprain that occurred in Week 1 at Cleveland, something he expects to keep playing with.

“I’ll be ready for Tampa,” Bush said yesterday between meetings and treatment at the New Orleans Saints’ training headquarters. The sprain is “something that’s kind of been lingering since that first game and hasn’t been 100 percent since,” Bush said.

Alexander Likely To Miss Another Game

League MVP Shaun Alexander won’t be rushing to the rescue of the struggling Seahawks just yet.

Tests unexpectedly showed that Alexander’s foot remained cracked yesterday. That means Seattle likely will not have its 2005 NFL rushing leader for next Monday night’s game against Oakland.

BASEBALL

Knuckleballer Wakefield Gets 13th Year With Boston

Tim Wakefield is looking forward to his 13th season with the Boston Red Sox, with or without his favorite catcher.

The club exercised its $4 million option on the knuckleballer on Monday, two days after Doug Mirabelli, who handled the fluttering pitch for most of the last five seasons, filed for free agency.

White Sox Exercise Options on Dye, Buehrle, Iguchi

Left-hander Mark Buehrle’s $9.5 million option for next season was exercised yesterday by the Chicago White Sox.

Chicago also exercised right fielder Jermaine Dye’s $6.75 million option and second baseman Tadahito Iguchi’s $3.25 million option. The White Sox declined a $3.65 million option on righthanded reliever Dustin Hermanson, who gets a $500,000 buyout.

BASKETBALL

West Signs Contract Extension With Hornets

The New Orleans Hornets signed David West to a multiyear contract extension yesterday, keeping their leading scorer from becoming a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

“We looked to the future and realized how important David was going to be,” the Hornets’ owner, George Shinn, said.

West finished second in voting for the NBA’s most improved player last season after averaging 17.1 points and 7.4 rebounds to lead the Hornets in both categories.

— Associated Press