TENNIS

FEDERER SUFFERS RARE BACK-TO-BACK LOSSES

Not to worry, says Roger Federer. His game is very much intact even though he lost consecutive matches for the first time in 4 1/2 years.

The latest defeat was to Fernando Gonzalez of Chile, a 4–6, 7–6 (1), 7–5 decision yesterday at the Masters Cup. Federer, the defending champion, entered the match with a 15-0 record in round-robin play at the season-ending tournament. It was the top-ranked Swiss star’s first loss in 11 meetings against no. 7 Gonzalez.

“Some players or people might think, ‘Now he’s more vulnerable,”‘ Federer said. “I disagree, obviously. I’m going to hopefully show them again this week and then obviously next year again.” In the other Red Group match, no. 5 Andy Roddick survived a second-set lapse to beat No. 5 Nikolay Davydenko 6–3, 4–6, 6–2.

BASKETBALL

NETS’ CARTER OUT INDEFINITELY WITH SPRAINED RIGHT ANKLE

Vince Carter of the Nets will be sidelined indefinitely with a sprained right ankle. An MRI yesterday showed Carter sustained a Grade 1 sprain on Saturday night against the Boston Celtics, Nets president Rod Thorn said yesterday. There is no timetable for Carter’s return. “I guess relief is a good word in that it could have been a whole lot worse,” Nets coach Lawrence Frank said before the Nets played the New Orleans Hornets. “The positive thing is that he has felt better each and every day.”

The eight-time All-Star was hurt in the third quarter of a 112-101 loss to Boston. He landed on the foot of Celtics forward Paul Pierce after a dunk.

FOOTBALL

VIKINGS PETERSON OUT AT LEAST 1 GAME WITH KNEE INJURY

As Adrian Peterson was prone on the Lambeau Field turf, his football future flashed before his eyes as a searing pain radiated from his right knee.

“That pain was horrible. I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced pain where you don’t want anybody to touch you. Just be still for a few minutes until it calms down. That’s the kind of pain it was,” Peterson said. “Not really knowing what to expect because it was my knee. I was just praying, ‘God please, don’t let it be anything serious.”‘

He spent a sleepless Sunday night at his home in Eden Prairie, with the worry getting so great that he found himself doing a self-examination of both knees to see if he could detect any differences, all in the hope of finding some comfort. After getting an MRI exam yesterday, Peterson should be sleeping much better now.