TENNIS

Nadal Loses on Clay For Second Time in 105 Matches

Rafael Nadal’s preparations for a run at a fourth straight French Open title were thrown into disarray yesterday.

The second-ranked Spaniard lost on clay for only the second time in 105 matches, falling to countryman Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5, 6-1 in the second round of the Rome Masters.

Nadal’s last loss on clay came against Roger Federer in May 2007. Before that, he had won a record 81 consecutive matches on clay, a streak that began in 2005.

He also has a large blister on the bottom of his right foot and only four days to recover for next week’s Hamburg Masters.

BASEBALL

A-rod, Posada, Hughes Head To Florida for Rehab

Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada and Phil Hughes are expected to travel to the Yankees’ spring-training facility in Florida today to continue rehabbing their injuries. Rodriguez (strained right quadriceps) ran in the outfield before New York’s game against the Cleveland Indians last night. The third baseman also played catch, fielded grounders and took batting practice.

HORSE RACING

Preakness Field Grows to 9 With 2 More Additions

Recapturetheglory, fifth in the Kentucky Derby behind winner Big Brown, will run in the May 17 Preakness, likely making the colt the only one from the Derby that will challenge Big Brown.

“We’re there to win,” co-owner Ronnie Lamarque said Wednesday from New Orleans. “Big Brown is a bear but we’re not going to run in it to run second. I’ll look at all the other entrants. They don’t scare me at all and I believe our horse definitely belongs and we feel like the Preakness is our kind of race.”

Recapturethelglory jogged a mile and then galloped a mile yesterday at Churchill Downs, where Big Brown also is training before leaving for Baltimore next week.

Also headed to the Preakness is Racecar Rhapsody, fourth in the Lexington Stakes for trainer Ken McPeek. He’ll be ridden by Robby Albarado, who won last year’s Preakness aboard Curlin.

BASKETBALL

Nets’ Jefferson Charged With Assault in Minneapolis

Nets forward Richard Jefferson charged with assault Wednesday for grabbing another man by the throat in a Minneapolis club earlier this year. Jefferson was in town with team on January 27 when, according to a charge filed, he went to a club in the Graves Hotel where the victim was having a private birthday party in a roped-off section. The documents say Jefferson entered the area and got angry when he was asked to leave. He is accused of grabbing the victim, shoving him to a bench and choking him with both hands.

HOCKEY

Leafs Fire Coach Paul Maurice

Paul Maurice was fired as coach of the Maple Leafs yesterday after Toronto failed to make the playoffs during his two years. The dismissal was the first big move in what is expected to be an active offseason for the team. The Maple Leafs finished 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 36-35-11 record.