Roddick to Open Davis Cup Play

Andy Roddick will open the U.S. team’s Davis Cup semifinal at France today against defending champion France by playing Arnaud Clement.

“I like playing on the big stage and it doesn’t get much bigger than a semifinal out there on the big court,” Roddick said after Thursday’s draw.

The second singles match at Roland Garros, home of the French Open, will match James Blake against Sebastien Grosjean, France’s highest-ranked player.

The U.S. holds the record for the most Davis Cup titles with 31 but hasn’t won since 1995. It last reached the final in 1997. France has won the event nine times. The two countries have met in 13 ties, and the U.S. leads, 7-6. The last time they played at Roland Garros was in 1932, when France won.

The doubles match Saturday matches Fabrice Santoro and Mickael Llodra of France against Todd Martin and Mardy Fish of the United States.

Argentina plays Russia in the other semifinal. Marat Safin opens today’s play against Juan Ignacio Chela, followed by Yevgeny Kafelnikov vs. Gaston Gaudio. Kafelnikov, owner of two Grand Slam tournament titles, says he will retire if Russia wins.

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Defending champion Jelena Dokic struggled through a 6-2, 7-6 win over Lina Krasnoroutskaya to reach the quarterfinals at the Toyota Princess Cup at Tokyo.

She next faces seventh-seeded Tamarine Tanasugarn, who beat Clarisa Fernandez, 6-4, 6-4.

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Alexandra Stevenson advanced to the quarterfinals of the Bell Challenge at Quebec, Canada, beating Paraguay’s Rossana Neffa-de los Rios, 6-1, 6-4.

Stevenson will face Silvia Farina Elia of Italy for a semifinal spot against Switzerland’s Marie-Gaianeh Mikaelian, a 6-1, 6-1 winner over third-seeded Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria.

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USC’s men’s tennis team, which won its 16th national title last May, will be honored by President Bush and the White House staff on Tuesday in Washington.

The Trojans and nine other NCAA championship teams are being honored as part of the White House’s 2002 NCAA Spring Sports Championship Day.

Miscellany

Sen. John McCain’s bill to create a government commission to clean up boxing and protect the health of fighters was approved by a Senate committee.

A new U.S. Boxing Administration would license all boxers, promoters, referees and judges and oversee professional bouts in the United States.

The Arizona Republican’s bill breezed through the Senate Commerce Committee, which approved it for a vote by the full Senate.

Two more high school athletes from Texas have died, bringing the total to four in that state and eight nationwide this fall.

Kenneth MacGregor, 16, of Houston Strake Jesuit collapsed and died Wednesday during a basketball game as he was sitting on the bench and Will Benson, an 18-year-old quarterback at Austin St. Stephen’s, was taken off life support Thursday.

Benson suffered swelling of his brain after a game last Friday.

Los Angeles Avenger Coach Ed Hodgkiss signed a five-year contract extension through 2007, after leading the Arena Football League team to its first playoff berth in his initial season as coach.

Edward Johnson scored in the sixth minute of overtime in Washington to give the Dallas Burn a 4-3 victory over D.C. United, eliminating United from MLS playoff contention.

Passings

Chester “Swede” Johnston, a former Green Bay Packer running back, died at 92 in a St. Louis hospital. Johnston played on two championship teams. Packer spokesman Lee Remmel said Johnston was believed to be the oldest living Green Bay player before his death.