Roddick gets past Gaudio in his 2007 clay-court debut

Andy Roddick was more than satisfied after opening his clay-court season with a victory over 2004 French Open champion Gaston Gaudio.

“I don’t think he’s long on confidence right now. But at the same time, this is the most challenging surface for me,” Roddick said after his 6-1, 7-6 (8) victory Wednesday in the second round of the Rome Masters over Gaudio, who is considering retirement after falling to 71st in the rankings.

Ninth-seeded James Blake, however, was upset by Nicolas Massu, 7-6 (3), 7-5.

Rafael Nadal beat Daniele Bracciali, 6-4, 6-2, to extend his clay-court winning streak to 73 matches while trying to become the first three-time winner of the tournament.

Fourth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko beat Davis Cup teammate Marat Safin, 7-6 (4), 7-5, and fifth-seeded Novak Djokovic, who won his third title of the season at Estoril on Sunday, rallied to beat Robin Soderling, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Gilles Simon beat Guillermo Canas, 7-6 (4), 6-4.

Top-ranked Justine Henin beat wild card Tatjana Malek, 6-1, 6-3, and second-seeded Amelie Mauresmo, playing her first match since an appendectomy in March, defeated Yan Zi, 6-3, 6-3, to reach the third round of the German Open at Berlin.

Top-seeded Marion Bartoli beat Viktoriya Kutuzova, 6-3, 6-4, to reach the quarterfinals of the Prague Open in the Czech Republic.

Maria Sharapova withdrew from the Italian Open because of a right shoulder injury that has sidelined her since March.

AUTO RACING

Earnhardt expected to become free agent

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is expected to put himself on the open market as a free agent today, opening the way for a break with his stepmother and Dale Earnhardt Inc.

NASCAR’s most popular driver has scheduled a news conference for today at his own race shop, JR Motorsports, at Charlotte, N.C., and not at DEI -- an indication he may be going his own way.

Earnhardt and his sister and business manager, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, operate JR independently from DEI.

They have been frustrated for months in contract negotiations with their stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt, for renewal of Earnhardt’s contract at DEI, which expires at the end of this season.

-- Ed Hinton

PRO BASKETBALL

Riley: O’Neal isn’t going anywhere

Coach Pat Riley issued a one-sentence statement on the future of the Miami Heat: Shaquille O’Neal will be a part of it.

“Amongst growing speculation in the media, in reference to Shaq, I want to set the record straight and say that we are not trading Shaq,” Riley said of the 35-year-old center who failed to reach the second playoff round for the first time since 1994.

The trial for Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Jackson, accused of firing a gun during a fight at an Indianapolis strip club, was delayed a second time and is now set for June 21.

SOCCER

Keller will leave German club

U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller will leave the German club Borussia Moenchengladbach at the end of the season after it was relegated to the country’s second division next season.

With nothing at stake, Manchester United and Chelsea played to a 0-0 tie. The two will meet May 19 in the FA Cup final.

MISCELLANY

Two-time L.A. Marathon winner faces doping ban

Russian runner Lyubov Denisova, a Los Angeles Marathon winner in 2002 and 2005, failed an out-of-competition doping test and could face a two-year ban.

Denisova, 35, tested positive for an elevated testerone-to-epitestosterone ratio on March 20 at her home in Gainesville, Fla.

Cyclist Tyler Hamilton was suspended by his team from competing in the Giro d’Italia following pressure to ban riders implicated in the Spanish doping scandal.

Hamilton recently returned to competition after a two-year ban for blood doping.

Quarterback Doug Flutie was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, joining wide receiver Ahmad Rashad and 10 other players honored by the National Football Foundation.

Former USC linebacker Richard Wood, a three-time All-American, was among those selected.

The NCAA reduced former Ohio State basketball coach Jim O’Brien’s penalty period from five years to two years over recruiting and other violations, limiting his ability to seek athletic employment at another NCAA school during that time. He was fired in 2004.

Russia beat the Czech Republic, 4-0, and Sweden defeated Slovakia, 7-4, to reach the semifinals of the hockey world championship at Moscow. Russia will play the U.S.-Finland winner on Saturday. Sweden will face Canada or Switzerland.

The Oakland Raiders fired senior personnel executive Michael Lombardi.

Mint Slewlep, a son of Slew City Slew, will join the field for the May 19 Preakness Stakes, trainer Robbie Bailes told race officials. Sedgefield, a surprising fifth as a longshot in the Kentucky Derby, will skip the Preakness, the Daily Racing Form reported.

-- Robyn Norwood