Fan at fault for Roger
On the verge of victory, Roger Federer stopped playing when he thought a pivotal point had ended. He mistook a fan’s shout for a linesman’s call, which cost him the game. Play continued for another 25 minutes before the thirdseeded Federer finally closed out his opening match at the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fla., beating 19-year-old American Ryan Harrison, 6-2, 7-6 (3).
No. 10 Serena Williams, No. 4 Maria Sharapova and No. 31 Andy Roddick won in more straightforward fashion — Roddick will play Federer next — but two-time champion Kim Clijsters, who was unseeded, was eliminated.
Federer led 5-2 in the second set and had a chance to finish in less than an hour until he lost two fluky points that extended the match. Serving at 5-3, Federer blew an easy overhead to fall behind 15-30. One point later, facing break point for the only time in the match, Federer hit a forehand that landed on the baseline.
A fan hollered “Out!” and Federer stopped. By the time he realized the ball was still in play, Harrison had won the point — and the game.
MADSON DONE FOR YEAR
Instead of closing for the Cincinnati Reds, Ryan Madson will miss the 2012 season because of a torn ligament in his right elbow.
RAY’S BAIL MORE THAN $1M
In Punta Gorda, Fla., Rays pitcher Matt Bush was being held on more than $1 million bail on charges that he left the scene of an accident that seriously injured a motorcyclist. Charlotte County Circuit Court records show that Bush remained in custody on multiple Dui-related charges and counts of leaving the scene of an injury accident and driving with a suspended license. The Florida Highway Patrol said Bush kept driving after hitting a motorcycle Thursday. The motorcyclist remains hospitalized.
DANICA DROPS OUT
In Fontana, Calif., Danica Patrick got nothing to celebrate on the eve of her 30th birthday. Patrick dropped out with engine failure near the midway point of the Nationwide race at Auto Club Speedway on Saturday, finishing 35th in another disappointing result during her first full season in the series. Patrick’s car picked up debris in the front grill at some point early in the race, apparently puncturing her radiator.
BOSTON COLLEGE ADVANCES
Chris Kreider scored two goals and Parker Milner stopped 20 shots to lead top-ranked Boston College to a 2-0 win over Air Force in the NCAA Northeast Regional in Worcester, Mass. The Eagles (30-10-1) will face defending champion Minnesota-duluth, a 5-2 winner over Maine, in the regional final on Sunday night.
U.S. BLANKED BY CANADA
Doneil Henry and Lucas Cavallini each scored goals as Canada beat the United States, 2-0, for its first win over the Americans since 1992 in the CONCACAF men’s Olympic qualifying tournament in Nashville. Now the Americans must beat El Salvador, a 4-0 winner over Cuba, on Monday night to advance to the semifinals in Kansas City, Kan., or miss out on an Olympic qualifying berth for the first time since 2004 and only the second since 1976.
n Red Bulls forward Juan Agudelo has a torn meniscus in his left knee that will keep him out of the rest of Olympic qualifying for the U.S. Agudelo hurt his knee in Thursday night’s 6-0 win over Cuba.