Nadal loses in quarterfinals

Top-ranked Rafael Nadal lost to fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 7- 6 (1), 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters on Friday, his earliest exit since 2003 at the tournament. Nadal won eight consecutive titles here from 2005-12, before losing to Novak Djokovic in last year’s final.

Djokovic beat unseeded Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 to set up a 34th career meeting against 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer.

COLLEGES

Memphis’ men’s tennis team (13-4) will face SMU at 2 p.m. Saturday in the AAC tournament semifinals at the Racquet Club.

Rutgers scored 11 unearned runs on seven hits and three errors in the fourth inning to take a 14-2, fiveinning victory over the Memphis softball team in the second game of a doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Piscataway, N.J. Christian Novak (9-8) allowed eight runs on three hits and two walks in 2¥ innings for Memphis (19-26, 3-10 AAC). In the opener, Rutgers took a 3-1 win. Tiger senior Ellen Roberts (9-15) took a shutout into the sixth and allowed three runs on eight hits.

Birmingham-Southern College swept host Rhodes on Friday in baseball, 5-2 and 3-2. The Lynx are 27-11, 12-8 in the SAA. ... West Georgia took an 11-1, 2-0 baseball sweep over Christian Brothers University (11-29, 3-22 GSC) at Nadicksbernd Field. ... Visiting West Georgia swept a softball doubleheader from CBU, 5-4 and 8-0. The Lady Bucs are 9-34, 2-24 GSC.

FOOTBALL

The New Orleans Saints have re-signed veteran free-agent wide receiver Robert Meachem, a former Tennessee standout, to a one-year contract. Meachem is entering his eighth NFL season and seventh with New Orleans.

From Our Press Services K. J. Choi had three birdies on the front nine, including one on the troublesome eighth hole, en route to a 67 and a one-shot lead at the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head, S.C. “If you just hit it beneath the trees, it’s a good course to play,” Choi said of Harbour Town.