TOP-RANKED HALEP REACHES SEMIFINALS

CALIF.» Simona Halep INDIAN WELLS, fought the wind and a pesky opponent to reach the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open.

The world’s top-ranked woman outlasted Petra Martic of Croatia 6-4, 6-7 (7), 6-3 on Wednesday and improved to 18-1 in matches this year.

Winds gusting to 15 mph made shots tricky. Trailing 4-2 in the first set, Martic closed to 5-4 before Halep served it out.

Martic controlled the second set, taking a 5-2 lead before Halep forced the tiebreaker. The Romanian tied it 5-all before Martic won the final two points to force a third set. Halep rallied from a 2-1 deficit to tie it 3-all before winning the last three games.

Venus Williams defeated Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia 7-6 (8), 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open late Tuesday night as the oldest woman in the draw.

The 37-year-old American was coming off a straight-set victory over younger sister Serena, ending a three-match skid against her sibling.

Halep is the only former Indian Wells winner left in the women’s draw after No. 20 Daria Kasatkina upset No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 7-5. Wozniacki blew a 3-0 lead in the first set late Tuesday and was on the run most of the match before losing for the second time this year to the 20-year-old Russian.

Michigan poised to help victims.

The Michigan Senate was poised to pass bills that would help victims of imprisoned sports doctor Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse move forward with lawsuits against Michigan State University and others, despite pushback from universities, governments, businesses and the Catholic Church over broader financial implications of the legislation.

After hours of private talks, senators announced their intention to approve the 10-measure package — with changes to proposals to retroactively lengthen the time for accusers to sue and strip an immunity defense if public entities are negligent.

The vote will come more than two weeks after Nassar’s victims, including Olympic gymnast Jordyn Wieber, helped unveil the measures.

Lowe’s ends Johnson sponsorship.

N.C.» Lowe’s, one of the CHARLOTTE, last remaining corporate giants in NASCAR, announced Wednesday that it will not sponsor seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson after this season, an ominous sign for the nation’s top racing series.

For Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports, it means the best NASCAR driver of his generation has a blank slate of “inventory” for the first time in nearly two decades.

Motorcyclist forms own team.

N.C.» Shayna Texter went CHARLOTTE, into last year’s American Flat Track motorcycle season simply hoping to regain her confidence. She won a series-high five races and made a run at the championship, so Texter most certainly accomplished her goal.

Her breakout success last season pushed Texter to take it a step further this year.

Texter formed her own factorysupported team this year that will debut Thursday in the AFT Singles class on a special TT course inside the trioval at Daytona International Speedway.

Wolverines wait on QB answer.

Michigan’s football team is unlikely to know whether Mississippi transfer quarterback Shea Patterson will be eligible to play next season by the time spring practice begins March 23.

An NCAA ruling cannot come until after Ole Miss has the opportunity to respond to Michigan’s application for a waiver. Mississippi has 10 business days to submit a response, starting from when it receives the information from Michigan.

Pele is supported by walker.

Pele appeared at a World Economic Forum event in Sao Paulo using a walker, but later said his mobility is slowly returning following a second hip surgery. — The Associated Press