Briefs | Tennis: Strained calf sidelines No. 1-to-be Sharapova

Tennis

Sharapova pulls out of Italian Open semifinals: Maria Sharapova of Russia pulled out of the Italian Open semifinals in Rome because of a strained left calf Saturday, two days before she is to assume the No. 1 ranking because of Justine Henin's retirement last week.

Sharapova said the injury would not affect her preparations for the French Open, which begins next weekend.

"I don't think so. It's a strain," she said. "They said I need maybe three days off before they test it again."

Sharapova had been scheduled to play defending champion Jelena Jankovic of Serbia. In today's final, Jankovic will meet Alize Cornet of France.

Cornet, 18, became the first female qualifier to reach the Italian Open final in several decades by defeating sixth-seeded Anna Chakvetadze of Russia 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

On Friday, American Serena Williams withdrew from the quarterfinals with a back problem.

Federer, Nadal reach Hamburg Masters final: Rafael Nadal of Spain beat Novak Djokovic of Serbia 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 to protect his No. 2 world ranking and advance to the Hamburg Masters final in Germany against the world's top-ranked player.

Nadal will face No. 1 Roger Federer of Switzerland in today's final, a rematch of last year's championship match in which Federer won his fourth Hamburg title and ended Nadal's' 81-match winning streak on clay — his lone win over Nadal on the relatively slow surface.

Federer overwhelmed Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-3, 6-1.

Running

Radcliffe is on crutches: Britain's Paula Radcliffe, who holds the world record in the marathon, is on crutches because of a hip injury that is disrupting her training for this year's Beijing Olympics.

A pulled muscle in her left hip was revealed after two MRI scans. The 34-year-old Radcliffe is scheduled for another MRI this week and said she then hopes to resume a full training program.

The women's marathon is Aug. 17. Radcliffe was one of the favorites at the 2004 Athens Olympics but failed to finish. Beijing would be her fourth Olympics, with Atlanta and Sydney the others.

Radcliffe injured her toe in September when she finished second in a half-marathon. It was her first race in 20 months after having her first child.

She proceeded to win the New York City Marathon in November, but the toe injury flared again and therefore she didn't compete in the London Marathon.

NFL

Browns' Tucker is expected to miss at least two months: Cleveland offensive lineman Ryan Tucker, 32, broke his hip during practice last week and is expected to miss at least two months.

Browns officials said Tucker had successful surgery at Cleveland Clinic on Friday to repair the fracture. Tucker was injured Wednesday during the Browns' organized team activities and limped off the field.

Equestrian

Parents file lawsuit over teen's death: The parents of a 17-year-old girl who died in a fall while competing in the Olympic equestrian sport of eventing have sued the sport's governing body, her former trainer and others in a California court, claiming the girl's death was caused in part because the course was made more dangerous to make it more "thrilling" to spectators.

The lawsuit, filed May 6 in a Riverside County court, seeks an unspecified amount in damages over what it contends was the wrongful death of Mia Eriksson, who died in November 2006 after her horse fell at the Galway Downs Three-Day Event in Temecula, Calif.

The lawsuit names the U.S. Equestrian Federation, the governing body, as well as the U.S. Eventing Association, which oversees competitions in this country.

Eventing is a three-phase competition encompassing dressage, show jumping and endurance.

Cycling

Ricco wins Giro stage; Visconti retains overall lead: Riccardo Ricco of the Saunier Duval-Scott team won the eighth stage of the Giro d'Italia by breaking away from a group of about 40 riders in the last 100 meters, and Giovanni Visconti of the Quick Step team kept the overall lead for a third day.

Ricco finished the 129-mile leg from Rivisondoli to Tivoli in Italy in 4 hours, 41 minutes, 5 seconds for his second stage victory since the start of the 21-stage Giro.

Seattle Times news services