Tennis: Roger Federer is assured of keeping No. 1 ranking at end of year

Tennis

Federer wins at ATP Finals, will keep No. 1 ranking: Roger Federer again bounced back after losing the first set, rallying to beat Andy Murray 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 Tuesday at the ATP World Tour Finals in London and ensuring he will have the year-end No. 1 ranking for the fifth time.

Federer dominated Murray in the final two sets, finally controlling play from his serve and also getting his forehand on target. Murray, meanwhile, started to struggle to win any points.

But for Federer, finishing the year as the top-ranked player was better than beating Murray.

"Obviously, that was one of my big goals for this season. And it's one of the greatest performances I think I've achieved," said Federer, who reached all four Grand Slam finals, got married and had twin girls. "Playing so well at the most important moments, it's been the key this year. And staying healthy."

Women's basketball

Jackson will finish Australian season: Storm center Lauren Jackson will play out the Australian season for the Canberra Capitals in the Women's National Basketball League.

Jackson's international clearance arrived in Canberra hours before a midseason deadline after which WNBL teams cannot register new players.

Jackson, 27, signed a maximum 13-game contract worth a reported $185,000 after becoming available when she opted out of a two-year deal with her former Russian team Spartak Moscow in the wake of the assassination of team owner Shabtai von Kalmanovich.

The Australian league does not overlap with the WNBA season.

USA women placed in Group B for world championships: Geno Auriemma and the United States women's basketball team were placed in Group B at the world championships that begin in September.

The draw pits the Americans against Greece, Senegal and France in opening pool play, which begins on Sept. 23. The U.S., which won its fourth straight Olympic gold medal in 2008, will be trying to recapture the world title. The Americans lost to Russia in the semifinals of the 2006 worlds.

Soccer

D.C. United's Olsen to retire: Longtime D.C. United and U.S. national team midfielder Ben Olsen is retiring from professional soccer.

The 32-year-old Olsen said that ankle injuries over the years made it difficult to keep playing.

Olsen leaves United as one of the most popular players in franchise history. He was the MLS rookie of the year in 1998 and helped D.C. United win the MLS Cup in 1999 and 2004.

Chicago fires Hamlett: Denis Hamlett will not return to the Chicago Fire next year after leading them to the Eastern Conference finals in each of his two seasons as head coach.

Ex-officials of Colombia team charged with laundering drug money: Eleven former officials of Colombian football club Deportivo Independiente Medellin were charged Tuesday with using it to launder drug money.

Horse racing

Zenyatta gets race named after her: Zenyatta is getting the Grade I race she won twice at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., renamed in her honor.

Track officials said that the Lady's Secret will be renamed The Zenyatta beginning next fall. The race is for fillies and mares ages 3 and up run at 1-1/16 miles.

Zenyatta won the race the last two years. She capped her 14-0 career by beating males in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 7.

Sailing

America's Cup participants head back to court over venue: BMW Oracle Racing and its bitter rival, two-time defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland, are scheduled to present oral arguments today before the New York Supreme Court's Appellate Division. The Swiss are appealing a lower court's ruling on Oct. 27 that Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, is ineligible to host the best-of-three event beginning Feb. 8.

Although the Swiss announced two weeks ago that they're preparing to race in Valencia, they haven't given up hope of racing in RAK. They say in court documents that they'll defend the Cup on the Persian Gulf if they win the appeal.

NHL

NHL suspends Flyers' Briere: The NHL has suspended Philadelphia forward Daniel Briere two games for a late hit on Colorado defenseman Scott Hannan.

Senators goaltender out a month: Ottawa starting goaltender Pascal Leclaire will be sidelined about a month with a broken cheekbone

Syracuse to host outdoor game: The Syracuse Crunch announced it will host the Binghamton Senators in the outdoor Mirabito Outdoor Classic on Feb. 20 at the New York State Fairgrounds.

Auto racing

NASCAR wants France info kept away from Mayfield: NASCAR has asked a federal court to stop lawyers for suspended driver Jeremy Mayfield from collecting information from the ex-wife of chairman Brian France.

Mayfield's attorneys subpoenaed Megan France last week requesting documents about a lawsuit filed against her by Brian France. The attorneys also asked for joint tax returns and mail addressed to Brian France. NASCAR filed a motion in U.S. District Court asking that Megan France be barred from producing the documents.

The Frances were divorced in April 2008, and Brian France sued his ex-wife in North Carolina Superior Court in September 2008. Documents relating to that case were sealed in December.

Seattle Times news services