Tennis: | Justine Henin looks solid in first match of her comeback

Tennis

Henin beats second-seeded Petrova in Australia: Justine Henin played as if she never left. The Belgian didn't even make it to her first postmatch news conference since coming out of retirement before talk began about when she will win an eighth Grand Slam tournament singles title.

Henin defeated second-seeded Nadia Petrova of Russia 7-5, 7-5 Monday in the first round of the Brisbane International in Australia; it was the former world No. 1 player's first official WTA Tour match since announcing her comeback in September.

"I feel better today than when I retired, that's for sure," Henin said. "Better emotionally, mentally. Better with myself, and that makes a big difference."

Henin, 27, is preparing to make her return to Grand Slam action at the Australian Open, which starts Jan. 17 in Melbourne.

Henin won exhibition matches last month, including one over Petrova.

"I've been waiting for this moment for so long," Henin said after Monday's match.

"At the beginning, everything seemed very big: the stadium, all the people. I'm not used to it anymore."

Henin said it took three or four games to settle into a rhythm.

"Mentally, I was able to play my best when the score was tight at the end of both sets," she said. "I really enjoyed being out there. That's what I'm going to remember today."

Stadium in New Zealand is evacuated: The stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, where the ASB Classic women's tournament is being played was briefly evacuated after an unattended bag was found.

The discovery of the bag coincided with a protest against the presence at the tournament of Israeli player Shahar Peer, but organizers said the events were apparently unconnected.

Players and spectators were forced to leave the tennis complex. Streets around the stadium were sealed off while emergency services dealt with the incident.

Boxing

Retired federal judge will be the mediator: Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are going to mediation to try and salvage their proposed March 13 fight.

Representatives of the fighters will meet today with a mediator in Santa Monica, Calif., in an effort to reach agreement on blood-testing issues that have threatened to derail the fight. The mediation comes after two weeks of talks on the issue.

The mediator, retired federal judge Daniel Weinstein, was used by promoters for both fighters three years ago to resolve a dispute over promotional rights to Pacquiao.

Holyfield's fight against Botha is postponed to next month: American Evander Holyfield's return to the ring against South African Francois Botha has been postponed to give the fighters more time to prepare.

The fight will be Feb. 20 in Kampala, Uganda, instead of Jan. 16 and organizers predict a crowd of about 80,000 at Nambole Stadium.

Golf

Palmer's grandson to play in Bob Hope Classic: Arnold Palmer's grandson has received a sponsor's exemption to play in the PGA Tour's Bob Hope Classic.

Tournament officials said Sam Saunders was awarded an unrestricted exemption for the Jan. 18-24 event in La Quinta, Calif., that Palmer won five times during his storied career.

Ex-Clemson player Saunders, 22, turned pro last year.

Motor sports

Peterhansel wins stage, takes overall lead: France's Stephane Peterhansel, driving a BMW, has moved into the overall lead in the Dakar Rally after winning the third stage, from La Rioja to Fiambala in Argentina.

Spain's Carlos Sainz remained second overall and Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar dropped from first to third in the standings after finishing the stage more than 10 minutes off the pace.

Figure skating

Cohen plans to compete in Spokane: Sasha Cohen's coach said the Olympic silver medalist intends to skate at the U.S. championships; the event starts Jan. 14 at the Spokane Arena.

Cohen has been working "very, very hard," longtime coach John Nicks said.

The Chicago Tribune first reported Cohen's plans, with the skater telling the paper: "I've really put myself on the line for this."

U.S. women are competing for two spots at next month's Vancouver Olympics.

Skiing

Randall, Freeman triumph: Kikkan Randall won the 10-kilometer freestyle race, her second victory at the U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships on her home course in Anchorage, Alaska, and the 12th national title of her career.

In the men's 15K, Kris Freeman of Andover, N.H., won his 13th national title.

Sled-dog racing

Musher King donates to Iditarod purse: Four-time champion Jeff King of Denali Park, Alaska, has made a $50,000 donation to increase the 1,100-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race purse.

Organizers last month said the purse for the event in Alaska would be cut by $100,000 to about $525,000 — $400,000 less than it was two years ago.

Seventy-five mushers have signed up for the race from Anchorage to Nome. The ceremonial start is March 6 in Anchorage.

Seattle Times news services