New York – The U.S. Open has hired a security firm run by a former New York City police commissioner, set up a whistle-blower hotline and is taking other steps to make sure it doesn’t wind up with a gambling scandal.
In the wake of a recent betting investigation in tennis and a former NBA referee’s admission he gambled on games he officiated, the U.S. Tennis Association decided “to see if there’s something more that we can do,” USTA senior director of communications Chris Widmaier said Thursday.
“We’re taking this very seriously,” Widmaier said. “Do we think there’s a problem? Actually, we don’t. But we want to make sure we’re as equipped and have as much knowledge of this issue as we can. At the end of the day, this goes to the integrity of the game.”
The U.S. Open, the year’s last Grand Slam tournament, begins Monday. Security firm SafirRosetti – which has worked with horse racing’s New York Racing Association, as well as various professional sports leagues and clubs – will have an investigative team on site during the two-week tournament.
TENNIS
England’s Henman hanging it up
Tim Henman will play one last time at Wimbledon, but it won’t be next summer.
The British star will play his final Grand Slam at the U.S. Open and then retire in September after the Davis Cup playoff at the All England Club.
The 32-year-old Henman, who reached four Wimbledon semifinals and never won a Grand Slam title in his 14-year career, cited a sore back and bad knee for his decision to call it quits.
Injuries have caught up with the 92nd-ranked Henman, who won 11 singles titles in his career and was ranked as high as No. 4 in 2002.
James Blake fought off three consecutive match points in the afternoon, then won again at night to advance to the semifinals of the Pilot Pen in New Haven, Conn.
Blake beat Fernando Verdasco in the quarterfinals after earlier eliminating Agustin Calleri.
Top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko, No. 2 Tommy Robredo and fourth seed David Ferrer fell early in the day. In the women’s draw, qualifier Agnes Szavay became the most unlikely entrant into the semifinals when she defeated No. 8 seed Alona Bondarenko.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Gamecocks quarterback will sit
South Carolina quarterback Blake Mitchell was one of three players suspended for the opening game against Louisiana-Lafayette for missing summer-school classes.
An athletic department spokesman said Mitchell, tailback Bobby Wallace and cornerback Chris Hail were suspended for the home opener Sept. 1 vs. Clemson.
Starting Southern California tailback Chauncey Washington has a sprained right shoulder, putting his availability for the season opener in question.
Drew Weatherford will be Florida State’s starting quarterback in the Sept. 3 season opener.
Former USC running back Emmanuel Moody visited the defending national champion Florida Gators, touring the campus, meeting with coaches and trying to decide whether he will transfer to UF.
SOCCER
Keller returning to Premier League
United States goalkeeper Kasey Keller has joined Premier League team Fulham and could make his first start Saturday.
The 37-year-old goalkeeper left Borussia Moenchen-
gladbach last season after 2 1/2 years when the club was relegated to Germany’s second division.
Brazilian midfielder Denilson, who played on the 2002 World Cup championship team, signed with FC Dallas of the MLS.
The U.S. gave up two first-half penalty kicks to Tunisia in a 3-1 loss in the Under-17 World Cup in Changwon, South Korea.
Stars Ronaldinho, Kaka and Robinho were picked for Brazil’s 22-man roster for games against the U.S. and Mexico next month.
FOOTNOTES
Sun catches Fever in triple overtime
Nykesha Sales scored 25 points to lead the Connecticut Sun to a 93-88 triple-overtime victory against the visiting Indiana Fever in the first overtime playoff game in WNBA history.
Nicole Powell scored 22 points, Rebekkah Brunson had 17 and the Sacramento Monarchs played sterling defense in an 86-65 victory over the visiting San Antonio Silver Stars in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
