CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Two days, two losses for Michael Phelps. Phelps was beaten again at the Charlotte UltraSwim on Sunday night, losing to Frederick Bousquet of France in the 100-meter freestyle.
Phelps touched nearly a full second behind Bousquet, the world- record holder in the 50 free, after losing his first final in nearly a year. Aaron Peirsol beat Phelps in the 100 backstroke on Saturday.
The Frenchman touched in 48.22 seconds, while Phelps finished second in 49.04.
“The biggest thing that killed me were my turns and my finishes,” Phelps said. “I’m not disappointed with that time, but the finish was awful. There’s small things I need to work on. But overall, it was a good meet.”
Borel back in winner’s circle
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — History-making jockey Calvin Borel didn’t waste any time getting back to the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs.
Less than 24 hours after guiding filly Rachel Alexandra to a memorable win in the Preakness, Borel piloted Sun Button to victory in the fourth race under the twin spires.
Borel said he has little doubt Rachel Alexandra can run in the Belmont, but that decision won’t be made for several more days.
Trainer Steve Asmussen said he’s going to give his superstar a couple of days off before sending her back out to the track on Wednesday.
Federer tops Nadal
MADRID — Roger Federer got a badly needed confidence boost ahead of the French Open, beating top-ranked Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-4 to win his first title of the season at the Madrid Open.
The second-ranked Federer broke a sluggish Nadal once in both sets before firing his sixth ace to win his 15th Masters Series title on the second match point.
• Top-ranked Dinara Safina of Russia won her second straight title on clay by beating Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-4 in the women’s final.
Footnotes.
Usain Bolt ran the world’s fastest 150 meters to win a soggy street sprint in Manchester, England, that marked his return to competition after a car crash left him requiring minor foot surgery. He finished in 14.35 seconds to shatter Donovan Bailey‘s 12-year-old world best of 14.99 in the rarely run 150.
• Eddie Lewis scored his first goal of the season in second-half stoppage time to help the host Los Angeles Galaxy salvage a 1-1 tie with the Columbus Crew.
• Prosecutors in Austria are investigating possible blood doping by 2002 Olympic cross country ski champion Christian Hoffmann.
• Juan Pattillo, who averaged 6.2 points and 3.6 rebounds last season, has been kicked off Oklahoma’s basketball team for an undisclosed violation of team policy, coach Jeff Capel announced.
• The California State Athletic Commission confiscated a suspicious substance from the corner of Colombian boxer Edison Miranda during his loss to Andre Ward on Saturday, Ward’s trainer and the fight’s promoter told The Associated Press. The substance will be tested today.
The Associated Press
