BALTIMORE — Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps was driving with an expired, out-of-state license and told police he drank a beer about an hour and 15 minutes before he was involved in an accident, Baltimore police said Friday.
The accident Thursday night was not Phelps’ fault, police said, and officers did not administer field sobriety tests because he showed no signs of being impaired by alcohol.
But the swimming star will be cited for driving without a license and failure to establish residency in Maryland.
Clijsters’ comeback foiled
MASON, Ohio — Playing her first tournament in more than two years, Kim Clijsters couldn’t keep up with the world’s top-ranked player as Dinara Safina repeatedly broke her serve during a 6-2, 7-5 victory to reach the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open.
Also advancing were Elena Dementieva, Flavia Pennetta and Jelena Jankovic.
• Jo-Wilfried Tsonga pulled out a stunning victory over Roger Federer, and Juan Martin del Potro followed with a win over Rafael Nadal to advance to the semifinals of the Rogers Cup in Montreal.
Tsonga defeated the world’s top player 7-6 (5), 1-6, 7-6 (3), and Del Potro beat the defending champion 7-6 (5), 6-1. Andy Roddick and Andy Murray also advanced.
New spin put on Pitino case
NEW YORK — The woman accused of trying to extort as much as $10 million from Rick Pitino over a sexual encounter said the Louisville basketball coach orchestrated a plot to keep her silent, including a claim that her current husband was paid to marry her.
Karen Sypher told the New York Post that her subsequent marriage to Tim Sypher — Pitino’s equipment manager — was all part of an elaborate plot Pitino used to keep the incident private.
Vickers on Michigan pole
BROOKLYN, Mich. — Brian Vickers turned a lap of 187.242 mph to win the pole position for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway.
• Cory McClenathan led top fuel qualifying at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn. Bob Tasca (funny car), Mike Edwards (pro stock) and Karen Stoffer (pro stock motorcycle) led their respective divisions.
Langhorne hits game-winner
WASHINGTON — Crystal Langhorne had a career-high 22 points and made the game-winning shot with 9.1 seconds left in double overtime as the Washington Mystics beat the Connecticut Sun 91-89.
• Rebekkah Brunson scored 19 points as the visiting Sacramento Monarchs beat the Los Angeles Sparks 85-79.
• Sylvia Fowles had 22 points to lead the Chicago Sky to an 88-77 win over the host New York Liberty.
Footnotes.
Ted “Teeder” Kennedy, who captained the Toronto Maple Leafs to five Stanley Cups during a Hall of Fame career, died of congestive heart failure at age 83 in Port Colborne, Ontario.
• D.C. United acquired defender Julius James from the Houston Dynamo for a third-round pick in the 2012 MLS draft.
