DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Roger Federer withdrew Sunday from the Dubai Championships because of a lung infection.
Organizers said that the top- ranked Swiss star picked up the infection last week and will miss the tennis event, which starts today, for the second straight year.
A four-time winner in Dubai, Federer will rest for two weeks and is expected to return at Indian Wells, Calif., on March 11.
Andy Roddick, the 2008 champion, withdrew from the tournament Saturday.
• Sam Querrey rallied in the second-set tiebreaker and defeated John Isner in the third set, winning the Morgan Keegan Championships 6-7 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-3 at Memphis, Tenn. It was a matchup of the tallest players ever in an ATP final — Isner is 6-feet-9, Querrey 6-6.
• Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain defeated compatriot David Ferrer 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in the final of the Copa Telmex at Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• Unseeded Michael Llodra won his fourth career title when he beat Julien Benneteau 6-3, 6-4 in an all-French final at the Open 13 at Marseille, France.
• Hometown favorite Mariana Duque Marino beat Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-4 6-3 to win the Copa Colsanitas clay court tournament in Bogota, Colombia.
MLS sides spar over labor contract
NEW YORK — The union for Major League Soccer players accused management of failing to bargain seriously and wouldn’t say whether it will play under the terms of its expired labor contract.
A day after MLS president Mark Abbott went public with the league’s offer to start the season next month without a new deal, the union issued a pair of statements that weren’t directly responsive and left open the possibility of the league’s first strike.
Talks on the labor contract resume today in Washington.
Ducks dismiss football player
EUGENE, Ore. — University of Oregon football coach Chip Kelly said wide receiver Jamere Holland has been dismissed from the team, hinting that the decision came after Holland posted an expletive-filled statement on Facebook.
Kelly wouldn’t specify which team rules were violated. But when a newspaper reporter asked whether Holland’s Facebook posting was the issue, the coach said the answer wouldn’t be difficult to figure out.
The dismissal follows a weekend citation of Kristian Kiko Alonso, a 19-year-old linebacker who is being investigated for possibly driving under the influence of intoxicants.
Holland mistakenly concluded Alonso had been kicked off the team and blasted the move in his Facebook posting.
• University of Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema suspended wide receiver Kraig Appleton, defensive end Shelby Harris and linebacker Nick Hill indefinitely for violating team rules.
Velasquez wins UFC bout
SYDNEY — Cain Velasquez (8-0) knocked out Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira (32-6-1) at 2:20 of the first round to claim the featured heavyweight bout at UFC 110.
The Associated Press
