BASEL, Switzerland — Novak Djokovic made his return after missing six weeks with a back injury and defeated Xavier Malisse 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in the first round of the Swiss Indoors on Tuesday.
The top-ranked Serb overcame some difficult moments before improving his record this season to 65-3.
Djokovic arrived on the court for the first time since Sept. 18 wearing a fright mask resembling rock star Alice Cooper.
No. 5 Mardy Fish retired against fellow American James Blake after one game with a hamstring injury.
Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic, sixth in the ATP points race, also missed an opportunity to improve his chances for a spot in the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals this month in London. The fourth-seeded Berdych was ousted by wild-card entry Kei Nishikori of Japan, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Avery may rejoin Rangers after clearing waivers
NEW YORK — Sean Avery cleared re-entry waivers and might be back in the New York Rangers’ lineup on Thursday night.
Avery, 31, could have been claimed by the other 29 NHL teams after he was placed on waivers Monday, but they all passed on the noted agitator before the 24-hour period expired. That cleared the way for Avery to be recalled by New York from the AHL.
• Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson posted a message on his Twitter account saying, “We have decided to keep Ryan Johansen through the 10-game threshold.”
The team’s front office had been deliberating whether to keep the club’s 2010 first-round pick (fourth overall) with the NHL club or send him down to juniors.
• Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur said he is healthy and ready to return, but New Jersey coach Pete DeBoer would not predict whether Brodeur, 39, would get the start today or if he would continue with Johan Hedberg for a seventh straight game.
Devers, Greene lead track’s Hall of Fame class
INDIANAPOLIS — Gail Devers‘ sprinting career was interrupted early because of Graves’ disease, an immune system disorder that caused her feet to swell to the point that she worried about amputation.
“I was told,” she recalled Tuesday, “that there was a possibility that I might not walk or run again.”
With the help of medicine, she did run again — and well enough to win three Olympic titles, 13 indoor and outdoor world championship medals and a place in the National Track & Field Hall of Fame. Devers and fellow Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene head the 2011 class announced by USA Track & Field.
Other inductees are Olympic champion Vince Matthews, coach Bob Timmons and seven-time Boston Marathon winner Clarence Demar.
• KV Racing Technology will use Chevrolet engines during the 2012 IndyCar season. Drivers Tony Kanaan and Dario Franchitti are scheduled for a closed manufacturer’s test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway today.
Three manufacturers, Chevrolet, Honda and Lotus, will provide engines next year. KV, Penske Racing and Andretti Autosport signed with Chevy. Chip Ganassi and A.J. Foyt are using Honda, and Michael Shank‘s new team chose Lotus.
NBA lockout keeps Jordan from Presidents Cup.
The NBA lockout will keep Michael Jordan from going to Australia to be an assistant captain for the U.S. at the Presidents Cup. Fred Couples brought Jordan along to the last Presidents Cup in San Francisco and signed him up for the Nov. 17-20 matches at Royal Melbourne. Jordan, the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, had to back out as the NBA continues its lockout. Couples replaced him with John Cook.
The Associated Press
