In Brief

May 8, 2008

Nadal suffers rare loss on clay

ROME -- Rafael Nadal lost on clay for only the second time in 105 matches, falling to Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5, 6-1 Wednesday in the second round of the Rome Masters.

Nadal appeared bothered by a blister on his right foot, calling for the trainer late in the second set.

The second-ranked Nadal, the three-time defending champion in Rome, had never lost at the Foro Italico. The 23rd-ranked Ferrero won the Rome tournament in 2001.

Nadal also won the Monte Carlo Masters and the Barcelona Open the past two weeks, but he appeared slightly off his game Wednesday.

Nadal's last loss on clay came against top-ranked Roger Federer in the Hamburg Masters last year.

Nalbandian was the runner-up to Carlos Moya in the 2004 final here, and reached the semifinals in 2006, losing to Roger Federer.

� Billy Knight announced he's stepping down July 1 as general manager of the Atlanta Hawks after six years.

Michael Gearon Jr. , one of the Hawks' owners, said it was Knight's decision, not the owners', for the GM to resign.

Gearon also said Knight's resignation does not affect any decision to be made with coach Mike Woodson .

� Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum might undergo exploratory arthroscopic surgery on his injured left knee if there is no significant improvement in the next three to four weeks.

Lakers spokesman John Black said Bynum was examined Wednesday by Dr. Steven Gecha in Princeton, N.J. Black said the team was told there had been some improvement in the 20-year-old center's knee, but Gecha's recommendation was exploratory surgery if there wasn't more in the upcoming weeks.

� Rockets guard Tracy McGrady could need three months to recover following operations on his knee and shoulder.

Loose tissue was cleared out of the left knee and left shoulder. McGrady sprained his shoulder against Sacramento on March 24 and wore padding to protect it for the rest of the season, which ended last Friday against Utah in the first round of the playoffs.

� Paul Maurice has been fired as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs after his team failed to make the playoffs during his two seasons.

Maurice has a year left on his contract and was informed of the decision Wednesday morning. He told The Canadian Press from his Toronto home that he was aware that his dismissal was a possibility.

� Cardinals starter Mark Mulder has a mild rotator cuff strain of his left shoulder, causing St. Louis to stop his injury rehabilitation assignment.

Mulder, coming back from two shoulder operations, was evaluated Wednesday in St. Louis by team physician Dr. George Paletta . The Cardinals plan to rest Mulder for seven-to-10 days before reevaluating him.

� Four days after filly Eight Belles broke down and was euthanized after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby, muted crowds returned to Churchill Downs.

The track reopened for racing on Wednesday. Most patrons said they were sad about the filly's death and felt for trainer Larry Jones , but were not sure the sport needs a major overhaul.

Frank Daniels has attended races at Churchill Downs for 35 years. He's witnessed more than a few horses put down on the track after being injured, and considers Eight Belles' death an accident.

Daniels doesn't think the track should switch surfaces from dirt to synthetic until there's more evidence to support it.