world cup skiing
Worley endures gusty winds to win Andorra giant slalom
SOLDEU-GRANDVALIRA, Andorra – Tessa Worley of France fought off gusting winds to win a second consecutive World Cup giant slalom Sunday in the Andorran Pyrenees, while overall leader Lindsey Vonn finished eighth.
Worley led after the opening run and withstood a strong challenge by Slovenia’s Tina Maze to win in 2 minutes, 1.80 seconds for her seventh career victory.
Maze was 0.16 seconds behind and chipped into Vonn’s commanding point total with her seventh top-three finish of the season. Defending World Cup champion Maria Hoefl-Riesch was third, 0.75 seconds off the pace.
This was the first time Andorra, a small principality tucked between France and Spain, hosted World Cup events.
Vonn, still on course for her fourth overall title, was 1.36 seconds behind. Even though she was denied a big points haul, the American still holds a 410-point cushion over Maze and is confident about her chances of reclaiming the title.
Croatian Kostelic victorious on injured right knee
KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia – Ivica Kostelic captured his second consecutive World Cup super-combined title with a victory Sunday on the 2014 Sochi Olympics course, then hobbled off with an injured right knee that might need surgery.
The Croatian was in visible pain during the victory celebration, using his ski poles like crutches and struggling onto the podium on the verge of tears while sister Janica looked on crying.
Moving up from 15th after the downhill leg, Kostelic put down the fastest slalom run for a combined time of 2 minutes, 50.21 seconds. He pumped his fist when he crossed the finish line, but then the pain set in.
Kostelic was injured during the initial portion of the slalom. Team officials said surgery is possible.
All of the Americans entered went out in the slalom run. Bode Miller was fourth after the downhill portion but failed to make a gate on the top, while Ted Ligety and Will Brandenburg straddled slalom gates on the bottom part of the course.
tennis
United States sweeps Swiss behind Harrison, Isner
FRIBOURG, Switzerland – The United States completed a 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the Davis Cup on Sunday, with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning closing singles matches.
The U.S. already was assured of advancing after winning Saturday’s doubles in the first-round series in the World Group. The Americans will play on the road in the April 6-8 quarterfinals against France or Canada.
Harrison made a winning Davis Cup debut, beating Michael Lammer 7-6 (0), 7-6 (4) to extend the Americans’ lead to 4-0. Isner, who beat Roger Federer on Friday, ensured a shutout in defeating Marco Chuidinelli 6-3, 6-4.
Harrison was selected by captain Jim Courier after the U.S. sealed its victory Saturday when Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan beat Olympic doubles champions Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka.
Ice skating
Heavy snow collapses roof on Sarajevo sports center
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina – The roof of a sports center used for ice skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics collapsed Sunday under the weight of heavy snow, police said. No injuries were reported.
The Skenderija sports center in downtown Sarajevo was closed and nobody was inside when the roof collapsed just after 3 p.m., police spokesman Irfan Nefic said. Surrounding shop windows were broken.
The Skenderija center, made up of three different complexes, was built in 1969 and used during the Olympics for figure skating and hockey. Only the ice skating complex was affected.
For more than a week, Bosnia has been paralyzed with record snowfall. There was up to 3 three feet of snow on the ground in Sarajevo on Sunday.
Associated Press
