Venus advances at Pan Pacific Open
TOKYO, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Venus Williams showed no signs of rust Thursday as she eased into the quarterfinals of the Pan Pacific Open.
The top-seeded American rolled past Japan's Saori Obata, 6-3, 6-4, in a second-round match at the $1.3 million Tier I event.
It was Williams' first match since losing to Lisa Raymond two weeks ago in the third round of the Australian Open. Aside from an exhibition in Hong Kong, the season's first Grand Slam was her first action since a loss to younger sister Serena in the Wimbledon final.
Venus Williams missed the final four months last with an abdominal injury that she suffered last April in Warsaw and aggravated at Wimbledon.
Tatiana Panova continued her mastery of Russian compatriot Elena Dementieva with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 victory over the third seed. Panova has taken three of four meetings from Dementieva, who reached the quarterfinals last month in Sydney but lost in the first round of the Australian Open.
Fourth seed Ai Sugiyama of Japan, who claimed her sixth career title at the season-opening event in Gold Coast, Australia, swept past Belgian qualifier Els Callens, 6-3, 6-3.
Report: Lennox Lewis to retire
LONDON, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Lennox Lewis, who endured a star-crossed run as heavyweight champion, is expected to announce his retirement Friday, according to a British radio report.
According to BBC Radio Five Live, the 38-year-old Lewis plans to call it quits after a 15-year career that has seen him spend almost 10 years as champion. A news conference is expected in London Friday.
Boxing publicist Carlos Llinas told that Lewis' trainer, Emanuel Steward, declined to comment on the report but did reveal that Steward is "dealing with a major story" and "may have more to say in a couple of days."
Lewis would be retiring with boxing's most important division in shambles. Former middleweight Roy Jones Jr. holds the WBA title with no intention of defending it. Interim champion John Ruiz and IBF titleholder Chris Byrd are unattractive champions who would have trouble headlining a card.
Lewis, 41-2-1 with 32 knockouts, has not fought since June 21, 2003, when he rallied to stop Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko on cuts after six rounds. Facing mounting pressure to defend his WBC title and possibly give Klitschko a rematch, Lewis has been noticeably absent from the spotlight.
Ravens name Jim Fassel senior consultant
OWINGS MILLS, Md., Feb 5 (UPI) -- Former New York Giants coach Jim Fassel has found a new home with the Baltimore Ravens as a senior consultant.
The 54-year-old Fassel was fired by the Giants in mid-December and was allowed to finish out a disappointing 4-12 season in which the Giants lost their final eight games.
Fassel was expected to be a strong candidate for at least some of the NFL's head coaching vacancies this offseason, but he was bypassed for all seven.
In seven seasons with the Giants, Fassel posted a 58-53-1 record. He took the team to the playoffs three times, including a loss to Billick and the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV following the 2000 season.
Before becoming the Giants' coach, Fassel was the offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals.
Red Sox reach agreement with Ortiz
BOSTON, Feb 5 (UPI) -- David Ortiz, who was one of the biggest surprises in all of baseball in 2003, agreed Wednesday to terms on a one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox.
Financial terms were not disclosed for Ortiz, who sought $5 million through arbitration. The Red Sox had offered $4.25 million, $3 million more than the first baseman-designated hitter earned in 2003.
Several reports out of Boston claim the deal is for $4.5 million.
The 28-year-old Ortiz was fifth in the American League Most Valuable Player voting in 2003. After being released by the Minnesota Twins, Ortiz signed with Boston as a free agent and helped key one of the league's most potent offenses, batting .288 with 31 homers and 101 RBI.
Ortiz set career highs in nearly every category and had two homers and six RBI in 26 at-bats during the AL Championship Series with New York.
A career .271 hitter with 89 homers and 339 RBI in 583 games, Ortiz broke in with Minnesota in 1997.
