Nadal, Federer win again at Dubai
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 3 (UPI) -- Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal won their semifinal matches Friday at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Federer, the top seed and top-ranked men's player in the world, beat Mikhail Youzhny of Russia, 6-2, 6-3, for his 19th straight match win at Dubai. The seven-time Grand Slam champion saved eight break points against Youzhny and fought back from 0-40 deficits in his first two service games.
Nadal, who is No. 2 in both the world and this tournament, topped Rainer Schuettler of Germany, 6-4, 6-2. He is playing for just the second time this year because of a foot injury.
On Saturday, the two will meet for the fourth time. The 19-year-old Nadal is 2-1 lifetime against Federer, and was the winner the last time they met -- in the 2005 French Open semifinals at Paris.
Federer, 24, will seek his 36th career title.
Mauresmo, Petrova win at Qatar
DOHA, Qatar, March 3 (UPI) -- Amelie Mauresmo and Nadia Petrova won their semifinal matches Friday at the Qatar Total Open in Doha.
Mauresmo, the top seed, easily ousted former world No. 1 Martina Hingis, 6-2, 6-2, in their 12th career meeting. Mauresmo, from France, improved to 19-2 overall this season.
Hingis, a five-time Grand Slam winner, dropped to 16-6 since re-joining the WTA Tour full-time in January.
The second-seeded Petrova, from Russia, beat Ai Sugiyama of Japan, 6-1, 7-6 (7-2). The 26-year-old Mauresmo is 4-1 lifetime against Petrova, including a semifinal victory at the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp last month.
She has 22 career titles, including three already this season, in 39 finals.
Nationals may lose Guillen to wrist injury
VIERA, Fla., March 3 (UPI) -- Washington Nationals outfielder Jose Guillen likely will miss three months because of a damaged tendon in his left wrist.
After examining Guillen Friday morning by hand specialist Dr. Edward St. Mary recommended surgery. The National said on their Web site they will seek a second opinion to confirm the diagnosis.
"This is a devastating blow to the team," said General Manager Jim Bowden. "Good teams overcome adversity. Players in the organization will get the first opportunity to replace him, although we will look outside (the organization)."
Guillen apparently hurt himself during a weight-lifting session last month. He said the pain grew more intense after he took his first batting practice of the spring on Wednesday.
The team already has lost pitcher Brian Lawrence for the season because of surgery on a torn rotator cuff and torn labrum in his right arm and shoulder.
Guillen was Washington's best power hitter in 2005, when he hit 24 home runs.
2 Vikings players claim racial prosecution
MINNEAPOLIS, March 3 (UPI) -- Lawyers for two Minnesota Vikings stars say that charges of sexual misconduct against them are racially motivated.
Daunte Culpepper, Moe Williams and two other players were charged with misbehaving during a party boat cruise on Lake Minnetonka. The party last October was one traditionally given by rookies for the Vikings' veteran players.
"We brought the motion to dismiss because we believe there's racial discrimination in the charging process," said Culpepper's lawyer, Earl Gray, told the St. Paul Pioneer-Press. "They have very little evidence to even have probable cause."
Gray and Williams' lawyer have filed a motion asking a judge to dismiss the charge on the grounds of selective prosecution. They say that there was actually more evidence against two men on the cruise who were not charged who happen to be white.
Prosecutors say that the crime is not so much the men's alleged actions as their indulging in sex acts in front of crewmembers who were offended.
