UPI NewsTrack Sports

Sore neck sidelines Phelps at nationals

INDIANAPOLIS, July 10 (UPI) -- Nathan Adrian took advantage of the absence of Michael Phelps Friday to capture the 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. Swimming Championships in Indianapolis.

Phelps, the winner of eight Olympic gold medals in Beijing last year, withdrew from the freestyle event complaining of a sore neck. He said he hopes to compete Saturday in the 200-meter butterfly.

He has already won three national titles this week, one of them in world record time. He will return to the international scene this month at the world championships in Rome, where he is expected to compete in three individual races and three relays.

"Yesterday, I woke up with a crick in my neck," Phelps said. "I got it worked on after prelims, before finals and after finals.

"Then I woke up this morning and it was worse. When I came here and hopped in the water, I could barely turn to breathe. I'm disappointed I'm not swimming here, but the 200 fly is definitely my better race so I need to prepare for that."

Adrian, who swam on the winning American 400-meter freestyle relay team at the 2008 Olympics, won the 100-meter freestyle in 48.00. David Walters was second in 48.17.

In other finals Friday, Ryan Lochte captured the 200-meter individual medley (1:54.56), Elizabeth Beisel won the 200-meter backstroke (2:08.80) and Kathleen Hersey was the winner in the 200-meter butterfly (2:06.44).

Nocentini is overall Tour de France leader

ARCALIS, Andorra, July 10 (UPI) -- Brice Feillu won Friday's stage of the Tour de France but Rinaldo Nocentini's fourth-place finish was enough to give him the overall race lead.

Feillu covered the 134.4-mile course from Barcelona, Spain, to Arcalis, Andorra, in 6 hours, 11 minutes, 31 seconds. Christophe Kern was 5 seconds back and finished second while Johannes Frohlinger was 20 seconds more behind. Nocentini was 1 second behind Frohlinger.

Friday's route included a Category 1 climb midway through the stage and finished with an Uncategorized Climb in the final miles. That climb took the riders up an extra 1,185 feet in elevation.

Feillu, undaunted by the altitude, grabbed the lead with 3 miles to go and led the rest of the way.

Alberto Contador, who began the day in third place in the overall standings, mounted a late sprint that allowed him to move past Lance Armstrong into second place. Contador is 6 seconds behind Nocentini and 2 seconds ahead of Armstrong.

Armstrong easily covered late attacks by riders from other teams, but when his teammate Contador began his surge, Armstrong let him go. The question, therefore, remains as to which rider will be the overall strongest in the mountains.

The eighth stage Saturday begins in Andorra la Vella in Andorra and heads 106 miles to Saint-Girons, France. There are two Category 1 and one Category 2 climbs on the route.

Croatia puts Americans in Davis Cup hole

POREC, Croatia, July 10 (UPI) -- Ivo Karlovic and Marin Cilic won their singles matches Friday, giving Croatia a 2-0 Davis Cup quarterfinal lead over the United States.

Both matches went to five sets, with Karlovic beating James Blake 6-7 (5-7), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 and Cilic downing Mardy Fish 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-1, 8-6.

Karlovic topped Blake with the help of 47 service aces.

Fish was a late addition to the U.S. squad after Andy Roddick, the runner-up at Wimbledon last week and a Davis Cup regular, withdrew because of a hip injury.

The Croatians will go after a clinching victory in Saturday's doubles when Karlovic and Lovro Zovko will face the highly regarded American twin brothers Mike and Bob Bryan. Croatia is trying to reach the Davis Cup semifinals for the second time.

The United States has won 32 Davis Cup championships and is trying to qualify for the semifinals a fourth straight time.

In other quarterfinal action around the globe, Israel took a 2-0 lead over Russia, Span and Germany were tied at 1-1 and the Czech Republic was also deadlocked with Argentina 1-1.

Christie Kerr leads U.S. Women's Open

BETHLEHEM, Pa., July 10 (UPI) -- Christie Kerr used a 1-under-par 70 Friday to forge a one-stroke lead over Paula Creamer through 36 holes at the U.S. Women's Open in Bethlehem, Pa.

Kerr, the 2007 Open winner, has a two-round total of 3-under 139, spurred by three straight birdies beginning at the 15th.

"It feels great," Kerr said. "It's great to know that I've won one (and) I feel very comfortable."

Creamer, gunning for her first major championship, equaled the low round of the tournament with a 3-under 68 Friday for a 36-hole total of 2-under 140.

"I didn't hit the ball quite as well as I envisioned," Creamer said about her second round. "Mentally, I'm pretty tired."

Jean Reynolds shot 1-over 72 and, at 1-under 141, was the only other player under par after 36 holes on the difficult Saucon Valley golf course.

World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa shot 8-over 79 and was nine shots off the lead.