Simon, Almagro, Baker win in Nice
NICE, France, May 24 (UPI) -- Russian Nikolay Davydenko, defending champion Nicolas Almagro and Frenchman Gilles Simon all were quarterfinal winners Thursday at the Nice Open in France.
Davydenko downed top-seeded 6-foot-9 American John Isner 6,4, 7-6 (7-4) and Simon defeated Brazilian qualifier Thomaz Bullucci 7-5, 6-0 at the Nice Lawn Tennis Club.
Reigning champion Almargo of Spain, the No. 3 seed, beat Belgian Steve Darcis 6-4, 6-4 on the red clay in a tune-up for Sunday's start of the French Open in Paris.
American qualifier Brian Baker, who upset fourth-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils Wednesday, plays Mikhail Kukushin of Kazakhstan in another quarterfinal match.
Monfils pulled out of the French Open Thursday with a knee injury.
The winner of the $505,000 Nice Open takes home $91,000.
Bad knee sidelines Monfils for French Open
PARIS, May 24 (UPI) -- French tennis star Gael Monfils Thursday withdrew from the 2012 French Open because of an injured right knee.
Monfils, 25, ranked No. 13 in the world, made it to the semi-finals last year in the French Open, which begins Sunday in Paris.
The Frenchman lost to American Brian Baker Wednesday in the second round of the Open de Nice Cote d'Azur tournament in Nice.
Yankees officials deny rumors of sale
NEW YORK, May 24 (UPI) -- The New York Yankees Thursday denied a report that the team could be put up for sale.
Statements by top team officials came in response to a New York Daily News story that quoted sources saying the Steinbrenner family might put the team up for sale in hopes of a big payday after the Los Angeles Dodgers sold for a record $2.175 billion.
The Yankees franchise has been under the control of the Steinbrenner family since 1973, when the late George Steinbrenner led a group of investors that purchased the team for $8.8 million. The Steinbrenner family has led the Yankees to seven World Series titles.
General partner Hal Steinbrenner, George's younger son, said in a statement Thursday morning: "I just read the Daily News story. It is complete fiction. Me and my family have no intention to sell the Yankees and expect it to be in the family for years to come."
Yankees President Randy Levine also denied rumors about a possible sale.
"I can say to you there is absolutely, positively nothing to this. The Steinbrenners are not selling the team," Levine said.
The Daily News said experts estimate the team could be worth as much as $3 billion.
"It would definitely be the right time for the family to sell," a baseball source familiar with matters involving the league's owners told the News. "The value of the team couldn't be higher, but at the same time, it's an older team in a division with younger teams getting better at the same time a lot of the Yankees' core veterans are starting to go into decline."
Hal Steinbrenner has indicated he wants to lower the team's payroll.
Surgery delayed for Cards' Lance Berkman
ST. LOUIS, May 24 (UPI) -- Surgery to repair St. Louis Cardinals' first baseman Lance Berkman's injured right knee has been postponed by one day, the team said Thursday.
Berkman tore a meniscus in his right knee Saturday while trying to make a catch at first base against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He underwent an MRI Monday and surgery was scheduled for Thursday.
However, the operation was delayed until Friday because of a conflict in his surgeon's schedule in Houston.
The Cardinals placed the 14-year veteran on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with what was initially thought to be a strained knee.
Berkman, a six-time All-Star, is hitting .333 this season with five doubles and four home runs in just 13 games.
