Louisville, Kansas lead NCAA Tourney picks
INDIANAPOLIS, March 17 (UPI) -- Louisville, Kansas, Gonzaga and Indiana each were awarded a No. 1 seed by the NCAA Tournament selection committee Sunday.
The top overall seed went to Louisville (29-5), which charged down the stretch with nine straight victories, including eight by double-digit victory margins.
The second-ranked Cardinals blew out No. 18 Syracuse in the Big East Tournament title game, earning the top spot in the Midwest Region.
Third-ranked Kansas (29-5) got the nod in the South Region, while Gonzaga (31-2), which ended the season ranked No. 1, will take a 14-game winning streak into the West Region.
The selection committee, meanwhile, wasn't deterred by Indiana's loss in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, handing the No. 4 Hoosiers (27-6) the top seed in the East Region.
Their Big Ten regular-season championship figured to have played a role in the decision.
Nadal bests del Potro at Indian Wells
INDIAN WELLS, Calif., March 17 (UPI) -- Fifth-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain won the BNP Paribas Open Sunday by defeating seventh-seeded Argentine Juan Martin del Potro in three sets.
Nadal bested del Potro 4-6 6-3 6-4 for his third title since returning from a eight-month absence due to a sore left knee.
The 11-time Grand Slam champion notched his 53rd career win and first on a hard court since the 2010 U.S. Open.
His Indian Wells triumph -- which marked his 600th career match win -- came after earlier clay-court titles in Brazil and Mexico following his injury layoff.
Nadal improved to 17-1 for the best start of his career and has reeled off 14 straight wins.
It was an emotional victory for Nadal, who celebrated by falling to his knees by the net after shaking hands with his opponent.
Del Potro had defeated Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic en route to the Indian Wells final.
Lewis rallies for win, claims world No. 1
PHOENIX, March 17 (UPI) -- Stacy Lewis charged from four shots back to win the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup with an 8-under-par 64 Sunday and take over the world No. 1 ranking.
Lewis ended Saturday's second round two shots behind Ai Mayazato, then after play concluded was slapped with a two-stroke penalty for having her caddy testing the surface of a bunker.
But Lewis roared back Sunday to claim the victory at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, posting a three-shot win at 23-under-par 265.
The triumph allowed her to overtake Yani Tseng for the No. 1 spot, thus becoming the first American since Cristie Kerr in October 2010 to hold the position.
Miyazato tumbled to a 1-under 71 in the final round, ending at 20-under 268.
Claiming sole possession of third place at minus-17 was Angela Stanford (68).
Jessica Korda (66), Giulia Sergas (68), Lizette Salas (69) and Jee Young Lee (71) shared fourth at 16-under.
Raikkonen wins first Formula 1 race of '13
MELBOURNE, March 17 (UPI) -- Kimi Raikkonen, using only two pit stops Sunday, won the Formula 1 season-opening Rolex Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
While most drivers were pitting three times in the race, Raikkonen and the Lotus-Renault team stopped just twice and that strategy allowed him to take the lead for good on the 43rd lap.
Raikkonen completed the 58 laps of the race at the 3.295-mile Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in 1 hour, 30 minute, 3.225 seconds. He also had the fastest lap of the day in just less than 90 seconds near the end of the race.
He held off Ferrari's Fernando Alonso for a 12.5-second victory with Sebastian Vettel, coming off the pole in his Red Bull Racing-Renault, finishing third another 10 seconds back.
Raikkonen started at No. 7 in the grid after Vettel and his Red Bull teammate Mark Webber claimed the top two starting positions. Raikkonen quickly moved to fourth and worked into the lead in the 23rd lap.
He briefly lost the lead after a pit stop in the 34th lap but was back in front by the 43rd and controlled the race from there.
The 2013 Formula 1 season continues next Sunday at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur.
