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2B Daily News – Wednesday, May 30, 2012 Serena Williams loses in 1st round at French Open PARIS (AP) — For more than a decade, whatever the state of her health or her game, no matter the opponent or arena, Serena Williams always won first-round matches at Grand Slam tournaments. Always. Until Tuesday at the French Open. Until Williams came within two points of victory nine times, yet remarkably failed to close the deal against unher- alded and 111th-ranked Virginie Raz- zano of France. game filled with 30 points, more than enough to fill an entire set, featuring ebbs and flows, high-pressure shot- making and nerves — and even thun- derous protests from the crowd when the chair umpire docked Razzano a point. That look-away-and-you-miss- something game included five wasted break points for Williams, and seven match points that she saved, until Raz- zano finally converted her eighth, 3 hours and 3 minutes after they began playing. Until a theatrical, 23-minute final was 46 for 46 in openers at tennis' top venues, and those encounters tended to be routine and drama-free, befitting a woman so good that the goal — and 13 times, the end result — was a major championship. All told, until Tuesday, Williams points in a row. ''I've been through so much in my life, and ... I'm not happy, by no means,'' said Williams, her eyes welling with tears. ''I just always think things can be worse.'' The 30-year-old American returned to action last year after missing about 10 months because of a series of health scares, including two foot operations and blood clots, a scary stretch she says altered her worldview. The rowdy spectators in Court Philippe Chatrier chanting Razzano's first name would have been pulling for her anyway, of course, because of her citizenship. But their support was par- ticularly strong because of her recent heartbreak, well-known in France: Razzano's fiance — Stephane Vidal, also her longtime coach — died at age 32 of a brain tumor in May 2011, a lit- tle more than a week before her first- round match at last year's French Open. life. You know, it just depends on how you deal with it. She obviously is deal- ing with it really well.'' Williams' exit was by far the most newsworthy development on Day 3 at Roland Garros, where Maria Sharapo- va won 6-0, 6-0, and Rafael Nadal began his bid for a record seventh French Open championship with a straight-set victory. Williams entered Tuesday having won her previous 17 matches, all on clay. She withdrew before what would have been her most recent match, a semifinal at the Italian Open on May 19, citing a bad lower back, but said on Friday she was better, then refused to place blame on that injury after being beaten by Razzano. ''No, no, no. I didn't feel anything abnormal,'' said Williams, who counts the 2002 French Open among her 13 Grand Slam singles trophies. ''I was 100 percent healthy.'' Not this time. Now Williams' first- round Grand Slam record is 46-1 after as stunning a denouement as could be in a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 loss to Razzano on the red clay at Roland Garros. The fifth-seeded Williams, consid- ered by many a pre-tournament favorite, led 5-1 in the second-set tiebreaker, before dropping the next 13 He had encouraged her to go ahead and enter the tournament, so she did, honoring his memory by stepping on court to play, a black ribbon pinned to her shirt. When she walked out of the locker room for what turned out to be a straight-set loss, she wore a gold chain that Vidal had given her as a Valentine's Day gift a few years earli- er. ''Honestly, the past is the past,'' Razzano said Tuesday. ''I think now I did my mourning. I feel good today. It took time.'' Said Williams: ''I know of her story and her husband. We all have stories. I mean, I almost died, and Venus is struggling herself. So, you know, it's SANTA CLARA (AP) — Frank Gore took the ball, chugged up the middle and ran a few extra yards just for fun. Same 'ol Gore, always pushing, no matter the month. It's just that usually he is doing so way down in Miami this time of year — not on the field with his 49ers team- mates for everybody to see. Gore is embracing change and competition at age 29. He is fueling himself with thoughts of how close he came to the Super Bowl back in Jan- uary. ''It's real different, push from backup Kendall Hunter, newly signed Brandon Jacobs and rookie second-round pick LaMichael James. Gore also has a workout bonus for his attendance that's part of the new $21 million, three-year contract extension he received last August. He doesn't expect to Manny won't join A's just yet OAKLAND (AP) — The Oakland Athletics have no timetable for calling up Manny Ramirez, who becomes eligible this week. When the suspended slugger is deemed major league ready, the A's plan to promote him from Triple-A Sacramento. Oakland assis- tant general manager David Forst said Tuesday that team brass will receive updates each night from the Triple-A staff to determine when the 12-time All-Star might join Oakland. ''We want to make sure year and they're still trying to get it. Imagine when you miss a year.'' Ramirez is hoping for a comeback in what would be his 20th major league sea- son. He is a career .312 hit- ter with 1,831 RBIs. The A's signed Ramirez to a one-year minor league contract on Feb. 20 that is worth approximately $500,000 if he's added to the big league roster. Williams would bend forward and lean on her racket frame, as though perhaps stretching her lower back. She also clutched at that spot and whacked her racket there after miscues. And there were plenty of those, 47 in all, 11 more than her foe. That's where Williams put the emphasis when trying to fathom how she let her big lead slip away, especially after being ahead 5-1 in the second-set tiebreaker. She lost the next six points to end that set, then the first seven points of the third. ''I tried. I kept going for my shots, which always works for me,'' Williams said. ''It didn't work out today.'' but change is good for everybody at times,'' Gore said Tuesday. ''We've got a great thing going out here. We know what type of team we've got and hopefully we get back to that.'' Bowl running back is taking part in San Fran- cisco's offseason work- outs, arriving far earlier than usual to the Bay Area from his home in south Florida to get to work. He is part of a small group that works out each morning around 6 a.m. Until now, Gore had stayed in Miami, where he starred in college for the Hurricanes, his entire seven-year NFL career. Now, Gore has no unsettled contract status weighing on his mind the way he did a year ago and seems as focused and confident as ever. ''As long as I'm in great shape, I'm going to be the Frank Gore I've always been,'' Gore declared after a practice last week. The three-time Pro While Gore is deter- mined to do his part to duplicate San Francis- co's special comeback season of 2011, he has other motivation, too: The defending NFC West champions already have a busy backfield, and Gore will get a daily STANLEY CUP Today: at New Jersey, 5 p.m. Saturday: at New Jersey, 5 p.m. Monday: at Los Angeles, 5 p.m. June 6: at Los Angeles, 5 p.m. x-June 9: at New Jersey, 5 p.m. x-June 11: at Los Angeles, 5 p.m. x-June 13: at New Jersey, 5 p.m. x - if needed slow down any time soon. ''I'm going to be Frank, and if I'm on the field I'll do whatever it takes to help my team win,'' he said. He has said he plans to return to Miami and get in ''beast mode shape and be ready for the season.'' Gore has long prided himself on being a durable, every-down back who can carry the load for the Niners year after year. Yet coach Jim Harbaugh knows Gore will need his share of breaks. The 49ers' career rushing leader, who last season reeled off a franchise-best stretch of five straight 100-yard games, took six weeks off to rest after the 49ers' 20-17 overtime loss in January to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants in the NFC championship game. Gore also needed a mental break after the way the season ended. It still stings. ''It was tough. That's one of the reasons I did- n't go to the Pro Bowl,'' he said. ''It broke me down for a while. How close it was, just looking back, all the tough times we had here to be that close to going to the big dance, that was very tough. ... I took a little longer this time because we played a little longer last year. I had a few more bumps and bruises to get back together. So I took a little longer. Now my body is starting to get back.'' While Gore is still the main man carrying the ball in Harbaugh's offense, Hunter made an immediate impact as a rookie. He carried 112 NBA PLAYOFFS CONFERENCE FINALS (Best-of-7) Tuesday's result San Antonio 120, Oklahoma City 111 San Antonio leads series 2-0 Today's game Boston at Miami, 5:30 p.m. Miami leads series 1-0 times for 473 yards and two touchdowns. The 6- foot-4, 264-pound Jacobs has an impressive physical presence. Jacobs, released March 9 by the Giants after the sides failed to work out a restructured contract, ran for 571 yards and seven touch- downs last season as his role diminished behind the emerging Ahmad Bradshaw. ''He's a big guy,'' Gore said. ''I'm happy we have him.'' Trent Baalke said during the draft last month that the 49ers have ample options at running back, and they like it that way. ''It's like poker, it's a full house. That's good, right?'' Baalke said. And the players seem General manager Occasionally after losing points, Manny feels he is 100 per- cent ready when we pull the trigger on this move,'' Forst said. ''I don't have any time frame other than we're watching it every day.'' Ramirez is scheduled to be reinstated by Major League Baseball after the A's 50th game at Minnesota on Wednesday, also his 40th birthday. Gore ready for some competition this season games against Har- baugh's former Stanford team before the coach jumped to the NFL in January 2011. ''We envision him coming in and compet- ing,'' Baalke said of James. ''Like we always say, we're trying to cre- ate as much competition as we can. This does that. One thing about this football team, they're up to the chal- lenge. They're not afraid to compete.'' to like the idea of shar- ing the touches — for now anyway. The 49ers appreciate seeing Gore on the field, too. ''It doesn't make just Center Jonathan Goodwin is eager to see what the Niners can do with so many options, including experienced newcomers Randy Moss and Mario Manningham in the receiving corps. ''This offense has a lot of potential,'' Good- win said. individuals better, it makes everybody better, and it's good for the team,'' Hunter said. ''I think it's big (that Gore's here). Not only to the players but the organization because he's a leader and he does what it takes to win and he knows what it takes, and he can help the younger guys.'' Harbaugh has described the competi- tion this way: ''It's going to get real real, and it's going to get real real, real fast.'' Notes: CB Carlos Rogers was on the field but didn't participate in drills. ... Manningham, TE Vernon Davis, WR Michael Crabtree, RT Anthony Davis and S Donte Whitner were among those not in attendance for the voluntary workout. ... Harbaugh met at length with QBs Alex Smith and Josh Johnson in the outdoor weight room following practice. MLB West Division Texas James ran for 5,082 yards and 53 touch- downs on 771 career carries in three seasons at Oregon. That included 49 carries for 382 yards and four TDs in two WNBA WESTERN CONFERENCE WL Pct GB Minnesota Sparks 4 0 1.000 — 3 1 .750 1 San Antonio 1 1 .500 2 Phoenix Seattle Tulsa 1 2 .333 2.5 0 3 .000 3.5 0 3 .000 3.5 EASTERN CONFERENCE WL Pct GB Connecticut 3 0 1.000 — Indiana Chicago New York 3 0 1.000 — 1 1 .500 1.5 Washington 1 1 .500 1.5 Atlanta Tulsa at Los Angeles, late Today's games Minnesota at Washington, 4 p.m. Chicago at San Antonio, 5 p.m. Thursday's game Phoenix at Atlanta, 4 p.m. 1 2 .333 2 0 4 .000 3.5 —————————————————— Tuesday's result Angels A's Seattle East Division Baltimore American League WL Pct GB 31 19 .620 — 25 25 .500 6 22 28 .440 9 22 30 .423 10 WL Pct GB 29 21 .580 — Tampa Bay 29 21 .580 — New York Toronto Boston Central Division Chicago 26 22 .542 2 26 24 .520 3 25 24 .510 3.5 WL Pct GB 28 22 .560 — Cleveland 27 22 .551 .5 Detroit 23 26 .469 4.5 Kansas City 20 28 .417 7 Minnesota 17 32 .347 10.5 —————————————————— Tuesday's results Minnesota 3, Oakland 2 Boston 6, Detroit 3 Chicago 7, Tampa Bay 2 Kansas City 8, Cleveland 2 Seattle 10, Texas 3 Toronto 8, Baltimore 6 New York at Los Angeles, late Today's games Oakland (T.Ross 2-5) at Minnesota (Liriano 0-5), 10:10 a.m. Kansas City (B.Chen 3-5) at Cleveland (J.Gomez 3-3), 9:05 a.m. Chicago (Quintana 1-0) at Tampa Bay (Cobb 2-0), 10:10 a.m. Baltimore (Hammel 6-1) at Toronto (Morrow 5-3), 4:07 p.m. Detroit (Smyly 2-1) at Boston (Lester 3-4), 4:10 p.m. Seattle (Beavan 2-4) at Texas (D.Holland 4-3), 5:05 p.m. New York (Nova 5-2) at Los Angeles (E.Santana 2-6), 7:05 p.m. Thursday's game Detroit at Boston, 4:10 p.m. the A's have a weekend series at Kansas City. So, the club could decide to wait it out for Ramirez through the road trip and keep him play- ing home games for Sacra- mento through Friday before the River Cats travel to Tacoma. The A's host the two-time reigning AL champion Texas Rangers beginning Monday night. Forst said when Ramirez does return, the A's want him to stay in the big leagues for the remainder of the season and that is why it is best to wait for now despite the A's offensive struggles. After playing the Twins, Tampa Bay Rays last season rather than serve a 100- game suspension for a sec- ond failed drug test. The penalty was cut to 50 games because he sat out nearly all of last season. He ranks 14th on the career list with 555 home runs. Ramirez went 1 for 17 (.059) in five games last season for Tampa Bay. The A's — also missing injured slugger Yoenis Ces- pedes — could use a pro- ductive Ramirez. Oakland is batting a majors-low .211 as a team with 42 homers and 162 runs and 384 strikeouts to 159 walks. Ramirez retired from the RODEO Pro Rodeo Leaders All-Around 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas $74,051 2. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore. 3. Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo. $38,934 $30,564 4.Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas $28,302 5.Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah $25,872 6.Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta $24,706 7. Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D. $22,458 8.Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla. $21,095 9.C.Boardman, Stephenville, Texas, $19,548 10. Brent Lewis, Pinon, N.M. $19,450 11.Justin Thigpen, Waycross, Ga. $15,040 12.JoJo LeMond, Andrews, Texas 13. Ryle Smith, Oakdale 14. Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas 15. Blake Hirdes, Turlock Ramirez is batting .250 (8 for 32) with no home runs or extra-base hits and four RBIs with seven strikeouts and three walks in nine games with Sacramento. ''He had a good game yesterday, hit the ball hard a couple times,'' Forst said. ''I don't think we have any goal in terms of performance or at-bats. I think we have seen him make progress but we have to make sure every- body feels he's major league ready. Once we make the move we want him to be here to stay and to be able to contribute every day.'' Ramirez was scheduled 1.Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas 2. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas 3. Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah 4. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore Bareback Riding $54,640 $53,439 $31,648 $30,208 5. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb. $29,169 6. Matt Bright, Azle, Texas $25,361 7. J.R.Vezain, Cowley, Wyo. $24,335 8. Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo. $23,526 9.Luke Creasy, Brownfield, Alberta $23,408 10. Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La. $21,734 Steer Wrestling 1. Ethen Thouvenell, Napa 2.Shawn Greenfield, Lakeview, Ore. $24,960 3. Beau Clark, Belgrade, Mont., 4. Billy Bugenig, Ferndale $37,510 $24,776 5.Todd Suhn, Hermosa, S.D. $23,468 6. Olin Hannum, Malad, Idaho $24,227 $22,827 7. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb. $22,636 8.Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore. $21,778 9. K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas 10.Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah $20,734 $19,676 11.Les Shepperson, Midwest, Wyo. $19,066 12. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos$18,483 Team Roping (header) 1. Keven Daniel, Franklin, Tenn. $37,660 2. Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga. $33,665 3. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont. $32,729 4.Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas to work out with the River Cats on Tuesday, but he can't play again until he's added to their 25-man roster Wednesday. His permitted 10-day rehab assignment ended Monday. serve a 50-game suspension for a second positive drug test, believes he is making progress each day he faces live pitching. ''Like I said, I haven't played in a year,'' he said Monday in Sacramento. ''You miss a year, it's going to take a lot. You see a lot of guys in the big leagues and here, they play the whole Ramirez, who had to MLB West Division Dodgers GIANTS Arizona Colorado Padres East Division Washington 29 20 .592 — Miami New York Atlanta Philadelphia 26 25 .510 4 Central Division Cincinnati 28 21 .571 — St. Louis Pittsburgh 24 25 .490 4 Houston Milwaukee 20 28 .417 7.5 Chicago WL Pct GB 27 23 .540 1.5 22 27 .449 6 17 32 .347 11 —————————————————— Tuesday's results Arizona at San Francisco, late Atlanta 5, St. Louis 4 Chicago 5, San Diego 3 Cincinnati 8, Pittsburgh 1 Miami 3, Washington 1 New York 6, Philadelphia 3 Milwaukee at Los Angeles, late Today's games Arizona (I.Kennedy 3-5) at San Fran. (Lincecum 2-5), 7:15 p.m. San Diego (Bass 2-5) at Chicago (Dempster 0-3), 11:20 a.m. Cincinnati (Cueto 5-2) at Pittsburgh (A.J.Burnett 3-2), 4:05 p.m. Philadelphia (Cl.Lee 0-2) at New York (Gee 4-3), 4:10 p.m. St. Louis (Lohse 5-1) at Atlanta (T.Hudson 3-2), 4:10 p.m. Washington (Wang 1-0) at Miami (Jo.Johnson 2-3), 4:10 p.m. Houston (Harrell 4-3) at Colorado (Friedrich 2-1), 5:40 p.m. Milwaukee (Gallardo 3-4) at Los Angeles (Kershaw 4-2), 7:10 p.m. Thursday's games Houston at Colorado, 5:40 p.m. Milwaukee at Los Angeles, 7:10 p.m. WL Pct GB 28 22 .560 1.5 28 22 .560 1.5 27 24 .529 3 National League WL Pct GB 32 16 .667 — 26 23 .531 6.5 22 27 .449 10.5 19 29 .396 13 17 34 .333 16.5 $31,906 5. Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla. $30,157 6. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas $28,870 7. Garrett Tonozzi, Fruita, Colo. $27,444 8. Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont. $25,289 9. Spencer Mitchell, Colusa $23,804 10.Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz. $22,236 Team Roping (heeler) 1. Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont. $37,660 2.Travis Graves, Jay, Okla. 3.Kinney Harrell, Marshall, Texas $32,729 $30,322 4. Kollin VonAhn, Durant, Okla. $30,157 5. Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas 6. Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev. 7. Broc Cresta, Santa Rosa 8. Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 9.Caleb Twisselman, Santa Margarita $23,992 10.Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas Saddle Bronc Riding 1. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah 2.Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa $33,843 3. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah 4. Cody Taton, Mud Butte, S.D. $27,354 5. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah 8. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La. $24,033 9.J.Crawley, College Station, Texas 6. Jeff Willert, Belvidere, S.D. $24,884 7. Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D. 10.Chet Johnson, Sheridan, Wyo. $23,631 11.S.Crawley, College Station, Texas $44,691 $27,798 $27,219 $24,467 $23,792 $23,227 12. Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb. $20,472 13. J.J. Elshere, Hereford, S.D. $19,495 14.C.Angland, Wagga Wagga, Australia $19,052 15. Joaquin Real, Woody $18,853 Tie-down Roping 1.Justin Maass, Giddings, Texas 2. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla. $34,109 3.Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas 4.Houston Hutto, Tomball, Texas 5. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas 6.Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas $49,633 $29,559 $28,232 $26,662 $26,605 7. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La. $26,597 8.Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas 9.E.J.Roberts, Stephenville, Texas 10. Ace Slone, Cuero, Texas Steer Roping 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas $29,732 2. Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas 3.Kim Ziegelgruber, Edmond, Okla. $22,051 4. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas $26,225 $19,495 5. Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D. $16,367 6. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas $14,037 7.Rod Hartness, Pawhuska, Okla. $13,888 8.Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla. $13,622 9. Marty Jones, Hobbs, N.M. $12,277 10. Chris Glover, Keenesburg, Colo. $12,008 Bull Riding 1. Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas 2. Kanin Asay, Powell, Wyo. $59,508 $50,851 3. Cody Samora, Cortez, Colo. $48,922 4.Trey Benton III, Rock Island, Texas 5.Brett Stall, Detroit Lakes, Minn. $33,169 6. J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas $46,481 $32,062 7.Tyler Willis, Wheatland, Wyo. $31,876 8.Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D. $29,089 9.Tag Elliott, Thatcher, Utah $28,983 10.Seth Glause, Cheyenne, Wyo. $27,233 Barrel Racing 1. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas 2.Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas $82,663 $78,948 3.Lindsay Sears, Nanton, Alberta $65,381 4.B.Barrington-Little, Ardmore, Okla. $57,056 5.Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb. $29,865 6. Christina Richman, Glendora $29,679 7.Robyn Herring, Huntington, Texas $29,200 8. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D. $29,055 9. Shelley Morgan, Eustace, Texas 10. Nikki Steffes, Vale, S.D. $26,925 $26,259 11.Tana Renick, Kingston, Okla. $25,647 12.Karen Little, San Saba, Texas 13. Sammi Bessert, Loma, Colo. $24,679 14. Linda Vick, Hesperia $25,519 $24,646 $25,081 $23,364 $23,022 11.Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore. $22,422 12. Dugan Kelly, Paso Robles $23,195 $22,007 $28,870 $27,617 $27,340 $24,226 $15,020 $14,276 $13,213 $11,999