Sports in brief
TENNIS
Nadal: Fix schedule or else
Rafael Nadal wants an immediate fix to the overcrowded tennis calendar or players may examine tougher options to force a change. Nadal beat Richard Gasquet, 6-3, 6-0, 6-1, and David Ferrer cruised past Gilles Simon, 6-1, 6-4, 6-1, to put Spain ahead of France 2-0 in the Davis Cup semifinals in Cordoba, Spain, the match coming only four days after Nadal lost to Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open final. Nadal has complained before about the overcrowded calendar. When asked if a strike would be possible, he said players may have to use "strong action" if necessary. "We don't want to get there. We want to play. But if it's a fight about something that we think is fair, something would have to happen."
Djokovic was a late withdrawal from the singles in Serbia's semifinal against Argentina in Belgrade with a back problem which he experienced in the Open final. His replacement, Viktor Troicki, lost to David Nalbandian, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Janko Tipsarevic also lost to Juan Martin del Potro, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4, giving Argentina a 2-0 advantage.
Mark Wilson and Justin Rose are tied for the lead going into the weekend at the BMW Championship in Lemont, Ill. Wilson, who considers Cog Hill a home course after he moved to Chicago, ran off four consecutive birdies around the turn and wound up with 5-under-par 66. Rose had a wild finish, making an eagle on the 15th hole to reclaim a share of the lead and finishing with a 68. They were at 11-under 131 and had a two-shot lead over Webb Simpson, the leader in the FedEx Cup who has won two of his last three tournaments.
Teenager leads LPGA event
Lexi Thompson shot 4-under 68 to take the second-round lead in the LPGA's Navistar Classic in Prattville, Ala. The 16-year-old Thompson is two shots ahead of Stacy Lewis and Becky Morgan.
Crosby scheduled to practice
Injured center Sidney Crosby will practice with the Pittsburgh Penguins when they open training camp Saturday. When he returns to game action is unknown. "Seeing Sidney Crosby on the ice in that jersey and at practice, it's always good to see that," coach Dan Bylsma said Friday. It is a positive step for the captain who was victimized by hard hits in successive games Jan. 1 and 5 and was forced to miss the rest of the season.
NBAArtest now World Peace
Ron Artest's bid to become Mr. World Peace was delayed, but not denied. A Los Angeles court commissioner granted the Lakers forward's request to officially change his name to Metta World Peace, three weeks after the bid was blocked because Artest had unpaid traffic tickets. Artest, 31, did not attend a brief hearing Friday. -- AP
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