Tennis probe expanding

Saying tennis is "potentially at a crossroads," an independent review panel in London found 45 matches that merit further investigation because of irregular betting patterns and offered a host of recommendations to the sport's leaders for combatting corruption.

The panel's 66-page report, prompted in part by suspicions surrounding a match last year involving fourth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko, was released yesterday by the International Tennis Federation, the ATP, the WTA Tour and the four Grand Slams. The 45 unidentified matches, played in the past five years, were among 73 examined by the panel, which warned of "inside information."

The review was prompted by a series of events connected to gambling in tennis. Most prominently, an online betting site, in an unprecedented move, voided all bets on a match involving Davydenko last year because of suspicious gambling patterns. The site received about $7 million in wagers on the match, 10 times the usual amount, and most of the money backed 87th-ranked Martin Vassallo Arguello -- with some coming in even after he lost the opening set. The match ended when Davydenko quit in the third set, citing a foot injury. An ATP inquiry is ongoing.

More tennis

The United States beat the Czech Republic, 2-1, at the World Team Cup in Duesseldorf, Germany, despite having to use another doubles team because of an undisclosed injury to top-ranked Bob and Mike Bryan.

The Bryan brothers were replaced by James Blake and Wayne Odesnik, who rallied past Tomas Berdych and Pavel Vizner, 0-6, 7-5, 10-8.

• American Andy Roddick will miss the French Open next week because of a shoulder injury.

College basketball

Guard Tony Freeman, Iowa's leading scorer from last season, is transferring to Southern Illinois. Freeman averaged 13.8 points and was a junior third-team all-Big Ten Conference selection by the coaches.

Golf

Tiger Woods intends to play in the Buick Open and will play host to a golf clinic at Comerica Park in Detroit June 24, two days before the tournament begins. Woods hasn't played since having knee surgery two days after the Masters, and isn't expected to return until the U.S. Open in mid-June. The Buick Open, a tournament Woods has played eight times and won twice, comes two weeks later.

College football

Florida State receiver Preston Parker will have to sit out the first two games of the 2008 season after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges. Parker, 21, the Seminoles' most versatile player last season, was arrested in April on a felony charge for allegedly having a loaded .45-caliber pistol in the dashboard of his car.

• Suspended Clemson linebacker Cortney Vincent will not return for the 2008 season. Vincent was suspended for spring practice for an unspecified violation of team rules.

Baseball

The Washington Wild Things fell to 0-2 after a 6-4 loss to the host Chillicothe Paints in Frontier League action. Catcher Kris Rochelle had two hits and two RBIs for the Wild Things.

Horse racing

Big Brown arrived at Belmont Park in New York from Maryland and about two-dozen photographers and TV cameramen lined up to wait for the colt that could become the first in three decades to win the Triple Crown. Big Brown's arrival had a red-carpet sort of feel. A police escort accompanied his van into the facility. A UPS truck and delivery men were on hand as part of the sponsorship agreement with the company in which he's named.

• A Florida veterinarian who has conducted a national investigation into breakdowns involving racehorses was tapped as Kentucky's first equine medical director. The hiring of Dr. Mary Scollay comes at a time when officials in Kentucky and other states have been under fire for not implementing a broad ban on anabolic steroids.

• Third Day captured the $20,000 Preferred Handicap pace at The Meadows. Third Day thwarted a game first-over bid by War Boots to prevail by 2¹/₂ lengths in 1:52.1. War Boots edged Rock N Roll Star for place.