Times wires
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Tennis
Djokovic remains perfect in 2011
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer for the second time in a month Saturday, 6-3, 6-3 in the Dubai Championships final. Djokovic, who beat Federer in the Australian Open semifinals, is 12-0 in 2011.
"I'm a different player than last year. I have a serve," Djokovic said. "Last year, the serve was not there, and I was struggling a lot. I was using a lot of energy. Now I get to have some free points, which is important."
Federer entered having not lost a set in four previous tournament matches and squandered a 3-1 lead in the second set.
"Started bad and then kind of got into the match," Federer said. "But things are over in a hurry sometimes in best-of-three set tennis."
Federer leads the career series 13-8. But Djokovic has handed Federer his only two losses among 16 matches in 2011.
"We've had it kind of come and go in spells a bit against each other," Federer said. "I thought he was … playing well at the end of last year. We had a couple real close ones. This one has been one of the rather disappointing matches for me against him."
Qatar Open: Vera Zvonareva defeated world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-4 in the final in Doha. After eight deuces, the world No. 3 broke for a 4-3 lead in the second. "Caroline is a great player," Zvonareva said. "So I was just fighting for every point."
Horses
Soldat takes next step toward Kentucky Derby
Soldat solidified himself as a Kentucky Derby contender by winning the $400,000 Fountain of Youth by 2 lengths over Gourmet Dinner at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach. Soldat, which has three wins and four runnersup among seven starts under trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, took the lead very early and ran 11/8 miles in 1:50.23. It is next expected to run in the Florida Derby on April 3 at Gulfstream.
More Gulfstream: Flashpoint pulled away down the stretch to win the $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes by 7¼ lengths over the favored Travelin Man. Trainer Richard Dutrow said he hopes to point the colt, which has won both of its career races, toward the Florida Derby then, perhaps, the Kentucky Derby. … R Heat Lightning, second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, rolled to a 7½-length victory over Dancinginherdreams in the $250,000 Davona Dale.
Tampa Bay Downs: Choragus wore down C C's Pal down the stretch to win the $50,000 Wayward Lass Stakes in Oldsmar. Ridden by Leandro Goncalves, Choragus ran 11/16 miles in 1:44.39.
Et cetera
BOWLING: Hall of Famer Norm Duke earned the top spot for today's U.S. Open final (3, ESPN) in North Brunswick, N.J. The Clermont native will be vying for his 34th title and seventh major.
Greyhounds: M's Free Hand and Kiowa Jsk Gustaf won third-round Sprint Classic qualifiers at Derby Lane. Qualifying concludes Wednesday.
Don Jensen, Times correspondent; Times wires
Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/sports-in-brief/1154221
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