Greene’s Rome Rebound: He Runs Year’s Fastest 100

Maurice Greene ran the fastest 100 meters of the year Friday, clocking 9.89 seconds at the Golden Gala at Rome.

“The dog came out a little today. But as the year goes on, you’ll see more dog,” the world record-holder said, pointing to a bulldog tattooed on his left arm.

Greene led all the way in beating fellow American Tim Montgomery, who was second in 9.94 at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.

Greene’s time, just short of his world record of 9.79, followed some lackluster performances by the reigning world and Olympic champion, who won at the Gaz de France last week after two consecutive losses.

The 27-year-old, who had said earlier in the week that he had a cold from competing in the rain in Paris, appeared nervous before the race, wiping his brow several times. But he stuck his tongue out in trademark fashion and shook his head restlessly, and the tension seemed to be gone after the race.

Marion Jones clinched her third consecutive Golden League win in the women’s 100, clocking 10.89 on the stadium’s newly fitted track.

Gail Devers won her seventh consecutive race of the season with a 12.51 in the 100 hurdles.

Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic ran the year’s fastest 400 hurdles (47.73) and American Walter Davis went 56 feet 10 1/4 inches to win the triple jump.

Tennis

As expected, Martina Hingis, the former No. 1-ranked female tennis player, has withdrawn from U.S. Open tuneup tournaments in San Diego, Manhattan Beach and Montreal because she is recovering from left ankle surgery. Her representatives indicated she will not play in the U.S. Open in New York, either.

Hingis, 21, who had the surgery in May, missed the French Open and Wimbledon for the first time since she turned professional in 1994. She had never missed the U.S. Open in that time period, either, winning in 1997 and reaching the final two other times.

Last year, Hingis reached the semifinals in San Diego and Manhattan Beach, losing to Monica Seles in both tournaments.

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Lindsay Davenport, the No. 9 player in the world, made her comeback in the not-so-serious confines of World Team Tennis as a member of the New York Buzz in a match against the Hartford FoxForce at Hartford, Conn. She won 12 of 22 games in a combination of women’s singles, mixed doubles and women’s singles.

She underwent knee surgery in January to remove cartilage and lost the strength in her leg after 10 weeks on crutches.

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James Blake beat fellow American Justin Gimelstob, 7-5, 7-5, and Michael Llodra defeated Mardy Fish, 6-4, 1-6, 6-1, in the quarterfinals of the Hall of Fame Championships grass-court tournament at Newport, R.I. Blake is looking to become the first top-seeded player to win the title in the tournament’s 26 years.

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Seventh-seeded Gaston Gaudio of Argentina ousted Marc Rosset of Switzerland, 6-3, 7-6 (3), in the quarterfinals of the Swiss Open at Gstaad. Alex Corretja advanced by defeating David Sanchez, 6-3, 6-3.... Top-seeded Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario defeated Magui Serna, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, to advance to the semifinals of the French Community tournament at Brussels. Virginia Ruano Pascual upset second-seeded Austrian Barbara Schett, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.... Top-seeded Guillermo Canas lost to fellow Argentine Agustin Calleri, 6-3, 7-5, in the quarterfinals of the Swedish Open at Bastad.

Motor Sports

A state appeals court ruled Florida’s law restricting public access to autopsy photos is constitutional but certified the matter to the state Supreme Court for potential further review.

The law, passed in March 2001 after the death of race car driver Dale Earnhardt, who was killed in a crash in the final lap of last year’s Daytona 500, was being challenged by the Independent Florida Alligator, which is published by Campus Communications.

In its opinion, the Fifth District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach, Fla., said the viewing of autopsy photos is a violation of privacy.

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Cristiano da Matta, who has dominated the CART racing circuit this season, posted the fastest lap during provisional qualifying for the Marconi Grand Prix of Cleveland. He was clocked at 131.531 mph.

Tony Kanaan was second at 130.510. Defending champion Dario Franchitti was seventh following the first day of qualifying for Sunday’s race in 129.567.

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Rookie Ryan Newman won the pole for the Winston Cup’s Tropicana 400 at Joliet, Ill., and second-year driver Kurt Busch qualified second.

Newman turned a lap of 183.051 mph to earn his second Winston Cup pole of the season and third of his career. Bill Elliott was third at 182.451.

Mike Faria broke a secondary chain as he was pulling up to the starting line at Costa Mesa Speedway for the four-lap main event, so Faria went to a backup motorcycle--then won his record fifth Orange County Fair Derby championship.

The 45-year-old Reno rider outlasted four-time winner Bobby Schwartz from the outside in Turn 1, then pulled away on the backstretch.

Football

Dorsey Levens, the fourth-leading rusher in Green Bay history, signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.

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The Seattle Seahawks released former Pro Bowl linebacker Levon Kirkland.

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Offensive lineman Bruce Matthews of the Tennessee Titans will announce his retirement after 19 seasons Monday.

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The Atlanta Falcons waived wide receiver Jeff Graham, who failed to show up for mandatory minicamp this week, and signed eight-year veteran Willie Jackson to take his place.

Miscellany

Heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis said he would take a rematch with Mike Tyson if organizers guarantee him $30 million.

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USC sophomore center Rory O’Neil will participate in the 25th annual Pete Newell Big Man Camp in Honolulu Aug. 12-16.