Federer loses again -- this time to wild card
After losing to Guillermo Canas twice and Rafael Nadal in his previous three tournaments, Roger Federer was defeated by an Italian wild card on Thursday in Rome.
Filippo Volandri beat the top-ranked Swiss, 6-2, 6-4, in the third round of the Rome Masters, extending Federer's title drought to four tournaments.
It's the worst stretch of Federer's career since ascending to No. 1 in February 2004.
"I don't know what's wrong. I have to analyze it myself," Federer said. "I just couldn't get my teeth into the match at all."
Earlier, American Andy Roddick's run at the tournament also came to a halt when he lost to Juan Ignacio Chela, 6-0, 6-4 in a third-round match.
Fourth-seeded Martina Hingis couldn't overcome a hip injury, losing, 6-4, 6-0, to Patty Schnyder in the third round of the German Open in Berlin. It's uncertain if Hingis will defend her title next week at Rome or play in the French Open.
Victoria Azarenka, who last week reached the first final of her career, upset fifth-seeded Nathalie Dechy, 7-6 (3), 6-1, in the second round of the Prague Open in the Czech Republic.
JURISPRUDENCE
McNair charged with
DUI as a passenger
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair was charged with driving under the influence even though Nashville police said his brother-in-law was behind the wheel of the pickup registered to the former Tennessee Titan.
McNair was charged with a misdemeanor under a Tennessee law that prohibits a vehicle owner from letting it be driven by someone who is inebriated.
Police said officer Harold Taylor pulled over McNair's 2003 Dodge pickup just before midnight Wednesday because it was speeding.
Olympian Steve Riddick was convicted of conspiracy, bank fraud and money laundering in a scheme with others to steal money from banks by cashing counterfeit checks for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Riddick, who won gold in a relay race in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, later became an elite professional coach, training Tim Montgomery and Marion Jones, among others.
SOCCER
Wizards' Conrad has a
broken jaw -- again
U.S. national team defender Jimmy Conrad has a broken jaw -- his second in two years -- and hopes to be back for the CONCACAF Gold Cup next month. He is practicing with the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer but is out for their next game.
