Federer defeats Canas at Rome Masters

Canas beat Federer twice early last year and was among the few players with a winning record against the top-ranked player. They are now tied, 3-3.

The five previous meetings came on hard courts. This tournament is a clay-court tuneup for the French Open, which begins May 25.

Earlier, Andy Roddick defeated Mardy Fish, 6-1, 6-4.

In first-round play, 2001 champion Juan Carlos Ferrero rallied past Nicolas Kiefer, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4, to set up a meeting with three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal.

Serena Williams won her 16th consecutive match, defeating Francesca Schiavone, 6-2, 6-3, in the second round of the German Open at Berlin.

Williams is chasing her fourth consecutive WTA title. Her last loss came in February against Jelena Jankovic in the Australian Open quarterfinals.

Two other seeded players advanced. No. 8 Marion Bartoli cruised past Lucie Safarova, 6-0, 6-3, and No. 7 Elena Dementieva defeated Kateryna Bondarenko, 6-1, 6-2.

JURISPRUDENCE

Tim Montgomery is denied bond

A federal judge denied bond for former track star Tim Montgomery on federal heroin distribution charges.

Montgomery appeared in U.S. District Court in Norfolk, Va. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and requested a jury trial, which the judge set for July 9.

The judge said Montgomery is a flight risk and a danger to the community, noting he is accused of dealing heroin in Virginia four times to a government informant after he pleaded guilty in a New York check-kiting conspiracy. He is to be sentenced May 16 in that case.

Former Georgia Tech quarterback Joe Hamilton was charged with marijuana possession, driving under the influence of alcohol and hit-and-run, less than a week after he was hired as the school's assistant director of player personnel.

NFL Network filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission against cable TV giant Comcast. NFL Network is accusing the nation's largest cable operator of discriminatory and anti-competitive treatment.

Former Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Darrion Scott was charged with assault and accused of holding a plastic dry cleaning bag over the head of his 2-year-old son in Minneapolis.