Roddick upset by Lopez in 3rd round at Wimbledon
AP – Spain's Feliciano Lopez, left, shakes hands after defeating Andy Roddick of the US in their match at … 
WIMBLEDON, England – Three-time Wimbledon runner-up Andy Roddick was eliminated 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2), 6-4 Friday by Feliciano Lopez in the third round, the biggest upset of the men's tournament so far.
The 44th-ranked Lopez served 28 aces and piled up 57 winners to defeat Roddick on Centre Court, the American's first loss to the Spanish left-hander in eight matches.
"He played an outstanding match," Roddick said. "I feel like he played as complete a match as he's played against me. He served about as well as someone has."
In a surprise on the women's side, second-seeded and 2010 runner-up Vera Zvonareva was knocked out 6-2, 6-3 by 33rd-ranked Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria. The Russian converted only one of seven break points and had 18 unforced errors. Pironkova upset Venus Williams here last year en route to the semifinals.
Williams, a five-time champion, set up a fourth-round rematch against Pironkova by routing Marcia Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-0, 6-2 in 1 hour on Court 1.
"Last year, I wasn't on my best game," Williams said. "But this year, I'm really going to look forward to really playing a little bit better than last year. Every now and then we all have bad days, but I'm planning to have a better one this year."
The eighth-seeded Roddick, who lost to Roger Federer in the finals in 2004, '05 and '09, served 16 aces but also had six double-faults. It's the third time in four years Roddick has lost in the early rounds — he went out in the second round in 2008 and the fourth last year.
"He played better than I did," Roddick said. "He beat me. It's easier for me to walk out of here with that and move forward with that than '08 where I lost to (Janko) Tipsarevic and I felt like I completely choked or last year where I just kind of had a million opportunities and kind of gave it away. Those are tougher to take now."
Lopez, who reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2005 and 2008, broke Roddick twice and had only seven unforced errors.
The Spaniard had lost to Roddick in all their previous matches, including the Wimbledon tuneup at Queen's Club two weeks ago.
"This was a big win for me," Lopez said. "I played Andy so many times and he always beat me. It was so important for me to win today. Even though he beat me before, to beat him at Wimbledon is the most special. I'm happy to pay him back here on this wonderful court."
Williams had 21 winners and only five unforced errors against Martinez Sanchez. It was a big change from her previous match, when Williams was stretched to three sets and three hours by 40-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm.
"The other match was three hours of nonstop running, so it felt like a marathon," she said. "I'm feeling good and it's great to be ready for the second week. I'll get a couple of days off to really get things in order."
Earlier, top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki, pursuing another bid for her first Grand Slam title, made only one unforced error in defeating Virginie Razzano 6-1, 6-3 to move into the third round.
The 20-year-old Dane was at the top of her game, downing the 96th-ranked Frenchwoman in 66 minutes in sunny conditions on Court 2 at the All England Club.
Wozniacki, who extended her career record against Razzano to 5-0, took command of the match from the beginning and was never in trouble.
Razzano saved three match points at 5-2 down in the second set and another in the next game before Wozniacki hit a service winner into the corner to close the match.
"I served pretty well today and ... dictated quite a few of the points," she said. "I was happy about the game."
In another early women's match, 2004 champion Maria Sharapova recovered from a slow start to beat 17-year-old British wild card Laura Robson 7-6 (4), 6-3 on Court 1. The Russian trailed 4-1 in the first set, and then 4-2 in the tiebreaker, before taking charge against the former Wimbledon junior champion.
"I started off really slow and she started off really well," Sharapova said. "Quite the opposite of me, I think she was much more aggressive than I was in the beginning. But then I just kind of got my rhythm a little bit and started playing better."
Wozniacki, who will face Jarmila Gajdosova, reached the fourth round at Wimbledon the past two years but has never made it to the quarterfinals. Despite her No. 1 ranking, she has never won a major title, losing at the 2009 U.S. Open to Kim Clijsters in her only Grand Slam final.
Wozniacki leads the tour this year with five titles, but lost in the third round at the French Open to extend her drought at the majors. She is guaranteed to hold onto the No. 1 ranking at least until August.
"I think I deserve to be where I am," Wozniacki said. "I won so many tournaments already, five this year. I'm playing good tennis. I'm young. I'm competitive. My time will come."
Wozniacki was asked about being put on Court 2, rather than Centre Court or Court 1. Five-time champion Serena Williams was asked Thursday why she and sister Venus, a five-time champion, had been scheduled on Court 2 while the top men had played only on the two main courts. The Williams sisters have combined to win nine of the last 11 Wimbledon titles.
"Obviously I think I deserve to play on one of the bigger courts," Wozniacki said. "It's up to the tournament to decide where we're going to play. I just go out there and I try to win. ... If (Serena) can play on Court 2, then I guess I can, too."
Elsewhere Friday, seventh-seeded David Ferrrer beat Ryan Harrison of the United States 6-7 (8), 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. The match had been suspended by darkness Thursday night in the fourth set.
In women's play, 2007 runner-up and No. 9-seeded Marion Bartoli beat Lourdes Dominguez Lino 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 to reach the third round. No. 11 Andrea Petkovic was ousted by Russia's Ksenia Pervak, 6-4, 7-6 (2).
Two-time Grand Slam titlist Svetlana Kuznetsova, seeded 12th, was eliminated in the third round by No. 19 Yanina Wickmayer, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Advancing to the fourth round was No. 8 Petra Kvitova, who beat Roberta Vinci 6-3, 6-3
AFP/File – Inter Milan have appointed Gian Piero Gasperini (seen here in March 2010) to succeed Paris Saint-Germain-bound …
AP – Michael Bradley watches his shot out of a green-side bunker on the 18th hole during the first round of …
The 44th-ranked Lopez served 28 aces and piled up 57 winners to defeat Roddick on Centre Court, the American's first loss to the Spanish left-hander in eight matches.
"He played an outstanding match," Roddick said. "I feel like he played as complete a match as he's played against me. He served about as well as someone has."
In a surprise on the women's side, second-seeded and 2010 runner-up Vera Zvonareva was knocked out 6-2, 6-3 by 33rd-ranked Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria. The Russian converted only one of seven break points and had 18 unforced errors. Pironkova upset Venus Williams here last year en route to the semifinals.
Williams, a five-time champion, set up a fourth-round rematch against Pironkova by routing Marcia Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-0, 6-2 in 1 hour on Court 1.
"Last year, I wasn't on my best game," Williams said. "But this year, I'm really going to look forward to really playing a little bit better than last year. Every now and then we all have bad days, but I'm planning to have a better one this year."
The eighth-seeded Roddick, who lost to Roger Federer in the finals in 2004, '05 and '09, served 16 aces but also had six double-faults. It's the third time in four years Roddick has lost in the early rounds — he went out in the second round in 2008 and the fourth last year.
"He played better than I did," Roddick said. "He beat me. It's easier for me to walk out of here with that and move forward with that than '08 where I lost to (Janko) Tipsarevic and I felt like I completely choked or last year where I just kind of had a million opportunities and kind of gave it away. Those are tougher to take now."
Lopez, who reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2005 and 2008, broke Roddick twice and had only seven unforced errors.
The Spaniard had lost to Roddick in all their previous matches, including the Wimbledon tuneup at Queen's Club two weeks ago.
"This was a big win for me," Lopez said. "I played Andy so many times and he always beat me. It was so important for me to win today. Even though he beat me before, to beat him at Wimbledon is the most special. I'm happy to pay him back here on this wonderful court."
Williams had 21 winners and only five unforced errors against Martinez Sanchez. It was a big change from her previous match, when Williams was stretched to three sets and three hours by 40-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm.
"The other match was three hours of nonstop running, so it felt like a marathon," she said. "I'm feeling good and it's great to be ready for the second week. I'll get a couple of days off to really get things in order."
Earlier, top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki, pursuing another bid for her first Grand Slam title, made only one unforced error in defeating Virginie Razzano 6-1, 6-3 to move into the third round.
The 20-year-old Dane was at the top of her game, downing the 96th-ranked Frenchwoman in 66 minutes in sunny conditions on Court 2 at the All England Club.
Wozniacki, who extended her career record against Razzano to 5-0, took command of the match from the beginning and was never in trouble.
Razzano saved three match points at 5-2 down in the second set and another in the next game before Wozniacki hit a service winner into the corner to close the match.
"I served pretty well today and ... dictated quite a few of the points," she said. "I was happy about the game."
In another early women's match, 2004 champion Maria Sharapova recovered from a slow start to beat 17-year-old British wild card Laura Robson 7-6 (4), 6-3 on Court 1. The Russian trailed 4-1 in the first set, and then 4-2 in the tiebreaker, before taking charge against the former Wimbledon junior champion.
"I started off really slow and she started off really well," Sharapova said. "Quite the opposite of me, I think she was much more aggressive than I was in the beginning. But then I just kind of got my rhythm a little bit and started playing better."
Wozniacki, who will face Jarmila Gajdosova, reached the fourth round at Wimbledon the past two years but has never made it to the quarterfinals. Despite her No. 1 ranking, she has never won a major title, losing at the 2009 U.S. Open to Kim Clijsters in her only Grand Slam final.
Wozniacki leads the tour this year with five titles, but lost in the third round at the French Open to extend her drought at the majors. She is guaranteed to hold onto the No. 1 ranking at least until August.
"I think I deserve to be where I am," Wozniacki said. "I won so many tournaments already, five this year. I'm playing good tennis. I'm young. I'm competitive. My time will come."
Wozniacki was asked about being put on Court 2, rather than Centre Court or Court 1. Five-time champion Serena Williams was asked Thursday why she and sister Venus, a five-time champion, had been scheduled on Court 2 while the top men had played only on the two main courts. The Williams sisters have combined to win nine of the last 11 Wimbledon titles.
"Obviously I think I deserve to play on one of the bigger courts," Wozniacki said. "It's up to the tournament to decide where we're going to play. I just go out there and I try to win. ... If (Serena) can play on Court 2, then I guess I can, too."
Elsewhere Friday, seventh-seeded David Ferrrer beat Ryan Harrison of the United States 6-7 (8), 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. The match had been suspended by darkness Thursday night in the fourth set.
In women's play, 2007 runner-up and No. 9-seeded Marion Bartoli beat Lourdes Dominguez Lino 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 to reach the third round. No. 11 Andrea Petkovic was ousted by Russia's Ksenia Pervak, 6-4, 7-6 (2).
Two-time Grand Slam titlist Svetlana Kuznetsova, seeded 12th, was eliminated in the third round by No. 19 Yanina Wickmayer, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Advancing to the fourth round was No. 8 Petra Kvitova, who beat Roberta Vinci 6-3, 6-3
Inter Milan name Gasperini as Leonardo's successor
AFP/File – Inter Milan have appointed Gian Piero Gasperini (seen here in March 2010) to succeed Paris Saint-Germain-bound … ROME (AFP) – Inter Milan have appointed former Genoa boss Gian Piero Gasperini to succeed Paris Saint-Germain-bound Leonardo as coach, the Serie A side announced on Friday.
The 53-year-old Gasperini takes over the Inter hotseat on a two-year contract.
"The official announcement will be made once all the final administrative formalities have been completed," Inter confirmed on their website.
Leonardo's departure paves the way for the Brazilian to take over at PSG, the French side now under the control of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI).
Inter president Massimo Moratti expressed his "complete satisfaction" at Gasperini's arrival and wished the new manager well.
Gasperini has been out of work since getting the sack from Genoa in December 2010 after four years at the club.
He gets the San Siro post ahead of a list of candidates fronted by Chile's former Argentina manager Marcelo Bielsa.
For 41-year-old Leonardo, this spells the end of a six-month reign. He joined inter in December having cut his managerial teeth with Inter's city rivals, AC Milan.
Leonardo is due to be offered the post of sporting director at PSG, one of the clubs he used to play for.
He reportedly flew to Qatar last weekend to meet the French capital side's new owners.
With the decision not to appeal, investigators who worked on the Mitchell Report on performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball agreed to turn over notes they took when they interviewed two of Clemens's accusers.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton says Clemens needs the material to defend himself against charges that he lied when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.
The Mitchell Report investigators took the notes in their questioning of steroids dealer Kirk Radomski and longtime Clemens trainer Brian McNamee. Both said they provided drugs for the seven-time Cy Young winner. Clemens denies it.
"Claude is someone that can teach, bring players together as a group, make the sum better than the whole of their parts," general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said at a news conference before the NHL draft.
Noel has been an NHL coach with Columbus. He coached the AHL's Manitoba Moose last season, leading them to a 43-40-1-6 record.
Before that he spent three years with the Blue Jackets, first as an assistant and then as head coach after Ken Hitchcock was fired in February 2010. He has also coached in the AHL, ECHL and IHL.
The Winnipeg team is relocating from Atlanta. Its team name may be announced at Friday night's draft.
The 53-year-old Gasperini takes over the Inter hotseat on a two-year contract.
"The official announcement will be made once all the final administrative formalities have been completed," Inter confirmed on their website.
Leonardo's departure paves the way for the Brazilian to take over at PSG, the French side now under the control of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI).
Inter president Massimo Moratti expressed his "complete satisfaction" at Gasperini's arrival and wished the new manager well.
Gasperini has been out of work since getting the sack from Genoa in December 2010 after four years at the club.
He gets the San Siro post ahead of a list of candidates fronted by Chile's former Argentina manager Marcelo Bielsa.
For 41-year-old Leonardo, this spells the end of a six-month reign. He joined inter in December having cut his managerial teeth with Inter's city rivals, AC Milan.
Leonardo is due to be offered the post of sporting director at PSG, one of the clubs he used to play for.
He reportedly flew to Qatar last weekend to meet the French capital side's new owners.
Clemens trial on track to start July 6
WASHINGTON – Lawyers say they will not appeal a judge's order to share interview notes with Roger Clemens' defense team, clearing the way to start the pitching legend's criminal trial on July 6.
With the decision not to appeal, investigators who worked on the Mitchell Report on performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball agreed to turn over notes they took when they interviewed two of Clemens's accusers.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton says Clemens needs the material to defend himself against charges that he lied when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.
The Mitchell Report investigators took the notes in their questioning of steroids dealer Kirk Radomski and longtime Clemens trainer Brian McNamee. Both said they provided drugs for the seven-time Cy Young winner. Clemens denies it.
Winnipeg NHL team hires Claude Noel as coach
MINNEAPOLIS – Claude Noel was hired Friday as coach of the transplanted Winnipeg franchise, returning to the NHL and joining a team still without a name.
"Claude is someone that can teach, bring players together as a group, make the sum better than the whole of their parts," general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said at a news conference before the NHL draft.
Noel has been an NHL coach with Columbus. He coached the AHL's Manitoba Moose last season, leading them to a 43-40-1-6 record.
Before that he spent three years with the Blue Jackets, first as an assistant and then as head coach after Ken Hitchcock was fired in February 2010. He has also coached in the AHL, ECHL and IHL.
The Winnipeg team is relocating from Atlanta. Its team name may be announced at Friday night's draft.
Renner shoots 63 to lead at Travelers
AP – Michael Bradley watches his shot out of a green-side bunker on the 18th hole during the first round of … CROMWELL, Conn. – PGA Tour rookie Jim Renner, a New England native, shot a 7-under 63 to take a one-stroke lead after the rain-delayed first round at the Travelers Championship.
Renner, who had played just one Tour event before this season, shot a 29 on his front nine Friday after making par on his first two holes. He finished the round and headed right to the first tee to begin his second round.
Rain washed out much of Thursday's play at TPC River Highlands, and Renner was among those hoping to get in 36 holes on Friday.
He led a group of four players at 6 under, while defending champion Bubba Watson was three back after shooting 66 during his round Friday morning.
Federal marshals seized Thurston's ring from Super Bowl II, which will be auctioned at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Rosemont, Ill., on Aug. 4.
A court order also calls for the sale of Thurston's Super Bowl I ring and other sports memorabilia.
The auction in August will also sell Thurston's 1960 helmet and two footballs signed by Vince Lombardi and members of the Packers. The Green Bay Press-Gazette says Thurston's Super Bowl ring is expected to raise more than $20,000.
The 77-year-old Thurston did not return messages. Authorities say Thurston withheld federal income taxes from employee salaries in a chain of restaurants he helped open but failed to turn all the money over to the Internal Revenue Service.
US District Judge Reggie Walton on Friday said that Clemens needs some of the notes taken in their interviews to adequately prepare his defense on charges of lying before a congressional committee in a 2008 hearing.
Clemens, who was indicted last August, faces up to 21 months in prison if convicted on all charges, including one count of obstruction of Congress, two counts of perjury and three counts of making false statements.
The trial is set to start on July 6.
Clemens was accused in the report of taking performance-enhancing drugs, claims he went before US lawmakers to deny in a 2008 hearing, where his testimony and that of his former trainer, Brian McNamee, conflicted.
McNamee said he injected Clemens with peformance-enhancing drugs in 1998, 2000 and 2001.
Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner as top pitcher, saw former New York Yankees team-mate Andy Pettite testify that Clemens told him he had taken performance-boosting drugs.
Clemens claimed Pettite misremembered their conversations.
Investigators who assembled the report, lawyers for the firm DLA Piper, have until Saturday to appeal the order to hand over notes from interviews of Kirk Radomski, who claims to have supplied the drugs to McNamee.
An appeal against Walton's order could delay the start of the trial.
AP – FILE - In this file photo taken Jan. 20, 2011, Portland Trail Blazers guard Rudy Fernandez, left, from …
Renner, who had played just one Tour event before this season, shot a 29 on his front nine Friday after making par on his first two holes. He finished the round and headed right to the first tee to begin his second round.
Rain washed out much of Thursday's play at TPC River Highlands, and Renner was among those hoping to get in 36 holes on Friday.
He led a group of four players at 6 under, while defending champion Bubba Watson was three back after shooting 66 during his round Friday morning.
Super Bowl ring auctioned to pay back taxes
GREEN BAY, Wis. – A Super Bowl ring awarded to former Green Bay Packers lineman Fuzzy Thurston will be sold at auction to help pay $1.7 million in back taxes.
Federal marshals seized Thurston's ring from Super Bowl II, which will be auctioned at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Rosemont, Ill., on Aug. 4.
A court order also calls for the sale of Thurston's Super Bowl I ring and other sports memorabilia.
The auction in August will also sell Thurston's 1960 helmet and two footballs signed by Vince Lombardi and members of the Packers. The Green Bay Press-Gazette says Thurston's Super Bowl ring is expected to raise more than $20,000.
The 77-year-old Thurston did not return messages. Authorities say Thurston withheld federal income taxes from employee salaries in a chain of restaurants he helped open but failed to turn all the money over to the Internal Revenue Service.
Clemens granted access to doping report notes
WASHINGTON (AFP) – A federal judge has ordered embattled Major League Baseball legend Roger Clemens to be given access to notes taken by attorneys who wrote the Mitchell Report on doping in the American sport.
US District Judge Reggie Walton on Friday said that Clemens needs some of the notes taken in their interviews to adequately prepare his defense on charges of lying before a congressional committee in a 2008 hearing.
Clemens, who was indicted last August, faces up to 21 months in prison if convicted on all charges, including one count of obstruction of Congress, two counts of perjury and three counts of making false statements.
The trial is set to start on July 6.
Clemens was accused in the report of taking performance-enhancing drugs, claims he went before US lawmakers to deny in a 2008 hearing, where his testimony and that of his former trainer, Brian McNamee, conflicted.
McNamee said he injected Clemens with peformance-enhancing drugs in 1998, 2000 and 2001.
Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner as top pitcher, saw former New York Yankees team-mate Andy Pettite testify that Clemens told him he had taken performance-boosting drugs.
Clemens claimed Pettite misremembered their conversations.
Investigators who assembled the report, lawyers for the firm DLA Piper, have until Saturday to appeal the order to hand over notes from interviews of Kirk Radomski, who claims to have supplied the drugs to McNamee.
An appeal against Walton's order could delay the start of the trial.
Mavs prefer known commodity Fernandez to a draftee
AP – FILE - In this file photo taken Jan. 20, 2011, Portland Trail Blazers guard Rudy Fernandez, left, from … DALLAS – Eventually, Jordan Hamilton or another guy taken late in the first round of this year's NBA draft will blossom into a quality player, perhaps even an All-Star.
The Dallas Mavericks don't want to wait.
Fresh off their first championship, the Mavericks gave up the potential of a draftee for a known commodity in Portland guard Rudy Fernandez.
At 26, Fernandez is older than a rookie but still younger than most of the Mavs. With three years in the NBA, he knows how the league works.
Most of all, Dallas likes that he is bigger and more athletic than most of its shooting guards.
President of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said Fernandez is "a guy we've had our eye on for a while."
AFP – American Venus Williams returns the ball to Spanish player Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez during the women's …
The Dallas Mavericks don't want to wait.
Fresh off their first championship, the Mavericks gave up the potential of a draftee for a known commodity in Portland guard Rudy Fernandez.
At 26, Fernandez is older than a rookie but still younger than most of the Mavs. With three years in the NBA, he knows how the league works.
Most of all, Dallas likes that he is bigger and more athletic than most of its shooting guards.
President of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said Fernandez is "a guy we've had our eye on for a while."
Venus in cruise control at Wimbledon
AFP – American Venus Williams returns the ball to Spanish player Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez during the women's … LONDON (AFP) – Five-time champion Venus Williams cruised into the last 16 at Wimbledon with a straight sets victory over Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez on Friday.
The American, seeded 23, sailed through the first set but was given more of a contest in the second as she sealed a 6-0, 6-2 victory in 62 minutes.
The victory sets up a clash against Bulgarian number 32 seed Tsvetana Pironkova, who knocked her out of last year's Wimbledon quarter-finals. It was only Williams' second loss on grass to a player from outside the top 30.
Pironkova is in form, having knocked out second seed Vera Zvonareva, last year's beaten finalist, in the third round.
"I'm feeling good and it's great to be ready for the second week and I've got a couple of days off to get things in order," Williams said.
"Last year I wasn't on my best game but this year I'm going to look forward to playing a bit better than I did last time."
Williams said she had done her homework on Martinez Sanchez.
"I definitely knew how she was going to play. I played her here before on the grass. So I thought my best bet was definitely to make sure I took the net away from her first. It worked out really well.
"I'm in the next round. That's my main goal regardless whether I play amazing, whether I play halfway decent, doesn't matter. It's just about finding a way to win.
"As long as I find a way to win that round, I'm good. So for me it's not about any level."
Williams retired in the third round of the Australian Open with a right hip injury.
The US number two, who rarely pulls out of matches, missed all subsequent events until the Eastbourne Wimbledon warm-up, seeing her drop to world number 30.
However, her ranking bears no relevance to her chances at the All England Club, where her win-loss record now stands at 71-9.
"I feel like I'm moving very well, which is exciting for me, especially after all my injuries. It seems I do move quickly to the net on grass. Hopefully I can get that game going on hard court after this tournament," Williams said.
Martinez Sanchez, the world number 36, hardly got going at all in the first set on Court One, with Williams effortlessly taking the first four games and the Spaniard doing herself no favours with her double faults.
Williams was finally forced into a higher gear when she was taken to a pair of deuces on her serve.
In the following game, Martinez Sanchez pegged back Williams to two deuces again before the American finally won the 27-minute set.
The Spanish number three at last upped her game in the second set, giving Williams a contest before the American broke for a 3-1 lead.
The left-hander was getting much closer in the games but still was no match for her opponent.
Williams reached match point when Martinez Sanchez overshot a lob and won it when the Spaniard fired wide.
AP – Yani Tseng, of Taiwan, tees off on the 10th hole during the first round of the Wegmans LPGA Championship …
The American, seeded 23, sailed through the first set but was given more of a contest in the second as she sealed a 6-0, 6-2 victory in 62 minutes.
The victory sets up a clash against Bulgarian number 32 seed Tsvetana Pironkova, who knocked her out of last year's Wimbledon quarter-finals. It was only Williams' second loss on grass to a player from outside the top 30.
Pironkova is in form, having knocked out second seed Vera Zvonareva, last year's beaten finalist, in the third round.
"I'm feeling good and it's great to be ready for the second week and I've got a couple of days off to get things in order," Williams said.
"Last year I wasn't on my best game but this year I'm going to look forward to playing a bit better than I did last time."
Williams said she had done her homework on Martinez Sanchez.
"I definitely knew how she was going to play. I played her here before on the grass. So I thought my best bet was definitely to make sure I took the net away from her first. It worked out really well.
"I'm in the next round. That's my main goal regardless whether I play amazing, whether I play halfway decent, doesn't matter. It's just about finding a way to win.
"As long as I find a way to win that round, I'm good. So for me it's not about any level."
Williams retired in the third round of the Australian Open with a right hip injury.
The US number two, who rarely pulls out of matches, missed all subsequent events until the Eastbourne Wimbledon warm-up, seeing her drop to world number 30.
However, her ranking bears no relevance to her chances at the All England Club, where her win-loss record now stands at 71-9.
"I feel like I'm moving very well, which is exciting for me, especially after all my injuries. It seems I do move quickly to the net on grass. Hopefully I can get that game going on hard court after this tournament," Williams said.
Martinez Sanchez, the world number 36, hardly got going at all in the first set on Court One, with Williams effortlessly taking the first four games and the Spaniard doing herself no favours with her double faults.
Williams was finally forced into a higher gear when she was taken to a pair of deuces on her serve.
In the following game, Martinez Sanchez pegged back Williams to two deuces again before the American finally won the 27-minute set.
The Spanish number three at last upped her game in the second set, giving Williams a contest before the American broke for a 3-1 lead.
The left-hander was getting much closer in the games but still was no match for her opponent.
Williams reached match point when Martinez Sanchez overshot a lob and won it when the Spaniard fired wide.
Yani Tseng leads LPGA Championship
AP – Yani Tseng, of Taiwan, tees off on the 10th hole during the first round of the Wegmans LPGA Championship … PITTSFORD, N.Y. – No matter how hard she tried, Paula Creamer couldn't quite catch Yani Tseng. Neither could anyone else.
Tseng, the top-ranked player in the world, shot a 6-under 66 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead over Creamer after the first round of the LPGA Championship.
The 22-year-old Tseng, already the youngest player to win three majors, made five birdies on the front nine and three more on the back to go with a pair of bogeys as she began her quest for another major title.
"I tried to put it on the fairways as much as I could," said Tseng, who finished second to Stacy Lewis at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in March, the first major of the year. "When you put it on the fairways, you have more chance to make birdies. The second shot I hit it very good."
Did she ever.
Among her eight birdie putts on what was mostly a sunny, calm day at Locust Hill Country Club, none was longer than the 8-footer she made at No. 15. And although Tseng hit only six of 14 fairways, her strength allowed her to hit solid shots out of the thick rough and she was able to reach 15 of 18 greens in regulation. And she was nearly flawless on the short holes, birdieing all four par 3s on a course that had been softened somewhat by an overnight thunderstorm.
Still, she faltered twice when she failed off the tee. She bogeyed the par-4 13th hole after hitting a "terrible drive" and missing a 12-foot putt for par, then pulled her drive at No. 16, another par 4, and missed an 8-foot par putt.
"It's hard to put it on (the) fairway. The course is really narrow," Tseng said. "At Kraft, I tried my best. That's all I can do. Actually, last night I did think a little bit about Kraft. I try not to think too much."
Leading Creamer by one shot heading to the 18th tee, Tseng recovered from a bad tee shot that landed in the thick right rough. She hit a 9-iron onto the ridge above the hole, then watched as it rolled down within 4 feet of the pin and calmly sank the birdie putt.
"I'm enjoying what's happening right now," said Tseng, who won the State Farm Classic two weeks ago for her second LPGA Tour victory of the season. "The last few weeks just gave me lots of confidence for my putting and my driving, too. So that helps a lot for a major golf course. (It) make me very comfortable."
Angela Stanford, Meena Lee, Diana D'Alessio and Stacy Prammanasudh were 4 under, and Morgan Pressel, Stacy Lewis, Ryann O'Toole, Amy Hung, Minea Blomqvist, Jennifer Johnson and Hee Young Park were 3 under.
Defending champion Cristie Kerr, who was ailing with a light case of the flu, shot an even-par 72.
Creamer withdrew from this tournament two years ago — before it became a major — with an injury to her left thumb, and last year finished tied for 42nd, never going lower than her first-round 71.
She was pumped after a solid first round that matched her best at Locust Hill.
"Normally, I shoot myself in the foot after the first day with putting pressure on myself and wanting to do so well," said Creamer, who went out in the morning in a threesome right behind Tseng. "It's nice to be on the other side going into tomorrow. I just need to keep it going and try to make as many birdies as I can."
Creamer missed a terrific chance to tie — or even take the lead — when she misread a 45-foot eagle putt at the par-5 17th hole and ended up three-putting for par. She then rallied with a birdie at 18, hitting a 7-iron from 150 yards within 2 feet of the pin.
"I gave myself a lot of opportunities. I made a lot of good putts," Creamer said. "I kind of was kicking myself after 17. I had a good birdie chance there, just two putts. But I finished strong, and I feel good about where I'm sitting."
A year ago, Kerr overpowered Locust Hill. She won by 12 shots, finishing at 19-under 269 to win her second major. That matched the lowest score in relation to par in a women's major and tied for the second-largest in the history of major championships.
That was a distant memory on this day. Fighting a mild case of the flu, Kerr never found that magic despite starting birdie, birdie as the gallery roared its approval.
Then it stopped. Kerr made bogey at the par-3 fifth hole and had two more at Nos. 10 and 14.
"I think that's hard to duplicate. This is a different year — 6 under is leading. It's not like somebody's shooting 10 under," said Kerr, who began feeling ill on Wednesday night and didn't sleep well. "I felt a little bit uptight today just because I wasn't feeling that great. I was trying maybe to force things a little bit. I've got to go out and get some rest and get in a good mindset for tomorrow."
Still, a birdie at No. 17 and a nice par save at the closing hole put Kerr, second in the world rankings, in a good frame of mind.
"I couldn't find the rhythm and hit some really bad shots out there, and it still could have been 2 or 3 under," Kerr said. "So, considering everything, I'll be OK for tomorrow. They (the clutch putts on the final two holes) were pretty big for the mindset going into the next three days. Having shot even the first day is a lot different than shooting 2 over."
After an overcast start, the sun broke through in late morning and stayed out most of the day for most of the leaders. A brief shower in late afternoon was followed by a torrential thunderstorm that forced suspension of play for just over 2 hours with 58 players still on the course, and six players will complete their rounds on Friday morning.
DIVOTS: There were eight Americans among the top 13 after the first round, and it wasn't exactly a banner day for four of the top five in the World Golf Rankings. Besides Kerr, third-ranked Suzann Pettersen also shot 72, fourth-ranked Jiyai Shin had a 3-over 75, and No. 5 Na Yeon Choi finished at 1 over. ... Karrie Webb, a two-time winner this year, had a 2-over 74, as did fellow Hall of Famer Juli Inkster.
Tseng, the top-ranked player in the world, shot a 6-under 66 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead over Creamer after the first round of the LPGA Championship.
The 22-year-old Tseng, already the youngest player to win three majors, made five birdies on the front nine and three more on the back to go with a pair of bogeys as she began her quest for another major title.
"I tried to put it on the fairways as much as I could," said Tseng, who finished second to Stacy Lewis at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in March, the first major of the year. "When you put it on the fairways, you have more chance to make birdies. The second shot I hit it very good."
Did she ever.
Among her eight birdie putts on what was mostly a sunny, calm day at Locust Hill Country Club, none was longer than the 8-footer she made at No. 15. And although Tseng hit only six of 14 fairways, her strength allowed her to hit solid shots out of the thick rough and she was able to reach 15 of 18 greens in regulation. And she was nearly flawless on the short holes, birdieing all four par 3s on a course that had been softened somewhat by an overnight thunderstorm.
Still, she faltered twice when she failed off the tee. She bogeyed the par-4 13th hole after hitting a "terrible drive" and missing a 12-foot putt for par, then pulled her drive at No. 16, another par 4, and missed an 8-foot par putt.
"It's hard to put it on (the) fairway. The course is really narrow," Tseng said. "At Kraft, I tried my best. That's all I can do. Actually, last night I did think a little bit about Kraft. I try not to think too much."
Leading Creamer by one shot heading to the 18th tee, Tseng recovered from a bad tee shot that landed in the thick right rough. She hit a 9-iron onto the ridge above the hole, then watched as it rolled down within 4 feet of the pin and calmly sank the birdie putt.
"I'm enjoying what's happening right now," said Tseng, who won the State Farm Classic two weeks ago for her second LPGA Tour victory of the season. "The last few weeks just gave me lots of confidence for my putting and my driving, too. So that helps a lot for a major golf course. (It) make me very comfortable."
Angela Stanford, Meena Lee, Diana D'Alessio and Stacy Prammanasudh were 4 under, and Morgan Pressel, Stacy Lewis, Ryann O'Toole, Amy Hung, Minea Blomqvist, Jennifer Johnson and Hee Young Park were 3 under.
Defending champion Cristie Kerr, who was ailing with a light case of the flu, shot an even-par 72.
Creamer withdrew from this tournament two years ago — before it became a major — with an injury to her left thumb, and last year finished tied for 42nd, never going lower than her first-round 71.
She was pumped after a solid first round that matched her best at Locust Hill.
"Normally, I shoot myself in the foot after the first day with putting pressure on myself and wanting to do so well," said Creamer, who went out in the morning in a threesome right behind Tseng. "It's nice to be on the other side going into tomorrow. I just need to keep it going and try to make as many birdies as I can."
Creamer missed a terrific chance to tie — or even take the lead — when she misread a 45-foot eagle putt at the par-5 17th hole and ended up three-putting for par. She then rallied with a birdie at 18, hitting a 7-iron from 150 yards within 2 feet of the pin.
"I gave myself a lot of opportunities. I made a lot of good putts," Creamer said. "I kind of was kicking myself after 17. I had a good birdie chance there, just two putts. But I finished strong, and I feel good about where I'm sitting."
A year ago, Kerr overpowered Locust Hill. She won by 12 shots, finishing at 19-under 269 to win her second major. That matched the lowest score in relation to par in a women's major and tied for the second-largest in the history of major championships.
That was a distant memory on this day. Fighting a mild case of the flu, Kerr never found that magic despite starting birdie, birdie as the gallery roared its approval.
Then it stopped. Kerr made bogey at the par-3 fifth hole and had two more at Nos. 10 and 14.
"I think that's hard to duplicate. This is a different year — 6 under is leading. It's not like somebody's shooting 10 under," said Kerr, who began feeling ill on Wednesday night and didn't sleep well. "I felt a little bit uptight today just because I wasn't feeling that great. I was trying maybe to force things a little bit. I've got to go out and get some rest and get in a good mindset for tomorrow."
Still, a birdie at No. 17 and a nice par save at the closing hole put Kerr, second in the world rankings, in a good frame of mind.
"I couldn't find the rhythm and hit some really bad shots out there, and it still could have been 2 or 3 under," Kerr said. "So, considering everything, I'll be OK for tomorrow. They (the clutch putts on the final two holes) were pretty big for the mindset going into the next three days. Having shot even the first day is a lot different than shooting 2 over."
After an overcast start, the sun broke through in late morning and stayed out most of the day for most of the leaders. A brief shower in late afternoon was followed by a torrential thunderstorm that forced suspension of play for just over 2 hours with 58 players still on the course, and six players will complete their rounds on Friday morning.
DIVOTS: There were eight Americans among the top 13 after the first round, and it wasn't exactly a banner day for four of the top five in the World Golf Rankings. Besides Kerr, third-ranked Suzann Pettersen also shot 72, fourth-ranked Jiyai Shin had a 3-over 75, and No. 5 Na Yeon Choi finished at 1 over. ... Karrie Webb, a two-time winner this year, had a 2-over 74, as did fellow Hall of Famer Juli Inkster.
