Sports Briefs: Sampras wins his San Jose opener

Wednesday, Feb. 12, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Alex Radulescu figured there was one way to beat Pete Sampras.

"I knew if I played really well and he had an off night, I'd have a chance to beat him," Radulescu said.

Unfortunately for the 22-year-old German, Sampras doesn't have many off nights.

Sampras, ranked No. 1 in the world, overcame a first-set tiebreaker to defeat Radulescu 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 on Tuesday night in the Sybase Open at San Jose, Calif.

Sampras, who beat Las Vegan Andre Agassi in last year's final, broke Radulescu in the German's first service game of the second set, then held easily to move into the second round.

Agassi, the third seed, plays Mark Knowles of the Bahamas in a first-round match tonight.

Speed fastest at Daytona

A handful of drivers, led by Lake Speed, dramatically improved their prospects of getting into the Daytona 500 in second-round qualifying at Daytona International Speedway. Speed's fast lap of 188.162 mph put him 10th overall on the speed chart and virtually assured him a starting spot in Sunday's race. Speeds in time trials Saturday and Tuesday determined the starting lineups for Thursday's Twin 125-mile qualifying races. The top two qualifiers Saturday, rookie Mike Skinner and Steve Grissom, already have locked up the front row starting spots for Sunday, while the 125-milers will fill positions 3-30.

Henderson bowler second

Australian Carol Gianotti-Block on Tuesday took a 165-pin lead over 1996 Player of the Year Wendy Macpherson of Henderson at the Ladies Professional Bowlers Association's $65,000 Lubbock (Texas) Open. The bowlers will roll two rounds of match play tonight before the field is cut to the top five for Thursday finals.

UNLV volleyballers honored

Junior Amy Ellenwood and senior Wendy Saxton were named to the 1996 academic All-Western Athletic Conference volleyball team. Ellenwood has a 3.54 grade point average, Saxton a 3.52. They are elementary education majors.

Haley to play

Charles Haley, whose back miseries had been expected to force his retirement, instead will sign a contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys, agent Kurt Robinson told The Dallas Morning News. Haley, 33, is signed through 1999. The defensive end is scheduled to count $2.9 million against the 1997 cap, including a base salary of $2 million. Teams must conform to the new cap by the end of the day Friday.

Bristow to rejoin Nuggets

Allan Bristow, who spent six seasons as a Denver Nuggets assistant coach, reportedly will return to the team as general manager. Bristow, fired as coach and general manager of the Charlotte Hornets at the end of last season, was one of two reported finalists to replace Bernie Bickerstaff, who was hired Monday as Washington's head coach.