Sports briefs for April 21, 2005

Thursday, April 21, 2005 | 9:49 a.m.

Roddick wins

Top-seeded Andy Roddick defeated unseeded Robby Ginepri 7-6 (6), 6-4 Wednesday night to advance to the quarterfinal round of the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships in Houston.

Roddick extended his record to 5-0 against Ginepri, but this match wasn't a runaway as neither player lost his serve en route to the first set tiebreaker.

All of Roddick's victories against Ginepri have been close; four of their last six sets have been decided by tiebreakers.

Nonunion players not first option

The NHL will not use replacement players to begin next season if there is no new collective bargaining agreement with the players' union, commissioner Gary Bettman indicated.

Although Bettman did not rule out using nonunion players at a later time as strategy to end the lockout that canceled the 2004-5 season and jeopardizes the next one, his tone was more conciliatory than in previous statements. He expressed optimism that frequent negotiating sessions soon could resolve the lockout, which began last Sept. 16.

"We're making clear that we're not going to open on time if we don't have a new CBA with our players," Bettman said.

Scott leads midway through first round

Strong winds in Beijing caused play to be suspended on the first day of the Johnnie Walker Classic today after just 26 groups had teed off.

Australia's Adam Scott was atop the leaderboard at 3 under through 10 holes when play was halted after less than four hours because of winds reaching over 30 mph.

Ernie Els completed nine holes and was 1 over. Sergio Garcia, playing in the same group as Scott, was 1 under.

Jockeys won't boycott during Kentucky Derby

Churchill Downs and the Jockeys' Guild have struck a deal that will keep riders from boycotting mounts to protest medical insurance and safety issues.

The agreement comes a few weeks before the May 7 Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs previously sought an injunction to prevent the riders from a boycott that could have disrupted the Derby and other races during the track's spring meet.

According to the "joint stipulation and consent order," the Jockeys' Guild has agreed to instruct its members not to stage any activities that would disrupt racing at any of the seven tracks owned by Churchill Downs, Inc.

In exchange, Churchill Downs agreed to withdraw the motion for a preliminary injunction.

-- Sun wire services