Sports briefs for August 22, 2005

Monday, Aug. 22, 2005 | 9:07 a.m.

Clijsters wins all-Belgian final

Kim Clijsters got a boost heading into the U.S. Open, beating Belgian compatriot Justine Henin-Hardenne 7-5, 6-1 Sunday at the Rogers Cup.

Clijsters made another strong showing on hardcourts. She has won five of her WTA-leading six titles in 2005 on the surface, and will try to capture her first Grand Slam championship at the U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 29.

In the doubles final, 48-year-old Martina Navratilova of the United States and Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany rallied past Spaniards Conchita Martinez and Virginia Ruano Pascual 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, giving Navratilova her 175th career doubles title. Navratilova won for the first time since teaming with Lisa Raymond to win in Vienna in May 2004.

Federer improved to 10-1 against Roddick, who tried every tactic but still came up short. Federer has won the last six times they've met, including the last two Wimbledon finals.

Roddick's right foot started bothering him late in the final set, and he needed a timeout before the last game to get treatment. He winced, groaned and covered his face with a towel while a trainer stretched and rubbed the bottom of the foot.

He returned and moved gingerly, getting only two points while Federer broke his serve to close it out.

McEnroe, a four-time U.S. Open winner, clinched the win in the 10-point pro-set.

Ex-groundskeeper part of gambling ring

In New York, four men who prosecutors said were part of a mob-controlled bookmaking enterprise that reached inside Shea Stadium pleaded guilty to felony charges Friday.

Their guilty pleas, entered in a Queens courtroom, were among nine made this week by defendants in a gambling operation that allegedly processed -- $360 million in bets in two years.

Among those indicted was Dominic Valila, a former head groundskeeper at Shea, where the New York Mets play. He pleaded guilty earlier this week to a charge of promoting gambling and was sentenced to probation.

Prosecutors said Valila took bets by telephone at the stadium. There were no alleged connections to Mets players.

-- Sun wire services