Sports briefs for July 5, 2005

Tuesday, July 5, 2005 | 9:12 a.m.

Roman Ruler back to challenge Afleet Alex

Nothing that has happened since the Belmont Stakes has altered the picture for 3-year-olds. Afleet Alex remains comfortably on top, followed by a modest bunch of challengers. But each horse's team is trying to prove there is more to the division than just one horse.

So although it appears that nobody can beat Afleet Alex right now, that won't stop Roman Ruler and his connections from giving it a try.

Out for 15 weeks because of foot problems, Roman Ruler, among the top 2-year-olds in the country last year, re-emerged with a promising half-length victory in Monday's Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park for the Bob Baffert stable.

"Afleet Alex is a spectacular horse, and if our horse is right and ready, we'd love to take him on," Roman Ruler's co-owner David Shimmon said. "Afleet Alex is tremendous and he's proven himself as being tremendous. Hopefully, over the next couple of races our horse will also prove himself to be tremendous. Right now, we're getting there."

Roman Ruler won three of five starts last year, including two stakes in Southern California, and was widely regarded as one of the top Kentucky Derby candidates in February. But after the horse turned in a dismal performance in the March 19 San Felipe at Santa Anita, Baffert gave up all hope of winning the Derby and decided to start over with his injury-plagued colt.

Spadea wins opening match

At Newport, R.I., Vince Spadea overcame a slow start to beat Alexander Popp 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 Monday in the opening round of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships.

After struggling in the first set, the second-seeded Spadea -- a semifinal loser to Popp in Newport last year -- broke the German in the fourth and eighth games of the second set to even the match.

"Sometimes I find myself lackadaisical," said Spadea, who was issued a warning for a court violation when he smashed a ball over the stands in frustration during the first set. "It's not like I have to get myself angry to get myself back into the match."

Spadea thought back to last year's loss before Monday's rematch.

"I practiced with (Popp) the other day and he killed me," Spadea said. "Last year I was injured. I had a back strain and eventually ended up pulling out of tournaments afterward. I knew I had to change something, and I did."

Spadea attacked the net after his slow start, breaking Popp in the first and third games of the final set.

In other first-round matches, fifth-seed Robby Ginepri, the 2003 Hall of Fame champion, ousted fellow American Scott Oudsema, 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-0.

The Hall of Fame Championships, the only grass tournament in North America, is held in conjunction with induction ceremonies for the Tennis Hall of Fame.

This year's class of Jim Courier, Yannick Noah, Jana Novotna and Butch Buchholz will be inducted Saturday.

-- Sun wire services