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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, May 20, 2010

Sharapova sweeps Strasbourg opener


Advertiser News Services

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Jamaica's Usain Bolt captured the 100 meters in 9.86 seconds yesterday at a meet in Daegu, South Korea.

LEE JIN-MAN | Associated Press

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Top-seeded Maria Sharapova cruised into the quarterfinals of the Strasbourg International with a 6-3, 6-0 win over qualifier Dia Evtimova yesterday in Strasbourg, France.

Sharapova, given a wild-card entry after being sidelined two months with a right elbow injury, didn't face a single break point to claim her second win on clay this year.

"I served much better today and returned better too," Sharapova said. "I'm happy to get the win today against a player I didn't know and who had already played four matches here in Strasbourg."

Sharapova lost in the first round in Madrid last week.

Sharapova will face Julia Goerges of Germany, who defeated sixth-seeded Sybille Bammer of Austria, 6-1, 7-6 (6).

ODESNIK BANNED

American tennis player Wayne Odesnik was banned for two years yesterday, two months after pleading guilty to importing human growth hormone into Australia.

Although Odesnik denied using HGH and never tested positive for the banned substance, the International Tennis Federation suspended him for possessing a prohibited substance "without a therapeutic use exemption."

"Mr. Odesnik did not in fact obtain or apply for a therapeutic use exemption ... prior to obtaining it," the ITF said in a statement. "Accordingly, Mr. Odesnik's possession of the human growth hormone is an anti-doping rule violation."

ELSEWHERE

College football: BYU administrators have declined former running back Harvey Unga's request to be readmitted for the fall semester.

Unga withdrew from classes in April, saying he had violated the school's strict honor code. He hoped to complete his degree and play his final season this fall. BYU spokeswoman Carri Jenkins says the university reviewed Unga's request, but decided the earliest he could return to school would be in January.

Track and field: Usain Bolt won the 100 meters in 9.86 seconds in his season debut at the Daegu meet in South Korea yesterday.

The time was 0.28 seconds off the world record of 9.58 he set at last year's world championships in Berlin. He shaved 0.08 seconds off Tyson Gay's 2009 meet record of 9.94.

Jamaican countryman Michael Frater was second in 10.15.

Ryan Bailey of the United States won the 200 in 20.58, and two-time Olympic champion Angelo Taylor won the 400 with 45.21.