Winning start for Somdev

Washington: Somdev Dev Varman is just a step away from making the singles main draw of the ATP Legg Mason Tennis Classic, after brushing aside Denis Kudla in the first round of the qualifiers (6-1 6-1). Somdev’s chances of entering the main draw are bright, as he has beaten his next opponent, American 10th seed Kevin Kim, twice in the past. If he manages to win, Somdev will be second Indian competing in the $1,165,500 hard court event.

Sharapova up

Stanford: Maria Sharapova shook off a first-set loss to beat Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the Bank of the West Classic to set up a championship match against Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka.

Bopanna out

Los Angeles: Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi crashed out of the ATP Farmers Classic tournament, following a straight-set defeat (2-6 4-6) against top seeds Mike and Bob Bryan.

Arun better

Calcutta: Arun Lal has been discharged from a Colombo hospital after being admitted following a severe attack of dengue. The former India opener, who is there on a television commentary assignment, missed the second India-Sri Lanka Test but will be back in action for the third and final Test, beginning Tuesday.

Demand

New Delhi: India’s shotgun shooters have shot a letter to National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), demanding that the money they spent for accommodation during a camp early this year, be reimbursed.

Friendly tie

Bangkok: Europa League champion Atletico Madrid played without two of its top players, but still eased past a team of Thailand all-stars 3-0 in a pre-season friendly.

Match drawn

Houston: Thierry Henry had a pair of assists in his Major League Soccer debut setting up Juan Pablo Angel, as the New York Red Bulls drew against the Houston Dynamo 2-2.

Pandya wins

Kavala: Karma Pandya scored a big upset in the first round of Kavala International Open Chess tournament by defeating International Master Lela Jevakhs-hvili of Georgia. D Harika held top seeded GM Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia to an easy draw in the second round to stake her claim for the second GM norm.