Osaka follows Djokovic out the door in U.S. Open

   Less than 24 hours after world No. 1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic lost in the round of 16 at the U.S. Open, his female counterpart did the same.
   Naomi Osaka fell to 13th-seeded Belinda Bencic of Switzerland 7-5, 6-4 on Monday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
   Since winning her second consecutive Grand Slam singles title in the Australian Open in January, the 21-year-old Osaka has failed to reach the quarterfinals of a major.
   Ashleigh Barty will rise one spot to regain the No. 1 ranking after the U.S. Open, Karolina Pliskova will improve one notch to No. 2, and Osaka will drop to No. 3.
   Bencic, 22, advanced to her second Grand Slam quarterfinal. The first came five years ago in the U.S. Open.
   A 5-foot-9 (1.75-meter) right-hander, Bencic climbed to a career-high No. 7 at age 18 in 2016 but underwent left-wrist surgery in the spring of 2017 and sat out for five months. She has fought back from No. 318 in September 2017 to No. 12 and will improve to at least No. 8 after the U.S. Open.

Donna Vekic, shown last month in San Jose, saved
a match point in her three-set victory over Julia
Goerges. Photo by Mal Taam

   Bencic is set to face 23rd-seeded Donna Vekic of Croatia on Wednesday. Vekic, a semifinalist in San Jose last month and first-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist, saved a match point in her 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-3 victory over 26th-seeded Julia Goerges of Germany.
   Bencic is 2-1 against the 23-year-old Vekic, winning in straight sets on grass and a hard court in 2014 and losing 6-4, 6-1 in the third round of the French Open in June.
   In the other quarterfinal in the top half of the women's draw, 15th-seeded Bianca Andreescu of Canada will meet 25th-seeded Elise Mertens of Belgium for the first time.
   Andreescu, 19, stopped U.S. qualifier Taylor Townsend, who played for the now-defunct Sacramento Capitals of World TeamTennis six years ago at 17, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. Mertens routed U.S. wild card Kristie Ahn 6-1, 6-1 in 66 minutes, avenging a loss to the 27-year-old Stanford graduate in the second round in San Jose.
   Ahn had never won a main-draw match in a Grand Slam tournament before last week. She was born two miles from the National Tennis Center at Flushing Hospital, lives in nearby Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and trains at the center.
   Ahn will soar 48 places to No. 93, cracking the top 100 for the first time, and add $280,000 to her career prize money of $548,241.
   In the men's quarterfinals in the bottom half of the draw on Wednesday, second seed and three-time U.S. Open champion Rafael Nadal will play 20th-seeded Diego Schwartzman of Argentina, and 13th-seeded Gael Monfils of France will meet 24th-seeded Matteo Berrettini of Italy for the first time.
   Nadal, 33, is 7-0 against the 5-foot-7 (1.70-meter) Schwartzman, 27.
   Meanwhile, 41-year-old twins Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, both former Stanford stars, lost in the third round of a major for the third consecutive time. The seventh seeds and five-time U.S. Open champions fell to unseeded Jack Sock and Jackson Withrow 6-4, 7-5 in an all-American matchup.
   Sock and Mike Bryan won last year's U.S. Open while Bob Bryan was recovering from hip surgery.
   Also on Monday, fourth-seeded Latisha Chan of Chinese Taipei and Ivan Dodig of Croatia topped Raquel Atawo (Cal, 2001-04) of San Jose and Fabrice Martin of France 7-6 (3), 3-6 [10-3] in the mixed doubles quarterfinals.
   In the first round of boys singles, 16-year-old Aidan Mayo, who grew up in the Sacramento suburb of Roseville, surprised 12th-seeded Shunsuke Mitsui of Japan 6-4, 7-5.

Townsend takes out Wimbledon champ Halep

   For the fourth consecutive match, Taylor Townsend won after dropping the first set.

   This one, however, was special.

   The 23-year-old qualifier from Atlanta knocked off fourth-seeded Simona Halep, the reigning Wimbledon champion, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) today in the second round of the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.

   "It's been a really long journey," the 116th-ranked Townsend, a left-hander who played for the now-defunct Sacramento Capitals of World TeamTennis at 17 in 2013, told reporters. "You flood with emotions of the things you've been through – positive, negative ... 

   "It's just confirmation more for myself that I'm on the right path, doing the right things. You keep your head down and keep working, and you see what happens."

   Townsend, who had never won more than four games in a set in three career matches against Halep, is scheduled to play another Romanian, unseeded Sorana Cirstea, on Saturday. The 29-year-old Cirstea, ranked 106th after reaching a career-high No. 21 in 2013, defeated Aliona Bolsova of Spain 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.
   Wild card Kristie Ahn, a 27-year-old Stanford graduate, needed eight match points to defeat Russia's Anna Kalinskaya, a 20-year-old qualifier, 6-2, 6-3. Kalinskaya ousted 11th-seeded Sloane Stephens, the U.S. Open champion two years ago, on Tuesday.
   Ahn, who lives a 30-minute drive from Flushing Meadows in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., set up a rematch against unseeded Jelena Ostapenko, who won the 2017 French Open two days after turning 20 and last year became the first Latvian woman to reach the Wimbledon semifinals.
   Ahn shocked the top-seeded Ostapenko 2-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5 in the first round on clay at Bogota in April in their only other career meeting.
   Coco Gauff, a 15-year-old U.S. sensation, outlasted Timea Babos, ranked No. 112 in singles and No. 3 (formerly No. 1) in doubles, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to become the youngest player to reach the third round of the U.S. Open since Anna Kournikova, also 15, in 1996.
   Gauff will meet top seed and defending champion Naomi Osaka, who eliminated Magda Linette of Poland 6-2, 6-4 in a blockbuster match on Saturday.
    Jenson Brooksby, an 18-year-old qualifier from Carmichael in the Sacramento area, lost to 17th-seeded Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia 3-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5, 6-2 in 3 hours, 4 minutes.
   Brooksby, who will jump from No. 394 to No. 271 after the U.S. Open, led 4-0 in the second set and served for it at 5-4. He plans to enroll at Baylor in January but could turn pro instead.
   Basilashvili trained with Dmitry Tursunov, now the coach of 13th-ranked Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, at the Gorin Tennis Academy in the Sacramento suburb of Granite Bay.
   Tim Smyczek, 31, ended his career with a first-round doubles loss. In a matchup of U.S. wild-card teams, Martin Damm, 15, and Toby Kodat, 16, defeated Mitchell Krueger and Smyczek 7-6 (6), 7-5.
   In other opening-round men's doubles matches:
   –Luke Bambridge of Great Britain and Ben McLachlan (Cal, 2011-14) edged Americans Thai-Son Kwaitkowski and Noah Rubin 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4).
   –No. 10 seeds Rajeev Ram of Carmel, Ind., and Joe Salisbury of Great Britain beat unseeded Ryan Harrison and Sam Querrey, a 31-year-old San Francisco native, 6-4, 6-2.
   In the first round of mixed doubles, Raquel Atawo (Cal, 2001-04) of San Jose and Fabrice Martin of France nipped seventh-seeded Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany and Oliver Marach of Austria 2-6, 6-4 [10-8].
   Here are the U.S. Open men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles draws and Friday's schedule.

Top seed Gibbs survives test in Stockton opener

Nicole Gibbs, a former Stanford standout, outlasted Aleksandra
Wozniak, a former top-25 player, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 in the first round
of the Stockton Challenger. Photo by Paul Bauman

   STOCKTON, Calif. -- When you're 5-foot-6 (1.68 meters) and petite, as Nicole Gibbs is, you had better be in tremendous shape and have a positive attitude if you're going to survive in an era of what television commentator Mary Carillo calls "Big Babe" tennis.
   Check and check for Gibbs, a former Stanford standout who has parlayed those assets and a formidable forehand into a world ranking of No. 72. That's an impressive achievement for anyone, but especially an undersized player.
   A nearly three-hour battle in the first round of the University of the Pacific $50,000 USTA Pro Circuit Challenger? No problemo.
   The heat? Bring it on.
   Coming off six losses in seven matches on clay or grass in Europe? Good experience.
   Going from Wimbledon, the center of the tennis universe, to sleepy Stockton? Chance to get back on track.
   The top-seeded Gibbs outlasted Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak, a former top-25 player rebounding from shoulder surgery and a foot injury, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 today at the new $4 million Eve Zimmerman Tennis Center.
   Gibbs trailed 2-0 and 3-1 in the third set but fought back for 3-3. She served for the match at 5-4 but was broken. Gibbs then broke Wozniak to lead 6-5, hitting a high lob at 15-30 that Wozniak let fall just inside the baseline for a winner, and held serve to end the 2-hour, 59-minute match played in 86-degree (30.0 Celsius) heat.
   So much for easing into the Challenger, comparable to Triple A in baseball.
   "Yeah, I guess that's the hope that you get a couple rounds under your belt before you really get a challenge," conceded Gibbs, a 23-year-old resident of Marina del Rey in the Los Angeles area. "But honestly, I think that was a huge blessing for me to have such a tough challenge in the first round.
   "It really tested me mentally and emotionally as well as how I've been transitioning my game back to the hardcourts. So now I'm really optimistic about the level I need to bring the rest of the tournament having that one under my belt."
   Even with the heat, Gibbs was happy to return to the hardcourts that she grew up on in Southern California.
   "Yeah, absolutely, and I love the heat," chirped Gibbs, who won three NCAA singles titles (two in singles and one in doubles) while at Stanford from 2011 to 2013. "It brings a whole different kind of challenge and element to it, but I know my fitness is really good, and I think that showed today."

   Wozniak, playing in her first tournament since late May because of a ligament strain in her right foot, admitted she tired late in the match. Gibbs, though, had a different impression.
   "Honestly, I was hoping to see her get a little more tired than she did," Gibbs said. "She maintained her level, actually, very well. You never know with someone coming back from an injury if their hours on the court are going to be 100 percent, but she definitely looked fully fit and ready to go throughout the third set.
   "That said, I would take me against almost anyone in terms of fitness. I really do think I'm one of the fittest players on the court."
   Smaller players, lacking a big serve with which to win "free" points, must be in phenomenal shape so they can win long rallies.
   "Oh, absolutely," Gibbs asserted. "I have no choice, but I don't mind it. I like the work, so this (marathon against Wozniak) is good. I'll be even fitter for my match on Thursday."
   Gibbs excelled on hardcourts at the top level of women's tennis in the first three months of the year under new coach Roger Smith, a former top-100 player from the Bahamas.
   As a qualifier, Gibbs reached the second round of Shenzhen and the Australian Open, the quarterfinals in Monterrey and the fourth round in Indian Wells. Then she advanced to the third round in Miami as a wild card before losing to 6-foot (1.82-meter) Garbine Muguruza 6-1, 6-0. Just over two months later, Muguruza won the French Open for her first Grand Slam title.
   "I received a huge boost bringing Roger onto my team," Gibbs said. "He was such an immediate spark to my game. He gave me that extra edge, gave me new ways of looking at the game. The spike in my game was definitely a result of that.
   "Now, there's always an up-and-down process where you reach a new level and get to a position where you have to prove yourself. For me, it came on my least-favorite surfaces -- anything other than hardcourts (laughs).
   "That was a challenge for me over in Europe, but honestly, my attitude is eons better than it was last year in terms of dealing with the adversity. I've been through six-match losing streaks; I've been through not winning a match in months. Having that experience has been really valuable."
   Still, Gibbs is emotional on the court. She often grunted in frustration after losing a point against Wozniak, and she slammed a ball against the low concrete wall behind the baseline after losing the first set.
   And let's face it. Playing a Challenger after Wimbledon is a letdown.
   "It can be (tough), but I really feel I came into this event with the right mindset," Gibbs said. "I had lost six out of my last seven matches -- Europe is always very challenging for me. Honestly, I just wanted to come here and have a good look at winning some matches. Even if I didn't win today, I would have had my first really competitive match since the French Open, and that's a while. My attitude was just, strap on the blue-collar shirt and try to make people suffer in the heat."
   Mission accomplished, but Wozniak administered her own punishment, running Gibbs from side to side with precise groundstrokes.

Aleksandra Wozniak won the 2008 Bank of the West Classic as a 20-year-old
qualifier and underwent major shoulder surgery in 2014. Photo by Paul Bauman

   As a qualifier in the 2008 Bank of the West Classic at Stanford, Wozniak became the first Canadian woman in 20 years to win a WTA title and the first ever from Quebec. She climbed to a career-high No. 21 the following year and in 2012 became the first Canadian to play singles in the Olympics.
   A month after the 2012 London Olympics, Wozniak was warming up for a second-round night match in Quebec City when she hit a forehand and her right shoulder almost popped out of its socket.
   "(Doctors) said it was (caused by) repetitition, a lot of practice and overuse with time," said Wozniak, a 28-year-old Montreal native who speaks with her Polish parents' accent. "And me, I've always had a problem -- I'm almost double-jointed. I could be a gymnast. I'm too flexible. Some people are too stiff in their joints, and I'm very loose."
   Wozniak did three months of physiotherapy and tried to resume playing but finally underwent surgery in September 2014 and missed 11 months. During her layoff, she had physiotherapy almost daily.
   "(The doctor inserted) screws, did a lot of repairs, shaved bones, tightened the capsule," said Wozniak, who has improved from No. 844 at the end of 2015 to No. 471. "It was big surgery. That's why I needed so much physiotherapy and exercises. I was just glad to come back on the tennis court and slowly hit balls."
    Wozniak, 5-foot-9 (1.75 meters), now relies on placement more than power on her serve. Although her slice serve can be effective, at times today, it was a cream puff.
   Both players, in fact, struggled mightily with their serve, combining for 25 double faults (13 by Gibbs) and no aces in a slight breeze. In 17 service games each, Wozniak was broken nine times and Gibbs eight.
   "I knew the serving would come up (in a post-match interview)," Gibbs groaned. "That was ugly today. I'm not really known for throwing in a lot of double faults. ... That's ultra-unusual for me. I'm going to work on it this afternoon in doubles and try to come back a better player on Thursday."
   Gibbs attributed the rash of double faults to "radically different" conditions than those she came from in Europe.
   "The balls are way lighter, and the atmosphere feels like there's no air," Gibbs explained. "The ball just goes and goes, which is true of L.A. as well, but I think it's even more here with the heat and wind.
   "The conditions were just really tough to feel solid in. At the end of that match, it was kind of whoever was braver and willing to work through the tough things was going to win the majority of the points."                
   If Wozniak's serve was shaky, her groundstrokes were another story.
   "I was definitely hoping to get a few more errors out of her," Gibbs admitted. "The scouting report I received was basically, 'She's a really good hitter, but it's going to be a little bit hit and miss,' and I felt like it was a little bit hit and hit today.
   "I had to work really hard on defense to kind of bail myself out. I felt lucky on a few points here and there, and that was really the difference. She easily could have taken that (match) from me today."

UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC

$50,000 USTA PRO CIRCUIT CHALLENGER 

In Stockton, Calif.
Singles

Final-round qualifying

   Chanel Simmonds, South Africa, def. Brynn Boren, United States, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.

   Caitlin Whoriskey, United States, def. Gabriela Ce (2), Brazil, 6-1, 6-3.

   Desirae Krawczyk, United States, def. Elizaveta Ianchuk (3), Ukraine, 6-3, 6-2.

   Jennifer Elie (6), United States, def. Priscilla Hon (4), Australia, 6-4, 6-3.

First round

   Mayo Hibi, Japan, def. Taylor Townsend (6), United States, 6-4, 6-4.

   Robin Anderson, United States, def. Sanaz Marand, United States, 6-2, 7-6 (1).

   Nicole Gibbs (1), United States, def. Aleksandra Wozniak, Canada, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5.

   Riko Sawayanagi, Japan, def. Kristie Ahn, United States, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

   Michelle Larcher de Brito, Portugal, def. Sabina Sharipova, Uzbekistan, 6-2, 4-6, 6-0.
   Storm Sanders, Australia, def. Michaela Gordon, Saratoga, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

   Arina Rodionova, Australia, def. Victoria Kan, Russia, 6-4, 7-5.

Doubles

First round

   Greet Minnen, Belgium, and Riko Sawayanagi, Japan, def. Jacqueline Cako, United States, and Gabriela Ce, Brazil, 7-5, 6-4.

   Kristyna Pliskova, Czech Republic, and Alison Van Uytvanck (4), Belgium, def. Alexandra Facey and Kat Facey, Cameron Park, 6-3, 6-2.

   Asia Muhammad and Taylor Townsend (1), United States, def. Chanel Simmonds, South Africa, and Renata Zarazua, Mexico, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4).

   Yuki Kristina Chiang, United States, and Elizaveta Ianchuk, Ukraine, def. CiCi Bellis, Atherton, and Jamie Loeb, United States, 6-3, 7-5.

   Sanaz Marand and Melanie Oudin, United States, def. Kristie Ahn and Nicole Gibbs, United States, 6-2, 3-6 [10-6].

Wednesday's schedule

(Starting at 10 a.m.)

Court 1

   Sachia Vickery (8), United States, vs. Desirae Krawczyk, United States.

   CiCi Bellis, Atherton, vs. Zhaoxuan Yang, China (not before 11:30 a.m.).

   Desirae Krawczyk and Ena Shibahara, United States, vs. Priscilla Hon and Storm Sanders, Australia (not before 1 p.m.).

Court 2 

   Urszula Radwanska (4), Poland, vs. Kayla Day, United States.

   Grace Min (5), United States, vs. Jamie Loeb, United States (not before 11:30 a.m.).

   Jennifer Elie, United States, vs. Ashley Kratzer, United States (not before 1 p.m.).

Court 3

   Alison Van Uytvanck (3), Belgium, vs. Melanie Oudin, United States.

   Kristyna Pliskova (2), Czech Republic, vs. Chanel Simmonds, South Africa (not before 11:30 a.m.).

   Robin Anderson and Maegan Manasse, United States, vs. Kaitlyn Christian and Sabrina Santamaria, United States (not before 1 p.m.).

Court 4

   Lin Zhu (7), China, vs. Caitlin Whoriskey, United States.

   Asia Muhammad, United States, vs. Anastasia Pivovarova, Russia (not before 11:30 a.m.).

   Ashley Weinhold and Caitlin Whoriskey (2), United States, vs. Victoria Kan and Sabina Sharipova, Uzbekistan.

Top seed Gibbs to face Wozniak in 50K Stockton

Nicole Gibbs serves during her fourth-round loss
to Petra Kvitova at Indian Wells in March, Photo
by Paul Bauman

   Nicole Gibbs and Aleksandra Wozniak have fond memories of Stanford, one as an amateur and the other as a professional.
   Gibbs attended the world-renowned university in the San Francisco Bay Area for three years (2011-13), winning two NCAA titles in singles and one in doubles.
   Wozniak qualified for the 2008 Bank of the West Classic at Stanford and went on to become the first Canadian in 20 years, and first ever from Quebec, to win a WTA title. She defeated Serena Williams 6-2, 3-1, retired (knee) in the semifinals and Marion Bartoli in the final.
   Gibbs and Wozniack will meet for the first time today, not before 11:30 a.m., in the first round of the $50,000 USTA Pro Circuit Challenger in Stockton, Calif.
   The second annual tournament, at the new Eve Zimmerman Tennis Center at the University of the Pacific, kicks off the U.S. Open wild-card challenge that also includes Sacramento, Calif., and Lexington, Ky., in the following two weeks. The American with the most points in two of the three tournaments will earn a wild card into the U.S. Open, Aug. 29-Sept. 11 in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
   Gibbs, a 23-year-old resident of Marina del Rey in the Los Angeles area, is seeded first in Stockton with a world ranking of No. 76.
   The 28-year-old Wozniak is ranked No. 471 after reaching a career-high No. 21 in 2009. The right-hander missed 11 months after undergoing right shoulder surgery in September 2014.
   In a matchup of 20-year-olds with Northern California ties, sixth-seeded Taylor Townsend of Atlanta will play Mayo Hibi of Japan.
  Townsend, a talented left-hander, reached the third round of the French Open in 2014 and the second round at Roland Garros in May. She played for the Sacramento Capitals of World TeamTennis in their final season of 2013.
   Hibi, who was born in Japan but grew up in Irvine in the Los Angeles region, won the 2013 Sacramento Challenger at 17 and gained the Stockton quarterfinals last year.
   Also in action today will be:
   --Michelle Larcher de Brito, 23, of Portugal. She reached the third round at Wimbledon as a qualifier in 2013 (beating 2004 champion Maria Sharapova) and 2014.
   Larcher de Brito broke into pro tennis at 14, helping the Capitals win the 2007 WTT title. She was the youngest player in league history until Madison Keys surpassed her by 19 days as a 14-year-old with the Philadelphia Freedoms in 2009.
   --Kristie Ahn, who played on Stanford's NCAA championship team in 2013 with Gibbs.
   --Michaela Gordon, a 16-year-old wild card from Saratoga in the Bay Area.

$50,000 USTA PRO CIRCUIT CHALLENGER

In Stockton, Calif.

Second-round qualifying

   Brynn Boren, United States, def. Danielle Lao (1), United States, 6-2, 6-4.
   Chanel Simmonds, South Africa, def. Nicole Frenkel, United States, 6-3, 6-2.
   Gabriela Ce (2), Brazil, def. Jacqueline Cako, United States, 6-2, 6-4.
   Caitlin Whoriskey, United States, def. Ashley Weinhold, United States, 6-3, 6-2.
   Elizaveta Ianchuk (3), Ukraine, def. Brooke Austin, United States, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-2.
   Desirae Krawczyk, United States, def. Giuliana Olmos, Fremont, 6-1, 6-2.
   Priscilla Hon (4), Australia, def. Yuliya Beygelzimer, Ukraine, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
   Jennifer Elie (6), United States, def. Sabrina Santamaria, United States, 6-4, 6-2.

Today's schedule

Starting at 10 a.m.

Court 1

   Elizaveta Ianchuk (3), Ukraine, vs. Desirae Krawczyk, United States (final-round qualifying).
   Nicole Gibbs (1), United States, vs. Aleksandra Wozniak, Canada (not before 11:30 a.m.).
   Storm Sanders, Australia, vs. Michaela Gordon, Saratoga (not before 1 p.m.).
   Asia Muhammad and Taylor Townsend (1), United States, vs. Chanel Simmonds, South Africa, and Renata Zarazua, Mexico (not before 2:30 p.m.)

Court 2

   Jennifer Elie (6), United States, vs. Priscilla Hon (4), Australia (final-round qualifying).
   Taylor Townsend (6), United States, vs. Mayo Hibi, Japan (not before 11:30 a.m.)
   Michelle Larcher de Brito, Portugal, vs. Sabina Sharipova, Uzbekistan (not before 1 p.m.).
   CiCi Bellis, Atherton, and Jamie Loeb, United States, vs. Yuki Kristina Chiang, United States, and Elizaveta Ianchuk, Ukraine (not before 2:30 p.m.).

Court 3

   Gabriela Ce (2), Brazil, vs. Caitlin Whoriskey, United States (final-round qualifying).
   Kristie Ahn, United States, vs. Riko Sawayanagi, Japan (not before 11:30 a.m.).
   Victoria Kan, Russia, vs. Arina Rodionova, Australia (not before 1 p.m.).
   Jacqueline Cako, United States, and Gabriela Ce (3), Brazil, vs. Greet Minnen, Belgium, and Riko Sawayanagi, Japan (not before 2:30 p.m.).

Court 4

   Brynn Boren, United States, vs. Chanel Simmonds, South Africa (final-round qualifying).

   Robin Anderson, United States, vs. Sanaz Marand, United States (not before 11:30 a.m.).
   Kristyna Pliskova, Czech Republic, and Alison Van Uytvanck (4), Belgium, vs. Alexandra Facey and Kat Facey, Cameron Park (not before 1 p.m.).
   Kristie Ahn and Nicole Gibbs, United States, vs. Sanaz Marand and Melanie Oudin, United States (not before 2:30 p.m.).

Bellis, 16, loses to Anderson in 100K Midland

Robin Anderson, 5-foot-3 (1.61 meters), beat CiCi
Bellis, 16, of Atherton 7-5, 6-3 in the second round
in Midland, Mich. 2013 photo by Paul Bauman

   CiCi Bellis could not back up her big win in the $100,000 Dow Corning Tennis Classic.

   The 16-year-old amateur from Atherton in the San Francisco Bay Area lost to wild card Robin Anderson of Matawan, N.J., 7-5, 6-3 today in the second round in Midland, Mich.

   Bellis, the world's top junior at 15 in 2014, had ousted No. 2 seed and defending champion Tatjana Maria of Germany in the first round.

   The 22-year-old Anderson, only 5-foot-3 (1.61 meters), will play another U.S. teenager, qualifier Alexandra Sanford, in Friday's quarterfinals.

   The 17-year-old Sanford, who plans to attend the University of North Carolina in the fall, eliminated American Alexa Glatch 6-4, retired.

   In tonight's last match, third-seeded Nicole Gibbs of Marina del Rey in the Los Angeles region and Taylor Townsend of Atlanta beat Anderson and Veronica Cepede Royg of Paraguay 7-6 (4), 6-2 in the quarterfinals.
   Gibbs won the 2012 NCAA doubles title with Stanford teammate Mallory Burdette.
   Townsend in 2012 became the first U.S. girl to hold the year-end No. 1 junior ranking since Gretchen Rush in 1982. The following year, Townsend played for the now-defunct Sacramento Capitals of World TeamTennis. 

   Gibbs and Townsend will play the winner of Friday's match between top-seeded Asia Muhammad and Maria Sanchez, a Modesto product, and wild cards Bellis and Ingrid Neel, 17, of Rochester, Minn. 

   Muhammad and Sanchez won the Maui doubles title last week.

American Brengle suffers agonizing loss

Madison Brengle, 23, has tried to qualify for the
U.S. Open for nine straight years and come up
short each time. She's getting closer, though.
Photo by Paul Bauman

   Even though Madison Brengle is only 23, she has tried and failed to qualify for the U.S. Open eight times.
   The only exception was 2007, when she received a wild card in the main draw and lost in the first round.
   Brengle, the runner-up in last month's $50,000 FSP Gold River Women's Challenger in the Sacramento area, came within one set of qualifying Friday before losing to 25th-seeded Ying-Ying Duan of China 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-2 at Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
   It was the first time the 5-foot-4 (1.63) Brengle, ranked No. 185 in the world, has reached the third round of qualifying for the U.S. Open. The Dover, Del., native had lost in the first round for four consecutive years.
   Taylor Townsend of the Sacramento Capitals in World TeamTennis also lost Friday in the final round of qualifying for the U.S. Open. The 17-year-old Chicago native, who trains in Boca Raton, Fla., fell to Chanel Simmonds of South Africa 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.
   The 5-foot-3 (1.6-meter) Simmonds, a 21-year-old left-hander, was seeded second in the Gold River Challenger but lost to 32-year-old Alexandra Stevenson 6-2, 6-0 in the first round. Stevenson, the daughter of basketball legend Julius Erving, in 1999 became the first female qualifier to reach the Wimbledon semifinals.
   U.S. Open National Playoffs -- Eric Roberson of Sacramento and Yasmin Schnack of Elk Grove in the Sacramento area will play today for a berth in the mixed doubles main draw at the U.S. Open.
   Roberson, who played at Boise State, and Schnack, who helped UCLA win the 2008 NCAA title, handled Kaitlyn Christian of Orange and Dante Cipulli of Murietta 6-2, 6-2 in the semifinals at New Haven, Conn.
   Christian won the NCAA women's doubles title with USC teammate Sabrina Santamaria in May.
   Roberson and Schnack will play Matthew Brooklyn and Stephanie Wetmore, both of Washington, D.C., in today's final.
   Brooklyn and Wetmore edged Matija Pecotic of Malta and Lindsay Graff of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 6-4, 6-7 (5), 11-9 in the semifinals. Malta is a small nation south of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea. 
    Roberson and Schnack reached the final of the inaugural mixed doubles national playoffs in 2011, falling in a super tiebreaker to Christina Fusano and David Martin. Fusano, a Sacramento native, starred at Cal and Martin at Stanford.      

Brooksby wins national title; Altamirano eyes one

   Northern California players had a spectacular day in the USTA Boys Nationals.
   Top-seeded Jenson Brooksby of Sacramento won the 12s singles title on Saturday in Little Rock, Ark., routing fourth-seeded Thomas Yu of Bellevue, Wash., 6-3, 6-1.
   Unseeded Collin Altamirano of Yuba City crushed top-seeded Gage Brymer of Irvine 6-0, 6-1 to reach the final of the boys 18s in Kalamazoo, Mich.
   Altamirano will play 14th-seeded Jared Donaldson of Cumberland, R.I., today for the title. Donaldson surprised second-seeded Noah Rubin of Rockville Centre, N.Y., 7-6 (4), 7-5.
   Brooksby and Altamirano train under Joseph Gilbert at Arden Hills, the former home of Olympic swimming champions Mark Spitz and Debbie Meyer, in Sacramento.
   Altamirano became the second unseeded finalist in tournament history. Cecil Mamiit lost to Paul Goldstein in 1993. They went on to star at USC and Stanford, respectively, and enjoy long professional careers as undersized players.
   Mamiit in 1996 became the first freshman to win the NCAA singles title since John McEnroe at Stanford in 1978. Goldstein became the first player to help his team win four NCAA team crowns while earning All-America honors each year. 
   The 5-foot-10 (1.78-meter) Goldstein reached a career-high No. 58 in the world in 2006, and the 5-foot-8 (1.73-meter) Mamiit peaked at No. 72 in 1999.
   The news on Saturday wasn't all good for players with NorCal ties.
   In the boys 18 doubles semifinals, the unseeded team of William Griffith of Fresno and J.T. Nishimura of San Jose lost to fourth-seeded Henry Craig of Murrieta and George Goldhoff of Irvine 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
   Taylor Townsend, who played for the Sacramento Capitals of World TeamTennis last month, fell in the girls 18 singles semifinals and doubles final in San Diego.
   Seeded fourth in singles, the Boca Raton, Fla., resident succumbed to second-seeded Alexandra Kiick of Plantation, Fla., 1-6, 6-4, 6-1. Kiick is the daughter of former Miami Dolphins running back Jim Kiick.
   The top-seeded pair of Gabrielle Andrews of Pomona and Townsend came up short against second-seeded Kiick and Sachia Vickery of Boca Raton, 6-3, 6-4.

Townsend, 17, courts greatness with 'unique' style

Taylor Townsend is built like Serena Williams and models her
game after Martina Navratilova's. Photo by Paul Bauman

   Tired of cookie-cutter pros?
   You know the ones. Tall and lean. No strategy. Just bash the ball and hope it goes in. No plan B if it doesn't.
    Then there's promising Taylor Townsend. Built like Serena Williams but models her game after Martina Navratilova's.
    Townsend, 17, of the Sacramento Capitals in World TeamTennis describes herself as "an aggressive, all-court player. I look to use my serve and forehand to come to the net. I use my variety to my advantage -- slices, drop shots, a lot of different lefty spins to make my opponent uncomfortable."
   Eugenie Bouchard, a 19-year-old Canadian who won the Wimbledon junior girls doubles title with Townsend last year, said Townsend's game is "really unique. She tries to mix it up and come to the net. She serves-and-volleys sometimes. It's refreshing to see that. She's really talented, and lefty as well -- that helps her a lot."
   In 2012, Townsend became the first American in 30 years to hold the year-end No. 1 world ranking in junior girls singles. She concluded her first WTT season tonight in a 22-18 loss to the Texas Wild in Dallas. Townsend helped Sacramento rank fourth in women's singles, third in women's doubles and fifth in mixed doubles in the eight-team league. In contrast, the Capitals rank last in men's singles and seventh in men's doubles.
   Townsend's life has almost paralleled Donald Young's, but U.S. fans hope Townsend's career turns out better. Both are supremely talented African-American left-handers who were born in Chicago, moved to Atlanta to train as youths and enjoyed stellar junior careers. Young's parents, Donald Young Sr. and Alona, coached Townsend in snowy Chicago and persuaded her family to follow theirs to warmer Atlanta.
   Donald Sr. and Alona taught Townsend to play an all-court game.

Townsend and Olga Govortsova of the Sacramento Capitals
watch a wheelchair exhibition during intermission of a World
TeamTennis match last week in Citrus Heights, Calif. Govort-
sova upset No. 2 seed Samantha Stosur on Tuesday in the
Bank of the West Classic at Stanford. Photo by Paul Bauman

   "We always did volleys, and I learned to come to the net," Townsend said. "That was first nature for me. Then I tried to look for some players that did that a lot, and that I really liked, and Navratilova was the one I thought did it the best."
   Townsend watched YouTube clips of Navratilova and adopted the left-handed legend as her idol.
   "I love the way that she played," Townsend said. "She was very crafty, and she was lefty. I like the way she was aggressive and coming forward. I try to emulate my net game and approaching game like hers."
   Donald Young, once regarded as the future of U.S. men's tennis, turned pro at 14 and debuted on the ATP World Tour at 15 in San Jose in 2005. But Young has failed to live up to expectations for various possible reasons. They include turning pro and accepting ATP wild cards too early, having insufficient size and power at 6 feet (1.83 meters) and 160 pounds (73 kilograms), relying on his talent and not working hard enough, being tutored by his parents instead of more accomplished coaches and having a low frustration level.
   It's much too early to say whether players such as Townsend and 18-year-olds Madison Keys, who's playing in this week's Bank of the West Classic at Stanford on the elite WTA tour, and Samantha Crawford will continue the United States' rich tradition in women's tennis. Early indications for Townsend are encouraging, but there are danger signs, too.
   At 15, Townsend teamed with Jessica Pegula, who's two years older, to reach the third round of women's doubles at the 2011 U.S. Open. In the 2012 Australian Open, Townsend became the first American to sweep the junior singles and doubles titles at a Grand Slam tournament since Lindsay Davenport 20 years earlier. Then came the 2012 Wimbledon and U.S. Open junior doubles crowns.
   Townsend turned pro in January. In her WTA main-draw debut at 16 in March at Indian Wells, she knocked off world No. 57 Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic before losing to former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic in the second round.      
   Capitals coach Wayne Bryan said Townsend compares "pretty favorably" to Serena Williams, who ranks sixth all-time with 16 Grand Slam singles titles, at the same age.
   "Both athletic, both big, both strong," said Bryan, who has known Williams, 31, since she was 6. "Both hit a big ball, both have a lot of guts, both compete. Both are winners."
   Both are also stocky. Townsend, at 5-foot-6 (1.68 meters), is two inches (5 centimeters) shorter than Williams.
   When asked if Townsend is in good enough shape, Bryan said: "Nobody's in good enough shape. Lindsay Davenport early in her career wasn't in great shape. Serena wasn't in great shape from time to time. ... That will get better and better, just like her game will get better and better."
   Townsend's weight, though, has been an issue. USTA officials tried to discourage her from playing last year's U.S. Open junior tournament, declining to pick up her expenses, because they felt she was out of shape. After her mother paid her way, Townsend reached the quarterfinals in girls singles as the top seed before losing to No. 12 Anett Kontaveit of Estonia.  
   Townsend said the U.S. Open controversy "doesn't really matter anymore. It's in the past. I really don't want to answer any more questions about that. It's a whole new year, the U.S. Open is (four) weeks away, and that was a year ago.
   "I've done a lot more this year, and we should talk about things this year. We're all moving forward; we're all on the same page. I'm happy with them, and they're happy with me, so I can't complain." 
   After Ana Konjuh of Croatia beat Townsend in three sets in the semifinals of the prestigious Orange Bowl junior tournament in Plantation, Fla., last December, Konjuh criticized Townsend's fitness. The tournament was played on clay, not Townsend's best surface.
   "She's very talented and smart and plays great like that," Konjuh, who turned 15 a few days after the match, told the New York Times. "But if she wants to be a pro, she has to lose some weight. In the second set, I felt she couldn't run as much. If she gets fit, she can be a really, really good player."
   Capitals set dubious record -- Sacramento finished 5-9, the worst record in the team's 28-year history. They finished 6-8 in 1991, 2009 and 2010. Sacramento has won a record six WTT titles, most recently in 2007.

TEXAS 22, CAPITALS 18

In Dallas

   Men's doubles -- Mark Knowles and Sam Querrey (Capitals) def. Alex Bogomolov Jr. and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, 5-3.

   Women's doubles -- Megan Moulton-Levy and Taylor Townsend (Capitals) def. Tara Snyder and Eugenie Bouchard, 5-4.

   Men's singles -- Bogomolov (Wild) def. Querrey, 5-2.

   Women's singles -- Bouchard (Wild) def. Townsend, 5-4.

   Mixed doubles -- Qureshi and Bouchard (Wild) def. Knowles and Townsend, 5-2.

Teen prospects Keys, Townsend star in NorCal

   Madison Keys and Taylor Townsend, perhaps the top two prospects in American women's tennis, starred 133 miles (214 kilometers) apart in Northern California on Monday night.
   Keys, 18, debuted in the $795,707 Bank of the West Classic at Stanford and dismissed eighth-seeded Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 6-2, 6-2 in the first round.
   Townsend, 17, teamed with American veteran Megan Moulton-Levy to win 5-0 in women's doubles and lead the host Sacramento Capitals to a 21-16 victory over the Orange County Breakers in a World TeamTennis match. However, Sacramento (5-7) was eliminated from playoff contention with two regular-season matches remaining.
   Keys, prototypically tall (5-foot-10, 1.78 meters) and slim (145 pounds, 66 kilograms), is the youngest player in the top 50 in the world at No. 44. She recorded her first victory over a top-five player when she beat No. 5 Li Na, the 2011 French Open champion, on clay in the first round at Madrid in May. Keys turned pro on her 14th birthday in 2009.
   Townsend, a stocky 5-foot-6 (1.68-meter) left-hander, is ranked No. 340 after turning pro in January. In her WTA main-draw debut at 16 in March, she knocked off No. 57 Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic at Indian Wells. 
   Both Keys and Townsend train in Boca Raton, Fla.
   After Keys' victory in the first night match, former Stanford star Nicole Gibbs downed 67th-ranked Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 6-4, 6-1. Gibbs turned pro last month after winning her second straight NCAA singles title as a junior.
   Gibbs' former teammate at Stanford, Mallory Burdette, lost to 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, 33, of Italy 7-5, 6-3 in the opening round.
   Burdette turned pro last September, also forgoing her senior year. She won NCAA doubles crowns in 2011 (with Hilary Barte) and 2012 (with Gibbs) and reached the 2012 NCAA singles final, losing to Gibbs.
   Romania's Sorana Cirstea, the fifth seed and a Bank of the West semifinalist last year, and Belarus' Olga Govortsova, who played for the Capitals last week, advanced to the second round. Govortsova will face second-seeded Samantha Stosur, the 2011 U.S. Open champion, tonight at 7.
   Former Capitals CoCo Vandeweghe and Michelle Larcher de Brito moved into the main draw with straight-set wins in the final round of qualifying.
   Vandeweghe, 21, of Rancho Santa Fe in the San Diego area, reached last year's Bank of the West final as a lucky loser. She held a set point against Serena Williams in the title match before losing 7-5, 6-3.
   It's just too bad that CoCo won't be playing Kiki. Vandweghe, by the way, has an uncle named Kiki who starred in the NBA during his 13-year career (1980-93).
   Larcher de Brito, 20, of Portugal stunned second-ranked Maria Sharapova in the second round as a qualifier at Wimbledon last month and helped the Capitals win the 2007 WTT title at 14 years old. 

BANK OF THE WEST CLASSIC

At Stanford

Final-round qualifying

   Vera Dushevina (5), Russia, def. Olga Puchkova (1), Russia, 6-4, 6-4.
   Michelle Larcher de Brito (2), Portugal, def. Natalie Grandin, South Africa, 6-3, 6-2.
   Alla Kudryavtseva (4), Russia, def. Sacha Jones (6), Australia, 6-2, 7-5.
   CoCo Vandeweghe, United States, def. Sharon Fichman (3), Canada, 6-4, 6-3.

First-round singles

   Olga Govortsova, Belarus, def. Julia Goerges, Germany, 7-6 (2), 6-2.
   Francesca Schiavone, Italy, def. Mallory Burdette, United States, 7-5, 6-3.
   Sorana Cirstea (5), Romania, def. Ayumi Morita, Japan, 6-2, 6-2.
   Stefanie Voegele, Switzerland, def. Ajla Tomljanovic, Croatia, 6-4, 6-0.
   Madison Keys, United States, def. Magdalena Rybarikova (8), Slovakia, 6-2, 6-2.
   Nicole Gibbs, United States, def. Kiki Bertens, Netherlands, 6-4, 6-1.

Today's schedule

Stadium

(Starting at 11 a.m.)

   Michelle Larcher de Brito, Portugal, vs. Varvara Lepchenko (6), United States.
   CoCo Vandeweghe, United States, vs. Monica Niculescu, Romania.
   Yanina Wickmayer, Belgium, vs. Daniela Hantuchova, Slovakia.
   Nicole Gibbs and CoCo Vandeweghe, United States, vs. Asia Muhammad and Allie Will, United States.

 (Not before 7 p.m.)

   Olga Govortsova, Belarus, vs. Samantha Stosur (2), Australia.
   Urszula Radwanska (7), Poland, vs. Christina McHale, United States.

Court 6

(Starting at 11 a.m.)

   Alla Kudryavtseva, Russia, vs. Tamira Paszek, Austria.
   Vera Dushevina, Russia, vs. Marina Erakovic, New Zealand.

(Not before 1 p.m.)

   Nuria Llagostera Vives, Spain, and Francesca Schiavone, Italy, vs. Jacqueline Cako and Natalie Pluskota, United States.
   Varvara Lepchenko, United States, and Ajla Tomljanovic, Croatia, vs. Natalie Grandin, South Africa, and Alicja Rosolska, Poland.
   Gabriela Dabrowski and Sharon Fichman, Canada, vs. Hao-Ching Chan, Taiwan, and Vera Dushevina (4), Russia.

CAPITALS 21, ORANGE COUNTY 16

In Citrus Heights, Calif.

   Mixed doubles -- Mark Knowles and Taylor Townsend (Capitals) def. Treat Huey and Liga Dekmeijere, 5-4.
   Women's singles -- Dekmeijere (Orange County) def. Townsend, 5-2.
   Men's doubles -- Huey and Steve Johnson (Orange County) def. Knowles and Sam Querrey, 5-4.
   Women's doubles -- Megan Moulton-Levy and Townsend (Capitals) def. Maria Elena Camerin and Dekmeijere, 5-0.

   Men's singles -- Querrey (Capitals) def. Johnson, 5-2. 

Minus Hingis, Washington routs Capitals

   Martina Hingis of the Washington Kastles missed Saturday night's match against the host Sacramento Capitals.
   But Hingis, last year's World TeamTennis Female MVP for the New York Sportimes, had a good excuse. The 32-year-old Swiss was inducted in the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I., on Saturday.
   Even without Hingis, Washington routed the Capitals 23-14 in the Sacramento suburb of Citrus Heights n a rematch of last year's WTT Finals.
   Washington (3-2) had lost two straight matches after winning 34 in a row dating to 2010. The Los Angeles Lakers hold the record for major U.S. pro teams with 33 straight victories in 1971-72.
   The Kastles edged the Capitals 20-19 last year in Charleston, S.C., for their second consecutive World TeamTennis title.
   Even Washington's substitutes are top-notch. Raquel Kops-Jones, a former NCAA doubles champion from Cal now ranked No. 17 in the world in women's doubles, split her two sets (women's doubles and mixed doubles). 
   The Kastles received strong contributions from Bobby Reynolds, the 2012 WTT Male MVP; 40-year-old Leander Paes, who has won 13 Grand Slam doubles titles (seven men's and six mixed); and Anastasia Rodionova, a former Capital.
   Sacramento (3-2) wasn't at full strength, either. Mardy Fish, a former top-10 player who returned Sunday from his latest battle with an irregular heartbeat, sat out after suffering a groin injury in Friday night's loss to Boston. Taylor Townsend, 17, played with a strained abdominal muscle.
   The Capitals won only in women's doubles behind Megan Moulton-Levy and Townsend. Sacramento has lost two straight matches after winning its first three. All five contests were at home.
   The Capitals will play at Texas (3-2) tonight and at Orange County (3-3) on Monday night before returning home to face Texas, featuring Bob and Mike Bryan this time, on Wednesday night.
  The Bryans, the 35-year-old identical twin sons of Sacramento coach Wayne Bryan, recently became the first doubles team to hold all four Grand Slam titles and the Olympic gold medal.

WASHINGTON 23, CAPITALS 14

In Citrus Heights, Calif.

   Men's singles -- Bobby Reynolds (Washington) def. Ryan Sweeting, 5-4.
   Women's singles -- Anastasia Rodionova (Washington) def. Taylor Townsend, 5-2.
   Men's doubles -- Reynolds and Leander Paes (Washington) def. Mark Knowles and Sweeting, 5-1.
   Women's doubles -- Megan Moulton-Levy  and Townsend (Capitals) def. Raquel Kops-Jones and Rodionova 5-3.
   Mixed doubles -- Paes and Kops-Jones (Washington) def. Knowles and Moulton-Levy, 5-2.

Townsend, 17, makes strong WTT debut in Capitals' win

   Taylor Townsend showed Monday night why she's a potential star.
   Two days after falling in the Wimbledon junior girls singles final, the 17-year-old left-hander from Boca Raton, Fla., made an impressive World TeamTennis debut for the Sacramento Capitals.
   Townsend won both of her sets as the Capitals improved to 2-0 with a 23-19 victory over the Philadelphia Freedoms at Sunrise Marketplace Outdoor Pavilion in Citrus Heights, Calif.
   She defeated Maria Sanchez, who grew up in nearby Modesto, 5-3 in women's singles and paired with Megan Moulton-Levy to edge Liezel Huber and Sanchez 5-4 in women's doubles. Huber, a 36-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen from South Africa, reached No. 1 in the world in women's doubles in 2007.
   Townsend flew from London to Florida on Sunday and from Florida to Sacramento early Monday, arriving about eight hours before Monday night's match.
    Marquee player Mardy Fish of the Capitals lost to Samuel Groth 5-3 to open the match and dropped to 0-2 in singles. Fish ended a 10-week layoff in Sunday's season opener. The 31-year-old Los Angeles-area resident has battled an irregular heartbeat for the past 15 months.
   Groth, a 25-year-old Australian, set a world record with a 163.4-mph (263.0-kph) serve at a Challenger tournament in Busan, South Korea, last year.

CAPITALS 23, PHILADELPHIA 19

In Citrus Heights, Calif.

   Men's singles -- Samuel Groth (Freedoms) def. Mardy Fish, 5-3.

   Women's singles -- Taylor Townsend (Capitals) def. Maria Sanchez, 5-3.

   Mixed doubles -- Mark Knowles and Megan Moulton-Levy (Capitals) def. Liezel Huber and Jordan Kerr, 5-3.

   Women's doubles -- Moulton-Levy and Townsend (Capitals) def. Huber and Sanchez, 5-4.

   Men's doubles --  Fish and Knowles (Capitals) def. Kerr and Groth, 5-4.

Fish arrives early as Capitals win season opener

   The Sacramento Capitals were missing one player Sunday night.
   But another unexpectedly joined them.
   The net result, so to speak, was a 22-17 overtime victory over the Texas Wild in Citrus Heights, Calif., in  a World TeamTennis season opener.
   Taylor Townsend was unable to arrive in time after reaching the Wimbledon junior girls singles final on Saturday. Meanwhile, marquee player Mardy Fish showed up three days early.
   Fish has battled an irregular heartbeat for the past 15 months, falling from a career-high No. 7 in the world in 2011 to No. 43. In his first official match since April, the 31-year-old veteran won 5-4 in men's doubles with his coach on the ATP World Tour, 41-year-old Mark Knowles, but lost 5-1 in men's singles.
   Townsend, a 17-year-old left-hander, in 2012 became the first American to hold the year-end world No. 1 girls ranking. She is scheduled to make her WTT debut in tonight's home match against the Philadelphia Freedoms (0-1) at 7:35.
   Replacing Townsend was Nicole Gibbs, who turned pro last month after winning her second straight NCAA singles title as a Stanford junior. She also won the 2012 NCAA doubles crown with Mallory Burdette.
   Gibbs triumphed 5-3 in women's singles and teamed with Megan Moulton-Levy, making her WTT debut at 28, for a 5-3 victory in women's doubles. Moulton-Levy, only 5 feet (1.52 meters), also earned a 5-2 victory in mixed doubles with Knowles.   
   It was the first match in Texas' history. The franchise moved from Kansas City, where it had played for 20 years, during the offseason.

CAPITALS 22, TEXAS 17 (OT)

In Citrus Heights, Calif.

   Men's doubles -- Mardy Fish and Mark Knowles (Capitals) def. Alex Bogomolov Jr. and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, 5-4.
   Women's singles -- Nicole Gibbs (Capitals) def. Eugenie Bouchard, 5-3.
   Mixed doubles -- Knowles and Megan Moulton-Levy (Capitals) def. Qureshi and Darija Jurak, 5-2.
   Women's doubles -- Gibbs and Moulton-Levy (Capitals) def. Eugenie Bouchard and Jurak, 5-3.
   Men's singles -- Alex Bogomolov (Wild) def. Fish, 5-1.
   Overtime -- Fish (Capitals) def. Bogomolov, 1-0.

Capitals have major concerns entering season

Mark Knowles, who reached No. 1 in the world in doubles
in 2002 and 2004, will return for his 12th season with the
Sacramento Capitals at age 41. 2012 photo by Paul Bauman

   For a team that came within three points of winning the World TeamTennis title last year, the Sacramento Capitals have an alarming number of concerns entering their 28th season.
   Topping the list is a women's lineup with zero WTT experience. Americans Taylor Townsend, 17, and Megan-Moulton Levy, 28, replace Asia Muhammad and Yasmin Schnack.
   Women are more important than men in WTT, with its no-add scoring and sets up to five games. Because women are less powerful, they are more likely to break serve and create leads.
   The Capitals' two full-time men have their issues, too. Mark Knowles, who reached No. 1 in the world in men's doubles in 2002 and 2004, is 41 years old. Ryan Sweeting's singles ranking has plummeted from a career-high No. 64 in 2011 to No. 293. 
   One of Sacramento's two marquee players, 31-year-old Mardy Fish, has missed most of the past 15 months with heart palpitations. He is scheduled to play three matches, all early in the three-week regular season that begins on Sunday night.
   Finally, there's no Kevin Anderson, Vania King or CoCo Vandeweghe to bail out the Capitals. All played part-time for Sacramento last year.
   The 6-foot-8 (2.03-meter) Anderson, ranked 23rd in the world, will play for Washington this season. Just what the Capitals and the rest of the league need -- for the Kastles to get stronger. Washington edged Sacramento 20-19 last year in Charleston, S.C., for its second consecutive WTT title and 32nd straight victory.

Under coach Wayne Bryan, the Capitals came within
three points of winning the World TeamTennis title
last season. 2012 photo by Paul Bauman

   King will return to the Springfield (Mo.) Lasers, with whom she won the 2009 WTT Female MVP award, after playing three full- or part-time seasons with the Capitals.
   The 6-foot-1 (1.85-meter) Vandeweghe, who reached the final of the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford last summer as a qualifer, will play for the Orange County Breakers. They're based in Irvine, about 90 minutes up Interstate 5 from her home in the San Diego suburb of Rancho Santa Fe.
   Not that all is lost for the Capitals, however.
   Townsend, a 5-foot-6 (1.68-meter) left-hander, ended 2012 as the No. 1 junior girl in the world. She became the first U.S. girl to hold the No. 1 year-end ranking since Gretchen Rush in 1982.
   Townsend also beat the world's 57th-ranked woman, Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic, in March.
   After falling in today's Wimbledon girls final, Townsend will miss Sunday's 7:35 p.m. season opener against the Texas Wild at Sunrise Mall in the Sacramento area and possibly Monday night's home match against the Philadelphia Freedoms.
   “Many tennis insiders think Taylor has potential to be the next great American women’s
player," Sacramento coach Wayne Bryan said when the Capitals drafted Townsend in March, although 18-year-olds Madison Keys and Samantha Crawford are also in the conversation.
   Nicole Gibbs, who turned pro out of Stanford last month after winning her second straight NCAA singles title as a junior, will replace Townsend.
   Moulton-Levy, a 5-foot (1.52-meter) doubles specialist, is ranked a career-high No. 57 in that department.     
   Marquee player Sam Querrey, the top-ranked American man at No. 19 in the world, will return for his second part-time season with Sacramento. The 6-foot-6 (1.98-meter) San Francisco native is scheduled to play the Capitals' final four regular-season matches. He competed in six last year and finishing second in the men's singles standings.
   Because of their schedule, the Capitals could get off to a fast start and then cool off. They will play the first five of their 14 regular-season matches at home and seven of their last nine on the road.

CAPITALS’ SCHEDULE

(Home matches at Capitals Stadium, Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights)

   Sunday vs. Texas, 7:35 p.m.

   Monday vs. Philadelphia, 7:35 p.m.

   Wednesday vs. Orange County, 7:35 p.m. (Mardy Fish plays for Capitals)
   Friday vs. Boston, 7:35 p.m. (Fish plays for Capitals)

   Saturday vs. Washington, 7:35 p.m. (Fish plays for Capitals)

   July 14 at Texas, 5:35 p.m.

   July 15 at Orange County, 7 p.m. 

   July 17 vs. Texas, 7:35 p.m. (Bob and Mike Bryan play for Wild)
   July 18 at Springfield, 5:05 p.m.

   July 19 at Boston, 4 p.m. (Mark Philippoussis plays for Lobsters)

   July 21 at Orange County, 5 p.m. (Sam Querrey plays for Capitals)

   July 22 vs. Orange County, 7:35 p.m. (Querrey plays for Capitals)

   July 23 at Springfield, 5:05 p.m. (Querrey plays for Capitals)

   July 24 at Texas, 5:35 p.m. (Querrey plays for Capitals)

TICKETS

   $25-$70 (discounts for children). For more information, visit www.saccaps.com or call (916) 747-6728.

2013 CAPITALS

   Mardy Fish, 31, Westwood, Calif. ... Fifth World TeamTennis season (second with Capitals). ... Scheduled to play three matches for Capitals, all early in season. ... Has missed much of last 18 months with irregular heartbeat. Has played only two tournaments this year and none since April. ... Ranked No. 43 in world after reaching career-high No. 7 in 2011. ... Singles quarterfinalist at Australian Open (2007), U.S. Open (2008) and Wimbledon (2011). ... Has won six career ATP World Tour titles in singles and eight in doubles (including San Jose in 2004 with James Blake and 2010 with Sam Querrey). ... Won singles silver medal in 2004 Olympics in Athens, losing to Nicolas Massu of Chile 6-4 in fifth set after leading two sets to one. ... Seven-time U.S. Davis Cup team member. ... Named 2006 Comeback Player of Year after undergoing two operations on left wrist.  ... Has booming serve, excellent return of serve. ... Moved from native Minnesota to Florida at age 4 and lived with Andy Roddick in 1999 during high school.

   Mark Knowles (captain), 41, Bahamas. ... Twelfth WTT season (all with Capitals). ... Retired from ATP World Tour last September as one of best doubles players in Open Era (since 1968). ...  Reached No. 1 in world in doubles in 2002 and 2004. Finished in top 10 for eight straight years (2002-09). … In April 2010, became fifth player in ATP history to record 700 doubles match wins. … Has won four Grand Slam titles: three in men’s doubles with ex-partner Daniel Nestor (2002 Australian Open, 2004 U.S. Open and 2007 French Open) and one in mixed doubles with Anna-Lena Groenefeld (2009 Wimbledon). … Overall, has won 55 men’s doubles crowns (tied for 15th in Open Era). Won at least one in 19 of 20 seasons (1992-2012). … Five-time Olympian for Bahamas (1992-2008). ... Three-time WTT Male MVP (2001, 2005 and 2007), tied with ex-Capital Brian MacPhie (1996-98) for men’s record. ... Has coached Fish since March 2012. ... Possesses textbook volley and return of serve.
    Megan Moulton-Levy, 28, Washington, D.C. ... First WTT season ... Doubles specialist, only 5 feet (1.52 meters), is ranked a career-high No. 57 in that category. ... Recorded first Grand Slam doubles victory of career in 2013 Australian Open. ... Reached doubles semifinals in Auckland, Memphis, Charleston and s'-Hertogenbosch this year. ... Has captured 10 doubles titles and one singles crown in minor leagues. ... Four-time Colonial Athletic Association Women's Tennis Player of the Year at William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va.
   Sam Querrey, 25, Las Vegas. ... Third WTT season (second with Capitals). ... Top-ranked American at No. 19 in world, down two spots from career high in 2011. ... Has won seven singles and four doubles titles in career. ...  Reached fourth round of U.S. Open in 2008 and 2010 and at Wimbledon in 2010 for best Grand Slam singles results. ... Member of U.S. Davis Cup team in 2008 and 2010. ... Gashed right (playing) arm in 2009 when glass table he was sitting on at Bangkok tournament collapsed. Narrowly missed damaging nerves, which could have ended career. ... Sidelined for three months after right elbow surgery in 2011.
   Ryan Sweeting, 25, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. ... Second WTT season (both with Capitals). Suffered back spasms in WTT debut last year and missed only other scheduled match for Sacramento. ... Has plunged from career-high No. 64 in 2011 to No. 293. ... Won his only ATP World Tour title on clay in Houston in 2011. ... Won 2005 U.S. Open junior title and reached No. 2 in world in juniors that year. ... Bahamas native became U.S. citizen in 2006 and attended University of Florida for one year before turning pro in 2007.

   Taylor Townsend, 17, Boca Raton, Fla.... First WTT season. ... Often compared to Serena Williams because she's stocky African-American but plays more like Martina Navratilova. Both are left-handed with strong volley. ... Became first American in 30 years to top world junior rankings in 2012. ... Won junior titles in 2012 Australian Open singles and doubles, Wimbledon doubles and U.S. Open doubles. ... Became first American to sweep the junior girls crowns in a Grand Slam event since Lindsay Davenport in 1992 U.S. Open. ... Made WTA main-draw debut at 16 in March, beating No. 57 Lucie Hradecka. ... Reach third round of women's doubles in 2011 U.S. Open at 15 with Jessica Pegula.
   Wayne Bryan, coach, Camarillo, Calif. ... Thirteenth WTT season (12^th with Capitals). ... Longest-tenured coach in the league. … Three-time WTT Coach of the Year (2004-06). … Has led Capitals to two of their record six league titles (2002 and 2007). … Father of identical twins Bob and Mike Bryan, who have won record 14 Grand Slam men's doubles titles. … Tennis’ unofficial ambassador. … Non-practicing attorney. … Author of 2004 book “Raising Your Child to be a Champion in Athletics, Arts and Academics.” … Front man for Bryan Bros. Band.

OTHER TEAMS

Western Conference

   Orange County – Maria Elena Camerin, Treat Huey, Steve Johnson, CoCo Vandeweghe, Liga Dekmeijere. Coach: Trevor Kronemann.

   Springfield (Mo.) Lasers – Andy Roddick, Rik de Voest, Vania King, Alisa Kleybanova, Jean-Julien Rojer. Coach: John Laffnie de Jager.
   Texas Wild – Bob and Mike Bryan, Jim Courier, Alex Bogomolov Jr., Eugenie Bouchard, Darija Jurak, Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi. Coach: Brent Haygarth.

Eastern Conference

   Boston Lobsters – Mark Philippoussis, Eric Butorac, Jill Craybas, Katalin Marosi, Amir Weintraub. Coach: Bud Schultz.

   New York Sportimes – John McEnroe, Anna-Lena Groenefeld, Kveta Peschke, Robert Kendrick, Jesse Witten, Abigail Spears. Coach: Claude Okin.

   Philadelphia Freedoms – Sloane Stephens, Samuel Groth, Liezel Huber, Jordan Kerr, Jessica Pegula, Maria Sanchez. Coach: Josh Cohen.

   Washington Kastles – Martina Hingis (2012 WTT Female MVP), Kevin Anderson, Anastasia Rodionova, Leander Paes, Bobby Reynolds (2012 WTT Male MVP). Coach: Murphy Jensen (2012 WTT Coach of the Year).

Bryans reach French Open final; Caps' Townsend falls

   It has been 10 years since Bob and Mike Bryan won the French Open for their first Grand Slam men's doubles title.
   That's nothing, compared to France's drought. No French pair has won the men's doubles crown at Roland Garros since Henri Leconte and Yannick Noah 29 years ago.
   One of those dry spells will end Saturday, when the Bryans meet unseeded Michael Llodra and Nicolas Mahut in the final.
   The Bryans today won their 13th consecutive match, 6-1, 6-4 over seventh-seeded Alexander Peya of Austria and Bruno Soares of Brazil. Llodra and Mahut eliminated unseeded Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina 7-6 (4), 6-2.
   “We’ve never played a French team in the final,” Bob Bryan told reporters. “I’m sure it’s going to be a very enthusiastic support for the French. (It will) probably feel a little bit like a Davis Cup match. We’ve been in those situations before. We kind of (thrive) in those types of atmospheres.”
   In the girls singles quarterfinals, second-seeded Belinda Bencic of Switzerland outlasted 11th-seeded Taylor Townsend of Stockbridge, Ga., 2-6, 6-2, 9-7.
   Townsend, 17, will make her World TeamTennis debut for the Sacramento Capitals at home on July 7. In 2012, she became the first American in 30 years to hold the year-end No. 1 world ranking among junior girls.
   In yet another example of increased longevity in professional tennis today, all of the men's doubles finalists are over 30. The Bryan twins are 35, Llodra is 33, and Mahut is 31.
   The Bryans, coming off titles in Madrid and Rome, have not lost a set in five matches at Roland Garros. Llodra and Mahut knocked off fifth-seeded Max Mirnyi and Horia Tecau in the second round and second-seeded Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez in the quarterfinals. Mirnyi won last year's title with Daniel Nestor.
   The Bryans, former NCAA men's doubles from Stanford, set a record with their 13th Grand Slam men's doubles title at the Australian Open in January. They seek their second French Open crown in their fifth final at Roland Garros and second straight.
   Llodra has won three Grand Slam men's doubles titles -- the Australian Open in 2003 and 2004 with countryman Fabrice Santoro and Wimbledon in 2007 with France's Arnaud Clement. Mahut advanced to his first major final.
   Mahut is best known for losing 70-68 in the fifth set to John Isner in the first round at Wimbledon in 2010.

Bryans advance in eight minutes in French Open

   Bob and Mike Bryan needed only eight minutes today to reach the men's doubles quarterfinals of the French Open.
   No, the top-ranked identical twins didn't complete the match that quickly. The 35-year-old Bryans are arguably the greatest men's doubles team in history, but they're not superhuman.
   The former Stanford All-Americans, originally from Camarillo in the Los Angeles area, led unseeded Christopher Kas of Germany and Oliver Marach of Austria 1-0, 15-0 when the right-handed Marach retired with a right shoulder injury.
   The Bryans, who have won a record 13 Grand Slam men's doubles titles but only one French Open 10 years ago, will meet eighth-seeded Spaniards David Marrero and Fernando Verdasco on Wednesday.
   Meanwhile, 11th-seeded Taylor Townsend of Stockbridge, Ga., dispatched Victoria Rodriguez of Mexico 6-2, 6-3 in the third round of girls singles.
   The 17-year-old Townsend, who will make her World TeamTennis debut for the Sacramento Capitals on July 7, will face second-seeded Belinda Bencic of Switzerland on Thursday in the quarterfinals. Bencic, 16, advanced with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 victory over Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil.
   Townsend is ranked No. 333 in the world in women's singles and Bencic No. 366.
   In Townsend's WTA main-draw debut in March, she stunned then-No. 57 Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic in the first round at Indian Wells before losing to 2008 champion and former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic.
   Bencic qualified for a $50,000 clay-court tournament in Indian Harbour Beach, Fla., in late April and reached the semifinals.

One Capital wins, another loses in French Open

   Sacramento Capitals players had mixed results today in the French Open.
   Eleventh-seeded Taylor Townsend of Stockbridge, Ga., defeated Jana Fett of Croatia 6-4, 6-2 in the second round of girls singles in Paris. But Megan Moulton-Levy and fellow American Lauren Davis lost to seventh-seeded Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States and Sania Mirza of India 1-6, 6-3, 6-0 in the second round of women's doubles.
   Townsend, 17, and Moulton-Levy, 28, are scheduled to make their World TeamTennis debuts for the Capitals on July 7 against the Texas Wild at Capitals Stadium at Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights, Calif.
   Townsend will play singles and team with Moulton-Levy in doubles for Sacramento this season. Moulton-Levy also will pair with Mark Knowles, 41, in mixed doubles. It will be Knowles' 12th WTT season, all with the Capitals.
   In 2012, Townsend became the first American in 30 years to hold the year-end No. 1 world ranking among junior girls. She will face unseeded Victoria Rodriguez of Mexico on Tuesday in the third round. Rodriguez advanced with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Alice Bacquie of France.
   Also Tuesday, top-ranked Bob and Mike Bryan will meet unseeded Christopher Kas of Germany and Oliver Marach of Austria in the third round of men's doubles. The Bryan twins, 35, won the 1998 NCAA doubles title as Stanford sophomores and then turned pro.
   Mirza and Mattek-Sands each won Grand Slam mixed doubles titles last year. Mirza captured the French Open championship with countryman Mahesh Bhupathi, and Mattek-Sands took the Australian Open crown with Horia Tecau of Romania.
   Mirza also won the 2009 Australian Open mixed doubles title with Bhupathi to become the first Indian female Grand Slam champion. 

Caps' Townsend advances in French Open girls singles

   As an African-American with a stocky build and punishing groundstrokes, 17-year-old Taylor Townsend often has been compared to Serena Williams.
   Townsend, who will make her World TeamTennis debut for the Sacramento Capitals next month, has plenty of credentials, too. She won the 2012 Australian Open girls singles and doubles titles and the girls doubles crowns at last year's Wimbledon and U.S. Open.
   Townsend turned pro in January after becoming the first American in 30 years to hold the year-end No. 1 world ranking among junior girls. In her first WTA main-draw match, she knocked off then-No. 57 Lucie Hradecka of the Czeck Republic in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in March.  
   Unlike Williams, Townsend is left-handed, which can only help her.
   Townsend, a 5-foot-6 (1.68-meter) resident of Stockbridge, Ga., continued her progress today with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Viktoriya Lushkova of Ukraine in the first round of French Open girls singles in Paris.
   Townsend, seeded 11th, is scheduled to face Jana Fett of Croatia on Monday in the second round. Fett defeated Sara Tomic of Australia 7-5, 6-3. Tomic's older brother, Bernard, is ranked 61st on the men's tour.
   Megan Moulton-Levy, another African-American who will make her WTT debut for the Capitals next month, and Lauren Davis of the United States will meet seventh-seeded Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the U.S. and Sania Mirza of India in the second round of women's doubles today.  

Bryans seek first French Open crown in 10 years

   Ten years ago at the French Open, Bob and Mike Bryan won the first of their record 13 Grand Slam men's doubles titles.
   The 35-year-old identical twins and former NCAA doubles champions from Stanford are still looking for their second French Open title and might have a good shot this year. Not only are the Bryans hot, many of their top rivals have been eliminated.
   The top-ranked Bryans reached the third round on clay in Paris on Saturday, beating Eric Butorac and Jack Sock 7-5, 7-6 (2) in an all-American matchup.
   The Bryans will meet the winner of today's encounter between 13th-seeded Julien Benneteau of France and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia and unseeded Christopher Kas of Germany and Oliver Marach of Austria.
   Already ousted are No. 3 seeds Robert Lindstedt and Daniel Nestor, No. 4 Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna and No. 5 Max Mirnyi and Horia Tecau. No. 2 Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez, both of Spain, are scheduled to play their second-round match today.
   The Bryans probably shed no tears when Mirnyi was eliminated. The twins have lost in the French Open final three times, and the 6-foot-5 (1.96-meter) "Beast of Belarus" played on the winning team each time. Mirnyi teamed with since-retired Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden in 2005 and 2006, and with Nestor last year.
   The Bryans are having one of their best seasons with six titles, including the Australian Open for the sixth time, Indian Wells for the first time in their native Southern California, and Madrid and Rome on the European clay-court circuit. The most titles they have won in a season is 11, in 2007 and 2010. The Bryans have captured 88 overall.
   World TeamTennis -- The Sacramento Capitals announced that individual tickets for 2013 home matches are available by visiting www.saccaps.com, e-mailing tickets@saccaps.com or calling (916) 304-5722.
   Sacramento -- coached by the Bryans' father, Wayne -- opens the season with five matches at Capitals Stadium at Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights on July 7, 8, 10, 12 and 13. Mardy Fish is scheduled to play the last three of those matches, although the former top-10 player withdrew from the French Open with ongoing heart problems.
   The Capitals also will host the Texas Wild, featuring Bob and Mike Bryan, on July 17 and end the regular season at home on July 22 in 20th-ranked Sam Querrey's only appearance at Sunrise Mall this season. In addition, Querrey is scheduled to play three road matches at the end of the season.
   All home matches will be at 7:35 p.m.
   Mark Knowles, 41, will return for his 12th season with Sacramento. He has been ranked No. 1 in the world in men's doubles and won three WTT Male MVP awards (2001, 2005 and 2007).
   Also playing for Sacramento will be:
   --Ryan Sweeting, the 2005 U.S. Open boys singles champion.
   --Seventeen-year-old Taylor Townsend, who last year became the first American girl to hold the year-end No. 1 junior ranking since Gretchen Rush in 1982.
   --Megan Moulton-Levy, a 5-foot (1.52-meter) American ranked a career-high No. 62 in women's doubles.
   Townsend and Moulton-Levy will make their WTT debuts.
   Ticket prices are $25 to $70, with discounts for children. Season tickets and five-match packages are available for $112 to $392.

Capitals draft 16-year-old prodigy

   The future of U.S. women's tennis is coming to Sacramento.
   The Capitals selected Taylor Townsend, 16, of Stockbridge, Ga., in the second round of Tuesday's World TeamTennis roster draft.
   Townsend, a sturdy 5-foot-6 African-American, has been compared to Serena Williams. But as an aggressive left-hander, she plays more like her idol, Martina Navratilova.
   Last year, Townsend swept the girls singles and doubles titles in the Australian Open, added the girls doubles crowns at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open and ended the year as the No. 1 junior in the world.
   She became the first American to sweep the girls crowns in a Grand Slam event since Lindsay Davenport in the 1992 U.S. Open and the first U.S. girl to hold the No. 1 year-end world ranking since Gretchen Rush in 1982.
   Townsend debuted on the elite WTA tour last week as a wild card in the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. She beat No. 57 Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic before losing to former world No. 1 and 2008 champion Ana Ivanovic.  
   “Many tennis insiders think Taylor has potential to be the next great American women’s
player," Capitals coach Wayne Bryan said in a statement, although 18-year-olds Madison Keys and Samantha Crawford are also in the conversation. "She is good on the singles and doubles court and is very talented with a great personality.”

Mark Knowles, 41, will return for his 12th season with
the Sacramento Capitals in World TeamTennis.
Photo by Paul Bauman

   Sacramento also protected Mark Knowles of the Bahamas in the first round, picked American doubles specialist Megan Moulton-Levy in the third round and took Ryan Sweeting of the United States in the fourth and final round.
   Knowles, 41, retired from the ATP World Tour after last year's U.S. Open. But the three-time WTT Male MVP (2001, 2005 and 2007) will return for his 12th season in the league, all with Sacramento.
   Moulton-Levy, only 5-foot (1.52 meters) and 135 pounds (61 kilograms), is ranked No. 74 in the world in doubles. Sweeting, the 2005 U.S. Open boys champion, played one match for the Capitals last season but suffered back spasms and missed his other scheduled match.
   Mardy Fish and San Francisco native Sam Querrey are set to return as Sacramento's marquee players. Fish, who reached No. 7 in the world in 2011, is scheduled to play three of the Capitals' 14 regular-season matches, and the 23rd-ranked Querrey plans to play four.
   Missing from the roster after playing for Sacramento last year are 2012 part-timers Kevin Anderson, CoCo Vandeweghe and Vania King and full-timers Asia Muhammad and Yasmin Schnack.
   Anderson, a 6-foot-8 (2.03-meter) right-hander, underwent right elbow surgery in January after climbing to No. 28 one year ago. He and Muhammad are not scheduled to play team tennis this season.
   The 99th-ranked Vandeweghe, who lives in the San Diego area, was a roster-exempt selection by Orange County. King, the 2009 WTT Female MVP for Springfield (Mo.), went back to the Lasers in the roster-exempt draft after three seasons in Sacramento. Schnack, a 24-year-old doubles specialist, retired from professional tennis in November.
   Sacramento has won a record six WTT titles but none since 2007. The Capitals squeaked into the playoffs last season with an 8-6 mark and advanced to the WTT Finals, falling to the defending champion Washington Kastles 20-19 in Charleston, S.C. Washington has won 32 consecutive matches. 
   In the 2012 regular season, Sacramento finished third among eight teams in men's singles, fifth in women's singles, fourth in men's doubles, seventh in women's doubles and fourth in mixed doubles.
   The Capitals open the 2013 season on July 7 against the Texas Wild at Sunrise Mall in the Sacramento suburb of Citrus Heights.   
   Alisa Kleybanova, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in May 2011, was drafted first overall by Springfield. Kleybanova, a 23-year-old Russian, ascended to No. 20 in the world in singles and No. 10 in doubles in February 2011.
   Washington acquired Martina Hingis from the New York Sportimes for financial considerations. Hingis, 32, will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in July.
   BNP Paribas Open -- Querrey advanced to the fourth round at Indian Wells, ensuring that he will become the No. 1 American man and that the United States won't be shut out of the top 20 in the men's world rankings for the first time.
   Querrey, seeded and ranked 23rd, outlasted Marinko Matosevic of Australia 7-6 (5), 6-7 (7), 7-5 in the longest match of the tournament at 2 hours, 47 minutes.
   Querrey will return to the top 20 after reaching a career-high No. 17 in January 2011. The 6-foot-6 right-hander missed three months after undergoing right elbow surgery on June 16 that year and dropped to No. 125. He will replace John Isner as the top American.
    "It means a lot. It's a great feeling," Querrey, 25, said on www.bnpparibasopen.com. "I feel like I have worked hard to earn it. Everyone seems like they've got their shot with Andy (Roddick) and Mardy and James (Blake) and John, and so I feel like it's my turn now."
   Querrey will meet world No. 1 and two-time Indian Wells champion Novak Djokovic on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. PDT or later (Tennis Channel). Djokovic improved to 15-0 this year with a 7-6 (4), 6-1 victory over 31st-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria.
   Querrey is the last player to beat Djokovic, prevailing 0-6 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the second round of the Paris Masters last October. After the match, Djokovic told reporters: "It's unfortunate, but on the brighter side, I have a little bit more time to rest because I had really difficult period in the last couple of weeks. Some things happened and a lot of things on my mind."
   Djokovic, who's 4-1 against Querrey, seeks his third title of the year after winning the Australian Open and at Dubai.
   Meanwhile, eighth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France defeated the 32nd-seeded Fish 7-6 (4), 7-6 (0) in the third round. Fish, who returned to the circuit at Indian Wells after missing six months because of heart palpitations, led 4-0 in the second set and was broken at love serving for the set at 5-4.
   "I felt like I could have easily won the match," Fish said on www.bnpparibasopen.com. "Bunch of break points obviously in the first set, and the second set was what it was. Tennis wise, it's a good sign that it hasn't taken too long to get the form back. I usually don't lose 4-0 sets.  I can't remember the last one. Maybe just not being in that position I'm sure had something to do with it."

   Fish remains alive in doubles with Blake. The wild cards are scheduled to face Treat Huey, a Washington, D.C., native who plays for the Philippines, and Jerzy Janowicz of Poland on Wednesday in the quarterfinals. 
   Fish won the 2009 doubles title at Indian Wells with his close friend Andy Roddick.

COLLEGE SCORE

Men

   Sacramento State def. Montana State 7-0 in Sacramento. No. 1 singles: Marek Marksoo (SS) def. Niklas Brandes 6-1, 6-2. Records: Sac State 5-9 overall, 2-0 Big Sky Conference; Montana State 9-7, 5-1.