Kim Clijsters' first step toward another title at the Bank of the West Classic was not an easy one. The top seed and defending champion lost the opening set against Jelena Jankovic but rallied for a 5-7 6-2 triumph in the second round of the hardcourt tournament. One of four players to get a bye in the opening round, Clijsters has dominated this event in recent years

The skipper of Brazil's 1994 World Cup winners replaces Carlos Alberto Parreira, who quit after Brazil lost to France in the World Cup quarter-finals. He was announced as the new coach by Ricardo Teixeira, president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, last night. Dunga, who is on the board of directors at QPR, has no previous coaching experience in the game

Manchester City had double cause to celebrate today as Joey Barton and Micah Richards signed new four-year contracts. The future of midfielder Barton, 23, had been in some doubt after he stunned City with a transfer request last season, while 18-year-old defender Richards was linked with a move to Tottenham. But both players are now due to stay at Eastlands until at least 2010, with City moving to secure their futures after interest from other clubs

Niall Quinn has been confirmed as the new manager of Sunderland. The 39-year-old former striker, who is due to take over as chairman of the club later this week, has taken charge of team affairs just two weeks before the start of the Championship season. Sunderland had been linked with a number of high-profile managerial candidates as they went in search of a permanent successor to Mick McCarthy, who was sacked in March and replaced with caretaker boss Kevin Ball

Two teenagers were recovering Sunday from a lightning strike that killed two other teens a day before on a school soccer field. Lee Weisbrod, 19, of River Vale, and Steven Fagan, 18, of Woodcliff Lake, died at a local hospital Saturday after suffering severe burns and trauma, authorities said. The survivors, identified only as 16- and 19-year-old Montvale residents, were treated at a local hospital Saturday night and released, authorities said

James Blake was happy to win the RCA Championships and seemed to be just as pleased to see Andy Roddick back on track. Roddick said he played one of his best finals, but Blake won the all-American match up, 4-6, 6-4,and 7-6 (5), Sunday in Indianapolis. Blake replaced Roddick this month as the highest-ranked American man, and lived up to his new status. But he said Roddick is starting to look like the guy who once was No. 1 in the world. "I feel like I've kind of earned the No

J.D. Drew did not have much of an opportunity to show what he could do in the No. 3 spot in the lineup on Friday night. Drew left in the first inning against the Cardinals after he was being hit by a pitch sustaining a right knee contusion. Drew stepped up to the plate against Jeff Suppan with a runner on first. Suppan's third pitch to Drew drilled the right fielder in the knee. Drew fell to the floor immediately, as both legs came up in the air

The threat of afternoon thunderstorms meant an early start for those players who just made the cut in the British Open championship at Hoylake today. But anyone with memories of Muirfield in 2002 will not have given up hope of getting into contention should the weather turn nasty

World number one Tiger Woods shot himself into the lead after a course record equaling 7 under in the second round of the British Open at the Royal Liverpool Course in Hoylake. Woods, who resumed on five under, made his move with an eagle and six birdies to reach 12 under. The eagle came at the par-four 14th when his four-iron approach pitched in line and bounced into the hole

FIFA handed Zinedine Zidane a three-game ban Thursday for head-butting Italian defender Marco Materazzi during the World Cup final. The suspension will not faze Zidane, who has since retired. But Italians were surprised by FIFA's decision to suspend Materazzi two games for "repeatedly provoking Zidane." The Italian federation has to decide whether to appeal the decision