Sale of Hornets
to Saints owner Benson complete
NEW ORLEANS — Saints owner Tom Benson has officially gained control of the New Orleans Hornets from the NBA.
The completion Friday of the $338 million sale of the NBA club comes two days after the league’s board of governors approved the decision to sell to Benson. As part of the deal, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has approved the Hornets’ lease extension at the state-owned New Orleans Arena, which runs through 2024 and provides for $50 million in improvements.
Benson agreed in April to buy the Hornets. The team had been owned by the NBA since December of 2010.
Arizona’s Sean
Miller receives contract extension
TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona men’s basketball coach Sean Miller will lead the Wildcats at least through the 2016-17 season.
The Arizona Board of Regents approved a one-year contract extension Friday for Miller, who is 69-35 in three seasons with the Wildcats and in 2011 led the team to the Pac-10 regular-season title and the round of eight in the NCAA tournament. He was the Pac-10 coach of the year that same season.
Querrey, Nalbanbdian reach Queen’s semis
LONDON — Sam Querrey reached his first semifinal in nearly two years, defeating Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 at Queen’s Club on Friday.
The American took the opening set after Dodig double-faulted to give Querrey a 6-5 lead. In the second set, a netted forehand at 4-3 earned Dodig the only break. In the final set, a forehand error at 3-2 left Querrey in charge.
David Nalbandian twice rallied to reach the semifinals, first overcoming Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in a third-round match postponed on Thursday, and then beating Xavier Malisse of Belgium 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4.
Nadal ousted from Gerry Weber Open
HALLE, Germany — Rafael Nadal lost in the quarterfinals of the Gerry Weber Open on Friday, beaten by Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-4 in the Spaniard’s first tournament since winning a record seventh French Open.
Roger Federer, a five-time winner of this grass-court Wimbledon tuneup, was taken to three sets but defeated Canada’s Milos Raonic 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3).
Doi reaches first WTA quarters in England
BIRMINGHAM, England — Misaki Doi of Japan defeated Foretz Gacon of France 7-5, 6-4 to reach her first WTA quarterfinals at the Aegon Classic.
Zheng Jie of China was within two points of reaching the semifinals before play was suspended at 6-3, 5-6 against Roberta Vinci from Italy.
By wire sources
