Malisse, Youzhny move into quarterfinals in Chennai Open

Defending champion Xavier Malisse and fourth-seeded Mikhail Youzhny posted contrasting wins Wednesday to set up a quarterfinal encounter in the Chennai Open.

Belgian Malisse clinched a 7-6 (3), 6-2 in victory in the second round against sixth-seeded Jurgen Melzer of Austria, while Russian player Youzhny survived a scare from Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin by prevailing 7-5, 1-6, 6-2.

Third seed and former champion Carlos Moya of Spain also advanced to the quarterfinals, where he will meet French player Florent Serra.

Moya, winner of the Chennai Open title in 2004 and '05, was extended to three sets by Russian qualifier Alexandre Kudryavtsev …

Cubs should copy S.D.; Padres have turned things around

The San Diego Padres were coming off a 99-loss season when they started unloading and retooling last summer. The biggest name to go was pitcher Jake Peavy, who finally accepted a move to the White Sox on July 31.

Something else started happening around that time for the Padres. They began winning.

The Padres still had a losing record in 2009 at 75-87, but they went 37-25 from late July to the end of the season.

The 2010 Padres had an identical 37-25 start to this season and have held on to first place in the National League West for all but one day since.

With a meager payroll of just under $39 million, the Padres are the latest example of the …

'Defending marriage' hearing held

Democrats defend Obama decision to stop defending DOMA

Democrats came out swinging Friday, April 1 5, during a House subcommittee hearing titled "Defending Marriage," about the Department of Justice announcement that it would curtail its defense of the federal ban on recognition of same-sex marriages.

The hearing was called by Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., the new Republican chairman of the subcommittee. Franks called only three witnesses - two of which have taken high-profile stances against same-sex marriage and the DOJ decision to limit its defense of the Defense of Marriage Act.

One witness, Ed Whelan, head of a religious conservative think tank called the Ethics …

Patriots running back Kevin Faulk pleads no contest to drug charge

New England Patriots running back Kevin Faulk pleaded no contest to misdemeanor marijuana charges and received a year of probation.

Judge Herman Clause also suspended a five-month sentence on Tuesday, according to the clerk of court's office in Lafayette Parish.

Faulk was issued a misdemeanor summons for simple possession of marijuana at a Li'l Wayne concert at the Cajundome in February.

He must undergo 20 hours of NFL-approved substance …

Allsopp scores 3, D.C. United beats Portsmouth 4-0

Danny Allsopp scored three times to help D.C. United beat second-tier English team Portsmouth 3-0 Saturday night.

Pablo Hernandez added another goal for United, who also beat AC Milan in May, but have only won three of 17 MLS games.

Portsmouth wore white United uniforms because their jerseys were lost on the flight from their last match in …

Returning Starters Boost Glenbard W.

The transition has been smooth for Glenbard West.

The Hilltoppers are off to a 7-2 start and appear to be one ofthe teams to beat in the West Suburban Silver under new coach LeeMaciejewski, who took the job after a successful stint at WestChicago.

Maciejewski has seven seniors among eight returning players,including pitcher Keely Popleton, first baseman Anne McConnel andcatcher Diane Lapage. A player to watch is sophomore pitcherAdrienne Salerno, one of the area's top young prospects.

HOT HEALY: Providence infielder Yvette Healy is on fire. TheDePaul-bound senior was the second baseman on last season's ChicagoSun-Times All-Area team. In a doubleheader …

Here we go again: Another big down day for Dow

NEW YORK (AP) — Just when Wall Street seemed to have settled down, a barrage of bad economic reports collided with fresh worries about European banks Thursday and triggered a global sell-off in stocks.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 419 points — a return to the wild swings that gripped the stock market last week.

Stocks were only part of a dramatic day across the financial markets. The price of oil fell $5, gold set another record, the 10-year Treasury hit its lowest yield, and the average mortgage rate fell to its lowest in at least 40 years.

The selling began in Asia, where Japanese exports fell for a fifth straight month, and continued in Europe, where bank …