The Americans are stepping all over each other -- and eliminating each other -- in the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif.

Andy Roddick beat fellow American James Blake 6-3, 7-5 in the second round Sunday. Roddick's eighth win in 11 matches with Blake set up a third-round meeting with U.S. Davis Cup teammate John Isner.

On the women's side, two-time champion Kim Clijsters struggled but beat Italy's Sara Errani 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 , and Francesca Schiavone and Ana Ivanovic also won second-round matches.

IDITAROD

Baker maintains his lead Veteran musher John Baker was holding on to his lead in the 1,150-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, at least three hours ahead of his closest rivals.

Baker was the first to leave the village of Unalakleet for the run up Alaska's wind-scoured western coast on Norton Sound.

Hans Gatt, who was third into the checkpoint, left about three hours later, taking second place from Ramey Smyth, who was third out.

OLYMPICS

Brits get basketball pass into Games The international basketball federation cleared Britain's men's and women's teams to compete in the 2012 London Olympics without qualifying. The world governing body FIBA gave the teams a special exemption after receiving guarantees that the host will improve its long-term basketball program after the Games.

The British men's team could feature Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng, Ben Gordon of the Detroit Pistons and former NBA player Pops Mensah-Bonsu, who now plays in the French league.

FIGURE SKATING

Japan disaster impacts world meet Germany announced it will not send a team to next week's world figure skating championships in Tokyo, and international skating officials were weighing whether to even hold the event following the earthquake and tsunami that ravaged the country.

The first German skaters would have left Wednesday for worlds, which are scheduled to begin March 21 at Yoyogi stadium in Tokyo.

The ISU initially said Yoyogi stadium had been undamaged and the worlds would begin as planned. But it said Sunday it was considering canceling the event because of the "very worrisome" threat of multiple reactor meltdowns.

AROUND THE HORN

Drag racing: Former NASCAR champion Kurt Busch lost by half a car length to Erica Enders in an elimination Pro Stock race in his venture into drag racing at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. Del Worsham defeated seven-time Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher in the final round and won that division. Mike Neff (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were the other winners.

College athletics: The University of Nebraska Omaha announced plans to switch to the Summit League for NCAA Division I play and eliminate its football and wrestling programs. The school currently competes in Division II through the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association -- except in men's ice hockey, which is already a Division I program in the WCHA.

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