Wednesday's sports shorts

Last update: November 12, 2009 - 12:55 AM

Known for furious, racket-throwing rants, Marat Safin would rather be remembered for the hard work he put in during a 12-year career marked by two Grand Slam titles and a Davis Cup victory.

The former No. 1 ended his career Wednesday after losing to Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in the second round of the Paris Masters.

"A lot of people there really thought that I'm not a really hard worker," Safin said. "But you can ask all my coaches how I dedicated myself to tennis. They will tell you it's completely the opposite of what a lot of people think."

Safin, 29, won his first major at the 2000 U.S. Open with a victory over Pete Sampras in the final. He lost two major finals before adding a second major title at the '05 Australian Open.

Safin said he will miss high-level competition but is relieved he won't have to deal with pressure anymore. "You are completely stressed 24-7," he said. "This is what I hate about it. It's just too much."

SWIMMING

Phelps second in 200 medley

Michael Phelps finished second in the 200-meter medley final at the short-course World Cup in Stockholm, struggling in the old-style swimsuit that will become standard next year.

Phelps, who won a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, clocked 1 minute 53.93 seconds. He was more than two seconds behind winner Darian Townsend of South Africa.

"I'm swimming OK," Phelps said, adding his time "wasn't bad."

Phelps also failed to qualify for the 100 butterfly final after finishing 11th in qualifying heats in 51.06 seconds. It was the third final that Phelps missed at the meet.

A total of nine world records were set in the World Cup, three by China's Jing Zhao. Americans Jessica Hardy (50 breaststroke) and Peter Marshall (50 backstroke) broke their own previous records.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Standout spurns Badgers for rival

After announcing he would attend Wisconsin, prep standout Vander Blue changed his mind and signed with state rival Marquette.

Blue, a 6-4 guard from defending state champion Madison Memorial, is considered the best high school player in Wisconsin and a consensus top-40 prospect nationally.

• Tim Hardaway Jr., the son of the five-time NBA All-Star guard, signed a letter of intent to play for Michigan. The younger Hardaway is a 6-5 forward from Miami.

AROUND THE HORN

Golf: Tiger Woods lived up to eight months of anticipation in Australia by running off three consecutive birdies late in his round of a 6-under-par 66 that put him atop the leaderboard in the Australian Masters in Melbourne. Playing his first event in Australia in 11 years, Woods putted for birdie on every hole until the last one.

Skiing: Freestyle skier Jeremy Bloom has abandoned his comeback try, ending a bid to make the 2010 Olympic team so he can spend more time on his charity work. The 2002 and '06 U.S. Olympian also had a brief NFL career after playing at Colorado. ... Female ski jumpers are heading back to court today in another attempt to compete in the Vancouver Olympics.

Boxing: Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson allegedly hit a photographer at Los Angeles International Airport and was booked and released on suspicion of battery, police said. A Tyson spokeswoman said he acted in self-defense to protect his 10-month-old child.

Soccer: German national team goalkeeper Robert Enke had been suffering from depression, his widow said Wednesday, one day after the Hannover captain threw himself in front of a train. Police said Enke left a suicide note.

Steroids: A Florida man who claimed he sold anabolic steroid pills to professional athletes, including members of the Washington Nationals and Capitals, pleaded guilty in a deal with prosecutors. Richard Thomas, 36, faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Recent Sports stories

'Stew' and his crew catching on well - November 12, 2009

'Stew' and his crew catching on well - What does a former offensive lineman and car dealer know about coaching a glamour position in the NFL? Plenty, actually. More