TENNIS

Sharapova, Williams sisters reach Italian Open quarters

Maria Sharapova rallied from a four-game deficit in the second set to beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 7-6 (3) on Thursday, advancing to the Italian Open quarterfinals at Rome.

Sisters Serena and Venus Williams also advanced. Seventh-seeded Venus Williams won the first three games of each set in a 7-5, 6-2 win over No. 10 Vera Zvonareva and next will face defending champion Jelena Jankovic. The fourth-seeded Jankovic routed Maria Kirilenko 6-1, 6-1.

Serena Williams overcame some erratic moments before eliminating Italian wild-card entrant Sara Errani 6-4, 6-3, and next will play 34th-ranked Alize Cornet — who upset last year's runner-up, Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Sharapova, who improved to 25-2 this year, will regain the No. 1 ranking on Monday because of Justine Henin's retirement.

Federer, Nadal, Djokovic advance in Hamburg: Rafael Nadal had no birthday gift for Andy Murray, winning in straight sets to join Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals of the Hamburg (Germany) Masters. Nadal won 6-3, 6-2 against Murray, who turned 21.

Defending champion Roger Federer breezed past Robin Soderling 6-3, 6-2. The top-ranked Federer is seeking his fifth title in Hamburg and will play Fernando Verdasco, who upset fifth-seeded David Ferrer 7-6 (2), 6-2.

Camarillo's Mike and Bob Bryan defeated sixth-seeded Martin Damm and Pavel Vizner of the Czech Republic 7-5, 6-4 in a quarterfinal match.

Kuerten among wild cards at French Open: Three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten was given a wild-card entry into this year's tournament by the French tennis federation.

The 31-year-old Brazilian will be playing his final tournament at Roland Garros, where he won his only majors in 1997, 2000 and 2001.

The FFT also gave wild cards in the men's draw to French players Eric Prodon, Olivier Patience, Jeremy Chardy, Adrian Mannarino and Jonathan Eysseric.

French players Olivia Sanchez, Severine Bremond, Stephanie Foretz, Mathilde Johansson, Youlia Fedossova and Violette Huck were given spots in the women's draw.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

USC's Mayo denies allegations of cash and gifts

Former USC basketball star O.J. Mayo has denied allegations that he received cash and gifts from events promoter Rodney Guillory and said he was confident an investigation will determine he did not violate NCAA rules.

"I know for a fact that I haven't accepted anything," Mayo told the Los Angeles Times for Thursday's editions. "My family hasn't accepted anything, so I'm just waiting for the NCAA to do what they have to do to prove that I haven't done anything wrong."

Louis Johnson, a former associate of Mayo's, claimed in a segment of ESPN's "Outside the Lines" that Guillory received money from Bill Duffy Associates and funneled cash and gifts to Mayo.

Indiana gives Dakich $185,000 settlement: Indiana University has reached a settlement with former interim coach Dan Dakich, paying him the $185,000 he was scheduled to earn next school year.

IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre confirmed the deal, saying Dakich was owed a base salary of $110,000 with a supplemental bonus of $75,000.

Dakich replaced Kelvin Sampson after the NCAA accused Sampson of five major rules violations in February. The university gave Sampson a $750,000 buyout.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Penn State's Paterno treated, released from hospital

Penn State coach Joe Paterno is back home after spending several hours at a hospital being treated for dehydration.

Penn State spokesman Jeff Nelson says the 81-year-old coach was released from Mount Nittany Medical Center after being taken by ambulance from his home after feeling nauseous.

He underwent tests at the hospital, but was not admitted.

JURISPRUDENCE

Suspect pleads guilty in Redskins star's slaying

One of five suspects charged in the slaying of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor has pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree murder and burglary.

Defense attorney Michael Hornung says that according to the plea agreement, Venjah Hunte will serve 29 years in prison and cooperate with prosecutors.

Hornung says Hunte pleaded guilty on Friday, but prosecutors requested the plea agreement be sealed because investigators were pursuing the fifth suspect.

That suspect, 16-year-old Timothy Brown, was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder and armed burglary of an occupied dwelling.

Taylor died of massive blood loss after he was shot at his Miami-area home during a botched robbery in November.

HOCKEY

Granato, two other women inducted into IIHF Hall

Cammie Granato, Geraldine Heaney and Angela James made women's hockey history.

The trio became the first female players inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame, along with Mario Lemieux, Russian great Igor Larionov and the first French player ever to skate in the NHL, Philippe Bozon.

Longtime U.S. hockey boss Art Berglund also entered as a builder, while former referee Juraj Okolicany of Slovakia earned the Paul Loicq Award for his contributions to the game.

PRO FOOTBALL

Meier signs four-year extension with Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars gave defensive tackle Rob Meier a bigger contract to go along with his bigger role.

Meier, who is replacing three-time Pro Bowl player Marcus Stroud in the starting lineup this season, signed a four-year contract extension.

Although financial details weren't disclosed, Meier said the new deal will pay more than the $2.095 million he was due in the final year of his previous contract.

Meier's deal also came two days after defensive end Paul Spicer failed to show up for the team's first voluntary workout of the offseason while seeking a new contract.