Federer pushed to five sets; Roddick also into quarterfinals

Tennis Betting Lines

09/02/2008 - Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roger Federer needed 3 1/2 hours to complete his five-set, fourth-round win over 23rd seed Igor Andreev of Russia, while American Andy Roddick continued to roll in moving to the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open.

Federer kept alive his quest for a fifth straight U.S. Open title, earning a 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory. That advanced him to the quarterfinals against an unlikely opponent, Gilles Muller of Luxembourg. Muller upset fifth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (12-10).

The eighth-seeded Roddick breezed past 11th seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile, 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 in less than 1 1/2 hours.

Last year's runner-up Novak Djokovic was a hard-fought fourth-round winner Tuesday. The third-seeded Djokovic came from behind to beat game 15th-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 on Day 9 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

The second-seeded Federer ran his winning streak to 31 at the U.S. Open, last losing in Flushing in 2003. The former long-time world No. 1 Swiss, a 12-time major champion, overcame 60 unforced errors, but dominated at the net, winning 58 of a possible 84 points. Conversely, Andreev was just 12-of-28 on his net approaches. Also, the Russian converted just 2-of-15 break point chances.

Federer won the first three games of the final set, which included a key break of serve in the second game. Andreev was successful on a drop shot, but Federer returned the ball to the right corner, and the Russian's backhand went wide as the Super Swiss went up 2-0.

Then came four break point saves by Federer in the seventh game, when he went ahead 5-2 before finally serving out for the match.

It marked just the third time ever that Federer has played five sets at the U.S. Open.

"I'm very happy with the score, of course you always wish three sets," said Federer. "Honestly, those five-setters are pretty fun too."

Roddick, the 2003 champion here, had just seven unforced errors in his match with the Olympic silver medalist Gonzalez. Roddick was in complete control, firing eight aces and facing just one break point the entire match.

Now he has the task of facing Djokovic, who has been slowed by a number of injuries, including ones to his hip and ankle.

"I've got to feel good, he's got about 16 injuries right now," said Roddick. "He's made himself one of the elite players in the world. I'm just going to have fun and try to get the upset."

Davydenko reached the semifinals here the last two years, but couldn't handle Muller's expert play at the net. Muller converted 35-of-47 net approach opportunities.

Djokovic struggled mightily physically on a warm Tuesday at the year's fourth and final major. The Serb was bothered by an upset stomach and a sore ankle, but ultimately outlasted the pesky Robredo in 3 hours, 44 minutes.

The 21-year-old Djokovic broke Robredo to grab a 3-2 lead in the fifth and final set and broke again four games later to finally end the battle at Ashe Stadium.

Djokovic converted on his first match point when Robredo netted one final forehand. The Serb, who let the Spaniard hang around by committing 58 unforced errors, wound up with 11 aces and broke Robredo's serve six times.

The 6-foot-3 Djokovic was last year's U.S. Open runner-up to Federer and captured the Australian Open title back in January.

Spinboz Tennis Betting News

<< Nady, A-Rod help Yankees down Rays
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Mussina pitched into the seventh inning, and Xavier Nady and Alex Rodriguez both homered as New York bested Tampa Bay, 7-2, in the opener of a three-game set from Tropicana Field. Rodriguez

<< Indians topple White Sox; AL Central tie remains
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Asdrubal Cabrera recorded three hits, two RBI and a run scored while Victor Martinez hit a two-run homer, as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Chicago White Sox, 9-3, at Progressive Field. Franklin Gutierr

<< Hunter, Halos edge Tigers
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Torii Hunter went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and finished with three runs driven in, to lead the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in a 5-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers in the opener of a three- game se

<< Pedroia, Ortiz lead BoSox to huge win over O's
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dustin Pedroia homered and drove in five runs while David Ortiz finished 3-for-3 and drove in four more as Boston routed Baltimore, 14-2, in the middle test of a three-game set at Fenway Park. Jon Lester

<< Blue Jays come back to upend Twins
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lyle Overbay's two-run homer in the sixth inning put Toronto ahead for good and the Blue Jays went on to a 7-5 win over the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a three-game series. Jose Bautista hit a two-r

Gotay's double leads Braves over Marlins >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ruben Gotay doubled home the game-winning run in the ninth to give the Braves a 16-14 victory over the Florida Marlins in the second of three games at Dolphin Stadium. Kelly Johnson and Omar Infante bot

Butler boosts Royals over A's >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Billy Butler hit a three-run homer and finished with four RBI to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 5-2 win over the Oakland Athletics in the opener of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium. Zack G

This Week in Auto Racing September 5 - 7 >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The "Chase cut-off race" at Richmond International Raceway headlines a busy weekend of racing. Meanwhile, the IndyCar Series title will be decided in the season finale at Chicagoland. NASCAR

Season over for Cards' Mather >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Joe Mather will be out the remainder of the season due to a broken bone in his left wrist. Mather suffered the injury while trying to check his swing in the third inning of an 8

Chavez helps Mets to victory over Brewers in extras >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Endy Chavez won the Mets a critical September game with his bat and his arm, hitting the game-winning sacrifice fly in the 10th inning and throwing out Rickie Weeks trying to stretch a single

Police report: Terrell Owens hospitalized after attempt

Terrell Owens will address the media at a 3:15 p.m. ET news conference outside the Cowboys' practice facility after an internal police report indicated he tried to kill himself by overdosing on prescription pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened.

The Dallas police report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"

Owens left the hospital late Wednesday morning, giving reporters a "thumbs up" but making no comment as he was driven away in an SUV.

Michael Irvin said that Owens denied he attempted suicide and said he was rushed to the hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. And a source close to Owens told Michael A. Smith that Owens wasn't attempting suicide.

NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he spoke with Owens shortly before his release from the hospital and that Owens was in good spirits.

"The fact that it has been reported a suicide attempt, he's laughed at that notion. It was a case that medication that was taken wasn't accepted well in his system with the other vitamins he's on," Sanders said.

The series of events began a little before 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge, said she was at Owens' home when he took pain medicine for his broken right hand. Concerned by how he began acting, Etheredge said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that she called 911. Owens was taken to a hospital, with Etheredge saying it was an allergic reaction to the medicine.

But early Wednesday, several media outlets received a police report -- that had yet to be released by the authorities -- saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend intervened.

The police document, first reported by WFAA-TV, said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"

When officially released by police, about half the document was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose," as well as the details of Owens having two pills pried from his mouth and Owens saying "Yes" when asked if he intended to harm himself.

Etheredge, who said she was the friend cited in the police document, told Dallas-area media Wednesday that the police got the story wrong.

The tape of the 911 call could help clear things up. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get its contents, but fire department officials said it would not be available before late Wednesday.

The police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV.

The friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.

Using her fingers, the friend attempted to pry them out of Owens' mouth. Owens told police he had taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied before the incident.

Etheredge told the Star-Telegram that Owens was "fine."

Etheredge said she called 911 because Owens was groggy and lethargic. After taking some supplements "it kicked in a reaction" with the painkillers, she told the Star-Telegram.

"Here's a person whose body is so clean, it really had a negative reaction to the medication and supplements he was taking," Etheridge told The Morning News. "Thank goodness someone was there to call an ambulance."

Police Lt. Rick Watson said he could only confirm that paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.

It is not a crime in Texas for a person to attempt suicide.

"This is a high-profile person. We looked into it and we determined it is not a criminal offense," Watson said. "This a medical type of situation that occurred."

Watson and fire department spokesman Joel Lavender cited privacy laws for the lack of information they could provide. Lavender said more details could come from the 911 call. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get the contents of the call.

"Let's just look at the tape, review the tape," Lavender said. "I'll give you an honest answer once I know something."

At the police news conference, Watson released a version of the police narrative with certain sections blacked out. The full report was obtained by several news outlets and reported first by WFAA. The AP received the full version from WFAA.

According to the police report, Dallas Fire and Rescue was called regarding someone "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication." Officers arrived to find Owens being stabilized by ambulance workers, who then took him to Baylor University Medical Center.

Owens was hospitalized late Tuesday because of what his publicist said was an allergic reaction to pain medicine he was taking for a broken hand. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.

Owens, one of the league's top receivers during his 11-year NFL career, is best known for wild stunts on the field and other publicity-seeking antics off it.

When the Cowboys signed him to a $25 million, three-year deal in March, they said their background checks indicated no red flags. In fact, team consultant Calvin Hill -- who mostly deals with troubled players -- said during training camp that his department was not involved with Owens because he didn't have a history of those kinds of problems.

He missed most of training camp, and three of four preseason games, because of a hamstring injury. He was late for work during his recovery and was fined for it, but Owens laughed it off, saying he overslept. He said it had happened before, though not with Dallas, and would probably happen again.

Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger during a game a week ago Sunday. The next day, doctors screwed in a plate so the bone could heal without fear of further damage. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.

Owens had not practiced since the injury, but because Dallas had a bye this past weekend he did not miss a game. He was expected to practice Wednesday, and Parcells had said there was a chance Owens could play Sunday against Tennessee.

Owens had been especially looking forward to the Cowboys' game after that -- Oct. 8, in Philadelphia, against the team that dumped him midway through last season only months after he helped them nearly win the Super Bowl.

Owens was seen laughing and joking on the practice field Tuesday morning. He chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room in the afternoon and seemed fine. A 2-inch scar on the top of his hand was puffy but not wrapped, and he said the swelling was doing down.

While in the locker room, he took a pill from a white paper bag and looked at another medicine bottle that was in the bag. He also called a business partner about a towel-wrap venture they're starting and joked to TV cameras that he wasn't talking until Wednesday and it was only Tuesday.

"My little boy knows better than that," he said, laughing, as he plopped onto a sofa in the middle of the locker room.

Also Tuesday, Owens was involved in launching a national campaign for the National Alliance to End Abuse, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youngsters. He appeared at a high school Tuesday morning and was scheduled to visit others but had to cancel because of changes in the team's practice schedule.

Owens has played two games for the Cowboys, catching nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. For updated football betting lines and Dallas Cowboy Superbowl odds visit online sportsbook MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your VISA Sportsbook needs.