Off the wire

LITTLE ROCK — TENNIS

Azarenka beats Williams

Defending champion Victoria Azarenka beat Serena Williams 7-6 (6), 2-6, 6-3 to win the Qatar Open on Sunday, earning her 16th title and ending a 10-match losing streak against the American. Azarenka will give up the No. 1 ranking to the second-ranked Williams today but extended her current winning streak to 14 matches, which included her second Australian Open title. More importantly, she may have turned around what has been a one-sided rivalry against Williams. Azarenka had not beaten Williams since 2009 in Miami, and had a 1-11 record against the American going into Sunday’s final. “It feels incredible,” Azarenka said. “You know, this tournament is really great. ... It had such a strong field going into it, and I’m really glad that in the end of the week I’m the one who’s holding the trophy.” Azarenka broke to go up 2-1 when an erratic Williams hit one of her four double-faults in the first set, but the American ensured it was back on serve after eight games. Williams struggled with her first serve throughout the first set and hit 26unforced errors, but still had a set point at 6-5 in the tiebreaker. However, she hit a poor forehand into the net, and Azarenka then converted her first set point with a great return. Williams dominated the second set with her powerful serve and forehand, while Azarenka could only hit 39 percent of her first serves. Azarenka fell behind 0-30 in the first game of the decider but recovered and took a 3-0 lead. Williams then saved a match point at 5-2 to stay the match, but Azarenka clinched the win on her next service game when Williams hit a forehand wide.

Rafael Nadal beat David Nalbandian 6-2, 6-3 in the Brazil Open final in Sao Paulo, Brazil, winning his first title since returning from a seven-month layoff to treat his left knee. Nadal thrust his arms into the air and pumped his fist after a long ball by Nalbandian made him the champion of the indoor clay-court tournament for the second time. The Spaniard also won the event in 2005. It was Nadal’s first title since winning the French Open for the seventh time last June.

Milos Raonic won his third consecutive SAP Open, beating Tommy Haas 6-4, 6-3 for the title in the final year of the San Jose, Calif., tournament. Raonic has never lost in 12 matches in this event and became the first player in the Open era that began in 1968 to win this tournament three consecutive times and first overall since Tony Trabert did it from 1953-1955. Raonic won the final tournament here in similar fashion to his first two, using an overpowering serve to control the match. He fired a 144 mph ace on his first serve of the match and was never threatened on serve. He had 19 aces and finished the week facing just a single break point.

BASEBALL Garza has mild strain

Chicago Cubs right-hander Matt Garza suffered a mild back strain on his left side while throwing batting practice to teammates Sunday and is expected to miss at least a few days of practice. Whether it will delay his start to the regular season, team officials said they would know more about his prognosis after he is examined again Monday. “It looks like a mild lat strain,” Manager Dale Sveum said. “We’ll see what happens when he wakes up and see where we are a little bit more [today]. But it’s subsided, and he seems to be doing a lot better now.” Garza got halfway through his throwing schedule when he felt a twinge and left the field with the trainer.

Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said the team is making progress with Chicago city officials on Wrigley Field renovation plans. However, the efforts to get more night games at Wrigley this season are on hold for now. “I don’t think that’s on the table at the moment,” Ricketts said of an effort for additional night games in 2013. The issue was derailed by ongoing conflict with neighborhood leaders, causing Mayor Rahm Emanuel to delay support for the request until the sides reach an agreement on multiple issues. “All the discussions on night games is toward the future.”

FOOTBALL Former Cornhusker, Colt dies

Ken Clark, one of the top all time rushers at Nebraska who went on to play for the Indianapolis Colts, has died. He was 46. His cousin, Stephanie Clark of Omaha, confirmed Clark’s death. She said he died of a heart attack in Minneapolis on Saturday. Clark was a two time All-Big Eight running back for the Cornhuskers, rushing for more than 1,000 yards both his junior and senior seasons. His career highlight came in 1988, when he ran for 256 yards and three touchdowns in a victory over an Oklahoma State team that included Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders. His three year rushing total of 3,037 yards ranks seventh on Nebraska’s career chart. Clark appeared in 34 games with the Colts from 1990-92.

GOLF Woods to face Howell

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods will face some familiar players in the opening round of the Match Play Championship. McIlroy, the 23-year-old from Northern Ireland, is the No. 1 seed at Dove Mountain north of Tucson, Ariz. He will play Shane Lowry of Ireland, who got in when Phil Mickelson chose not to play. Woods is the No. 2 and will play Charles Howell III, the first time they have squared off in this format since Woods beat Howell in the quarterfinals of the 1996 U.S. Amateur. Luke Donald, who won the Match Play in 2011, is the No. 3 seed and opens against Marcel Siem of Germany. Former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa is the No. 4 seed and will play Richie Ramsay of Scotland. The tournament begins Wednesday.

HOCKEY

Wisconsin, Notre Dame win

Joel Rumpel kicked away a shot as time expired for his 36th save and Wisconsin beat second ranked Minnesota 3-2 on Sunday in the Hockey City Classic at Soldier Field in Chicago. Sean Little scored what proved to be the game-winner at 16:22 of the second period for the Badgers (13-10-7), who spoiled the Gophers’ first outdoor game. Wisconsin is 3-0-0 in games played outdoors. Kevin Schulz and John Ramage also scored in the second period for the Badgers. Seth Ambroz and Zach Budish scored in the third period for the Gophers (20-6-4). Adam Wilcox made 16 saves. Notre Dame beat Miami, Ohio, 2-1 in the first game of the doubleheader. Mario Lucia and Jeff Costello scored for the Fighting Irish. Miami’s Kevin Morris scored in the third for the RedHawks.

The Montreal Canadiens are hopeful Brendan Gallagher won’t miss much time a day after suffering a concussion in a victory against Philadelphia. The rookie forward left Saturday night’s game early in the third period after taking a hit from Flyers defenseman Luke Schenn. Canadiens Coach Michel Therrien said Gallagher was already “feeling a lot better,” though he stressed that the club will follow league protocol and make sure he’s fully recovered. Under the NHL’s new rules this year, a player who suffers a concussion no longer has to remain inactive for seven days, but must pass a series of tests. Gallagher had a goal and an assist against the Flyers before the injury, as the Canadiens went on to a 4-1 win. Forward Max Pacioretty, who also left Saturday’s game after getting cut by a skate as he drove to the net, was back at practice Sunday.

HORSE RACING Shakin It Up wins

Shakin It Up won the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes in his 3-year-old debut, giving Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his eighth victory in the sprint at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden by David Flores, Shakin It Up ran 7 furlongs in 1:22.48, rallying in the stretch to separate himself from five rivals. The brown colt paid $6.40, $3.80 and $2.80. He is co-owned by Mike Pegram, a friend and longtime client of Baffert. Treasury Bill returned $5 and $3.80, while Caballo Del Cielo paid $3.60 to show. War Academy, also trained by Baffert, finished fourth in the six-horse field in his first start of the year.