Nadal’s streak on clay hits 72

Rafael Nadal won his third straight Open Seat Godo championship Sunday, defeating Guillermo Canas, 6-3, 6-4, at Barcelona, Spain, for his 72nd consecutive victory on clay.

Nadal hasn’t dropped a set on clay since top-ranked Roger Federer won the first set of their French Open final last year. He credited a more aggressive style for his recent success.

“I’ve had some difficult moments like when I went eight months without winning a tournament,” the top-seeded Spaniard said. “Since Dubai [in March] I made a change in my game and the victory at Indian Wells was really important for my confidence.”

Four players -- Nadal, Mats Wilander, Roy Emerson and Manuel Orantes -- have won three times at Barcelona. Nadal tied Wilander’s 23-year-old record of three straight titles.

Paul-Henri Mathieu beat Albert Montanes, 6-1, 6-1, to win the Grand Prix Hassan II at Casablanca, Morocco, and end a five-year wait for his third career title. Mathieu’s previous titles came in 2002.

Gisela Dulko won her first WTA Tour title, defeating Sorana Cirstea, 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-2, in the final of the Gaz de France Budapest Grand Prix in Hungary.

Sam Querrey won his first ATP-level match on clay by beating Luis Horna, 7-6 (5), 6-4, in the first round of the Estoril Open at Oeiras, Portugal.

MISCELLANY

U.S. advances easily in world hockey event

Lee Stempniak scored twice to lead the U.S. to a 5-1 victory over Belarus at Mytischi, Russia, that put it in the second round of the hockey world championships along with the Czech Republic, Finland and Russia.

The Czechs got two goals and an assist from Jaroslav Hlinka in a 6-1 victory over Austria, defenseman Petteri Nummelin netted two power-play goals in Finland’s 6-2 win over Denmark, and Alexei Morozov’s hat trick and two assists led Russia past Ukraine, 8-1.

Danny Fiszman, Arsenal’s biggest shareholder with 24.11%, vowed in London to fight off any takeover bid by Stan Kroenke.

Kroenke owns 12.19% of Arsenal’s shares, and the Premier League soccer team could become the fourth to be owned by Americans. A full takeover attempt would require Kroenke to obtain at least 30% of the team.

Steve Bellamy, the founder and former president of the Tennis Channel, will announce today the creation of the Ski Channel, a multimedia video-on-demand service he plans to launch sometime early next year.

Bellamy said his company, Atonal Sports and Entertainment, has reached a long-term affiliation agreement with Time Warner Cable and advertising agreements with a number of sponsors, including Panasonic, Mirage Resorts, Marquis Jets and Fender Guitars.

Content will include news, events, magazine and reality shows and travel information pertaining to “everything a person can do on a mountain in the winter and summer,” Bellamy said.

-- Larry Stewart

Patrick Larimore, who will be a senior linebacker at Newhall Hart High this fall, has committed to UCLA.

Backup quarterback Brett Dietz threw two touchdown passes and also ran for a score to help the host Tampa Bay Storm (2-6) beat the Columbus Destroyers (4-4), 34-32, in the Arena Football League.... Shane Stafford threw six touchdown passes to help the visiting Orlando Predators (5-3) beat the Las Vegas Gladiators (1-8), 69-34.