Rezai upsets Sharapova in semifinals of Istanbul Cup

Top-seeded Maria Sharapova was upset by Aravane Rezai, 6-2, 6-4, on Friday in the semifinals of the Istanbul Cup in Turkey.

Rezai, who is ranked 62nd, will play second-seeded Elena Dementieva in today’s final of the clay-court tuneup for the French Open. Dementieva defeated fifth-seeded Alona Bondarenko, 7-6 (5), 6-2.

Second-ranked Sharapova, who served seven double faults, is looking ahead to the French Open.

“I am glad that I came here and I played a few matches before Roland Garros, though it is unfortunate to lose in the semifinals,” Sharapova said. “I have been working very hard in the last weeks.”

Rezai, who defeated Venus Williams in the second round, is seeking her first WTA title.

“It is the best result of my career ... this is the fruit of my work,” Rezai said.

The French Open starts Sunday.

Amelie Mauresmo will play Anabel Medina Garrigues today in the final of the Strasbourg International in France. Top-seeded Mauresmo advanced by defeating Marion Bartoli, 6-3, 6-7 (1), 6-3.

Garrigues advanced when second-seeded Jelena Jankovic withdrew before their semifinal because of a stomach illness.

Gael Monfils upset fourth-seeded Lleyton Hewitt, 6-4, 7-5, to reach the final of the Hypo Group International at Poertschach, Austria. He will play Juan Monaco, who defeated Luis Horna, 6-4, 6-4.

Hewitt rallied from 4-2 down to lead 5-4 in the second set, but missed a set point when Monfils served an ace. The 75th-ranked Monfils broke Hewitt again on 5-5 and converted his third match point with an ace.

SOCCER

Beckham set for recall

to national squad

David Beckham may return to England’s national team to boost its chances of qualifying for the 2008 European Championship.

The former England captain could be selected today by Coach Steve McClaren to play Brazil in an exhibition at Wembley Stadium next Friday and in a qualifier at Estonia five days later.

The 32-year-old midfielder, set to join the Galaxy this summer, last played for England in its quarterfinal loss to Portugal at the World Cup last July 1.

The U.S. men’s team will play exhibition games in Europe against Catalonia and Switzerland in October.

It will play Catalonia, a Spanish regional team, on Oct. 14 at Barcelona, Spain, then play at Switzerland three days later.

Because Catalonia is not a FIFA member, that game will not be considered a full international.

Michael Owen returned to international play for the first time since injuring a knee during last year’s World Cup, playing a full 90 minutes for England’s “B” team in a 3-1 exhibition victory over Albania at Burnley, England.

MOTOR RACING

Skinner wins fifth

consecutive pole

Mike Skinner won his fifth consecutive NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pole, taking the top spot for today’s Ohio 250 at Mansfield, Ohio.

Skinner, who turned the half-mile oval at an average speed of 109.877 mph in his Toyota, is three poles short of the series record that he set in 1995, the year he won the series’ inaugural championship.

Rick Crawford qualified second in a Ford at 109.336 mph. Defending champion Todd Bodine took the third spot in his Toyota, turning a fast lap of 108.840.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

NCAA approves new

three-point line

The NCAA approved moving the men’s three-point line back one foot in 2008 -- from 19 feet 9 inches to 20 feet 9 inches.

The decision by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel marks the first major alteration to the three-point shot since its adoption in 1986-87.

The men’s basketball rules committee recommended the measure May 3.

JURISPRUDENCE

Prosecutor: Dog fighting

case is ‘moving forward’

The prosecutor in the investigation of a possible dog fighting operation at a house owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is confident charges will be brought. He can’t yet say who will be charged.

“We are moving forward,” attorney Gerald Poindexter said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press.

He declined to set a timetable for when evidence in the case would be ready to present to a grand jury.

Police raided the home as part of a drug investigation on April 25. They seized 66 dogs and equipment that could be associated with dog fighting.

A false imprisonment charge against Denver Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall stemming from a domestic dispute was dismissed. The charge was dropped after he completed anger-management classes

Marshall was arrested in March after a woman who identified herself as his girlfriend said he used his vehicle to block her taxi as she tried to leave his home south of Denver.

PREP FOOTBALL

Shrine All-Star

game is canceled

The Shrine All-Star Football Classic, which has been played for 55 years and brought together top high school football players each summer, has been canceled, according to a spokesperson at the Al Malaikah Shrine Temple. There’s no indication when or if it will resume next year.