Tennis

Safin reaches third round at Paris Masters

PARIS -- Three-time champion Marat Safin rallied from a set down to beat Robin Soderling of Sweden 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 Tuesday to reach the third round of the Paris Masters.

The Russian has not lost in the tournament since 2001 -- winning titles in 2002 and 2004. He also won in 2000.

Fourth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko of Russia routed Christophe Rochus of Belgium 6-0, 6-0 in 36 minutes. Davydenko is the only player at the Paris Masters to have qualified for next month's Masters Cup.

Top-ranked Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Ivan Ljubicic and Andy Roddick -- the top four players in the ATP race -- all withdrew from the event.

Also winning second-round matches were Robby Ginepri and Dmitry Tursunov.

Schiavone, Ivanovic advance: At Hasselt, Belgium, second-seeded Francesca Schiavone eliminated Meghann Shaughnessy on Tuesday, winning 6-2, 6-1 in less than 50 minutes at the Gaz de France Stars.

Schiavone was the runner-up in last year's tournament to Kim Clijsters.

Third-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia beat lucky loser Andrea Petkovic 6-3, 7-5 and will face another qualifier Angelique Kerber in the second round.

Bartoli, Spears win: At Quebec City, Ashley Harkleroad of the United States upset third-seeded Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden 7-6 (5), 6-3 Tuesday in the first round of the Bell Challenge.

Arvidsson hasn't won a match since the U.S. Open. It was Harkleroad's first win in three months over a player ranked as high as the 43rd-ranked Arvidsson.

Seventh-seeded Jamea Jackson of the United States quit while trailing Anastassia Rodionova of Russia 6-2, 2-1. It was Jackson's first match since retiring with a strained right thigh muscle at Bangkok two weeks ago.

Prep Wrestling

Provo wrestling meeting set

There will be a meeting Thursday for all Provo High students interested in wrestling. The meeting will be during lunch in the wrestling room.

Wrestling practice will be at 2:30 p.m. starting Monday, Nov. 6. Questions can be directed to new head coach Chris Miller at chrism@provo.edu or calling the school at 373-6550.

NBA

Bulls, Hinrich agree to 5-year extension

MIAMI -- Hours before the regular season began, the Chicago Bulls already had something to celebrate.

Guard Kirk Hinrich and the Bulls agreed Tuesday on a five-year extension, the maximum length allowed under league rules. The deal, which kicks in at the start of next season, is believed to be worth about $47.5 million.

If Hinrich had not accepted the deal by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, he would have become a restricted free agent next summer and the Bulls would have had the opportunity to match any offer. Now, that angst-ridden process can safely be canceled.

"It's a dream come true, completely," Hinrich said. "To be with this organization, an organization that I grew up cheering for and was a big fan of and to be able to provide my family with security, it's just a great day. ... My parents used to scrap pennies to provide for me, and now I'm making almost $50 million playing basketball."

Ford agrees with Raptors on contract extension: At Toronto, point guard T.J. Ford and the Toronto Raptors agreed Tuesday on a contract extension.

Ford signed a three-year deal with an option for a fourth year. The extension could pay the guard as much as $33 million.

Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo had until midnight Tuesday to make the deal, otherwise the 23-year-old would become a restricted free agent at the end of this season.

"Just knowing that I'll be here some more years, and with a great group of guys we have we just look forward to building a championship team," Ford said after Tuesday's practice.

The Raptors also announced they have exercised the fourth-year option for forward Kris Humphries. Humphries is now guaranteed through the 2007-08 season.

Baseball

Zito, Maddux, Weaver file for free agency

NEW YORK -- Oakland's Barry Zito, who could be the most sought-after pitcher in this year's free-agent market, filed for free agency Tuesday.

Zito, a 28-year-old left-hander with a coveted, looping curveball, was 16-10 with a 3.83 ERA in 34 starts this season. He never missed a start because of injury in his first seven major league seasons with the Athletics, who acknowledged before the 2006 season they probably wouldn't be able to afford the 2002 AL Cy Young award winner once he became a free agent.

Greg Maddux, the four-time Cy Young Award winner traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers by the Chicago Cubs in July, also filed. Injured Dodgers closer Eric Gagne filed provisionally -- the team has a $12 million option with a $1 million buyout. Even if it is exercised, Gagne can void the option and receive a $250,000 buyout.

Also filing was Jeff Weaver, who won the fifth and final game of the World Series for the St. Louis Cardinals last Friday and Detroit first baseman Sean Casey, who hit .529 with two homers in the World Series.

New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams, who isn't sure whether he wants to play next year, was among 21 players who filed.

A total of 143 players have filed for free agency, and about 50 more are potentially eligible to file by the Nov. 11 deadline.

As expected, Jeff Bagwell's $18 million option was declined by the Houston Astros, who will give the injured 38-year-old first baseman a $7 million buyout to complete an $85 million, five-year contract. Bagwell missed last season because of an arthritic right shoulder, and the Astros tried to recoup about $15.6 million in insurance. Houston general manager Tim Purpura hinted that Bagwell could remain with the team in another capacity, saying Bagwell would discuss with his wife what level of involvement he wants with the Astros.

"As I've told Jeff, he can have an impact in so many different ways," Purpura said. "I'd love to see him work with young players."

Zito, who won a career-high 23 games in '02, is likely to attract interest from the New York Yankees and Mets, the San Diego Padres and perhaps the Dodgers.

Pujols becomes sixth player to get perfect score in rankings: Four days after earning a World Series ring, Albert Pujols became only the sixth player to get a perfect 100 score in the annual player rankings.

The St. Louis Cardinals first baseman finished first at his position in plate appearances, batting average, on-base percentage, home runs and RBI over the 2005 and 2006 seasons, according to rankings released Tuesday by the Elias Sports Bureau.

Since the rankings were created in the settlement of the 1981 strike, the only previous players to get perfect scores were New York Yankees first baseman Don Mattingly (1987), Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. (1991), Chicago White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas (1995), Houston first baseman Jeff Bagwell (1995) and Boston designated hitter Manny Ramirez (2002).

Pujols was the top NL first baseman for the third straight year after finishing among the top three outfielders in 2003. Catcher Michael Barrett and reliever Billy Wagner also repeated.

Chase Utley replaced Mark Loretta at second, and Miguel Cabrera took over from Aramis Ramirez at third. Cabrera was among the top three outfielders in 2003.

Rafael Furcal replaced Jimmy Rollins at shortstop, Chris Carpenter was the starting pitcher in place of Roy Oswalt and Jason Bay, Matt Holliday and Moises Alou were the top three outfielders, replacing Cabrera, Lance Berkman and Bobby Abreu.

In the AL, starting pitcher Johan Santana, reliever Mariano Rivera, catcher Victor Martinez and designated hitter Travis Hafner repeated. Alex Rodriguez was the top third baseman for the second straight year after leading shortstops for six straight seasons.

Paul Konerko replaced Mark Teixeira at first base, Brian Roberts took over from Placido Polanco at second, and Michael Young followed Derek Jeter at shortstop.

Ramirez was among the top three outfielders for the 10th time in 11 years, and Vladimir Guerrero repeated. Abreu, acquired by the Yankees in July, replaced teammate Hideki Matsui.

Rankings are used to decide whether players are Type A or B free agents, and what draft picks their former teams get as compensation if they sign elsewhere. The top 30 percent in each group get an A ranking, and the next 20 percent a B ranking.

Silva's option exercised by Twins: At Minneapolis, pitcher Carlos Silva's $4,325,000 option was exercised Tuesday by the Minnesota Twins, who are hopeful his 2006 season was an aberration.

The 27-year-old right-hander was 11-15 with a 5.94 ERA, 32 walks and 70 strikeouts in 180 1-3 innings and 36 games this year. He was fourth on the club in wins and second in starts and innings.

Steinbrenner falls ill while watching play in North Carolina: At Chapel Hill, N.C., New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was hospitalized for the second time in three years after becoming ill while watching his granddaughter perform in a play.

Steinbrenner was taken by paramedics to UNC Hospitals on Sunday, The Daily Tar Heel reported Tuesday. Steinbrenner was released Monday morning and returned to Tampa, Fla., spokesman Howard Rubenstein said.

"He was pale, and his eyes were closed -- it looked like he had fainted," sophomore Emily Riehl, who was two rows behind Steinbrenner, told The Daily Tar Heel.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page C2.