Jul 21, 2010 By The Associated Press 3 min read

Sports shorts Hockey

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) – Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils have turned a 32-game test drive into the longest contract in NHL history.

The Russian left wing smiled throughout Tuesday’s news conference, one day after agreeing to a 17-year, $102 million deal. Kovalchuk was wooed by the Los Angeles Kings, among others. But he stuck with New Jersey, which pried him away from the Atlanta Thrashers in February.

He will be 44 when the contract expires in 2027.

Administration Garrett out, Haden in as USC athletic director

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Pat Haden will replace embattled Southern California athletic director Mike Garrett next month.

Garrett has received severe criticism for his handling of the scandals surrounding USC’s powerful football team and other programs over the past several years. The NCAA hit USC with severe sanctions last month, including a two-year bowl ban and scholarship restrictions.

Cycling LeMond looks forward to doping investigation

DENVER (AP) – Three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond says he believes evidence against Lance Armstrong in a federal probe will be “overwhelming.”

In an interview with The Denver Post, LeMond says he was happy when he received the subpoena to make a July 30 appearance in federal court in Los Angeles to testify in an investigation of possible fraud and doping charges against Armstrong and his associates.

LeMond tells the newspaper that he believes Floyd Landis was telling the truth in descriptions he gave of what he claimed was Armstrong’s systemic doping program.

Armstrong has denied allegations of doping.

Tennis Jankovic into 2nd round at Slovenia Open

PORTOROZ, Slovenia (AP) – Top-seeded Jelena Jankovic beat Bojana Jovanovski 6-3, 6-3 Tuesday in an all-Serbian match in the first round at the Slovenia Open.

Jankovic will face Belarus qualifier Anastasiya Yakimova, who rallied to defeat Masa Zec Peskaric of Slovenia 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Stefanie Voegele upset second-seeded Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 7-5, 6-2. The Swiss next plays Tamira Paszek of Austria, who won the tournament on her only previous appearance here in 2006 but is a wild card this year.

Eighth-seeded Sofia Arvidsson was also beaten in an upset, losing 7-6 (1), 6-2 to Johanna Larsson in an all-Swedish match. While Ksenia Pervak of Russia knocked out fifth-seeded Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-1, 6-3.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia, Sara Errani of Italy and Polona Hercog of Slovenia all advanced to the second round.

Serena Williams hoping to play at US Open

Serena Williams’ agent says the 13-time Grand Slam singles champion is hoping to recover from a foot injury in time to play at the U.S. Open.

Agent Jill Smoller says in a telephone interview Tuesday that Williams is “taking it a day at a time.” Smoller also calls the No. 1-ranked American “a fast healer.”

Williams had surgery last week in Los Angeles to repair deep cuts on her right foot and has pulled out of three hard-court tournaments leading up to the U.S. Open. She tweeted Tuesday about spending a “5th day in bed.”

Williams was hurt while she was in Munich this month – shortly after winning her fourth Wimbledon singles title July 3, and before playing in an exhibition match against Kim Clijsters on July 8.