IN BRIEF

TENNIS

Federer tops Verdasco in ATP Finals opener

Roger Federer overcame an erratic forehand and Fernando Verdasco on Sunday, rallying to beat the Spanish opponent 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 in the round-robin stage of the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

The top-ranked Federer was broken only once -- in the opening game of the Group A match -- but he never looked dominating until late in the second set, when he converted his first break point to even the score at one set apiece.

In the third set, Federer was back to his old self. He controlled play as usual and gave Verdasco little chance to stay in the match.

Also in Group A, Andy Murray overcame a second-set slump to beat Juan Martin del Potro, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

In Group B, Rafael Nadal will play Robin Soderling today, followed by Novak Djokovic against Nikolay Davydenko.

COLLEGES

UCLA basketball starter has suspension extended

The UCLA basketball team will extend Nikola Dragovic's suspension for at least another game following his arrest and subsequent charge of felony assault.

Coach Ben Howland said Dragovic, a starter who sat out Friday's win over Cal State Bakersfield, won't play today against Pepperdine, although he will be allowed to sit on the bench in street clothes.

The 21-year-old senior from Belgrade, Serbia, was arrested Friday and charged by the Los Angeles district attorney's office for his involvement in an undisclosed incident last month at a concert in Hollywood.

Also: The UNLV men's swimming team, ranked 24th, took third in the Cougar Classic Fall Invitational in Houston.

The Rebels had four wins on the final day of the three-day meet, from Andrew Morrell (200-yard breaststroke), Steven Nelms (100 freestyle), Daniel Egly (200 butterfly) and the 400 free relay team.

Louisiana State topped the four-team field with 1,448 points, with Southern Methodist (687) edging UNLV (678) for second.

MISCELLANEOUS

Star jockey Gomez recovering from spill

Jockey Garrett Gomez has taken time off from his scheduled mounts at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif., after escaping serious injury in a spill.

Gomez was resting a day after being released from a hospital after his horse in Saturday's ninth race broke down in the stretch, sending him to the ground. His mount, a 2-year-old filly named Bonnie Brown Eyes, was seriously injured and died

Gomez's agent, Ron Anderson, said Gomez will return later this week. Gomez is second among the nation's jockeys in earnings this year, with more than $17 million in purses.

Also: The Wranglers lost to the Utah Grizzlies 3-2 in overtime in an ECHL contest in West Valley City, Utah.

Ned Lukacevic and Mike Madill scored for Las Vegas (6-11), with Madill's goal tying it at 2 in the second period.

Neither team scored in the third period, and Utah (11-4) won it on Brett Parnham's goal less than a minute into overtime.

The Detroit Red Wings lost defenseman Niklas Kronwall for at least a month with a sprained ligament in his left knee. The team announced Kronwall will be out four to eight weeks. Detroit has been without forwards Johan Franzen, Valtteri Filppula and Jason Williams because of injuries.

Anthony Calvillo tied a CFL playoff record with five touchdown passes, and the host Montreal Alouettes routed the British Columbia Lions 56-18 to advance to the Grey Cup for the seventh time in 10 years.

On Sunday, Montreal will face Saskatchewan, a 27-17 winner over Calgary.