IN BRIEF

TENNIS

Amid betting probe, Davydenko advances

Nikolay Davydenko, whose loss at an ATP event last Thursday in Poland is under investigation because of suspicious betting patterns, beat Jarkko Nieminen 6-3, 7-6 (5) Wednesday in the Rogers Cup in Montreal.

Davydenko, a 26-year-old Russian, was playing his first match since an injury forced him to retire against Martin Vassallo Arguello.

British bookmaker Betfair said it received about $7 million in bets on the match -- 10 times the usual amount -- and most of the money was on Arguello to win, even after Davydenko won the first set, 6-2.

Also advancing in Montreal were top-seeded Roger Federer, No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal and No. 5 seed Andy Roddick.

James Blake withdrew before his second-round match against Lleyton Hewitt, citing abdominal problems.

Also: Jelena Jankovic defeated Peng Shuai of China 6-1, 6-1 in a first-round match at the East West Bank Classic in Carson, Calif., despite a nagging cold she caught during last week's tournament near San Diego.

In other matches, top-seeded Maria Sharapova was leading 7-5 (5), 3-1 when Eleni Daniilidou retired, No. 3 Ana Ivanovic beat qualifier Ashley Harkleroad 6-4, 6-2, and defending champion Elena Dementieva ousted 17-year-old American wild card Madison Brengle, 6-2, 6-0.

BASKETBALL

Celtics have interest in retired All-Star Miller

The Boston Celtics have spoken with future Hall of Famer Reggie Miller about coming out of retirement and joining the team.

Miller said in a statement he has had limited discussions with the team but is happy with his job as an analyst at TNT.

Miller, who will turn 42 this month, played 18 seasons, all with the Indiana Pacers, before retiring in 2005. He is 13th on the league's career scoring list with 25,279 points and the leader in 3-pointers made and attempted.

The Celtics have traded for All-Stars Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen during the offseason.

Also: As expected, Wake Forest named Dino Gaudio its basketball coach. He succeeds Skip Prosser, who died of an apparent heart attack July 26.

Gaudio, 50, Wake Forest's associate head coach since 2002, received a five-year contract, but terms weren't disclosed.

MISCELLANEOUS

After Market favored in Arlington Million

After Market, the winner of three consecutive races, was chosen as the early 2-1 favorite and drew the No. 4 post position for Saturday's 25th running of the Arlington Million in Arlington Heights, Ill.

The field of eight includes defending champion The Tin Man, a 9-year-old gelding who will attempt to become the first back-to-back winner in race history.

Also: Gato Del Sol, the winner of the 1982 Kentucky Derby as a 21-1 shot and the second-oldest living Derby winner, died Tuesday at age 28 in Paris, Ky.

Former IBF junior middleweight champion Raul Marquez (40-3, 29 knockouts) won his fifth consecutive fight, stopping Jay Pina (16-3-1) in the second round in Hollywood, Fla.

The UNLV women's golf team has signed Tonya Choate, a transfer from Drury University (Springfield, Mo.). Choate, the co-player of the year in Division II in 2006, will have one year of eligibility remaining.

Jeremy Mayfield will not return to Bill Davis Racing next season. Mayfield joined BDR this year as the team expanded to two cars, but he has qualified for only eight of 21 NASCAR Nextel Cup events this season.