Briefs | Winless NHL team dumps coach

NHL

Thrashers fire coach after 0-6 start: A six-game losing streak to start this season put Bob Hartley's job in danger. A quick ouster in last season's playoffs did not help his cause.

Hartley was fired Wednesday as coach of the Atlanta Thrashers, the only NHL team without a victory. General manager Don Waddell will coach the team until a replacement is found.

Waddell said the Thrashers were playing as if they have not recovered from losing four straight games to the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs last season.

Michael Gearon Jr., who represented the ownership group at the announcement, said there was great concern the team was losing all momentum gained from winning the Southeast Division last season and making its first playoff appearance. The Thrashers have been outscored 27-9, including a 4-0 loss at Philadelphia on Tuesday night.

Hartley, who won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2001, was 136-123-32 with Atlanta.

Stars activate goalie Smith: The Dallas Stars activated backup goaltender Mike Smith from injured reserve and assigned goalie Tobias Stephan to Iowa of the American Hockey League.

Tennis

Nadal beats Baghdatis: Rafael Nadal showed no signs of the bum knees that hampered him earlier this year, beating Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 6-4 at the Madrid Masters in Spain.

Novak Djokovic saved all 10 break points before rallying to beat Fernando Verdasco of Spain 6-7 (7-9), 6-3, 6-3 in his opener.

Juan Carlos Ferrero upset 14th-seeded Carlos Moya 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, and sixth-seeded James Blake lost 6-3, 6-4 to Mario Ancic. Guillermo Canas beat Agustin Calleri 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 to set up a match with Roger Federer.

Mauresmo upset: Amelie Mauresmo was upset by Alona Bondarenko 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the second round of the Zurich Open in Switzerland.

The 18-year-old Czech Nicole Vaidisova defeated third-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-4, 6-4.

Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli also advanced to the quarterfinals, beating Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands 6-4, 6-1, and Tatiana Golovin of France upset fifth-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia 6-3, 6-1. Francesca Schiavone won her first-round match after Elena Dementieva retired with a left-thigh injury while trailing 4-6, 6-1, 4-2.

Murray meets with ATP: Andy Murray met with ATP officials to discuss comments he made about gambling.

Last week, the 17th-ranked Murray said corruption in tennis was common knowledge. He has twice backtracked on those comments, saying his words were taken out of context.

Murray said the ATP didn't indicate whether it would take any action against him.

College basketball

Notre Dame's Harangody out with thumb injury: Notre Dame forward Luke Harangody, a Big East all-rookie-team selection last season, tore a ligament in his right thumb and could miss the first six games of the season.

Harangody is expected to miss three to six weeks with the injury, which the school said he hurt during practice Monday. He will be in a cast for the next several weeks, and his status will be evaluated in three weeks.

Horse racing

Breeders' Cup Classic has field of dreams: With an immensely talented field — headlined by the top three Kentucky Derby finishers — set for the $5 million Classic, everything is in place for the 24th Breeders' Cup to provide a pulsating finish to the Thoroughbred racing season.

With the Breeders' Cup expanded for the first time to two days, 141 horses were pre-entered for the 11 races worth $23 million on Oct. 26 and 27 at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.

The nine-horse Classic will showcase Derby champion Street Sense and his closest pursuers, Hard Spun and Curlin, along with top 3-year-olds Any Given Saturday and Tiago, 4-year-old Lawyer Ron and European standout George Washington.

Olympics

Vancouver to finish venues before Beijing Games open: Ski jumps, ice rinks and other venues for Vancouver's 2010 Winter Olympics will be completed before the opening of the Beijing Summer Games in August 2008, said John Furlong, CEO of Vancouver's organizing committee.

Organizers also are on target to build the venues within a budget of $595 million, Furlong said.

Seattle Times news services