Ferrer wins; Safin loses in Barcelona

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04/21/2009 - Barcelona, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Last year's runner-up David Ferrer posted a second-round win, while former world No. 1 Marat Safin came up a first-round loser Tuesday at the $2.6 million Barcelona Open.

The fourth-seeded Ferrer held off Kazakhstani qualifier Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 on the red clay at Real Club de Tenis Barcelona. Ferrer was last year's runner-up here to fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal.

Ferrer was joined in the third round by 12th-seeded Russian Igor Andreev, who flattened Spanish wild card Alberto Martin 6-2, 6-2 on Day 2.

The 2000 Barcelona titlist Safin, meanwhile, lost to gritty Argentine Juan Monaco 6-4, 6-1 in the big Russian's last appearance here. The two-time major champion Safin announced months ago that this would mark his final season on the ATP World Tour.

Four other seeds avoided opening-round upsets, as No. 9 Czech Radek Stepanek snuck past Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, No. 13 Frenchman Richard Gasquet overcame Czech Jan Hernych 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, No. 14 Swede Robin Soderling subdued Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-1, 6-4, and No. 16 Spanish favorite Feliciano Lopez leveled Finn Jarkko Nieminen 6-2, 6-1 at this French Open tuneup.

Former French Open champ Gaston Gaudio, playing in only his second ATP match of the year, reached the second round by outlasting fellow Argentine Diego Junqueira 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. The wild card Gaudio was the 2004 titlist at Roland Garros and captured the Barcelona title in 2002.

In some other first-round play, Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver whipped Italian and fellow qualifier Fabio Fognini 6-1, 6-3; Spaniard Oscar Hernandez humbled Argentine Eduardo Schwank 6-2, 6-4; Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti topped Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4, 2-6, 6-2; Frenchman Arnaud Clement doused Argentine Guillermo Canas 7-6 (7-0), 6-3; and Russian Mikhail Youzhny edged out Serbian Viktor Troicki 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.

This week's top seeds are Spanish favorites Nadal and Fernando Verdasco and Russian Nikolay Davydenko. Nadal is the reigning four-time Barcelona champ.

The reigning Australian Open, Wimbledon, French Open and Olympic titlist Nadal is fresh off his fifth straight Monte-Carlo championship, having beaten Serb Novak Djokovic in this past Sunday's finale in Monaco.

Nadal will open defense of his Barcelona title against Portuguese Frederico Gil here on Wednesday, while Verdasco will encounter the qualifier Lapentti and Davydenko will battle Clement.

The Day-3 schedule will also feature second-rounders for fifth-seeded Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, sixth-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo and seventh-seeded Argentine David Nalbandian. The 2004 Barcelona champion Robredo will take on his fellow former champ Gaudio.

This week's champion will pocket $370,000. The top-eight seeds all received first-round byes.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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