Sports in 60 seconds
Sacramento rookie DeMarcus Cousins did not make the trip to Phoenix for the game against the Suns on Sunday night because of an incident in the locker room following the Kings’ loss 99-97 home loss to Oklahoma City on Saturday. Cousins reportedly was upset that teammate Donte Greene had not passed him the ball for the final shot in the game. In a brief statement issued before Sunday night’s game, the Kings said Cousins “will not play in tonight’s game while the organization reviews the situation that occurred in the locker room.”
Mickelson to be in Match Play:
Count in Phil Mickelson for the Match Play Championship. Mickelson, who skipped the World Golf Championship event in Arizona a year ago, said last November he might sit out again depending on a family vacation. But after he finished his final round at Pebble Beach on Sunday, Mickelson told The Associated Press, “I’ll be there.” Lee Westwood, who took over at No. 1 in the world three months ago, will be the top seed when the Match Play Championship begins Feb. 23 on Dove Mountain just north of Tucson, Ariz. PGA champion Martin Kaymer will be the No. 2 seed, followed by Tiger Woods and Mickelson.
Vonn takes silver in downhill:
Add this to the long list of Lindsey Vonn’s memorable achievements. She swept aside effects of a head injury to claim the silver medal in the downhill at the world championships Sunday at Garmisch-Parten-Kirchen, Germany, finally claiming a spot on the podium following days of uncertainty and endless medical exams for her slight concussion.
“For me, this silver is as good as gold,” Vonn said. “I’ve been fighting the last couple of days just to be able to race today and I’m very proud of this second place — it was the best result possible for me.”
Vonn has been struggling with the aftereffects of hitting her head in a training crash in Austria 11 days ago.
Kvitova stuns Clijsters in final:
Top-seeded Kim Clijsters lost to fourth-seeded Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-3 in the final of the Open Gaz de France on Sunday in Paris. Clijsters still will unseat Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark as the top-ranked player when the new rankings are released today.
“I think in the past matches where I beat her, she showed some of the best tennis but it wasn’t quite consistent,” said Clijsters, who won their two previous meetings. “Today she was very consistent in her level, so she deserved to win because she was better.”
Soderling defends title:
Top-seeded Robin Soderling of Sweden beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to defend his title at the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament on Sunday at Rotterdam, Netherlands. Soderling broke Tsonga’s serve to take a 5-3 lead in the deciding set, serving an ace to wrap up the win.
“I don’t know how I managed to beat you,” Soderling told Tsonga. “I think we both deserved to win this final.”
— The French Tennis Federation voted to keep the French Open at its traditional Roland Garros venue in Paris and renovate the existing site by making it considerably larger, more attractive and modern, rather than moving it elsewhere. Three other venues were bidding to host the clay-court Grand Slam tournament by 2016.