Sports briefs

Federer tops Nieminen at Swiss Indoors

Two-time defending champion Roger Federer endured a shaky start before defeating Finland's Jarkko Nieminen 7-6 (6), 7-6 (1) in the second round of the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament Thursday in Basel, Switzerland.

Federer had his hometown crowd in a state of anxiety as he mistimed several forehands, lost his serve three times and volleyed below his usual standards.

"I'm still struggling with my coordination just a touch," Federer said. "I don't control the balls as good as I would like to, and that then makes me doubt my footwork a little bit. It will only get better."

He repeatedly got out of trouble with aces, including one of his 11 to save a first set point.

In today's quarterfinals, the top-seeded Swiss will play Simone Bolelli of Italy, who beat Marcel Granollers of Spain 6-4, 6-2.

Second-seeded David Nalbandian of Argentina beat Kristof Vliegen of Belgium 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (4) to reach the quarterfinals. Third-seeded Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina made just four unforced errors as he cruised past Switzerland's Stephane Bohli 6-3, 6-3.

Fourth-seeded James Blake hit 18 aces as he came from behind to beat Oscar Hernandez of Spain 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-4 to reach the last eight for the first time in three visits.

LYON GRAND PRIX: Top-seeded Andy Roddick beat fellow American Robby Ginepri 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3) to set up a quarterfinal against big-serving Robin Soderling, who won 6-1, 6-2 over Christophe Rochus of Belgium at Lyon, France. Roddick still hopes to qualify for next month's season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai, China. Three of eight berths remain open.

GENERALI LADIES: Top-seeded Ana Ivanovic and No. 2 Vera Zvonareva eased into the quarterfinals at Linz, Austria, with straight-set victories on Thursday. Fourth-ranked Ivanovic downed Sybille Bammer of Austria 6-4, 6-2, and Zvonareva routed Nuria Llagostera Vives of Spain 6-2, 6-0.

FORTIS CHAMPIONSHIPS: Olympic champion Elena Dementieva beat Gisela Dulko of Argentina 6-2, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals at Luxembourg. The top-seeded Russian will play former No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo today. The French veteran swept past Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany 6-3, 6-1.

ST. PETERSBURG OPEN: Defending champion Andy Murray beat Ernests Gulbis 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the quarterfinals at St. Petersburg, Russia, while eighth-seeded Marat Safin was upset in the second round. Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan beat Safin 6-4, 6-2 to advance to his first career quarterfinal.

Ballesteros' tumor is cancerous

Seve Ballesteros' brain tumor is cancerous, and he will undergo another operation to relieve pressure caused by swelling and bleeding.

The remaining parts of the malignant tumor, located in a very deep part of the brain, will be removed in today's procedure.

La Paz Hospital in Madrid, Spain, said Thursday that the surgery is "of great complexity." Three doctors will operate on Ballesteros, 51.

The tumor is an oligoastrocytoma, a type that affects "cells that cover and protect the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord," the hospital said.

CASTELLO MASTERS: Soren Kjeldsen, 33, of Denmark, shot a 7-under 64 Thursday to hold a one-shot lead after the first round at Castellon, Spain. Kjeldsen, who sits 34th in the Order of Merit, carded eight birdies in his round with the only blip a bogey at No. 17.

Former U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera, England's Richard Finch, Ignacio Garrido of Spain and Peter Hanson of Sweden trailed Kjeldsen after 6-under rounds of 65. Sergio Garcia closed with three birdies to finish 5-under on his home course. Garcia's father Victor is the pro at the Club de Campo del Mediterraneo.