Serena rules out Indian Wells

Serena Williams says her boycott of the Indian Wells tournament will continue, despite new WTA Tour rules making participation mandatory.

Williams and her sister, Venus, last played in the tournament in 2001, when the family was booed after Venus withdrew just before a semifinal match against Serena. Their father, Richard, said the jeers were racially motivated.

“I can guarantee you the chances of getting me to Indian Wells are slim to none, unless -- I’m not going to go back. I have no interest in going. It’s just how I feel. And I think anyone that went through what I went through would feel a similar position,” the 13th-seeded Williams said Wednesday after beating eighth-seeded Nicole Vaidisova, 6-1, 6-4, in her quarterfinal match at the Sony Ericsson Open at Key Biscayne, Fla.

The new WTA Tour rules, announced Tuesday and taking effect in 2009, require players to participate in four events -- Indian Wells, Key Biscayne and new tournaments in Madrid and Beijing. Top-10 players who miss mandatory tournaments will be subject to suspensions and larger fines than in the past.

Larry Scott, chief executive of the WTA Tour, said there would be no exceptions.

Serena Williams said she needed to “have a sit-down and powwow with Larry Scott, because we haven’t had a chance to talk about it.”

Meanwhile, third-seeded Andy Roddick retired because of a strained left hamstring, trailing, 5-3, in the first set, allowing 12th-seeded Andy Murray to reach the semifinals.

The injury leaves in doubt Roddick’s availability for the U.S. Davis Cup team’s match against Spain next week.

Murray’s opponent Friday will be 10th-seeded Novak Djokovic, who ousted second-seeded Rafael Nadal, 6-3, 6-4.

Williams, a three-time champion, will play No. 14 Shahar Peer, who beat Tathiana Garbin, 6-0, 6-3.

PRO FOOTBALL

Gore, 49ers agree to contract extension

Running back Frank Gore, 23, agreed to a four-year contract extension reportedly worth $27.5 million with the San Francisco 49ers, a reward for his team-record 1,695 yards rushing in 2006.

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The Denver Broncos agreed to a five-year, $33 million contract extension with cornerback Dre Bly, 29, obtained earlier this month from the Detroit Lions.

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The New York Jets agreed to a three-year, $6.1-million contract with former Miami Dolphins defensive end David Bowens, 29.

MISCELLANY

Biffle escapes penalty for Bristol infraction

Greg Biffle will not be penalized for failing post-race inspection at Bristol Motor Speedway in NASCAR’s debut of the Car of Tomorrow. Biffle’s fifth-place Ford was too low after the race, a violation that typically is penalized. But NASCAR is still adjusting to the COT.

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South Africa survived a record four-wicket burst in four balls by Lasith Malinga to edge Sri Lanka by one wicket in Guyana, and Australia beat the West Indies by 103 runs in Antigua in the Cricket World Cup.

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Aaron Petersen, 30 of Delray Beach, Fla., admitted selling illicit prescription drugs and agreed to help Albany, N.Y., prosecutors pursue a multistate investigation into the illegal sale of steroids and human growth hormone. He will be sentenced to five years’ probation.

Linked to the scandal are baseball’s Jose Canseco, John Rocker and David Bell, and former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield.

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Running back LaDainian Tomlinson, the NFL’s most valuable player, will be one of the hosts at the first 710 ESPN Southern California Sports Awards dinner tonight at 7 at the ESPN Zone in Anaheim.

-- Larry Stewart

PASSINGS

Fisk, end on 1939 USC title team

Bill Fisk Sr., an end on USC’s 1939 national championship football team, died at 90 in Corona del Mar.