The Enquirer and wire reports

TORONTO - Andre Agassi was upset by Jurgen Melzer of Austria 6-3, 6-3 Thursday in the second round of the Tennis Masters Canada tournament, a blow for the eight-time Grand Slam champion's U.S. Open preparations.

Agassi, 34, won this hard-court event three times and isn't sure whether he'll be back for another edition. The tournament won't return to the city until 2006.

"Listen, it's a question mark for me, so I certainly understand it being a question mark for others," Agassi said. "I don't know if I'll be back, I never know if I'll be back. If I have that question, I can only imagine someone else having that question."

Melzer, ranked No. 61, dominated the 10th-seeded Agassi from the start.

Also Thursday, top-ranked Roger Federer reached the quarterfinals by winning twice. First he topped Robin Soderling 7-5, 6-1 in his second-round match. Then the Wimbledon champion eliminated Max Mirnyi 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4). Mirnyi earlier beat No. 14 Paradorn Srichaphan 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Basketball

KITTLES TRADED: Kerry Kittles was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers for a future second-round draft pick Thursday, another step in the dismantling of the New Jersey Nets.

The Clippers also declined to match Quentin Richardson's 6-year offer sheet with the Phoenix Suns worth about $45 million.

Kittles, who is in the final year of his said point guard Jason Kidd might not be pleased with the changes.

MAGIC: Orlando signed free-agent forward Michael Bradley.

WIZARDS: Washington signed free-agent guard Anthony Peeler. He led the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage last season as a backup with Sacramento.

BRYANT CASE: Kobe Bryant's defense team says the woman accusing him of rape has received nearly $20,000 from a victims' compensation fund in what it calls a rich incentive to pursue a false claim against the NBA star, according to a court transcript.

The 20-year-old woman would be ineligible for at least $17,000 of that sum if she lied about the alleged rape, defense attorney Pamela Mackey argued during the June 21 hearing. She said the woman would have to reimburse the state fund if lies were discovered - even more incentive to go forward with the case.

PATTERSON DIES: Steve Patterson, a center on three UCLA national championship teams and a player on early Cleveland Cavaliers squads, has died from lung cancer. He was 56.

Hockey

THRASHERS: Atlanta signed defenseman Braydon Coburn, the team's first-round draft pick last year.

Colleges

AIR FORCE: The Air Force Academy hired Col. Hans J. Mueh as athletic director, putting him in charge of a football program in the middle of a steroid scandal.

Mueh will be promoted to brigadier general when he retires Saturday, so when he takes the post Tuesday he will become the first civilian to be the school's AD.

Other

STICKBALL: A double elimination stickball tournament will take place Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 21-22 at Gardner Park in Lockland (10 a.m. to about 5:30 p.m. each day).

Five people join a team - players need to run the bases and there are fences. Other highlights include a cornhole tournament, home run derby, all tournament teams, play-by-play radio announcing, etc. All proceeds benefit the Leukemia Society. The cost is $125 per team. Those interested can e-mail tmelly13@yahoo.com or starting Monday visit www.stickballcincinnati.com.