Rafael Nadal won his first title since the French Open, beating Novak Djokovic, 6-2, 7-5, yesterday in the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, Calif.

Nadal, a five-time champion last year and an 11-time winner in 2005, had gone a stretch of 12 tournaments without winning, dating to the successful defense of his title at Roland Garros in June.

Nadal was ahead, 2-0, before Djokovic got his first point of the match.

Hockey

Wisconsin repeated as national champions, beating Minnesota Duluth, 4-1, behind Sara Bauer's goal and two assists at the NCAA Women's Frozen Four in Lake Placid, N.Y. Wisconsin (36-1-4) completed its season with a 26-game unbeaten streak. The Badgers' only loss was to Minnesota Duluth (24-11-4) in November.

Micki DuPont had two goals, including the deciding tally 14:36 into the second period, as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins edged the host Albany River Rats, 4-3, in the AHL. DuPont also had an assist.

Adam Edinger had the go-ahead goal 7:12 into the third and Ned Havern added a goal and an assist as the visiting Wheeling Nailers defeated the Reading Royals, 4-1, in the ECHL.

Horse racing

Song of Navarone overcame an early mishap, then put away Forty Grams with a stretch run to win the $600,000 WinStar Derby by 1 1/2 lengths at Sunland Park, N.M. Solemn Promise closed with a rush to finish second, while Forty Grams held on for third in New Mexico's biggest thoroughbred race. Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Song of Navarone covered the 1¹/₈ miles in 1:49.53 and paid $6.20, $3.20 and $2.40. Solemn Promise returned $4.00 and $2.40, and Forty Grams earned $2.20.

Iditarod

Two-time runner-up Ramy Brooks was disqualified from the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across Alaska for abusing his dogs. Witnesses reported the incident to race officials.

Pro football

Denny Sym, aka "Dolfan Denny," who cheered on the Miami Dolphins for 34 years as a one-man sideline show, died battling kidney disease and cancer in Davie, Fla. He was 72.

Curling

Canada scored three in the fifth end on its way to an 8-4 win against the United States at the women's world championship in Aomori, Japan. The Canadians improved to 4-0 in the round-robin draw. The U.S. team is 2-1.

Swimming and diving

Clarion's Jamie Wolf of South Park won a record seventh NCAA Division II title in the 3-meter competition in Buffalo, N.Y. She was named Division II female diver of the year after also capturing the 1-meter event earlier in the championships.

Russia remained the dominant force in synchronized swimming, claiming another team title at the world championships in Melbourne, Australia. Russia won the free combination title with a near-perfect score of 99.000 points, easily beating runner-up Japan (97.833). The United States rallied to win its first medal of the championships, finishing third at 96.500.

Baseball

Pitt couldn't overcome an early four-run deficit and lost to host South Florida, 5-2. in Big East Conference action. Pitt fell to 7-10 overall, 1-2 in the conference. Sean Conley and Gary Bucuren had RBIs for Pitt.