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From The Associated Press

Henin wins 4th French Open
PARIS—An hour after clutching her fourth French Open trophy, Justine Henin cradled other precious cargo in her arms: her 6-week-old niece.

Talking and laughing with friends and relatives in a lounge just off center court, Henin slowly rocked her brother’s baby, then gently kissed her head. As much as a sixth Grand Slam title meant to the top-ranked Belgian, this scene was worth far more.

For Henin, life off the court has long presented far more problems than life on it. So after overwhelming No. 7 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia 6-1, 6-2 Saturday for a third consecutive French Open championship, Henin was thrilled to be able to sip champagne alongside family members with whom she only recently re-established contact.

“It’s been a huge step in my life in the last few months. And I was glad I could give them this victory, because everyone suffered a lot,” said Henin, who went about seven years without speaking to her father or three siblings. “Today, finally, we are united in this joy, and we can share this moment.”

This was Henin’s fifth consecutive final at a major she entered; she skipped the Australian Open in January while working through personal issues, including separating from her husband.

Back in the Grand Slam spotlight, back at her favorite tournament, Henin was as good as ever at Roland Garros, where she’s won 35 consecutive sets.

Clemens overcomes slow start in debut
NEW YORK—Roger Clemens shook off some early rust and gave the surging New York Yankees the lift they were looking for, leading them to a 9-3 victory Saturday over the Pittsburgh Pirates in his long-awaited season debut.

Pitching in pinstripes for the first time in four years, Clemens labored through the first few innings but got more effective as the afternoon wore on. He struck out seven in six solid innings and retired his final seven batters, leaving with a signature fist pump just before receiving a playful tap on the rear from Derek Jeter.

Making his latest comeback, the 44-year-old Clemens allowed three runs, five hits and two walks against the punchless Pirates, who entered with the lowest on-base percentage in the National League (.312).

Alex Rodriguez drove in two runs for the Yankees, who have won a season-best five straight and eight of 10 overall. Robinson Cano had three hits.

Though his low 90s mph (148 kph) fastball was far from overpowering, Clemens (1-0) earned his 349th win—eighth on the career list. He finished the day with 4,611 career strikeouts, passing Randy Johnson for second place behind Nolan Ryan (5,714).

Cavaliers counting on James to rebound
SAN ANTONIO—Extraordinary in almost every way imaginable, LeBron James appears to have one major flaw in his splendid game: he’s a slow starter.

During the regular season, and now in the playoffs, James has developed a pattern of bad beginnings. In Cleveland’s past three series, James has followed up a subpar Game 1 with a solid Game 2.

And, the Cavaliers’ forward, who shot 4-of-16 from the field and scored just 14 points in his ballyhooed NBA finals debut, has every intention of doing it against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 on Sunday night.

“The first game I kind of feel my way through it and kind of make an adjustment,” he said, explaining his sluggish opening games. “I don’t plan to go out there and not shoot the ball well or not score.”

Including Thursday night’s dud, James is averaging just 15 points on 33 percent shooting (17-of-52) in his last three series openers. But he has bounced back each time, scoring 36 in Game 2 against the Nets.

Cavs coach Mike Brown is confident his 22-year-old star will come through again.

“It was great for him to go through what he went through,” Brown said. “He struggled a little bit in the first game against Detroit. It’s just a matter of time, I think, when you have a player of his magnitude, until he can figure out the defense and get himself going.”

The Spurs, defending every grain of hardwood on their floor, kept Cleveland’s star under control and rolled to an easy 85-76 win.

Federer to face Nadal for French Open title
PARIS—Roger Federer can accomplish a lot by beating Rafael Nadal on Sunday, perhaps the least of which is simply winning the French Open.

Also on the line for Federer: a career Grand Slam, a non-calendar Grand Slam, and a shot at the first true Grand Slam in nearly four decades.

“He has more pressure at the moment than me, because what is at stake for him is probably more difficult than just winning a final,” said Nadal, the two-time defending champion who’s never lost a match at Roland Garros. “What he’s aiming at is winning a Grand Slam. As for me, I just want to win the final of a Grand Slam.”

And then there was this for the top-ranked Federer to consider as he put his head on his pillow Saturday night: If he fails to figure out Nadal in this final, how many more chances will there be to add a French Open title to his collection?

Federer is 25, which is hardly to be considered old no matter his walk of life. But if he were to scan the list of past French Open men’s singles champions, Federer would come across some daunting data.

Over the past 33 years, there have been only six champions who were 26 or older.

Wie posts highest score in four years
HAVRE DE GRACE, Maryland—Even against the men, Michelle Wie hasn’t shot this big a number since she was in the ninth grade.

Wie’s woes continued Saturday at the LPGA Championship when she shot an 11-over 83 at Bulle Rock, leaving her in last place by five shots among the 84 players who made the cut and uncertain if she would show up for the final round.

Her left wrist was clearly bothering her, and Wie had it wrapped in ice immediately after signing her scorecard. Asked if she would return Sunday, the 17-year-old from Hawaii said she wasn’t sure.

“I really want to play,” she said. “I think it would be awesome to get another round under my belt. I just have to see how it goes tonight. If you don’t see me on the first tee tomorrow morning, you’ll know.”

It will be early Sunday if she’s healthy enough to play.

Starting with a double bogey on the third hole when a gust sent her ball over the green and no one could find it, Wie struggled to make pars and rarely gave herself a chance at birdie. She made one birdie on the sixth hole from 5 feet.

It was her highest round since an 85 in the opening round of the CJ Nine Bridges Classic in South Korea in 2003, when Wie was 14 and a freshman in high school.