Sports briefs 2/16/05

Football

* An arbitration ruling that ordered Ricky Williams to repay the Miami Dolphins $8.6 million was upheld Tuesday by a federal judge, who rejected arguments that the award disregarded Florida law and was excessive.

U.S. District Judge James Cohn ruled arbitrator Richard Bloch was "well within the scope of his authority" in his interpretation of the case.

Williams breached his contract when he retired abruptly last July. Bloch ruled in September that under the terms of the contract, he was required to repay the Dolphins $8.6 million in bonus money he had received.

Tennis

* Former No. 1 Kim Clijsters beat Jelena Kostanic of Croatia 6-2, 6-3 in the Diamond Games on Tuesday in her first match in four months.

Clijsters said the left wrist injury that sidelined her in 2004 did not bother her as she opened the defense of her hometown title.

The Belgian star will face fifth-seeded Nadia Petrova today. Petrova defeated Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain 6-4, 6-1 in the first round.