BRIEFLY: Ginepri loses in Australian tuneup

Julien Benneteau of France downed Kennesaw’s Robby Ginepri 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the first round of the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Australia today.

Seventh-seeded Richard Gasquet beat Marc Gicquel 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. Taylor Dent beat Steve Darcis 7-6 (0), 6-2, and Robin Soderling beat Sam Querrey 6-3, 6-3.

MORE TENNIS: Safin bruised but unbowed

The brother and sister combination of Marat Safin and Dinara Safina gave Russia a straight-sets win over Italy at the Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia. Safin, who played with facial bruises and scratches from a recent fight in Moscow, had 14 aces on his way to a 7-6 (5), 6-4 win over Simone Bolelli in the second singles match. Safina beat Flavia Pennetta 7-5, 6-3 to give Russia a 1-0 lead in the opener. Safin admitted getting into a fight. “Just some small problem that I wasn’t in the right place at the right time,” Safin said. “Yes, I won the fight.”

MOTORSPORTS: Ragan to race in Braselton

NASCAR driver David Ragan of Unadilla will race in the Super Late Model division at Lanierland National Speedway in Braselton this weekend. Ragan will take part in the Ice Cold Shriner Bowl event. Qualifying begins at noon Saturday, and the event begins at 2 p.m. Sunday.

OBITUARIES: Kim Clijsters’ father dies at 52

Lei Clijsters, the father former tennis player of Kim Clijsters, died in Brussels. He was 52. Clijsters died after a battle with lung cancer. He participated in the 1986 and 1990 World Cups, reaching the semifinals in 1986. Kim Clijsters won the 2005 U.S. Open… . Trinidadian boxing champion Jisselle Salandy died from injuries incurred in a car crash on the outskirts of the Carribean island’s capital of Port-of-Spain. She was 21. Salandy (17-0) defended her WBC, WBA and WIBA belts against the Dominican Republic’s Yahaira Hernandez on Dec. 26.