At a Glance

　　BadmintonSINGAPORE: Top-seeded Xia Xuanze of China squeezed past Singaporean shuttler Hendra Wijaya yesterday to advance to the second round of men’s singles in Yonex-Sunrise Singapore Open.In the day’s major upset, unseeded Pulella Gopichand of India prevailed over China’s Lin Dan, the tournament’s third seed. Red card rescindedLONDON: England’s Football Association Tuesday rescinded the red card shown to Birmingham midfielder Aliou Cisse in City’s opening game of the Premier League season against Arsenal.Cisse, the Senegal captain, was given a second yellow card by referee Mike Riley Sunday after a challenge on Arsenal’s Ashley Cole. But after reviewing video evidence, Riley decided the tackle was careless and warranted a free-kick.France’s captainTUNIS, Tunisia: France’s new coach Jacques Santini said Tuesday that Marcel Desailly, 33, will remain the team’s captain, brushing aside criticism of the defender after the squad’s dismal World Cup showing.He said the decision was made after consultations with team members and officials over the last few weeks.TennisNEW YORK: Four Americans top the women’s seedings at the U.S. Open for the first time since 1983, led by Serena Williams.Williams’ elder sister Venus is seeded No. 2. Jennifer Capriati is seeded third, and Lindsay Davenport is No. 4 for the year’s final Grand Slam event, which opens next Monday.Defending champion Lleyton Hewitt of Australia was seeded No. 1 in the men’s field, with Marat Safin of Russia at No. 2. Tommy Haas of Germany is seeded third, followed by Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Tim Henman of Britain, and Andre Agassi of the United States. American Pete Sampras is seeded No. 17.The American flag recovered from the World Trade Center and raised by U.S. Marines in Afghanistan will fly at the U.S. Open.COMMACK, New York: Paul-Henri Mathieu, the last of the 48 players to get into the main draw, stunned Pete Sampras 6-3, 6-7(9), 6-4 in a second-round match at the TD Waterhouse Cup Tuesday night.The 20-year-old, a pro since 1999, originally was scheduled to play in the qualifier but was moved up when Thomas Enqvist withdrew because of an upper respiratory infection.BaseballSOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pennsylvania: Yoosuke Katoh struck out seven batters and pitched a three-hitter as Sendaii, Japan beat Willemstad, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles 5-0 at the Little League World Series.Japan finished as the top seed from its pool with a 3-0 record and will play in the International semifinal. Netherlands Antilles also qualified with its 2-1 record.