Alice Marble, Four-Time U.S. Champion, Dies

-- TENNIS

Alice Marble, one of the greatest women's tennis players ever, died today at Desert Hospital in Palm Springs, Calif. She was 77.

Hospital spokesman Randy Bevilacqua said Marble was admitted to the hospital last Saturday. He said the cause of death wasn't immediately available.

Marble won the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association Lawn Tennis Championship, now known as the U.S. Open, in 1936, 1938, 1939 and 1940 and the Wimbledon singles championship in 1939.

-- Michael Chang blunted Henri Leconte's aggressive net game with passing shots to beat the Frenchman 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 to become the first semifinalist in the $6 million Grand Slam Cup in Munich. Chang earned the $450,000 guaranteed to each semifinalist.

Second-seeded Ivan Lendl, who beat Sweden's Christian Bergstrom 6-4, 6-0 yesterday, is the highest-seeded player remaining. Aaron Krickstein became the fifth American in the round of eight when he ousted Ecuador's Andres Gomez, the third seed, 6-3, 6-4.

-- For pulling out of the Grand Slam Cup, Andre Agassi could be suspended from next year's French Open, according to a published report.

-- SOCCER

Africa was awarded a third berth in the World Cup finals, with the additional spot coming from Europe's allotment. The move was proposed by FIFA President Joao Havelange after Egypt and Cameroon put on outstanding performances last summer, but it needed approval from the 29-member executive committee meeting today in Zurich, Switzerland.

For the 1994 finals, to be played in the United States, Europe will have 13 of the 24 berths, including the slot given to the defending champion - Germany.

FIFA also gave the Central and North American region a chance at a third berth, but no guarantee. The region has two guaranteed spots. Asia's bid for a third berth was rejected.

-- An unprecedented four Italian clubs - Internazionale of Milan, AS Roma, Bologna and Atalanta of Bergamo - dvanced to the quarterfinals of UEFA Cup play.

-- HORSE RACING

Donna and John Jensen and their company, Jensen Racing Inc., former operators of Portland Meadows, have filed a lawsuit against Oregon Racing Inc., the company running the racetrack, claiming they are owed more than $1.3 million.

-- Trainer Mohammed Moubarek was fined a record $15,600 by British racing authorities, who said six of his thoroughbreds were given anabolic steroids.

-- A hearing for Pat Valenzuela, who was suspended indefinitely last month, was postponed by Hollywood Park stewards without a new meeting scheduled.

-- VOLLEYBALL

Top-ranked UCLA (34-1) will play Louisiana State (34-6) and Pacific (29-6) meets Nebraska (32-3) tonight in the NCAA women's semifinals in College Park, Md.

-- Stanford sophomore Bev Oden heads a list of 12 players picked to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I All-America women's squad. Oden, a middle hitter, led her team to a 28-4 record and second place in the Pac-10.

-- GOLF

Barry Fabyan of Columbus, Ohio, shot a course-record 7-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of Australia's Coolum Classic. Australians Ian Baker-Finch and Glenn Joyner were tied for second.

-- Britain's Ronan Rafferty and David Russell shared the first-round lead in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Hong Kong with 4-under-par 67s.

-- BOXING

Unbeaten British heavyweight Gary Mason, 236, returned from a nine-month layoff caused by a severe eye injury to stop American James Pritchard, 201, in the ninth round in London.

-- COLLEGES

Washington State is replacing and upgrading the scoreboards at Martin Stadium, Friel Court and all other Cougar athletic facilities. Three major sponsors have been signed, but no announcement will be made until a commitment is received from a fourth. The sponsors will pay the nearly $1 million cost of the scoreboards in return for advertising space on them.