Injured Williams Hands Title to Mauresmo

Hobbling on crutches and hoping for the best, Venus Williams knew she couldn’t play for the German Open title. Whether she’ll be ready for the French Open is uncertain.

Williams pulled out before the German Open final Sunday at Berlin after twisting her left ankle a day earlier in a semifinal victory over Karolina Sprem of Croatia. Her withdrawal handed the title to Amelie Mauresmo of France.

“I’m waiting for the test to see what the issue is -- I’m optimistic it’s a strain, nothing else,” Williams said. “I would really, really like to play the French. I’m just going home now to see my family and get some rest.”

She will have time, but not much: The clay-court major begins May 24.

Williams was riding a 15-match winning streak and was seeking her third consecutive title. Mauresmo, ranked No. 3, won her first title this year and 11th of her career.

“It’s a shame for everybody,” Mauresmo said. “It’s a strange way to end the tournament. You want to win a title on the court.”

Hockey

Florida defenseman Jay Bouwmeester scored the winning goal, and Canada rallied to beat Sweden for the second consecutive year in the gold-medal game in the world hockey championships, 5-3, at Prague, Czech Republic.

Canada has won the world title a record 23 times, tying the Soviet Union-Russia.

The United States won the bronze medal, defeating Slovakia in a shootout. After a scoreless regulation and a 10-minute overtime, the U.S. won the penalty shootout, 4-2.

Bouwmeester earned the gold for Canada when he took a perfect pass from Atlanta forward Dany Heatley, while rushing the net, and put a shot between the pads of Henrik Lundqvist.

The last time Canada won consecutive titles was 1958 and 1959.

Andy Roach, the goal-scoring star in the penalty shootout that knocked out the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals, put the U.S. ahead for good. His shot beat Jan Lasak in the third round.

Eric Weinrich, a defenseman with the St. Louis Blues, earned his first medal in his record ninth appearance in the world championships. He didn’t play in 1996.

Miscellany

U.S. Olympian Mark Ruiz finished fifth in the men’s platform at the Diving Grand Prix at The Woodlands (Texas) Athletic Club.

Tian Liang of China, gold medalist in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, won the men’s platform with a score of 539.97. Ruiz had a score of 467.67.

Wu Min Xia of China won the women’s three-meter with a score of 355.30. Rachelle Kunkel of the U.S. finished fourth with a score of 321.85.

China won overall honors with eight medals, including seven of the eight gold and one silver in the four-day event.

Michael Schumacher won his fifth race in a row, finishing first in the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona to match the best start in a Formula One season.

The six-time world champion overcame an exhaust problem to earn the 75th victory of his career and fourth in a row in the Spanish Grand Prix, six times overall since 1991. He equaled Nigel Mansell’s record start in 1992.

Rubens Barrichello was second, 13.2 seconds behind, giving Ferrari its third 1-2 finish this season. Schumacher leads the drivers’ standings with 50 points, ahead of Barrichello with 32.

Sheila Taormina of the U.S. won the women’s race in 1 hour 52 minutes 17.3 seconds and Bevan Docherty of New Zealand won the men’s race in 1:41:04.4 in the triathlon world championships at Funchal, Madeira Islands.