For the briefest moment, it looked as though Justin Leonard only had to pick up his coin for the Americans to win the final match yesterday and take another big lead on opening day at the Presidents Cup.

First, there was some confusion over whether to concede his 3-foot putt.

Then came a shocking miss from Leonard.

The United States still wound up with a 3 1/2-2 1/2 lead at Harding Park in San Francisco, even if the International team claimed a partial victory.

"At the end, we were pretty fortunate to have 2 1/2 points," Ernie Els said. "That's one of the better starts we've had, believe it or not, for the last three Cups or so. So we are not too despondent about today."

After Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker dominated early, and Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim came to life late in their foursomes match, a bizarre finish in the final match made it unclear who actually had the momentum going into today.

"We wanted to get out of the day with pretty close to a push, and I'm very, very happy," International captain Greg Norman said.

Leonard and Jim Furyk had a 1-up lead playing the par-5 18th hole, and Leonard hit a splendid fairway metal to the green that left the Americans on the verge of another full point, especially after Furyk lagged the eagle putt to 3 feet. Retief Goosen hit his approach right of the green, Y.E. Yang chipped to 4 feet and Goosen made the birdie putt.

Then, the Goose forgot the score.

He removed his cap and looked at Furyk as if to ask why Leonard should putt, believing the match was all square. Once he realized what was at stake, Leonard settled over the putt and was stunned when it caught the right lip.

Leonard made no excuses.

"I just hit a bad putt," he said. "I knew I was going to need to make that little putt. Unfortunately, I missed it."

TENNIS

NEW NO. 1 SERENA FALLS IN CHINA OPEN

Serena Williams was knocked out of the China Open yesterday in Beijing, losing to Nadia Petrova of Russia, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5), only days before regaining the No. 1 ranking.

Williams, who will take over the top spot in the rankings from Dinara Safina on Monday, looked sluggish in the first set before recovering in the second. Neither player was able to earn a break in the third set.

"I don't feel like I ever got into high gear," Williams said. "I ran into a girl today who has never played so good in her life."

In the men's draw, Rafael Nadal beat James Blake of the United States, 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-3, to reach the quarterfinals. The second-ranked Spaniard had a match point in the second set, but he double-faulted and allowed Blake to break twice and force the tiebreaker.

NO. 2 SEED TSONGA ADVANCES IN JAPAN

Second-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat French compatriot Richard Gasquet, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, yesterday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Japan Open in Tokyo.

Tsonga broke Gasquet to go up 5-2 in the third set and then won when his opponent's forehand return at 40-30 was long.

Both players struggled with the windy conditions at Ariake Colosseum as Typhoon Melor moved northward across Japan's main island of Honshu.

"It was tough to make a good show with the wind today," Tsonga said. "But I'm happy with the win. It's never easy playing a good friend but that's the way it goes."

BASKETBALL

MERCURY WILL HOST FEVER FOR WNBA TITLE

There is no homecourt advantage in these WNBA playoffs.

Each team can claim a victory in the other's arena, and that should be some comfort to the Indiana Fever when they play at the Phoenix Mercury in the deciding Game 5 tonight.

In fact, Indiana has won two of three in Phoenix, once in the regular season then again in Game 2. The most important road victory, though, came when the Mercury got back in their fast-paced groove for a 90-77 victory Wednesday night in Indianapolis.

That sent the series back to Phoenix, where Diana Taurasi, Cappie Pondexter, Penny Taylor and the rest of the Mercury can claim the franchise's second title in three years.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

NO. 21 'HUSKERS RALLY PAST NO. 24 MISSOURI

Zac Lee threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to Niles Paul, and Ndamukong Suh and Dejon Gomes intercepted passes to set up two more fourth-quarter scores as No. 21 Nebraska beat No. 24 Missouri, 27-12, last night at Columbia, Mo.

Lee completed 14 of 33 passes for 158 yards and three TDs to help Nebraska (4-1, 1-0 Big 12) overcome a 12-0 deficit in cold and rainy conditions.

Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert, fourth in the country in passing efficiency with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions entering game, completed just 17 of 43 passes for 134 yards and no touchdowns.

AND WHAT'S MORE ...

Former No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo, 30, who decided to scratch her last two tournaments of the season, at Linz and Luxembourg, is considering retiring from tennis. ... Manuel Quiros of Spain shot a 10-under 62 for a two-shot lead over Sergio Garcia after the first round of the Madrid Masters at the Centro Nacional de Golf course in Madrid, Spain