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Greensboro's John Isner rallied to beat qualifier Alejandro Falla of Colombia 4-6, 7-6 (10), 7-5 on Monday at the ATP Paris Masters.

Isner, ranked No. 35 in the world, saved three match points. He served 17 aces to 12 for No. 87 Falla. The former Page standout will face 10th-seeded Fernando Gonzalez of Chile on Wednesday in a rematch of last week's upset win by Isner in Switzerland.

Also, Marat Safin extended his career by at least one more round, saving three match points to beat French qualifier Thierry Ascione 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (3). The 29-year-old Russian, a three-time winner in Paris, plans to retire after this tournament. He will face U.S. Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in the second round.

MISCELLANY

PITCHER'S MOM KIDNAPPED: Assailants who kidnapped the mother of former major-league pitcher Victor Zambrano in Caracas, Venezuela, only decided to take her after they found little of value during a burglary, police said. Rafael Romero, a federal police investigator, said seven armed men burst into the home of Elizabeth Mendez Zambrano at her son's farm near Maracay on Sunday morning and kidnapped her because they didn't find large amounts of cash and jewelry as they had expected.

RAYS EXERCISE CRAWFORD'S OPTION: The Tampa Bay Rays have exercised their $10 million option on All-Star Carl Crawford. The team also declined $2 million options on left-handed reliever Brian Shouse and backup catcher Gregg Zaun. The 28-year-old Crawford was the MVP of this year's All-Star game. He hit .305 with 15 homers, 68 RBIs and a career-high 60 steals this year. If the Rays had declined the option, he would have been owed a $1.25 million buyout.

COHEN'S COMEBACK HAS SETBACK: Sasha Cohen's comeback has taken another setback. The Olympic silver medalist withdrew from Skate America on Monday, saying she is still battling the tendinitis in her right calf that forced her to drop out of last month's Trophee Eric Bompard before the event. "I have been battling this injury for a while," Cohen said in a release from U.S. Figure Skating. "After meeting with my orthopedic surgeon, it was determined that in order for me to fully recover, I should not compete this week."