After sitting out the team's earlier camps with a quad injury, former University of Hawai'i receiver Ashley Lelie is fighting for his spot on the San Francisco 49ers roster.

Lelie, a free-agent acquisition in the offseason, has worked primarily with quarterback Trent Dilfer on the second team.

He's suddenly competing on a roster heavy with capable receivers, which include former Seattle receiver Darrell Jackson, third-round pick Jason Hill, and the team's leading receiver in Arnaz Battle. Other receivers include veteran Bryan Gilmore, 2006 third-round pick Brandon Williams, and former Washington Redskin No. 2 pick Taylor Jacobs, who is currently ahead of Lelie on the depth chart.

"All of a sudden we are getting in three and four wides and we are talking about three and four guys who can all make plays, three or four guys who are all going to win and be there for you," quarterback Alex Smith said on sf49ers.com. "No longer is that something I've got to take into account, who are my guys out there? It's just read the defense and throw the ball. I don't have to think about my matchups as much and it's nice to have that."

The 49ers signed Lelie with their intention of having him stretch the field vertically, which he has since his return from injury that kept him out of most of the previous organized team activities (OTAs).

"My leg is not bothering me. That was my main concern coming into camp after missing out on the OTAs," Lelie said on the team's Web site. "That's good now, so I can focus on everything else. I just want to establish myself on the team during this camp. The first part is getting a spot, and then you go from there."

Lelie also has displayed a knack for tracking and adjusting to passes, something he did while going airborne during yesterday morning's practice to make the play of the day on a 45-yard deep ball from Dilfer.

"I see a guy who is really into it out there," receivers coach Jerry Sullivan said on the Web site. "He's worked on his route techniques and I think he's getting better. I like his attitude, obviously, he's got some speed."

TENNIS

DAVYDENKO WINS WHILE UNDER BETTING PROBE

Nikolay Davydenko was relieved to be back on a tennis court after spending most of the week stuck in the court of public opinion.

Davydenko, whose loss at an event last Thursday in Poland is under investigation due to suspicious betting patterns, beat Jarkko Nieminen, 6-3, 7-6 (5), yesterday in the Rogers Cup at Montreal.

The 26-year-old Russian, who said he felt "disappointment" when he first heard the news, was playing his first match since an injury forced him out of a match against Martin Vassallo Arguello.

"People are talking not only, say, in Russia, in my country, but everywhere in the world," the fourth-seeded Davydenko said. "It's pretty tough for me and I get more pressure for this tournament. Mentally, it's pretty tough."

British bookmaker Betfair said it received about $7 million in bets on Thursday's match — 10 times the usual amount — and most of the money was on Arguello to win, even after Davydenko won the first set 6-2.

The Association of Tennis Professionals, which is conducting the probe, said Monday it had no plans to suspend Davydenko or ask him to sit out.

SHARAPOVA ADVANCES IN EAST WEST BANK CLASSIC

Top-seeded Maria Sharapova found herself in trouble in the first set before escaping in the second when her opponent retired because of breathing problems last night.

Sharapova advanced 7-6 (5), 3-1 over Eleni Daniilidou in her opening match at the East West Bank Classic in Carson, Calf.

"I wanted badly to play against Maria," said Daniilidou, her voice shaky and tears streaking her face. "I wanted to try."

In other matches yesterday, Virginie Razzano of France upset 10th-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel, 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (6); defending champion Elena Dementieva ousted 17-year-old American wild card Madison Brengle, 6-2, 6-0, and No. 5 seed Daniela Hantuchova beat American Jill Craybas, 6-3, 7-6 (5).

BASKETBALL

RETIRED MILLER SAYS CELTICS ARE INTERESTED

The Boston Celtics have spoken with future Hall of Famer Reggie Miller about coming out of retirement, Miller said yesterday.

"I'm always flattered when my name is mentioned as someone who can still help an NBA team win a championship," Miller said in a statement relayed to The Associated Press by the TNT network. "I've had limited discussions with Celtics management about their roster and a potential role for me. At this time, I'm enjoying my role as an analyst with TNT."

Miller, who will turn 42 this month, played 18 seasons in the NBA, all with the Indiana Pacers, before retiring in 2005. He is 13th on the league's career scoring list with 25,279 points.

www.ESPN.com was the first to report the talks with Boston.

Celtics officials did not respond to requests for comment. Miller's agent, Arn Tellem, declined comment.