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CHICAGO -- A Northwestern University basketball player is suing the school and the NCAA in federal court, claiming the associations transfer regulations violate antitrust laws.In the federal lawsuit filed Monday, John Vassar said Northwestern harassed him and made other efforts to force his transfer and take away his athletic scholarship. Vassers lawsuit is seeking class-action status and wants the NCAA to change rules preventing players from transferring to other Division I schools without losing eligibility to sit out for a year.Vasser said he received offers but only if he could play right away, which he couldnt due to NCAA rules.Vassars attorney, Steve Berman, called the current NCAA transfer rules a destructive double standard, saying that students who arent athletes are eligible for new scholarships when they transfer without waiting a year. Berman said coaches often transfer schools with pay raises.The NCAA needs to level the playing field for these thousands of kids who face undue punishment under its senseless bylaws, he said.Northwestern Vice President for University Relations Al Cubbage said the school doesnt believe Vassars lawsuit has legal merit.We will defend the university vigorously, Cubbage said in a statement Tuesday. The NCAA didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.This isnt the first lawsuit against the Indianapolis-based NCAA alleging it violates antitrust laws by forcing non-graduate players in sports including football and basketball to sit out a year after transferring schools. Former Weber State football player Devin Pugh sued in November 2015 and former Northern Illinois punter Peter Deppe sued in March. Both said the NCAAs transfer rules violate federal antitrust laws.In August 2015, the National Labor Relations Board blocked a historic bid by Northwestern football players to become the first in the nation to unionize. The board said the prospect of union and nonunion teams in college could lead to different standards at different schools.British No. 1?Johanna Konta secured a place in the quarterfinals of the China Open with a rain-hit 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7) victory over Karolina Pliskova in Beijing.Konta, aiming to force her way into contention for the WTA Finals in Singapore later this month, had moved into a 4-1 lead following an early break against the world No. 6 before the players were taken off the Lotus Court.The 25-year-old No. 11 seed, though, picked up where she had left off when back in action, breaking the Czech again before wrapping up the first set in just 27 minutes of action.Pliskova, however, produced a recovery in the second set, eventually breaking Konta at the seventh attempt in a tight sixth game to lead 4-2 and then closing out her own service to level the contest.Both players then failed to hold servee in a tense decider, although Konta saved three break points to lead 6-5 before Pliskova forced the tie-break.dddddddddddd.It was Konta who remained composed, the Briton making the most of an early mini-break to open up a 4-1 lead, which she pushed home to seal a place in the last eight against either fourth seed Simona Halep or Chinese player Zhang Shuai.Konta, ranked world No. 14, is currently ninth in the race to Singapore with the top eight qualifying for the tournament.Elsewhere, there was a shock over on the National Tennis Stadium court, where top seed and world number one Angelique Kerber lost in straight sets 6-3 7-5 to Elina Svitolina of Ukraine. ' ' '