WIMBLEDON

Serena Williams hits 23 aces, edges Zheng at Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Serena Williams hit 23 aces, held every service game and barely escaped an upset bid by Zheng Jie (zhehng jee), winning 6-7 (5), 6-2, 9-7 in the third round at Wimbledon.

Williams, who erased all six break points she faced, served three times to stay in the match and held each time at love. She was pushed to deuce serving in the final game but closed out the victory with a volley winner, then hopped in glee on the Centre Court grass.

The scrappy, 5-foot-4½ Zheng played with little flash but plenty of consistency, committing only 17 unforced errors.

Williams rocketed a return to break for an 8-7 lead in the final set, then showed how much she wanted to win, throwing back her head and letting out a long scream.

Defending champion Petra Kvitova (kuh-VIHT'-oh-vuh) and former French Open champions Ana Ivanovic (ee-VAH'-noh-vich) and Francesca Schiavone (fran-CHES'-kuh skee-ah-VOH'-nay) also reached the fourth round, as did second-ranked Victoria Azarenka.

Qualifier Brian Baker, an American mounting a career comeback from reconstructive elbow surgery, continued his surprising run by beating Benoit Paire 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.

TOUR DE FRANCE

Cancellara wins prologue of 99th Tour de France

LIEGE, Belgium (AP) — Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland has won the opening-day prologue of the Tour de France to capture the leader's yellow jersey.

Riders set off one-by-one on Saturday for the start of the 99th edition of the race — a 4-mile individual time trial in the Belgian city of Liege.

Cancellara collected his fifth Tour prologue victory by clocking 7 minutes, 13 seconds. He outpaced Britain's Bradley Wiggins — who was second — by 7 seconds. Sylvain Chavanel of France was third, also 7 seconds back.

Defending Tour champion Cadel (kuh_DEHL') Evans of Australia finished farther back.

ATH-JAMAICA TRIALS

Blake, Bolt move on in 200 at Jamaican trials

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake woke up early Saturday and advanced to the next round of the 200-meter race with ease at Jamaican Olympic trials.

Less than 12 hours after Blake shocked Bolt in the 100-meter final, the sprinters returned to National Stadium for 9 a.m. qualifying heats.

Running in front of maybe 200 fans and stadium workers, Bolt won in 21.21 seconds. In the next heat, Blake finished in 21.43 seconds.

On Friday night, Blake ran a career-best 9.75 to beat the world record holder by .11 seconds.

MLB-SCHEDULE

Looking at the afternoon schedule

UNDATED (AP) — There are quite a few day games in big-league baseball this afternoon. In New York, the Yankees are facing the White Sox in game 3 of their weekend series, while in Toronto the Blue Jays are playing host to the Angels, in Minneapolis it's the Twins and Royals in game 1 of a day night doubleheader, and in Baltimore it's the Orioles against the Indians in the third game of their weekend series.

In the National League this afternoon the Cardinals and Pirates resume their weekend set in St. Louis, the Nationals are in Atlanta, the Cubs are playing host to the Astros and the Reds are playing in San Francisco.

NASCAR-QUAKER STATE 400

Johnson has the pole for tonight's race

SPARTA, Ky. (AP) — NASCAR is at Kentucky Speedway for tonight's Quaker State 400. Jimmie Johnson starts from the pole after posting a lap of 181.818 mph to edge Kyle Busch by more than four-tenths of a second. Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick will start from the second row, ahead of Ryan Newman and Clint Bowyer (BOY'-ur).

PGA-AT&T

Play suspended, fans kept from course

BETHESDA, Md. (AP) — A massive storm overnight has suspended the third round of the AT&T National because of several trees on the ground at Congressional. Officials say even if the course gets ready, fans will not be allowed Saturday.

The storm caused power outages and downed trees throughout the region.

Among the problems at Congressional were scattered trees, including a large tree down on the 14th hole.

Volunteers also have been told to stay home Saturday.

Tournament officials will honor all Saturday tickets on Sunday. Workers were trying to get the course ready through the night, though it was unclear if it would be ready for Saturday.

Hunter Mahan (MAY'-han) is the leader at the midway point. He fired a 6-under-par 65 on Friday for a 7-under total, two strokes ahead of Jimmy Walker, Robbert Garrigus (GAR'-ih-guhs) and Brenden de Jonge (deh-YAHNG'). Tournament host Tiger Woods is tied for 11th at minus-2.

CHAMPIONS TOUR

Putting in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Defending champ Fred Couples was the leader when the third round began at the Senior Players Championship. Couples rolled a 7-under 63 yesterday for an 11-under total, putting him three shots ahead of Joe Daley when play began this morning. Tom Lehman (LAY'-mihn) is in third place, four shots back following a 66.

LPGA

Golf in Arkansas

ROGERS, Ark. (AP) — Veronica Felibert topped the leaderboard heading into the second round of the LPGA event in Arkansas. The 723rd-ranked player opened with a career-best 6-under-par 65 that included seven birdies and just 27 putts.

Shashan Fang opened the day one shot off the pace.