FRENCH OPEN
Second major is underway
PARIS (AP) β Women’s top seed and defending champion Serena Williams has won her first match at the French Open. Williams advanced with a straight-sets win over a wild-card entry from France. She improved to 54-1 in first-round matches at majors. The only loss came at the 2012 French Open against the 111th-ranked player. Her sister Venus, who is seeded 29th, won her opening match as well.
On the men’s side of things fourth seed Roger Federer was a winner as was 10th seed John Isner (IHZ’-nur). The American’s best showings in the French Open were a pair of third-round finishes in 2010 and 2013.
AUTO RACING
Three major races on the schedule
MONTE CARLO, MONACO (AP) β Nico (NEE’-koh) Rosberg was the winner of the Monaco Grand Prix with Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton second. The results pushed Rosberg past Hamilton in the overall drivers’ standings. Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo (rih-KAR’-doh) was third after a tight finish over the final laps with Hamilton.
Four-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel’s frustrating season with Red Bull continued as he abandoned early with a power unit failure.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) β Ed Carpenter started from the pole in this afternoon’s Indianapolis 500 but all eyes are on NASCAR driver Kurt Busch, who is competing in both the 500 and the Sprint Cup World 600 this evening. He is just the fourth driver to compete in both races on the same day. Tony Kanaan (kuh-NAHN’) is the defending champion of the Indy 500.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β Jimmie Johnson is starting from the pole in this evening’s Coca-Cola World 600 Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The seventh-fastest qualifier is the man people will be watching, as Kyle Busch is also competing in this afternoon’s Indianapolis 500.
Following Johnson on the grid are Brad Keselowski and Kasey Kahne (kayn).
NBA PLAYOFFS
Spurs look to go up 3-0
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) β The Spurs and Thunder are squaring off tonight in the third game of their NBA Western Conference final. Visiting San Antonio starts the day with a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series after taking the opening games at home, 122-105 and 112-77. Following tonight’s game the fourth game will be in Oklahoma City Tuesday night.
NHL PLAYOFFS
Canadiens hope to equal things up
NEW YORK (AP) β After winning the third game of their series with the Rangers in New York Thursday night the Montreal Canadiens are looking to even up their Eastern Conference final with a win tonight. The Rangers won the first two games in Montreal but lost Thursday on their home ice, 3-2 in overtime.
Each team might be without a player. Montreal definitely will not have the services of Brandon Prust, who was suspended on Friday by the league for a blindside hit on New York’s Derek Stepan, who suffered a broken jaw that required surgery. His status for tonight’s game is uncertain.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Reds host Cards tonight
UNDATED (AP) β A pair of National League Central Division clubs are meeting in tonight’s only baseball game on the schedule. Milwaukee continues to set the pace in the division with the Cardinals and Reds not far behind. Tonight St. Louis is playing in Cincinnati with Adam Wainwright going for his eighth win of the season for the Cards against Mike Leake. Wainwright is 7-2 with an excellent earned run average of 1.85 while Leake, who is 2-3, has a fine ERA of 2.91.
GOLF-COLONIAL
Wide open finish for the PGA
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) β The Colonial remains a wide-open tournament as the final round begins. Hideki Matsuyama (hih-DEH’-kee maht-soo-YAH’-mah), David Toms, Chad Campbell and Chris Stroud start the day at 7-under-par.
Kevin Chappell fired the day’s best round, a 63 that left him one shot back.
GOLF-SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Ready for the final round
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) β Colin (KAH’-lihn) Montgomerie is the leader as the final round of the Senior PGA Championship starts play. He moved in front with a 3-under 68 to finish play at 7-under. Bernhard Langer was second, one shot off the pace and one ahead of Marco Dawson and Bart Bryant.
Tom Watson starts the final round four shots off the pace after a 1-over 72.
GOLF-LPGA
New leader for the women
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) β Anna Nordqvist had a one-shot lead after three rounds of the Airbus LPGA Classic. She shot a third-round 6-under 66 to grab a one-shot lead over Catriona (kah-TRIHN’-uh) Matthew. Stacy Lewis is two back as today’s play begins.
