NEW YORK (AP) β Top seed Serena Williams is two match victories away from her third straight U.S. Open singles title. Williams dropped the first three games of her opening set on Wednesday before advancing to the semifinals with a 6-3, 6-2 win over No. 11 Flavia Pennetta. Williams next faces Ekaterina Makarova, who breezed through a 6-4, 6-2 win over Victoria Azarenka.
NEW YORK (AP) β No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic (JOH’-koh-vihch) will take on Kei Nishikori (kay nee-shee-KOHR’-ee) in the U.S. Open semifinals. Djokovic needed about 3 Β½ hours to knock out eighth seed Andy Murray, 7-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4. Nishikori advanced by winning his second straight five-set match, ousting No. 3 Stan Wawrinka (vahv-RIHN’-kah) 3-6, 7-5, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4.
UNDATED (AP) β Michael Sam has been signed to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. The NFL’s first openly gay player landed in Dallas after being released in the Rams’ final cutdown to the 53-man roster on Saturday. The Cowboys are seeking help with their pass rush because of injuries and the offseason release of franchise sacks leader DeMarcus Ware.
LOS ANGELES (AP) β UCLA says running back Steven Manfro will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Manfro was taken off the practice field on a cart after injuring his knee Tuesday. The junior caught 37 passes for 400 yards and two touchdowns over the last two seasons and was also featured on special teams.
BILBAO, Spain (AP) β Kenneth Faried (fah-REED’) scored 16 points and the U.S. clinched the No. 1 seed in their group at the Basketball World Cup by whipping the Dominican Republic 106-71. DeMarcus Cousins came off the bench and added 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting as the Americans improved to 4-0.
