TENNIS: Serena, Azarenka advance
Title favorite Serena Williams and defending champion Victoria Azarenka advanced in contrasting styles today to the fourth round of the Australian Open.
Williams recovered from a break down in the second set to win six straight games and finish off a 6-1, 6-3 win over Japan’s Ayumi Morita in 66 minutes.
Top-ranked Azarenka struggled to hold off injured American Jamie Hampton 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
ETC.: Judge throws (Face)book at Manziel
Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel recently got a speeding ticket near Dallas and a local judge thought it newsworthy enough to post something on Facebook.
Ennis City manager Steve Howerton yesterday issued a news release saying Judge W. Lee Johnson’s Facebook post was “insensitive and inappropriate.” He said Johnson could face disciplinary action.
NL MVP Buster Posey agreed to an $8 million, one-year contract with the Giants, teammate Hunter Pence got a $13.8 million deal, and Jacoby Ellsbury settled with the Red Sox for $9 million as players and teams swapped figures in salary arbitration.
The Suns fired coach Alvin Gentry and are expected to name an interim coach from within the organization in the next 24 hours.