Associated Press
NEW YORK ó Serena Williams wound up and smacked a shot directly at Dinara Safina early in the second set of their U.S. Open semifinal.
The ball hit Safina near her shoulder, ending the point, and she quickly turned her back to the net, muttering as she walked away, ignoring Williams’ attempts to apologize.
Not much later Friday, Williams tried again to say “Sorry,” except this time both players were standing at the net after the American wrapped up a 6-3, 6-2 victory. Now Williams can take aim at a third championship at Flushing Meadows and ninth Grand Slam title overall.
“I just am excited to obviously still be here,” Williams said, “and, 10 years later, still putting up a major fight.”
It’s her first U.S. Open final since 2002, when she beat older sister Venus.
GOLF
ST. LOUIS ó Camilo Villegas and Steve Stricker were excited to be playing golf Friday for different reasons, and it showed during a soggy start to the BMW Championship.
Villegas, coming off a tie for third last week that allowed him to advance in the PGA Tour Playoffs, continued his good form with eight birdies on long, soft Bellerive Country Club for a 5-under 65 that gave him a one-shot lead.
– HELSINGOER, Denmark ó In her final tournament in Europe, Annika Sorenstam shot a 2-under 71 to drop five strokes behind leader Martina Eberl after the first round of the Nykredit Masters. The 37-year-old Sorenstam will retire at the end of the season.
– SACRAMENTO, Calif. ó A California state senator said Thursday that he’s seeking a legal opinion to determine whether the LPGA Tour’s language requirement for players violates state or federal law.
Sen. Leland Yee is upset about a policy that requires players to speak effective English starting in 2009. The rule is effective immediately for new players, while veteran members will be suspended if they can’t pass an oral English test.
The LPGA Tour expects to have the policy written by the end of the year.
TRACK
BRUSSELS, Belgium ó Usain Bolt rallied against cold, wind and Asafa Powell to win the 100 meters in 9.77 seconds Friday at the Van Damme Memorial.
It was the fastest run into a headwind, and matched the sixth-fastest time in history despite the chilly temperature of 59 degrees.
– SAN ANTONIO ó Disgraced sprinter Marion Jones was released Friday from federal prison after completing most of her six-month sentence for lying about her steroid use.
Jones left a halfway house in San Antonio around 8 a.m. Jones, who has a house in Austin, will remain on probation.
COLLEGE HOOPS
CHARLOTTE ó Charlotte backup point guard Michael Gerrity has left the team and will transfer at the end of the fall semester.
Coach Bobby Lutz said Friday he was “very surprised and disappointed” with the decision.
Gerrity transferred to Charlotte from Pepperdine in 2006 and had to sit out the first semester last season under the NCAA’s transfer rules. He then averaged 4.7 points and led the team with 3.5 assists in 26 games.
Gerrity was expected to again back up Dijuan Harris this season.