Associated Press
MELBOURNE, Australia ó Serena Williams didn’t have to deal with any unexpected distractions Saturday, advancing to the fourth round at the Australian Open.
Williams, who won the title here in 2003, 2005 and 2007, started play on Rod Laver Arena on day six with a 6-1, 6-4 win over No. 41-ranked Peng Shuai of China.
The nine-time major winner’s victory was routine compared to the previous day at the first major of the season.
A half-naked streaker ran onto the court during Williams’ doubles victory with sister Venus. Then ethnic violence flared after Novak Djokovic of Serbia beat Bosnian-born American Amer Delic, leaving a woman injured, two men charged with riotous behavior, 30 people ejected by police and broken chairs scattered over the lawn area at Melbourne Park.
Serena Williams next faces the winner of the later match between No. 20 Amelie Mauresmo, the 2006 Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, and No. 13 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
A skirmish between ethnic rivals, the streaker and an upset of Ana Ivanovic combined for an extraordinary Friday.
Serbian and Bosnian fans threw chairs at each other outside Rod Laver Arena following Djokovic’s victory. As the players hugged at the net, the first of dozens of chairs flew on the lawn near a big-screen TV showing the match.
Ivanovic’s hopes of a return trip to the final fell apart in a 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-2 loss to 19-year-old Alisa Kleybanova of Russia.
The afternoon violence also overshadowed the night match between second-ranked Roger Federer and former No. 1 Marat Safin. The Swiss star won 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (5).
“Terribly disappointing,” Federer said of the fan conflict. “Fans, 99.9 percent of the time, are always great. Then you have some people who carry it outside of the tennis courts, lose their minds. It’s unfortunate.”
BASEBALL
NEW YORK ó Adding depth among their backup outfielders, the New York Mets agreed Friday to a $600,000, one-year contract with Cory Sullivan.
– ARLINGTON, Texas ó Free agent right-hander Ben Sheets met again this week with the Texas Rangers, the team that plays not far from his Dallas home.
– ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. ó He’s headed off to play for the rival Boston Red Sox now, but former Tampa Bay outfielder Rocco Baldelli wants Rays fans to know how much he appreciated their support over the past nine years.
GOLF
LA QUINTA, Calif. ó Pat Perez, his game steady if not spectacular, shot a 5-under 67 on Friday to remain two shots in front at the Bob Hope Classic.
ECU
GREENVILLEó Patrick Pinkney will be back for a sixth season at East Carolina.
School officials said Friday that the NCAA granted a request for an extra year for the quarterback. He missed all of 2005 while recovering from a shoulder injury and multiple surgeries.
Pinkney completed 61 percent of his passes last season for 2,675 yards and 13 touchdowns. His efficient play helped the Pirates upset Virginia Tech and West Virginia, and their Conference USA title was the program’s first league championship since 1976.
SWIMMING
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. ó Another award for Michael Phelps: The record-setting swimmer was chosen the U.S. Olympic Committee’s sportsman of the year.