Sports briefs

TENNIS

Djokovic tops Federer

Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3), to win the BNP Paribas Open yesterday in Indian Wells, Calif., for the third time. Federer rallied from a break down and a 5-3 deficit in the third set to force the tiebreaker, but he made a slew of mistakes to lose the 33rd meeting between the two. Federer still leads the series 17-16, having beaten Djokovic in three sets in the semifinals in Dubai two weeks ago. Djokovic will remain No. 2 in the world and Federer will rise three spots to No. 5 today in the ATP Tour rankings.

GOLF

Senden ends victory drought

John Senden ended more than seven years without a victory by making two late birdies, including a chip-in from 70 feet on the 16th hole at Innisbrook, for a one-shot victory at the Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla. Senden, two shots behind going into the final round, closed with a 1-under-par 70 for his first PGA Tour win since the 2006 John Deere Classic. The victory sends the 42-year-old Australian to the Masters next month. Kevin Na missed a long birdie putt on the final hole that would have forced a playoff.

Couples wins senior title

Fred Couples birdied the 18th hole and shot 66 to win the Champions Tour's Toshiba Classic in Newport Beach, Calif. He beat Bernhard Langer, Steve Pate and Colin Montgomerie by a stroke. Montgomerie shot a 9-under 62.

NFLEdelman re-ups with Pats

Wide receiver Julian Edelman, who was a free agent, is returning to the New England Patriots after a surprising breakout season. Edelman had a career-high 105 catches, six for touchdowns. In his four other seasons with the Patriots since being drafted in 2009, he had 69 receptions . . . Former Pittsburgh wideout Emmanuel Sanders signed with the Broncos. Sanders had 161 catches for 2,030 yards and 11 touchdowns in four seasons with the Steelers.

MOTOR RACING

Edwards beats rain at Bristol

Carl Edwards claimed a rain-soaked win at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee, where weather wreaked havoc on yet another Sprint Cup race. The rain caused two delays lasting more than five hours. During a caution with two laps to go, the skies opened up again and NASCAR had no choice but to declare the race over. Edwards led Roush Fenway Racing teammate Ricky Stenhouse Jr. across the finish line. Aric Almirola from Richard Petty Motorsports was third as Ford drivers swept the top three spots. It was Edwards' 22nd career victory, one that should clinch him a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

HOCKEY

Woman in goal for men's team

Shannon Szabados, 27, the goalie for Canada's gold-medal Olympic women's hockey team, made her debut in the men's Southern Professional Hockey League. Szabados had 27 saves as her Columbus Cottonmouths lost to the Knoxville Ice Bears, 4-3, on Saturday. No woman has played in an NHL regular-season game. -- AP