Sports briefs
TENNIS
Serena wins title
Serena Williams captured the Rogers Cup in Toronto in commanding fashion yesterday, beating 10th-seed Samantha Stosur of Australia, 6-4, 6-2, for her first Canadian crown since 2001.
The victory was just the latest step in a remarkable comeback from injury and illness in which she has won two of the four tournaments she's played since being sidelined for 49 weeks. Williams was sidelined just days after her Wimbledon victory last summer, first with a foot injury suffered when she stepped on a piece of glass in a restaurant in Germany and then with blood clots in her lungs.
Djokovic unbeatable
Top-ranked Novak Djokovic won the Rogers Cup in Montreal for his ninth tournament victory of the year and record fifth in a season in an ATP Masters 1,000 event, beating sixth-seeded Mardy Fish, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. The 24-year-old Serb, the Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, is 29-0 this year on hard courts and 53-1 overall.
NCAA FOOTBALL
SEC remains intact
The Southeastern Conference said it's sticking with its 12-school membership for now. A statement from University of Florida president Bernie Machen, the chairman of the league's presidents and chancellors committee, said the group met yesterday and "reaffirmed our satisfaction with the present 12 institutional alignment." Machen said no action was taken regarding Texas A&M or any other schools. The Aggies reportedly are seeking to leave the Big 12.
Culpepper gets a tryout
The 49ers are adding Daunte Culpepper to their quarterback mix. After a three-hour practice yesterday, San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh said the team will bring in the 34-year-old Culpepper for a tryout today. Culpepper, the No. 11 pick in the 1999 draft, hasn't played in the NFL since an eight-game stint with Detroit in 2009.
AUTO RACING
Race postponed
NASCAR postponed the Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen International because of rain. The race is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. today, but rain is in the forecast in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. -- AP
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 17: Olympics a possibility for Long Beach wrestler? On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra talks with Long Beach wrestler Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez about pursuing a third state title and possibly competing in the Olympics in 2028, plus Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 17: Olympics a possibility for Long Beach wrestler? On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra talks with Long Beach wrestler Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez about pursuing a third state title and possibly competing in the Olympics in 2028, plus Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week.
