Sports in brief
TENNIS
Serena backs up her
Wimbledon victory
Serena Williams overcame a shaky start and two service breaks to beat lucky loser Coco Vandeweghe, 7-5, 6-3, Sunday for her second straight Bank of the West Classic title in Stanford, Calif. Eight days after winning Wimbledon, Williams saved a set point and won the final four games of the opening set. It was the 43rd WTA Tour championship of Williams' career, tying older sister Venus for the most among active players.
The first All-American WTA final on home soil in eight years was hardly a one-sided affair. Vandeweghe, 20, failed to make it out of qualifying and got into the main draw when Bojana Jovanovski withdrew with an injury. She moved the 14-time major singles champion all over the court.
Top-seeded John Isner defended his Hall of Fame Tennis Championships title by beating Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, 7-6 (1), 6-4, in Newport, R.I. The American was not broken in the match to earn his fourth career ATP title.
SOCCERRed Bulls tie Seattle
Fredy Montero came off the bench in the second half to score, giving the Seattle Sounders a 2-2 tie with the host New York Red Bulls. In the 67th minute, Montero pushed the ball past goalkeeper Bill Gaudette, who was making his debut after being acquired from the Los Angeles Galaxy. Sebastien Le Toux, also making his debut with the Red Bulls, tied the game in the 24th minute. Joel Lindpere gave the Red Bulls (9-5-5) a lead in the 61st.
Blatter: Strip title
FIFA should strip former boss Joao Havelange of his honorary title, president Sepp Blatter said, days after fresh allegations that Havelange took millions in kickback money while he was president. -- AP
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