Venus in U.S. Open semis
Venus Williams continued her remarkable renaissance by returning to the U.S. Open semifinals for the first time since 2010.
Williams reached her third major semifinal of the season — something she last did 15 years ago — by edging two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (2) last night to a soundtrack of thunderous partisan support under a closed roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
The 37-year-old Williams, who won titles at Flushing Meadows way back in 2000 and 2001, trailed 3-1 in the third set before digging out of the hole with a little help: Kvitova’s eighth double-fault handed over the break that made it 3-3. Kvitova’s ninth double-fault gave Williams her initial match point in the tiebreaker.
Williams, who revealed in 2011 she had been diagnosed with an energysapping autoimmune disease, is the oldest women’s semifinalist at any Grand Slam tournament since Martina Navratilova at Wimbledon in 1994.
She will face unseeded Sloane Stephens tomorrow in the first allAmerican women’s semifinal in New York since 2002.
Stephens reached the final four for the first time by edging 16th-seeded Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (4).
Stephens’ late father, John Stephens, was the 1988 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year for the Patriots, and mother, Sybil Smith, was Boston University’s first All-American in women’s swimming.
In the men’s quarterfinals, 12th-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain had no trouble beating No. 29 Diego Schwartzman of Argentina 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.
Celtics sign another Bird
The Celtics signed rookie guard Jabari Bird to a two-way contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Bird, a Cal grad, was the 56th pick in this year’s NBA draft.
An active participant on the Celtics’ Summer League team in both Utah and Las Vegas, Bird averaged 10.0 points on 61.1 percent shooting and hauled in 4.0 rebounds in five games in Las Vegas . . . .
Restaurant and casino owner Tilman Fertitta agreed to buy the Houston Rockets from Leslie Alexander for an NBA-record $2.2 billion, a person with knowledge of the details said.
U.S. men escape with draw
Bobby Wood scored off a scramble in the 85th minute, and the United States escaped from Honduras with a 1-1 tie and important point in San Pedro Sula after nearly falling into a deep hole in World Cup qualifying.
Romell Quioto scored in the 27th minute after defender Omar Gonzalez failed to clear the ball with a slide tackle. Quioto was left with an open 11-yard shot that beat goalkeeper Brad Guzan to the far post, causing exuberant fans to stomp and shake Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano.
But Wood, a 73rd-minute substitute, scored his ninth international goal late in the game, avoiding a huge U.S. embarrassment and deflating fans who had been celebrating since the start.
The U.S. remained third in the North and Central American and Caribbean region with nine points, ahead of Honduras on goal differential.
UCF moves up grid game
UCF has moved its football game against Memphis up a day as a precaution to avoid any potential disruption by Hurricane Irma.
UCF announced the home game against the Tigers will be played on Friday at Spectrum Stadium, starting at 6:30 p.m. The American Athletic Conference opener for both teams was scheduled for Saturday at 8 p.m . . . .
A coach in the dugout using a wireless device will be able to speak directly to his catcher to call pitches in SEC baseball games and in the postseason tournament in 2018, a move expected to reduce the length of games . . . .
St. John’s recruit Sidney Wilson has transferred to UConn and the Huskies are seeking a waiver that would allow him to play this season . . . .
Notre Dame center Brianna Turner, who suffered a ruptured ACL in her left knee during the NCAA tournament in late March, will miss the upcoming season to continue rehabilitation.