Serena to serve it up at new SJSU tournament
The women’s tournament formerly known as the Bank of the West Classic announced Thursday that Serena Williams will be in the field.
The Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic, which will be played July 30 to Aug. 5 at San Jose State’s new tennis venue, will include the 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams, Maria Sharapova and U. S. Open finalist and this tournament’s defending champion Madison Keys.
Williams, 36, is trying to return to the tour after takingmore than a year off for the birth of her daughter.
Williams has the won the Bay Area women’s tournament three times, most recently in 2014 at Stanford.
“I am looking forward to opening my summer season at the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic and competing in the new venue,” Williams said in a news release. “This tournament plays an historic role in women’s tennis, and as a California native the fans in the Bay Area have always been incredibly supportive.” NADAL ON A ROLL » Rafael Nadal broke John McEn- roe’s record of 49 straight sets won on the same surface by beating Diego Schwartzman 6- 3, 6- 4 in the third round of the Madrid Open. Nadal extended his winning streak to 50 consecutive sets on clay, eclipsing the mark McEnroe established on carpet in 1984.
One the women’s side, top- ranked Simona Halep and Maria Sharapova both lost in the quarterfinals. Halep lost to Karolina Pliskova 6- 4, 6- 3, ending her bid to become a threetime consecutive champion in Madrid. Kiki Bertens came from behind to beat Sharapova 4- 6, 6-2, 6-3.
Football
JOHNSON RELEASED BY RAIDERS » The Raiders released quarterback Josh Johnson, who was signed in March as the fourth quarterback. Johnson has been a NFL journeyman, playing for 11 teams since Jon Gruden and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted himNo. 160 overall in 2008. Oakland’s quarterback room is back to what it was in 2017: Derek Carr, EJManuel and Connor Cook. LIONS’ OUT » Detroit PATRICIA Lions SPEAKS coach Matt Patricia said he was “falsely accused” in a 1996 sexual assault allegation that resurfaced this week, and he indicated that the matter has not been an issue as he has climbed from job to job in the years since.
Patricia held a brief news conference one day after a Detroit News report that he and a friend were indicted 22 years ago by a Texas grand jury on one count each of aggravated sexual assault. They were accused of assaulting a woman on South Padre Island. The accuser did not testify and the case was dismissed.
“I was innocent then, and I am innocent now,” Patricia said. NEW VOICES FOR ‘ MNF’ » Three new voices will work ESPN’sMonday night games this NFL season: play- by- play announcer Joe Tessitore, analysts Jason Witten and Booger McFarland. Tessitore has been one of the network’s top announcers for 16 years on boxing, college football and basketball, including calling the College Football Playoff semifinals the past two years. It will be his first NFL assignment.
Witten, one of the sport’s finest tight ends and a likely Hall of Famer, retired from the Dallas Cow- boys last week to move into the booth.
McFarland won two Super Bowls as a player and has been an analyst for ESPN and SEC Network for four years. He will be “Monday Night Football’s” first field-level analyst. SINGLETARY BACK IN FOOTBALL » Pro Football Hall of Famer and former 49ers coach Mike Singletary has been hired as head coach of the Memphis franchise in the Alliance of American Football that will begin play in February. Memphis joins Orlando and Atlanta as teams in the new league overseen by another Hall of Famer, Bill Polian, and TV executive Charlie Ebersol. Singletary’s team will play home games in the Liberty Bowl.
Horse racing
BAFFER T SAYS JUSTIFY IS OK » Trainer Bob Baffert says Justify is doing well and is still on track for the Preakness after the Kentucky Derby winner was treated for a bruised heel on his left hind foot.
Baffert says Justify was irritated by some gravel on Sunday morning outside the barn at Churchill Downs after winning the Derby on a muddy track. Baffert said that Justify’s feet were tender following the race but added the problem is behind him after quick treatment.
Justify is undefeated in four starts and expected to be a heavy favorite against Tampa Bay Derby winner Quip and others at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on May 19.
Motorsports
MIAMI WANTS F1 RACE » Formula One’s efforts to expand its reach across the U. S. got a key boost when Miami city commissioners agreed to enter formal negotiations to host a race as early as next year. The unanimous vote allows city staff to work out a contract with F1 that could be voted on later this summer. Miami officials have said they hope for a 10-year deal on a race that could be staged in October, toward the end of the annual F1 season.
Formula One has been looking to expand in the U. S. since the U. S. Grand Prix was revived in 2012 at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Miami would be the fourth race in North America.
Hockey
TEAM USA EDGES LATVIA » Cam Atkinson scored in overtime to give the United States a 3-2 win over Latvia, its fourth straight victory at the world championships in Herning, Denmark. Captain Connor McDavid scored a hat trick to lead Canada to a 5- 0 win over Norway, while the Czech Republic beat Russia 4- 3 in overtime.
The U.S. and Canada top Group B in Herning with 10 points followed by Finland on nine.
Cycling
LEAD CHANGE AT GIRO » Simon Yates took the overall lead of the Giro d’Italia after the British rider finished second on stage six, just behind Mitchelton-Scott teammate Esteban Chaves on the summit of Sicily’s Mount Etna. Yates, who won the young rider classification at last year’s Tour de France, replaces Rohan Dennis in the leader’s pink jersey and has a 16- second advantage over defending champion Tom Dumoulin. The Giro heads to the Italian mainland for today’s seventh stage from Pizzo to Praia a Mare.