Serena Williams upset in first round at Miami Open
Still rusty in her return from pregnancy, Serena Williams was unable to overcome a tough opening draw at the Miami Open and lost Wednesday to Naomi Osaka, 6-3, 6-2 at Key Biscayne, Fla.
The matchup worthy of a final came about because both players were unseeded. Osaka, who is 20 years old, is ranked a career-best 22nd, while Williams’ ranking is 491st after a layoff of more than a year.
Williams has been eliminated in the first round only four other times, most recently at the 2012 French Open. The latest defeat came at a tournament she has won a record eight times and considers her hometown event. DAVIS CUP TEAM PICKED >> Jack Sock, Sam Querrey, John Isner, Ryan Harrison and Steve Johnson have been picked for the U.S. Davis Cup team that will face Belgium in the quarterfinals next month in Nashville. The winner will face Croatia or Kazakhstan in the semifinals Sept. 14-16.
Baseball
ORIOLES, COBB FINALIZE DEAL >> Free agent pitcher Alex Cobb and the Baltimore Orioles have finalized a four-year, $57 million contract. Cobb, a 30-year-old righty, was 12-10 with a 3.66 ERA in 29 starts for Tampa Bay last season.
NFL
LIONS ADD WILLSON, WILLIAMS >> The Detroit Lions have signed tight end Luke Willson and bolstered their defensive line by adding Sylvester Williams.
FALCONS SIGN PAULSEN >> The Atlanta Falcons added depth at tight end by agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with seven-year veteran Logan Paulsen. The 31-year-old Paulsen played in 14 games, including one start, with the 49ers in 2017. He did not have a reception.
ENTIRE DRAFT TO AIR ON NETWORKS >> Every round of the NFL draft will air on network television next month for the first time as Fox will simulcast the NFL Network’s coverage of Days 1 and 2 and ESPN’s coverage of Day 3 will be shown on ABC.
Soccer
PRESS LEFT OFF U.S. WOMEN’S ROSTER >> Forward Christen Press was left off the U.S. national team roster in advance of two exhibition matches against Mexico next month. Both teams are preparing for World Cup qualifying this fall.
Figure skating
KOSTNER LEADS AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS >> Italy’s home favorite Carolina Kostner skated a perfectly executed and evocative program to take a surprise lead over Olympic champion Alina Zagitova of Russia in the short program at the world figure skating championships at Assago, Italy. The 31-year-old Kostner got scored a personal best of 80.27 points.
Zagitova, 15, was shaky and got a score of 79.51, well below her Olympic world record of 82.92. Japan’s Satoko Miyahara was third.
U.S. champion Bradie Tennell skated a personal and season best 68.76 at her first worlds, finishing seventh. Americans Mirai Nagasu and Mariah Bell are in ninth and 12th place, respectively.
Basketball
LIEBERMAN TO COACH IN BIG3 LEAGUE >> Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman will coach a team in the BIG3 this season. Lieberman, a former basketball star who has coached in the NBA, WNBA and NBA Development League, will lead the Power team. She replaces Clyde Drexler, who recently accepted a job as commissioner of the 3-on-3 league of former NBA players.
Motor sports
INDYCAR SIGNS DEAL WITH NBC >> IndyCar has signed a new media rights package with NBC Sports Group that will dramatically increase its exposure next season and move the Indianapolis 500 to a different network for the first time since 1965. The three-year deal with NBC begins in 2019 and gives NBC the entire IndyCar package. It has most recently been split between ABC and NBC Sports, and only ABC was permitted to air races on broadcast television. NBC was relegated to cable.