In brief: Williams rallies to win Sony Ericsson Open
Serena Williams survived a dismal start and erased two championship points in the second set Saturday to win the Sony Ericsson Open, beating top-ranked Justine Henin 0-6, 7-5, 6-3, in Key Biscayne, Fla.
The comeback was nothing new for Williams, who revived her career by winning the Australian Open in January for her eighth Grand Slam title. Once ranked No. 1, she fell to 140th last July because of long layoffs but will climb back to 11th next week.
The match was 39 minutes old before Williams won a game, and Henin was twice one point from the title serving at 5-4 in the second set.
Qualifier Guillermo Canas, 29, and 19-year-old Novak Djokovic will meet for the men’s title today.
Football
Briggs saga continues
The standoff between Lance Briggs and the Chicago Bears took another turn when general manager Jerry Angelo said he wants the Pro Bowl linebacker to return next season but a multiyear contract is unlikely.
“I’m not ruling it out 100 percent, but in all probability, that’s not likely to happen,” Angelo said.
The Bears and Briggs have been at odds since the team slapped the franchise player tag on him in mid-February. Briggs has threatened to sit out the season or to only report for the final six games to qualify as serving one year as a franchise player.
“Dan Wilkinson failed to report to the Denver Broncos, so the trade with the Miami Dolphins was declared void.
The Broncos sent a sixth-round pick to the Dolphins on March 2 for the 14-year veteran defensive tackle. They extended an earlier deadline for the defensive lineman to report, but the deal was voided when he failed to show up for his physical.
Miscellany
Miller wins super-G
Bode Miller won the super-G at the U.S. Alpine Championships in Girdwood, Alaska, tying the men’s record with his ninth national title.
Miller joins Dick Durrance and Tiger Shaw for the most titles at the U.S. championships.
He still has the slalom today and giant slalom Tuesday to break the record at Alyeska Resort.
“Olympic champion Anna Meares of Australia broke her world record in the women’s 500-meter time trial at the world track cycling championships in Palma De Mallorca, Spain.
The 21-year-old clocked 33.58 seconds in the two-lap event.
“Ten years after his last fight, former IBF champion Henry Maske unanimously outpointed American Virgil Hill in Munich, Germany.
The judges scored it 117-110, 116-113 and 117-110 for Maske, who retired after Hill beat him in 1996.