Serena Williams defeats Venus to retain No. 1 ranking

Serena Williams has retained the No. 1 ranking by beating her sister in the semifinals of the Sony Ericsson Open at Key Biscayne, Fla.

Williams defeated older sister Venus, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, Thursday night in their 20th sibling showdown. Each has won 10 times.

Serena needed to reach the final to retain the top ranking she has held since Feb. 2.

“Even though she’s my sister, I’m still here to win,” Venus said. “I can’t give anyone anything. So I’m disappointed that I lost tonight, whether or not she kept the ranking or not.”

Serena’s opponent Saturday will be 19-year-old Victoria Azarenka, who beat Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.

When Serena closed out her victory, she hopped in delight, raised a fist and shouted “Yes!” She then met her sister at the net with a handshake and slap on the back.

Earlier on the men’s side, top-ranked Rafael Nadal suffered a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (3) loss to Juan Martin del Potro in a quarterfinal match.

Del Potro had lost all nine sets in their four previous matches. The No. 6-seeded del Potro’s opponent today will be No. 4 Andy Murray, who beat No. 8 Fernando Verdasco, 6-1, 6-2.

JURISPRUDENCE

Agent: Vick wants September return

An agent for suspended NFL star Michael Vick told a bankruptcy court in Newport News, Va., that he hopes the ex-Atlanta Falcons quarterback could return to the league by September.

Joel Segal testified as part of a hearing to assess Vick’s plan to emerge from bankruptcy, which was designed with the goal of Vick’s returning to a professional football career. Vick, who left a federal prison in Kansas last week to travel to Virginia, was in court for the first time in the case. He is scheduled to testify today.

To return to a team, Vick still must apply to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to be reinstated.

--

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth surrendered in court to face charges that he was driving drunk when he struck and killed a pedestrian after a night of drinking at a ritzy Miami Beach hotel. He later was released and expressed condolences to the family of victim Mario Reyes.

--

American software billionaire Larry Ellison scored a significant victory in his quest to win the America’s Cup when San Francisco’s Golden Gate Yacht Club was declared the Challenger of Record in a unanimous ruling by New York’s top court.

--

Drunk-driving charges have been dismissed against horse trainer Julio Canani, who trains The Pamplemousse and will saddle the early favorite in Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby.

GOLF

Houston Open suspended by wind

The first round of the Shell Houston Open at Humble, Texas, was suspended because of high winds.

Half of the 72-player field teed off before play was halted for the day in mid-afternoon.

Lee Westwood shot a four-under-par 32 on the front nine to take the lead before the horns sounded across the course. Westwood sank 18-foot birdie putts on the first two holes, then added a 45-footer on the par-three ninth.

ETC.

Lucas undergoes surgery for cancer

Former Portland Trail Blazers star Maurice Lucas has undergone surgery for bladder cancer.

The 57-year-old Lucas is now an assistant coach on the team he helped lead to the 1977 NBA title. The team said he had surgery Tuesday and will need six to eight weeks to recover.

--

Defending Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton was disqualified from his third-place finish in last weekend’s Australian Grand Prix for giving misleading evidence to race stewards. Toyota’s Jarno Trulli was reinstated to his third-place finish.

--

Olympic skiing gold medalist Ted Ligety will be in a brace for two weeks but is not expected to need surgery after injuring ligaments in his right knee at the U.S. Alpine Championships last weekend.