Djokovic, Brazil, MLB notebook, Nadal: Sports news round-up

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Djokovic eases past Nishikori to reach U.S. Open final

Novak Djokovic will face Juan Martin del Potro for the U.S. Open title after the Serb beat Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-4 6-2 in their semi-final on Friday. Djokovic, this year's Wimbledon champion, kept Nishikori under relentless pressure, carving out 17 break point opportunities and winning 80 per cent of his own first serve points to win in two hours and 23 minutes.

First-half goals give Brazil comfortable 2-0 win over the U.S.

Two goals in the first half from Roberto Firmino and Neymar gave Brazil an easy 2-0 victory over the United States in a friendly match in New Jersey on Friday. Firmino put the visitors ahead after 11 minutes when he tapped a volley home from close range after fine work on the right wing from Douglas Costa.

MLB notebook: White Sox's Kopech has torn UCL

Michael Kopech, the top pitching prospect of the Chicago White Sox, has a torn ulnar collateral ligament and likely will undergo Tommy John surgery, the team announced Friday. The team's announcement also said he will have a second opinion to confirm the diagnosis. If he has surgery, he should be ready for 2020 spring training, according to general manager Rick Hahn.

Nadal retires to send Del Potro into U.S. Open final

A weary and wounded world number one Rafael Nadal retired from his U.S. Open semi-final while trailing Juan Martin del Potro 7-6(3) 6-2 on Friday, sending the Argentine back to the Flushing Meadows final for the first time since his 2009 triumph. Nadal, who had never before retired from a U.S. Open match, showed signs of distress almost from the start as he limped noticeably after a gruelling 69-minute opening set.

Japan charmed by 'new heroine' Osaka after Grand Slam breakthrough

Naomi Osaka is hogging the headlines for all the right reasons in her native land after she became the first Japanese player to reach a Grand Slam singles final, with one major newspaper hailing her as "a new heroine Japan can be proud of".

The 20-year-old, who faces idol and 23-times Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in the U.S. Open final on Saturday, is also helping break new ground in Japan due to her multiracial identity: the daughter of a Haitian father and Japanese mother.

Serena, Osaka ready to write history in U.S. Open final

A year after Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka were both caught up in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, both will be trying to make history in the U.S. Open final on Saturday. For Williams, the joy of giving birth for the first time last September was quickly followed by a series of complications that led to multiple life-saving surgeries.

Americans Bryan and Sock win U.S. Open doubles title

American Mike Bryan claimed a record 18th Grand Slam men's doubles title when he and compatriot Jack Sock beat Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo 6-3 6-1 in the U.S. Open final on Friday. The meeting between the last two Wimbledon champions proved one-sided as Poland's Kubot and Brazil's Melo, seeded seventh, had no answer for the tactical game deployed by the third-seeded American duo.

Carroll: 'Don't care' about Wilson favoritism report

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll shrugged off a report Friday that alleged he contributed to fractures within the team in recent years by showing favoritism toward quarterback Russell Wilson. A Sports Illustrated article earlier in the day cited anonymous sources, including former and current Seahawks, that described the state of the locker room as negatively affected by the belief that Wilson receiver preferential treatment from Carroll. Some players suggested a locker-room divide led to the drastic offseason overhaul that saw former stars like Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett depart.

MLB roundup: Dodgers edge Rockies in the pivotal opener

Yasiel Puig hit a home run in his return from suspension, and Clayton Kershaw pitched six strong innings as the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers closed the gap on the first-place Colorado Rockies with a 4-2 victory Friday night. The Dodgers opened a key National League West series by moving a half-game behind the division-leading Rockies. The teams face each other two more times this weekend and three more times later this month in Los Angeles.

NFL notebook: Falcons lose Pro Bowl S Neal for season

Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl strong safety Keanu Neal will miss the rest of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Thursday's season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the team announced. Neal twice departed the game because of left knee issues. He didn't return after the second injury occurred in the third quarter. The tear was detected during an MRI exam on Friday.