Glimpses of current sports in briefs

Zverev eases past lucky loser Polansky at U.S. Open

Fourth seed Alexander Zverev hardly broke a sweat despite the sweltering U.S. Open heat on Tuesday as the German dispatched Canadian lucky loser Peter Polansky 6-2 6-1 6-2 in a first-round match that lasted just over an hour and a half. The 21-year-old won 83 percent of his first serves, fired 10 aces and never faced a break point as he cruised past Polansky and set up a second-round showdown with Nicolas Mahut of France.

Federer makes short work of Nishioka in clammy New York

Roger Federer made light of energy-sapping conditions to brush past Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka 6-2 6-2 6-4 in his opening match at the U.S. Open on Tuesday. Where other players had slogged through long rallies as the temperature hit 90 Fahrenheit (32C), Federer kept his time on the court to a minimum with a masterclass of serve-and-volley tennis, pulling the industrious world number 177 from one side of the court to the other at will.

Weary Kyrgios puts heat on officials after first round win

Nick Kyrgios sweated out a 7-5 2-6 6-4 6-2 win over Radu Albot to reach the second round of the U.S. Open on Tuesday then the fiery Australian put the heat on officials to come up with an extreme conditions rule instead of making one up on the fly. With temperatures soaring above 32 degrees Celsius (90 Fahrenheit) amid crushing humidity, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) said a 10-minute heat break granted to women players before a third set would be extended to the men.

MLB notebook: Cardinals name Shildt full-time manager

The St. Louis Cardinals announced Tuesday that Mike Shildt will have the interim tag removed and become the team's full-time manager. Shildt received a three-year deal that covers the remainder of this season and the 2019 and 2020 campaigns, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Djokovic battles through the brutal heat to topple Fucsovics

Novak Djokovic overcame Hungary's Marton Fucsovics 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-0 in the U.S. Open first round on Tuesday in punishing temperatures that prompted officials to observe a heat rule for men's singles matches for the first time. The players took a 10-minute break between the third and fourth sets to help them cope with temperatures climbing above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius).

Mariners manager pays off the bet, matches closer's flashy haircut

As Scott Servais learned, a bet's a bet. But sometimes you can win by losing, especially if you are trying to lighten things up over a six-month, 162-game season.

Mercury set to soar on day two of U.S. Open

Players and fans are braced for more hot and muggy conditions in New York on day two of the U.S. Open on Tuesday when Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Caroline Wozniacki are set to play first-round matches. Organizers urged everyone attending the 50th edition of the tournament in Flushing Meadows Park to drink plenty of water and use sunscreen to protect themselves.

Sharapova edges past spirited Schnyder at Flushing Meadows

Maria Sharapova overcame a shaky start and survived a spirited fightback from Patty Schnyder to defeat the Swiss veteran 6-2 7-6(6) in the first round of the U.S. Open on Tuesday. Five-times Grand Slam champion Sharapova, who won at Flushing Meadows in 2006, struggled with her serve at times in the opening set but Schnyder failed to take full advantage.

No more heart medicine, Dodgers' Jansen says

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, who has struggled badly since returning from the disabled list after the second diagnosis of an irregular heartbeat, says he's had enough of his heart medicine and what it has done to his on-field performance. Since being activated and while on medication, which he says he discontinued on Sunday, Jansen went 0-2 with a blown save while allowing seven hits, five runs (all earned) and four home runs in three outings, one inning each.

NFL notebook: Cowboys owner Jones proposes 18-game schedule

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones offered a solution to shorten the NFL preseason, limit exposure to concussions and bring in a lot more money: an 18-game regular-season schedule. "I think candidly it's probably physically better for players than it is to have the longer preseason, the longer practicing," Jones said on 105.3 FM in Dallas on Tuesday. "Our studies show that we actually have a ramped-up injury situation with players during the preseason as opposed to the injury factor in the regular season."