Sports News Roundup: Serena Williams puts off retirement with U.S. Open first round win; Tennis-Medvedev whacks aside American Kozlov to begin U.S. Open title defence and more

The Russian had an inconsistent run-up to Flushing Meadows but was back to top form on the court where he won his maiden Grand Slam title a year ago, sending across 10 aces and neutralising Kozlov's serve. Tennis-Relationship with tennis will continue after retirement, says Williams Serena Williams is leaving tennis but her love affair with the sport will continue assured the 23-times Grand Slam winner on Monday, after reaching the second round of the U.S. Open which could be her competitive swan song.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Serena Williams puts off retirement with U.S. Open first round win

Serena Williams signalled she is not quite ready for retirement advancing to the second round of the U.S. Open on Monday with a scrappy 6-3 6-3 win over Danka Kovinic. The victory over the 80th-ranked Kovinic, just her second this year, will be a confidence boost for Williams but the path to a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam now gets treacherous.

Tennis-Medvedev whacks aside American Kozlov to begin U.S. Open title defence

World number one Daniil Medvedev opened his U.S. Open title defence by walloping American Stefan Kozlov 6-2 6-4 6-0 in sweltering conditions on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday. The Russian had an inconsistent run-up to Flushing Meadows but was back to top form on the court where he won his maiden Grand Slam title a year ago, sending across 10 aces and neutralising Kozlov's serve.

NFL cuts roundup: Titans to release P Brett Kern

The Tennessee Titans informed longtime punter Brett Kern on Monday that he will be released. Kern, 36, has punted for the Titans since 2009 and is a three-time Pro Bowler (2017, 2018, 2019). He was also first-team All-Pro in 2019. Kern averaged 44.8 yards per punt last season.

MLB roundup: Aaron Judge's 50th HR isn't enough for Yanks

Shohei Ohtani hit a two-run home run as the Los Angeles Angels got the upper hand in the first round of a three-game MVP showdown, holding on to defeat the New York Yankees 4-3 on Monday in Anaheim, Calif. Yankees MVP candidate Aaron Judge hit his own home run, his 50th of the season, but his chances were limited after he also was intentionally walked twice.

Tennis-Qualifier Galan produces epic first-round upset over Tsitsipas

Colombian qualifier Daniel Galan stunned fourth-seeded Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-0 6-1 3-6 7-5 in an epic first-round showdown at the U.S. Open on Monday, winning the affair on the ninth match point. Playing in the main draw for the first time, Galan appeared right at home on tennis' biggest stage, claiming the first 11 games as Tsitsipas struggled to find any of his usual finesse and won just five of his service points in the first set.

Tennis-Kyrgios all-business in 'uncomfortable' win over friend Kokkinakis

Australian Nick Kyrgios overcame his despair at seeing dear friend Thanasi Kokkinakis on the other side of the net on Monday, outclassing his compatriot 6-3 6-4 7-6(4) in the first round of the U.S. Open. The doubles partners won together at the Australian Open but landed on opposite sides at the year's final major, where an in-form Kyrgios kept his sublime year on track, never facing a break at Arthur Ashe Stadium in the battle of the "Special Ks".

Tennis-Second seed Kontaveit can't wait for Serena showdown

Anett Kontaveit is guaranteed a frenzied atmosphere in her next outing at Flushing Meadows against Serena Williams but rather than being nervous about it, the second-seeded Estonian said she cannot wait for the "unique experience". With the 40-year-old Williams indicating the U.S. Open could be the final event of her storied career, the hardcourt Grand Slam set an all-time night-session attendance record on Monday with 29,402 flocking to the sprawling site.

New Jersey man gets 3 years prison in Tom Brady Super Bowl ring fraud

A New Jersey man was sentenced on Monday to three years in prison after admitting he posed as a former New England Patriots football player to buy and sell Super Bowl rings, supposedly as gifts for the family of star quarterback Tom Brady. Scott Spina, 25, of Roseland, New Jersey, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David Carter in Santa Ana, California, after pleading guilty in February to five felony counts of mail fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Tennis-Holt stuns fellow American Fritz in Grand Slam main draw debut

Qualifier Brandon Holt, the son of former two-time U.S. Open champion Tracy Austin, made a memorable Grand Slam main draw debut on Monday by staging an upset 6-7(3) 7-6(1) 6-3 6-4 win over fellow American 10th seed Taylor Fritz. Ranked 303rd in the world, the 24-year-old Holt was awarded a qualifying wild card at Flushing Meadows and was making his Tour-level debut against Fritz, the highest-ranked American, at 12th.

Tennis-Relationship with tennis will continue after retirement, says Williams

Serena Williams is leaving tennis but her love affair with the sport will continue assured the 23-time Grand Slam winner on Monday, after reaching the second round of the U.S. Open which could be her competitive swan song. Having signalled her intention to retire in a Vogue article in early August, saying she was "evolving away from tennis", Williams has not quite been able to bring herself to say definitively that Flushing Meadows is indeed where she will take her final bow.