Sports news briefs: Djokovic finds comfort zone early at U.S. Open

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs. Djokovic finds comfort zone early at U.S. Open

Novak Djokovic was feeling right at home on the Arthur Ashe Stadium hardcourt on Monday, which may be bad news for anyone hoping to deny the defending champion from adding to his Grand Slam tally. The top-seeded Serbian said the surface of the blue court during his 6-4 6-1 6-4 first-round win over Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena was very similar to last year when he picked up his third U.S. Open title. India's Nagal exits U.S. Open with head held high

Making a Grand Slam main draw debut against Roger Federer at a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium would have been overwhelming for many players but unheralded Indian Sumit Nagal handled the occasion like a seasoned veteran, earning a string of new admirers at the U.S. Open. The 22-year-old showed little sign of nerves in Monday's first-round match, coming out swinging to win the opening set against the five-time champion before exiting 4-6 6-1 6-2 6-4. Osaka, Nadal, Coco open campaigns on day two of U.S. Open

World number one Naomi Osaka begins her U.S. Open title defense on day two of the championships on Tuesday but there is likely to be as much interest in Cori "Coco" Gauff's main draw debut at Flushing Meadows. In the men's draw, three-times champion Rafa Nadal opens the evening session on the main Arthur Ashe Stadium show court with his first-round match against Australian John Millman. Serena routs Sharapova to reach U.S. Open second round

Serena Williams trounced old foe Maria Sharapova 6-1 6-1 in their blockbuster first-round clash at the U.S. Open on Monday to get her quest for a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title off to a flying start. Williams, in her first U.S. Open match since her infamous row with the chair umpire, overshadowed her loss in last year's final, used her trademark power to overwhelm Sharapova in the first New York meeting between two of the sport's biggest names. NFL notebook: Reich rallies Colts behind Brissett

Andrew Luck won't play this season, and coach Frank Reich wants his Indianapolis Colts locker room to rally behind new starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett. "On one hand, we can respect and honor the player and the teammate (Luck) was," Reich said. "At the same time, we can share excitement and enthusiasm about the team we have going forward and the journey ahead of us." MLB notebook: Braves SS Swanson returns from IL

Sidelined for more than a month due to a foot injury, Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson was activated for Atlanta's Monday game against the Colorado Rockies in Denver. Swanson had been on the 10-day injured list since July 24 because of a right foot contusion. He went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the Braves' 3-1 loss Monday. Federer overcomes Nagal scare to reach the second round

Roger Federer gave India's Sumit Nagal a harsh introduction to Grand Slam tennis as the five-time champion weathered an early storm for a 4-6 6-1 6-2 6-4 win on Monday to reach the second round of the U.S. Open. When the match began it was Federer who surprisingly looked intimidated under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights as he sprayed errors all around the court but the Swiss great woke from his slumber in time to turn the match resoundingly in his favor. Mladenovic sends Kerber packing from U.S. Open

Kristina Mladenovic upset former world number one Angelique Kerber 7-5 0-6 6-4 on Monday to put an early end to the 2016 U.S. Open champion's bid for a second trophy at Flushing Meadows. Mladenovic suffered back spasms that twice required medical attention in a second set dominated by the German but recovered in the decider, breaking Kerber in the first game to seize the momentum. Venezuelan politicians may take the field if MLB bars players, socialist party No. 2 says

Venezuela's upcoming baseball season will go on "even if we have to play ourselves," socialist party No. 2 Diosdado Cabello said on Monday, criticizing a move by Major League Baseball (MLB) to restrict players from participating because of U.S. sanctions. MLB said last week it would suspend involvement in the Venezuelan league, which starts play in October, while it awaited word from the U.S. government on whether its players' participation was consistent with Washington's sanctions on the OPEC nation, which are meant to force out socialist President Nicolas Maduro. MLB roundup: Phils, Rockies hit walk-off homers

Sean Rodriguez led off the bottom of the 11th inning with a home run to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 6-5 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night. Rodriguez stroked a 1-2 slider from Michael Feliz (2-4) down the left-field line for his fourth homer of the season. The Phillies moved to within one game of the second National League wild-card spot, currently held by the idle Chicago Cubs.