TENNIS

Williams, Sharapova to face off in Sony final

Five-time champion Serena Williams advanced to the Sony Open final by drubbing Agnieszka Radwanska 6-0, 6-3, at Key Biscayne, Fla., on Thursday.

Williams, ranked No. 1, will play four-time runner-up Maria Sharapova for the title Saturday.

Radwanska, who also lost to Williams in last year’s Wimbledon final, fell to 1-11 against No. 1 players.

The No. 3-seeded Sharapova is hoping to plug one of the few holes in her resume with a victory Saturday. She completed a career Grand Slam by winning the French Open last year but has never won Key Biscayne.

• Andy Murray, the 2009 champion and runner-up last year, advanced to the semifinals by beating No. 9 Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-3.

Murray’s opponent Friday night will be No. 8-seeded Richard Gasquet, who beat No. 4 Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-3. The other semifinal will match No. 3 David Ferrer against 34-year-old Tommy Haas, who upset Novak Djokovic.

GOLF

PGA TOUR: The putter D.A. Points once took from his mother paid off in the Houston Open at Humble, Texas.

Points opened with five straight birdies and wound up with an 8-under 64 to take the lead among the early starters in the first round. He had a one-shot lead over Cameron Tringale.

Points first borrowed the Ping Anser from his mother during his junior days. More recently, he asked the company to clean it up for him, and ended up with birdies on half of his holes.

Phil Mickelson was at 4 under until he lost four shots on his final four holes for a 72.

EUROPEAN TOUR: Marcel Siem of Germany had two eagles while shooting an 8-under 64 for a three-stroke lead after the opening round of the Hassan II Trophy at Magadir, Morocco.

Alvaro Velasco of Spain is second after making four birdies on the back nine for a 67.

An English trio of David Horsey, Graeme Storm and Simon Wakefield each shot 68.

FOOTBALL

NFL: The Washington Redskins signed free-agent linebacker Darryl Tapp, who has played seven NFL seasons with the Seattle Sea-hawks and Philadelphia Eagles.

• Free agent tight end Fred Davis intends to continue weighing his options after meeting with the Buffalo Bills for a second time.

Davis hasn’t ruled out re-signing with Washington and is scheduled to visit the Jets on Friday.

• The New Orleans Saints and free agent linebacker Victor Butler agreed to terms on a two-year contract.

The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Butler has spent the past four seasons with Dallas.

• Vaughn Martin, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound defensive lineman, signed a two-year contract with the Miami Dolphins.

SOCCER

U.S. TEAM: Landon Donovan hopes to regain his place on the U.S. national team. Back with the Los Angeles Galaxy after a sabbatical of nearly four months, the 31-year-old midfielder said he wants to help the U.S. qualify for next year’s World Cup.

“I realize that I have a long way to go, both on the field and off the field, to work back into the national team, and that’s my goal,” Donovan said.

MLS: The New York Red Bulls acquired former Harvard University forward Andre Akpan from the Colorado Rapids.

Akpan, 25, from Grand Prairie, Texas, played one game this year for Colorado. He had three goals in 15 games last season.

BOXING

ARRESTED: Boxer Robert Guerrero was arrested at New York’s Kennedy Airport after police say he presented a locked gun box to a ticket agent during check-in.

Officials said the box contained an unloaded .40-caliber handgun and three unloaded magazines.

“I hope that Mr. Guerrero fights better than he thinks,” said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown in a statement.

Guerrero, 30, is the former featherweight champion and current WBC welterweight champion.

–From news service reports