*Two-time US Open Champion Serena Williams fought her way back from a 5-2 hole in the first set to beat 17th seeded Daniela Hantuchova 7-5, 6-3 Thursday at the U.S. Open in New York. The unseeded Williams, who earned a wild card for this year's event, said of her performance: "My progress is definitely a little better, which is awesome. Just keeps getting better and better. Physically, I'm feeling solid. Very solid." Williams won the U.S. Open in 2002. Her next opponent will be the winner of the match between Ana Ivanovic and Aiko Nakamura. This morning at 11 a.m. (Sept. 1), James Blake faces Russia’s Teimuraz Gabashvili in a second round match.
*Three-time All-American swimmer Cullen Jones out of North Carolina State University is the newest face of Nike, having signed a multi-year contract with the athletic company through 2012. Currently ranked number one in the world in the 50-meter freestyle, Jones also has proven himself to be the fastest African American swimmer in the world beating his own 50-meter freestyle time in the Pan Pacific games this past weekend in Victoria, British Columbia. “Nike has provided me the opportunity to develop as an athlete and a person,” Jones said. “When I evaluated who could help me both in chasing my dream of representing the U.S. in the Olympics and being able to speak out to the African-American and Hispanic communities about the importance of water safety, drowning prevention and learning to swim, I felt that Nike had the best access to a platform where I can reach millions of kids and deliver this message. The thought of joining Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Lance Armstrong in the Nike family is awe inspiring.”