Venus Williams repeats as Mexican Open champion

Venus Williams came from a set down to repeat her Mexican Open title, beating Polona Hercog, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, at Acapulco on Saturday night.

It was Williams’ second consecutive title -- this one on clay and another a week ago on hard courts in Dubai -- and pushed her career total to 43 WTA titles, the most by an active player.

Hercog was appearing in her first WTA final.

Williams started slowly and got into trouble with an erratic serve and groundstrokes that were often long. Hercog was poised in winning the first set and seldom missed a shot.

The American gained her composure in the second set and began to wear down the 19-year-old Slovenian, hitting the corners more often and opening the court.

“I played such a good opponent,� Williams said. “In the first set she did not miss one shot and I had to find a way to get into the match.�

In the men’s final, David Ferrer defeated good friend and fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero to end his 14-match winning streak.

Ferrer lost to Ferrero at the Copa Telmex last week in Buenos Aires but got a little bit of revenge with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory in Acapulco.

Ernests Gulbis of Latvia and Ivo Karlovic of Croatia will play in the final of the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships in Florida on Sunday.

Gulbis reached his first career final with a 6-4, 6-4 semifinal win over Jarkko Nieminen of Finland, and Karlovic took out defending champion Mardy Fish, 6-2, 6-3.

Bob and Mike Bryan, the No. 1 doubles team in the world, captured their 600th career match win by beating fellow Americans Taylor Dent and Ryan Harrison, 6-7 (6), 7-5 (10-4), in the semifinals.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic led Mikhail Youzhny, 7-5, 2-0, before the Dubai Championship final in the United Arab Emirates was postponed because of rain.

The second-seeded Serb was serving at 30-15 in the third game of the second set when the second rain shower forced the final to Sunday. There was a 27-minute rain delay after the first set.

Elena Dementieva defeated Sybille Bammer of Austria, 6-1, 6-3, to set up an all-Russian final with first-timer Alisa Kleybanova in the inaugural Malaysian Open at Kuala Lumpur.

Fourth-seeded Kleybanova beat unseeded Ayumi Morita of Japan, 6-4, 6-1, in the first semifinal to reach her first WTA final.

ETC.

Bills are parting ways with Owens

Terrell Owens is on the market after the Buffalo Bills announced they do not plan to offer him a contract.

Owens, who will turn 37 in December, caught 55 passes for 829 yards and five touchdowns in his only season in Buffalo. He also ran for a touchdown.

“I would like to thank the great fans in Buffalo, Ralph Wilson & the Bills organization for all their supports this past season,� Owens said on Twitter.

The six-time Pro Bowl receiver caught his 1,000th pass in Week 16 at Atlanta to become the sixth player in league history to reach the milestone. Owens then moved into third place on the career list with 14,951 yards receiving in a 30-7 win over Indianapolis in Week 17.

Felipe Lopez is back with the St. Louis Cardinals after agreeing to a one-year, $1-million contract.

After taking his physical Saturday, Lopez bounded into the Cardinals’ clubhouse ready to work in the batting cages before the rest of the squad took the field.

St. Louis General Manager John Mozeliak said signing Lopez gives the team more flexibility in the infield. He can make up to $1.2 million in bonuses.

Lopez played for the Cardinals during the 2008 season. He batted .385 with four home runs in 43 games for St. Louis. Splitting time between Arizona and Milwaukee last year, Lopez hit .310 with nine home runs.

The New York Rangers have found the veteran backup goalie they have been looking for, claiming Alex Auld off reentry waivers from the Dallas Stars.

The move to get the 29-year-old Auld was announced during the NHL Olympic break. He was 9-6-3 with a 3.00 goals-against average in 21 games this season with the Stars.