Marshfield News-Herald from Marshfield, Wisconsin • Page B4

4B 2014MARSHFIELD NEWS-HERALD PORTS NEW Sara Er- rani wagged her finger and cupped her hand to her ear for the U.S. Open fans who tried to will Venus Williams to victory. think I will remember forever that Errani said. Two points from def eat, the diminutive Italian rallied to force a third- set tiebreaker and outlasted Williams in a match that was both lops ided and tight. Errani won 6-0, 0-6, 7-6 (5) in the third round Friday after Williams had a chance to serve out the match in the final set.

Williams twice came back from down a break in the third but was done in by too many unforced rrors she made 52 in all. Trying to close out the match at 5-3, the 19th- eeded Williams had one of her eight double-faults. The 13th-seeded Erra- ni next faces qualifier irjana Lucic-Baroni, who stunned second- anked Simona Halep 7-6 6), 6-2. The 32-year-old ucic-Baroni made a Grand Slam round 16 since 1999, waylaid by injuries and financial struggles. feel like a little kid, like this is the first time ever Lucic- Baroni said.

Errani, who thrilled with fans yelling out support for her opponent during her serves, on just 12 games in three previous meetings with Williams. But in the first set, Williams take advantage her power, making just 30 percent of her first serves. Errani used her quickness to run Williams around the court, and the 34-year-old seemed sluggish after playing a long doubles match with her sister on Thursday night. ut in the second, Williams looked like the seven-time major champion he is, pouncing on Erra- soft serves. playing Errani said.

eally know how I won rrani just had a little ore left in the final set. And in the tiebreaker, Williams made four more unforced errors. quick reflexes, honed in doubles, gave her match point when she stabbed a backhand vol- ey to return what looked like a sure winner by Williams. Erra- ni said. I do that, maybe I The 5-foot-4 Errani eached the final at the French Open and the emis at the U.S.

Open in 2 012. U.S. OPEN Italian wins third-set iebreaker to oust Venus By Rachel Cohen Associated Press MATT Venus Williams reacts after a hot against Sara Errani during the third-round match at the 2 014 U.S. Open in New York. SANTA CLARA, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith has been suspended for nine games by the NFL after aseries of off-field legal issues.

Astatement Friday from the league said mith had violated the substance abuse and personal conduct policies. Smith be eligi- le to return until Nov. 10, the day after the game against the New Orleans Saints. organization has known this decision would come and we have prepared for it as a 49ers general manager Trent Baalke aid in a statement. has taken responsibility for his actions and as continued to show growth personally and professionally.

We will continue to support him, ut it is time to put this matter behind us and fo- us on the season a he 24-year-old Smith, one of the top pass rushers, missed five games last season to undergo treatment at an in- atient facility following his DUI arrest Sept. 20. Just before training amp began last month, the 24-year-old Smith was sentenced to serve three years of probation a nd to spend 11days with a work crew after pleaded no contest to runken driving and eapons charges. He has repeatedly said he has been sober since his DUI arrest last September. Smith played i a 27-7 home loss to the Colts on Sept.

22, two days after he was arrest- and jailed on suspicion of DUI and marijuana possession. After the game, he publicly apolo- ized for his behavior and later announced he ould leave for treat- ent. NFL 49ers linebacker Smith suspended nine games By Janie McCauley Associated Press AP FILE PHOTO San Fransisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith has been suspended or nine games by the NFL after a series of off-field legal issues. A statement Friday from the league said Smith had violated the substance abuse and personal conduct policies. HAMPTON, Uns haven and with a quiv- ring voice, NASCAR uperstar Tony Stewart aid the death of Kevin Ward Jr.

will my life as he returned to the track Friday for the first time since his car struck and killed the fellow driver during a sprint race in New York three weeks ago. tewart read from a tatement that, his team aid, he wrote himself. He spoke just under 2 1 2 minutes, pausing several times to compose himself. He took no questions about the incident that is still being investigated by law en- orcement officials. has been one of the toughest tragedies ever had to deal with, both professionally and Stewart said in a packed media room on the in- ield at Atlanta Motor peedway.

is a sadness and a pain I hope no one has to experience in their life. That being said, I know that the pain and mourning that Kevin family and friends are experiencing is something that I possi- ly mentioned arents and three sis- ers by name, saying he anted them know that every day thinking about them and praying for The brief news conference presented a much different side to the brash driver known as whose explosive temper has led clashes with the edia and fellow drive rs. Wearing a black polo shirt and blue jeans, Stewart delivered his 285-word statement in a quivering tone, his eyes moist. He skipped three races after eath, going into seclusion at his rural Indiana home. team said he needed time to grieve, and some questioned whether he felt guilt over the crash.

During an Aug. 9 sprint-car event in upstate New York, Stewart and Ward collided while racing into a turn, hich sent car spinning. The 20-year- old Ward climbed from his wrecked machine and wandered onto the track, apparently wanting to make his displeasure known to the three- time NASCAR champion. One car appeared to swerve to avoid Ward, but he was struck by the ack right tire of car. taken the last couple of weeks off out of respect for Kevin and his family and also to cope with the accident in my own Stewart said.

given me the time to think about life and how easy it is to take it for grant- d. I miss my team, my teammates and I miss being back in the race car and I think being back in the car this week with my racing family will help me get through this difficult he 43-year-old Stewart pulled out of the race at nearby Watkins Glen the morning after Ward was killed, and then skipped events at Michigan and Bristol. But with two weeks left until the Chase for the Sprint Cup champi- nship, Stewart is prep aring to go racing a gain. He was set to ractice Friday after- oon, go through qualifying in the evening, and race Sunday night on the 1.54-mile trioval. He will need a medical waiver to still be eligible for the playoff.

Stewart-Haas Racing executive vice president Brett Frood said it as Stew- a decision to race at ne of fastest tracks. think for Tony, all about the healing Frood said. his mom, his dad, his sister, his niece and nephew, his family i here at the racetrack. Part of the healing process is to be with family been with since (entering NAS- CAR) in 1999. Knowing these people will help him get through NASCAR Stewart says death will affect him forever Veteran driver returned to practice Friday, will race Sunday By Paul Newberry Associated Press DAVID Sprint Cup Series driver Tony Stewart, center, walks to his car during practice Friday for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga.

GREEN The star training camp, Jayrone Elliott, likely cemented his bid for a roster spot Thursdaynight with an- ther standout perform ance in the Green Bay final preseason game. The undrafted rookie outside linebacker out of Toledo picked up his fifth ack of the preseason in a first-quarter series a gainst the Kansas City Chiefs. Playing left outside linebacker, Elliott stuffed unning back Knile Davis after a 2-yard gain on irst down. Two plays later, Elliott got past Kansas starting right tackle, onald Stephenson, and forced a holding penalty. hat penalty, on third- and-4 from the 16-yard line, wiped out a first-down conversion.

Then, on the next play, Elliott beat Stephenson again on an inside move a nd sacked Kansas City quarterback Chase Daniel for a 5-yard loss, forc- i ng a punt. It felt pretty good to inally get out there against some better Elliott said. saying the (previ- us) competition ood, but to go against a tarting tackle obviously a big step in the right direction. I feel like got show up more, not just ne erhaps indicative of impending roster status, when he was injured on a third-quarter play, coach Mike McCart hy was among the Packers staff who went out to heck on him. Elliott walked off the field under his own power and returned in the third quart er.

he made a umber of big McCarthy said. cramped up there and went back in, and you ike to see that. His body of work has been very Elliott finished with three tackles, the 5-yard sack, a tackle for a loss and a quarterback hit. He was getting good penetration all night, even being ouble-teamed on some ccasions. feel like I had some positives today, certainly had some negatives in ome he said, hopefully I get a chance come back and be able to practice more and showcase my Now, even with a rowded outside linebacker group, Elliott app ears on the verge of making the 53-man roster after making strides each week during the preseason.

definitely came a long way thanks to Coach Winston) Moss and the eteran guys around Elliott said, Andy Mulumba, stuck with me since ay 1just helping me get my pass-rush technique own and what to look for out Injuries take toll on O-line, D-line The depth took a hit Thursday night, with four players being knocked out the game and not returning. wo of the injuries came at positions at which the depth ill be tested: offensive ine and defensive line. ffensive lineman Aaron Adams left the game in the first quarter with a knee injury and return. Adams had een playing right and eft tackle. Already this preseason, versatile lineman Don Barclay was lost for he season with an ACL i njury and starting center Tretter sustained a knee injury that will keephim out multiple weeks.

Near the end of the econd quarter, rookie defensive lineman Khryi hornton sustained a hamstring injury and was carted off to the locker room. He return. ast week, starting nose tackle B.J. Raji was lost or the season with a torn biceps. The outside linebacker spot also took a hit.

I the second half, rookie Adrian Hubbard and econd-year man Nate Palmer had to be helped off the field with knee injuries. Adams emerges Rookie wide receiver avante Adams had a qui- start to training camp or a second-round draft pick, but his progress showed when he exploited a seam in the Kansas ity defense for a 22-yard ouchdown pass over the iddle from Matt Flynn. Adams finished with two catches for 35 yards after collecting only four eceptions for 50 yards in he previous three pre- eason games. feel he said. been taking steps all throughout training camp and I feel like utting the pieces together and I feel like eady.

I feel like tonight I felt real comfortable out there so ready for this next A dams reached the end zone on a 2-point con- ersion catch against St. Louis, but this was his first touchdown as a pro. felt good. First real ouchdown, got the 2- point against St. Louis, ut first Lambeau he said, it was just Ihad so much adrenaline, Iwas making sure I jump up into the box seats, because I was feeling PACKERS NOTEBOOK Elliott finishes strong in bid for roster spot Undrafted rookie ets fifth sack preseason i finale By Robert Zizzo Gannett Wisconsin Media KYLE WISCONSIN MEDIA Packers linebacker Jayrone Elliott celebrates a sack against the Chiefs on Thursday at Lambeau Field..