UPI NewsTrack Sports

Serena Williams easily wins first-rounder

LONDON, June 22 (UPI) -- Second-seeded Serena Williams didn't face a break point in taking a first-round win Monday at the Wimbledon Championships in London.

Williams, who lost in last year's Wimbledon final to her sister, Venus, broke out fast and dominated Neuza Silva 6-1, 7-5. Williams had 31 winners, including nine aces. She lost just nine points on serve in the match.

Three other Top 10 seeds advanced Monday. No. 4-seeded Elena Dementieva rolled over Alla Kudryavtseva 6-4, 6-1; eighth-seeded Victoria Azarenka was ahead 6-2 when Severine Bremond Beltrame retired; and 10th-seeded Nadia Petrova blitzed Anastasiya Yakimova 6-1, 6-1 in 46 minutes.

Maria Sharapova, coming back from shoulder surgery, wasn't completely sharp but overcame five service breaks with seven of her own in a 7-5, 6-4 win over Viktoriya Kutuzova. No. 14-seeded Dominika Cibulkova was a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 winner over Julie Coin and 16th-seeded Zheng Jie slipped by Kristina Barrois 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-4) in a two-set match that took 2 1/2 hours to complete.

Knutson out as Washington baseball coach

SEATTLE, June 22 (UPI) -- Ken Knutson announced Monday he is retiring after 17 years as head baseball coach at the University of Washington.

Knutson, who is the all-time leader in wins at Washington with a 584-399-2 record, will leave his position effective June 30. He spent the last 27 years as a player, assistant coach and head coach at Washington.

"I have spent nearly my entire professional life at UW," Knutson said. "I am looking forward to spending more time with my family and having the opportunity to place my professional focus on growing my private business."

Knutson, a 1981 graduate of Washington, was named Pac-10 North Division Coach of the Year three times. He led Washington to two Pac-10 titles, four division championships and six appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

Fehr retiring as baseball union leader

NEW YORK, June 22 (UPI) -- Donald Fehr announced his retirement Monday as executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association.

"It has been a high privilege to be entrusted with the leadership of this extraordinary union for the last 25 years, and I am enormously proud of what the players have accomplished during that time," said Fehr, who has held the position since 1983.

"But now, about two years before the next round of collective bargaining, is the right time for me to relinquish my position and for the players to name new leadership," Fehr said in a release. "I have informed members of the executive board that I will resign effective not later than next March 31."

Fehr recommended Michael Weiner, the MLBPA general counsel since 2004, to succeed him as executive director.

Pujols named NL Player of Week

NEW YORK, June 22 (UPI) -- St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols was named the National League Player of the Week Monday.

Pujols, who scored his 1,000th career run last week, led the NL with a 1.111 slugging percentage and tied for first with four homers and 11 RBI for the week. Pujols, 29, hit .389 and scored six runs during the period.

Pujols, the NL's leading vote-getter for next month's All-Star game, earned his second Player of the Week honor this season.