TENNIS

SERENA WILLIAMS EASILY REACHES US OPEN FINAL : NEW YORK (AP) — The latest woman to absorb a lopsided loss against Serena Williams thinks the 14-time Grand Slam champion should take on a new challenge.

"Given that men are always quick to say women are a lot worse ... I'd love to see her play in a (lower-level) men's tournament and see how they deal with her. It's easy to talk. On the court, it would be different," the 10th-seeded Sara Errani said.

"I've practiced with a lot of guys ranked 400th or 500th," Errani explained. "I've never played with a man who hits as hard as she does."

Williams wasted little time or energy while overwhelming Italy's Errani 6-1, 6-2 on Friday night to reach the final and move one victory away from a fourth U.S. Open championship. With a 38-6 edge in winners and nine aces to raise her tournament-leading total to 50, Williams needed only 64 minutes to dismiss Errani, the runner-up at the French Open.

BASEBALL

A'S MCCARTHY STILL IN 'LIFE-THREATENING' SITUATION: SEATTLE (AP) — Oakland Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy remained in a "life-threatening" situation in a Bay Area hospital two days after being hit in the head by a line drive.

Struck on the right side of his head by a hard shot from the Angels' Erick Aybar on Wednesday, McCarthy suffered an epidural hemorrhage, brain contusion and skull fracture. He had two hours of surgery to relieve pressure on his brain late Wednesday night.

TRACK

MERRITT SETS WORLD RECORD IN 110 HURDLES: BRUSSELS (AP) — Aries Merritt already had the Olympic gold, so there was only one way to make this season even more special.

And in his last — near-perfect — 110-meter hurdles race of the year, the American put in a world record-breaking performance that had him shaking his head in disbelief.

Merritt finished in 12.80 seconds Friday at the Van Damme Memorial, slicing a full 0.07 seconds off the 4-year-old world record set by Cuba's Dayron Robles.

GOLF

Singh takes 1-shot lead over McIlroy, Woods: CARMEL, Ind. (AP) — Vijay Singh keeps giving himself chances to end four years without a PGA Tour victory. He made four birdies around the turn Friday for a 6-under 66 in the BMW Championship, putting his name atop the leaderboard for the second time in his last four tournaments.

It won't get any easier the rest of the way.

Tiger Woods was one shot behind. So was Rory McIlroy. Going into a storm-filled weekend at Crooked Stick, four players who have reached No. 1 in the world were among the top six.