. -- Josh Sterk scored once and set up two more as the Oshawa Generals edged the visiting Be

MASON, Ohio -- Defending champion Serena Williams initially opted to skip Cincinnati, figuring shed be just finishing up in Rio de Janeiro. An early upset changed her plans and got her back in the Western & Southern Open with more than just another trophy at stake.Her No. 1 ranking is on the line, too.Williams attempt to hold onto the top spot will be one of the main intrigues in the tournament that opened on Sunday with a couple of matches scheduled in the mens bracket. The mens draw is missing its two most notable plots -- Roger Federer trying for an unprecedented eighth Cincinnati title, and Novak Djokovic trying to finally win his first. Both are sidelined by injuries and will have to wait another year for the Masters event.Meanwhile, Williams wants to get over her loss to 21-year-old Elina Svitolina in the third round at the Olympics. She accepted a wild-card berth to get some matches in Cincinnati, where she has won the title each of the last two years.Williams heads into the tournament ranked No. 1 for the 306th week overall in her career and her 183rd in a row. Its the second-longest streak in WTA history, trailing Steffi Grafs 186 consecutive weeks. She first topped the rankings in July 2002 and, at age 34, is the oldest woman to hold the top spot since the computer rankings were introduced in 1975.Second-ranked Angelique Kerber will take over the top spot if she wins the tournament and Williams loses before the quarterfinals. Williams has a first-round bye and could get a second-round rematch with Svitolina, who opens the tournament against Christina McHale.The mens bracket is wide open because of a couple of injuries and travel challenges from the Olympics.Cincinnati has become Djokovics annual quest. Its the only one he needs to win in order to become the first get all nine current ATP Masters championships, something hed love to accomplish. He reached the finals last year and lost to Federer, who is 7-0 in title matches. By contrast, Djokovic is 0-5 in Cincinnati finals, never winning even a set.Djokovic dropped out because of a sore left wrist after he lost at the Olympics. Federer is taking the rest of the year off to rebuild a surgically repaired knee.Andy Murray enters the tournament as its top seed -- hes won it twice -- after winning the gold medal in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday night. He beat Juan Martin del Potro in a four-hour final that left him drained. He has little time to recover for Cincinnati.Emotionally, it was tough, Murray said of the four-hour set. Physically, it was hard.Rafael Nadal also will be making the trek after losing the bronze medal match on Sunday to Japans Kei Nishikori.Djokovic, Federer, Murray and Nadal have won 54 of the last 58 Masters events. Djokovic has won four of them this season, with Nadal and Murray winning one apiece. The injuries and the overlapping tournament schedules will open the way for someone else to reach the finals.Rain jumbled the last two days of qualifying, pushing many qualifying matches over to Sunday. They were again delayed by rain the morning and afternoon.---AP Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich in Rio de Janeiro contributed to this report.---Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay Cullen Gillaspia Youth Jersey . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. Andre Johnson Texans Jersey . Louis Blues absence from top spot in the TSN. http://www.officialhoustontexanspro.com/Lonnie-johnson-texans-jersey/ . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. Andre Johnson Jersey . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. Deshaun Watson Texans Jersey . -- Josh Sterk scored once and set up two more as the Oshawa Generals edged the visiting Belleville Bulls 3-2 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Eric Eaves scored 17 points, Tashombe Riley had his second-career double-double and Greg Riley hit the winner with four seconds left as South Carolina State beat Furman 69-67 on Friday night to snap a three-game skid.Riley, a junior, had 14 points and a season-high 11 rebounds, James Richardson scored 10 points and Mortimer added nine with four assists.South Carolina State (3-7) matched its biggest lead when Mortimers jumper with 12:23 to play made it 55-44. Daniel Fowler scored nine-straight points to give the Paladins their firstt lead, 62-60, of the second half with 4:07 remaining.dddddddddddd Moments later, SCSUs Ed Stephens and Fowler traded 3s and Furman led by two, but Rileys offensive rebound of his own blocked layup attempt made it 67-all with 33 seconds left. After Fowler was called for an offensive foul, Mortimers floater won it.Fowler, who scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half, missed a potential winning 3 for the Paladins (6-5). ' ' '