Williams Reaches Final by Defeating Schnyder

Venus Williams saved five match points in the second set and overcame her inconsistent ground game, rallying for a 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory over third-seeded Patty Schnyder on Saturday to reach the final of the Bank of the West Classic at Palo Alto.

The second-seeded Williams will play her 500th match today in the very tournament where she made her debut 11 years ago, when it was in Oakland.

Williams got back in it by doing what she does best -- dictating the pace, showing patience and winning big points with athletic shots at the net.

She will play for the championship against fourth-seeded Kim Clijsters, who defeated Anna-Lena Groenefeld, 6-4, 6-0, in a late match.

Williams appeared tired at times and struggled with her serve in her first tournament since winning the Wimbledon title earlier this month, beating Lindsay Davenport, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 9-7, in the longest women’s final in the history of the event: 2 hours 45 minutes.

This one lasted 2:02, with the second set at one hour. Williams raised both arms and managed a big smile after hitting a backhand winner down the line on match point.

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Second-seeded Guillermo Coria defeated eighth-seeded Filippo Volandri, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, in the semifinals of the Croatia Open at Umag.

In today’s final, Coria will play sixth-seeded Carlos Moya, who beat fifth-seeded Jiri Novak, 6-4, 6-4.

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Top-seeded Anna Smashnova defeated fourth-seeded Jelena Kostanic, 6-2, 6-0, and will play qualifier Catalina Castano in the final of the Budapest Grand Prix. In the other semifinal, Castano beat qualifier Laura Pous Tio, 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-0.

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Seventh-seeded Nicolas Massu was upset by Fernando Verdasco, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, in the semifinals of the Generali Open at Kitzbuehel, Austria. Verdasco will play third-seeded Gaston Gaudio in today’s final. Gaudio beat Mariano Zabaleta, 6-1, 6-1.

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Pro Football

Nine-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Larry Allen didn’t participate in the opening practices of the Dallas Cowboys training camp at Oxnard after being put on the physically unable to perform list.

Coach Bill Parcells said the left guard didn’t pass the conditioning part of the physicals the team had Friday.

He didn’t know how long it would be before Allen would put on pads and start going through drills.

The Cowboys agreed to terms with first-round picks Demarcus Ware and Marcus Spears on five-year contracts. The defensive ends were expected to sign their deals and be on the field for today’s practice. Ware was the 11th overall pick out of Troy, and nine picks later Spears was drafted from Louisiana State.

The Green Bay Packers signed quarterback Aaron Rodgers, their first-round draft choice. Rodgers, who played at California, is the first quarterback selected in the first round by the Packers since 1981.

Veteran linebacker Mike Barrow was waived by the Washington Redskins, and safety Andre Lott was also released after agreeing to an injury settlement with the team.

The 35-year-old Barrow didn’t played a down for the Redskins after signing a six-year, $11.6-million contract a year ago as a free agent from the New York Giants.

He was bothered by acute tendinitis in his left knee last season and was put on injured reserve in late November.

Lott, a fifth-round pick in the 2002 draft, suffered a hairline leg fracture on the last day of the June 17-19 minicamp.

The Giants got a scare when wide receiver Plaxico Burress was taken off the field during their first practice session with what Coach Tom Coughlin described as a hyperextended knee. He was back on the field for the afternoon practice.

Burress was injured when he went up for a long sideline pass from backup quarterback Jesse Palmer and fell to the ground after battling with rookie cornerback Ahmad Treaudo.

The Arizona Cardinals released former first-round pick Wendell Bryant.

The defensive tackle, selected in the 2002 draft out of Wisconsin, played in 29 games with nine starts and had 51 tackles and one sack.

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Boxing

Thomas Hearns scored an eighth-round knockout of John Long in his first fight following a five-year layoff. Long, 35, who last fought in June 2004, was unable to answer the bell for the ninth in the cruiserweight bout at Detroit’s Cobo Hall.

Hearns, 46, a seven-time world champion, was ahead, 79-72, on all three judges’ cards when the referee ended the fight on the recommendation of Long’s corner.

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Soccer

Spanish league power Real Madrid said it will sign Brazil striker Robinho, 21, from Santos to a five-year contract. He is scheduled to join the club on Aug. 25.

Real Madrid did not disclose how much it was paying for the player or specify when he would sign the contract, but Santos said it would receive $30 million.

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T.J. Simers has the day off.