New York ? Her play sparkling as much as her sequined dress, Venus Williams easily eliminated 185th-ranked qualifier Mandy Minella of Luxembourg, 6-2, 6-1, on Friday night at the U.S. Open.

The No. 3-seeded Williams reached the fourth round for the 12th time in 12 trips to Flushing Meadows.

In Rafael Nadal’s second-round match, even he felt compelled to applaud when his opponent hit a spectacular, full-sprint winner and was left doing the splits at the net.

The shot put Denis Istomin within two points of tying the match at a set apiece. He couldn’t manage to close the deal, though — a recurring theme for Nadal’s game-but-outclassed foil in the No. 1-seeded Spaniard’s 6-2, 7-6 (5), 7-5 victory.

College basketball

Duke’s Singler has surgery

Durham, N.C. — Duke senior Kyle Singler is recovering from knee surgery.

The school said last season’s most outstanding player at the Final Four had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Friday afternoon at the Duke University Medical Center. He is expected to recover in time for the start of preseason practice Oct. 15.

MSU’s Lucious pleads guilty

East Lansing, Mich. — Michigan State junior guard Korie Lucious has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless driving.

The plea was entered Thursday, and sentencing was set for Dec. 20. The 20-year-old Lucious originally had been charged with operating while intoxicated after he was pulled over early Monday near the campus in East Lansing.

NFL

Broncos’ White out for season

Englewood, Colo. — The Denver Broncos’ tailback turnstile keeps on spinning.

LenDale White is out for the season after rupturing his Achilles’ tendon Thursday night at Minnesota.

In other NFL injury news:

— Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich’s strained left knee ligament could sideline him for most or all of the first month of the season, leaving the Steelers with only two healthy quarterbacks — Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch — for their Sept. 12 opener against Atlanta.

— Browns rookie running back Montario Hardesty is out for the season after tearing a left knee ligament during his NFL debut.

NFL fines Suh $7,500

New York — Detroit Lions rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was fined $7,500 by the NFL on Friday for his roughing-the-passer penalty on quarterback Jake Delhomme in an exhibition game against the Browns.

Giants acquire QB Rosenfels

New York — The New York Giants acquired quarterback Sage Rosenfels and running back Darius Reynaud from the Minnesota Vikings on Friday for undisclosed draft picks.

The Vikings announced the deal on their website. They will receive a pick in next year’s draft and a conditional selection in the 2012 draft.

Cowboys trade two

Irving, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys have traded receiver Patrick Crayton to San Diego and offensive lineman Pat McQuistan to Miami for future considerations.

College football

NCAA rules Masoli eligible

Oxford, Miss. — In another surprising twist to a month-long saga, Mississippi quarterback Jeremiah Masoli has been cleared to play football just one day before the start of the season.

UNC DT Austin subpoenaed

A person familiar with the situation says investigators from the North Carolina Secretary of State’s office have subpoenaed Tar Heels defensive tackle Marvin Austin.

The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

Austin is one of 13 players who did not travel with the 18th-ranked Tar Heels to Atlanta for today’s opener against No. 21 LSU because of an NCAA probe.

Baseball

Nats’ Morgan suspended 8 games

New York — Washington Nationals outfielder Nyjer Morgan has received an eight-game suspension stemming his part in a brawl during a game against the Florida Marlins.

Pedroia has season-ending surgery

Boston — Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia has undergone season-ending surgery for a broken bone in his left foot.

Golf

Johnson, Day lead; Tiger struggles

Norton, Mass. — Zach Johnson and Jason Day beat up on the course and beat the weather at the Deutsche Bank Championship.

For Tiger Woods, it was the other way around.

Johnson strengthened his Ryder Cup case Friday by rolling in putts from everywhere in easy scoring conditions ahead of Hurricane Earl, giving him an 8-under 63 and a share of the first-round lead with Day.

Woods had two bogeys in four holes when the first patch of rain arrived, and it didn’t get much better. He had two more bogeys and was in last place until he fought back for a 72, leaving him three shots below the projected cut.

NHL

Kovalchuk’s second contract OK

Neward, N.J. — The NHL has signed off on Ilya Kovalchuk’s latest contract with the New Jersey Devils.

Five weeks after rejecting the Russian’s landmark 17-year, $102 million contract with the Devils, the league approved a revised 15-year, $100 million deal on Friday after reaching an agreement with the NHL Players Association on an amendment covering long-term contracts.