Sports in Brief: Teen beats Venus Williams, faces Serena next

Laura Robson, a 19-year-old British player, beat Venus Williams, 6-3, 6-2, on Monday in the first round of the Italian Open in Rome to set up a second-round match with Venus' sister, top-ranked Serena Williams.

Robson won the Wimbledon junior title at 14.

BOXING: Former Olympic gold medalist and world champion Meldrick Taylor has joined the staff at Champions of Tomorrow promotions. The 46-year-old Philadelphia native is helping to promote a June 20 boxing card in Essington.

NFL: The Chicago Bears reached a contract agreement with undrafted rookie cornerback Maurice Jones, who appeared in 46 games for Temple.

Jones made 12 starts over four seasons with the Owls, recording 105 tackles, six tackles for loss, an interception, and six pass breakups. He also played on the kickoff, punt coverage, punt return, and field-goal block units.

The Kansas City Chiefs hired former Nevada coach Chris Ault, the innovator of the "pistol" offensive formation, to serve as a special consultant.

Buddy Nix, 73, stepped down as general manager of the Buffalo Bills. He will serve as a special assistant to the team. Assistant GM Doug Whaley is expected to take over.

Manti Te'o, the Notre Dame linebacker and victim of a girfriend hoax, went through his first practice with San Diego veterans. The Chargers kept him away from the media.

SOCCER: Manchester City fired manager Roberto Mancini, exactly one year after he delivered the club's first English league title in 44 years.

The Italian, who had four years remaining on his city contract, was ditched just as Manchester United's players and retiring manager Alex Ferguson paraded down city streets with the Premier League trophy that was easily recaptured from their neighbors.

The celebration to honor Paris Saint-Germain's first French league title in 19 years was cut short because of fights between fans and riot police.

COLLEGES: Chattanooga hired Virginia Commonwealth assistant Will Wade, 30, as its men's basketball coach. Wade worked at Harvard for two seasons with Tommy Amaker before joining VCU.

HOCKEY: Steven Stamkos scored two goals, and Canada rallied for a 4-3 overtime win over Slovenia in the ice hockey world championships in Helsinki, Finland.

Russia defeated Austria, 8-4.

Latvia ended France's hopes of reaching the quarterfinals by winning, 3-1.

- Associated Press