Sports in Brief: Williams sisters to meet in semifinals

Top-ranked Serena Williams ended a long and successful day for the Williams family as she and sister Venus both won twice Friday in Charleston, S.C., to reach the Family Circle Cup semifinals and set up their first sibling showdown since 2009.

Serena won her 13th straight match by defeating sixth-seeded Lucie Safarova, 6-4, 6-1. Earlier, she topped two-time NCAA doubles champ Mallory Burdette in a third-round match moved due to Thursday's 71/2-hour rain delay.

Venus also had double duty, rallying past Varvara Lepchenko in three sets before ousting 18-year-old Madison Keys later on Billie Jean King Court.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic defeated American John Isner, 7-6 (5), 6-2, 7-5, in Boise, Idaho, to give Serbia a 1-0 lead in a Davis Cup quarterfinal.

NFL: Detroit added four-time all-pro David Akers, one day after Jason Hanson retired. Akers' agent, Jerrold Colton, confirmed that the Lions agreed to terms, but declined to give details.

Right tackle Anthony Davis signed a five-year contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers worth more than $37 million, with $17 million guaranteed.

The Jacksonville Jaguars and receiver Mohamed Massaquoi agreed to terms on a two-year contract.

GYMNASTICS: The Temple men's squad triumphed at the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship meet in Springfield, Mass., picking up its second straight team title.

The Owls finished with 411.650 points and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA championships, while William & Mary finished second at 410.450.

Allan Malone won the floor exercise, making him one of nine Owls who qualified for the individual finals on Saturday night.

"I am very proud of how our guys handled the pressure and came through," Owls coach Fred Turoff said.

HORSE RACING: Verrazano has a chance to give trainer Todd Pletcher the favorite for the Kentucky Derby. The unbeaten 3-year-old colt will go for his fourth straight win when he takes on nine rivals in the $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Saturday - a final stepping-stone to the May 4 Derby.

SOCCER: The U.S. women's team let a two-goal lead slip with five minutes remaining as Germany fought back to earn a 3-3 draw in an international friendly in Offenbah, Germany. - Associated Press