Sports briefs: RSL falls to Sounders in pre..

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Soccer • Real Salt Lake fell 2-1 to Seattle in an Desert Diamond Cup match in Tucson, Ariz. After a scoreless first half, the Sounders went up 2-0 before RSL midfielder John Stertzer's goal in the 86th minute. Stertzer, a rookie, nearly evened the score just three minutes later, but his shot went just over the bar.

Serena tops Sharapova to advance to Qatar final

Tennis • A day after securing the No. 1 ranking, Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova for a 10th straight time 6-3, 6-2 to reach the Qatar Open final on Saturday in Doha, Qatar.

Williams faces Victoria Azarenka, whom she will replace at the top in Monday's new rankings. Azarenka beat Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3, 6-3 in the other semifinal, earning her 13th straight victory in 2013.

While Azarenka has been on a roll, she doesn't have a good record against Williams. The American was up 11-1 in their head-to-head meetings, including winning their last nine matches.

Franklin wins at Grand Prix

Swimming • Olympic champion Missy Franklin added another victory at the Arena Grand Prix on Friday, just a week after ending her high school career with a state championship.

The four-time gold medalist at last year's London Olympic Games won the 100-meter backstroke a night after winning the 200 freestyle and days after leading Regis Jesuit High School to its second Colorado state championship in three years.

Fellow gold medalist Tyler Clary took his second event in two nights with a victory in the 200 butterfly, while Ryan Lochte placed third in the 100 backstroke behind Ryan Murphy and Robert Hurley.

From wire reports

Sports briefs: RSL falls to Sounders in preseason match