Roger Federer opens with a win in ATP finals

Roger Federer opened his quest for a seventh season-ending tour title, looking like the man to beat again in the ATP finals at London.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion won his record 40th match at the tournament, defeating Janko Tipsarevic, 6-3, 6-1, Tuesday in his opening Group B match.

Federer lost only eight points on his serve under the roof of the O2 Arena while converting four of his nine break points in the event that features the top eight players in the world.

In the other Group B match, David Ferrer beat Juan Martin del Potro, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

ETC.

Steelers’ Brown probably will sit out

The Pittsburgh Steelers will probably be without receiver Antonio Brown when they play host to reeling Kansas City on Monday night. Brown sprained his right ankle early in a 24-20 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday and Coach Mike Tomlin doesn’t expect Brown to be available.

Brown leads the Steelers (5-3) with 42 receptions and is second on the team with 499 yards receiving. If he can’t go, third-year wideout Emmanuel Sanders will probably take Brown’s place in the starting lineup.

::

Veteran cornerback Terrence McGee was put on season-ending injured reserve and receiver Marcus Easley was promoted off the practice squad after the Buffalo Bills made a series of moves to address their banged-up roster.

::

Former NFL receiver David Boston could face nearly three years in prison for punching a woman last year.

Palm Beach County, Fla., prosecutors say the 34-year-old Boston pleaded guilty Monday to aggravated battery. He faces up to 35 months in prison at a Dec. 7 hearing.

Authorities say Boston had been drinking at a Boca Raton home last November when he punched a woman twice in the head, leaving a wound requiring 10 stitches.

::

Drug testing of horses running in the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita came back clear.

The California Horse Racing Board said testing was completed Tuesday after samples were delivered on Sunday to the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Laboratory at UC Davis. Testing began within 24 hours of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the final race of the two-day world championships that ended Saturday.

::

South African cyclist David George, a former teammate of Lance Armstrong, admitted using the blood-boosting drug EPO after failing a doping test.

George failed an out-of-competition test on Aug. 29, the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport said Tuesday. He was provisionally suspended by Cycling South Africa and faces a two-year ban.

George cycled on Armstrong’s U.S. Postal Service team in 1999 and 2000. George said he wouldn’t ask for his B sample to be tested and would accept his punishment.

::

New Orleans Hornets Coach Monty Williams was fined $25,000 by the NBA for public comments criticizing the league’s concussion policy.

Williams made the comments Saturday night in Chicago before the Hornets faced the Bulls with first overall draft pick Anthony Davis sidelined by a mild concussion.

::

Yu Darvish won’t pitch for Japan in the World Baseball Classic next spring, choosing instead to focus on preparing for his second major league season.

The Texas Rangers right-hander issued a statement saying he made the decision after much deliberation.