ON THE GULF OF MEXICO - Investigators looking into what went wrong in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill are a step closer to answers now that a key piece of evidence is secure aboard a ship.

The five-story high device breached the water's surface at 6:54 p.m. CDT, and looked largely intact with black stains on the yellow metal.

The blowout preventer was placed into a metal contraption specifically designed to hold the massive device at 9:16 p.m. CDT Saturday.

NEW YORK - Venus Williams struggled with her serve.

Every bit as big a nuisance was her opponent, Shahar Peer.

On a Sunday afternoon in which Kim Clijsters and Rafael Nadal cruised to their victories at the U.S. Open, third-seeded Williams never looked quite comfortable in hers.