Nadal withdraws from Indian Wells tourney
Rafael Nadal pulled out of the BNP Paribas Open on Wednesday night, a day before he was supposed to play his first official match in two months.
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, posted the news on social media, writing that he was announcing the withdrawal “with great sadness.”
“It is not an easy decision, it's a tough one as a matter of fact, but I can't lie to myself and lie to the thousands of fans,” Nadal said in a statement released by the tournament.
The 37-year-old from Spain missed nearly all of last season because of a hip injury that required surgery, then briefly returned to action for three matches in early January before tearing a muscle near the hip. That forced him to bypass the Australian Open — and he has not been on tour since.
Nadal was scheduled to face 2016 Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic in the first round tonight — Sumit Nagal, who lost in qualifying, took the empty spot in the bracket.
• Andy Murray began what is expected to be his final appearance at the BNP Paribas Open with a smooth performance and a straightforward victory, beating David Goffin 6-3, 6-2 on Day 1 in the desert. Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1-ranked player now at No. 61, never faced a break point while grabbing a trio of Goffin's service games. From 3-all at the start, Murray surged ahead by winning the last three games and 10 points of the opening set on a cloudy afternoon with winds topping 10 mph.
That later gave way to heavy rain that caused a lengthy delay in the evening.
Winners in the women's draw included three-time major champion Angelique Kerber, who is back on tour after becoming a mother, along with Tatjana Maria and Marie Bouzkova. Paula Badosa, the 2021 champion at Indian Wells who received a wild card into this year's field, pulled out because of a long-term back injury — a day after participating with boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas in an exhibition doubles match.
Bills releasing three key players
The Buffalo Bills underwent a drastic makeover, with salary cap constraints forcing the four-time AFC East defending champions to cut into their core by announcing the release of five players, including safety Jordan Poyer and center Mitch Morse.
Also cut was cornerback Tre'Davious White, a person with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to The AP on the condition of anonymity because the Bills did not include White in their announcement because of the timing of his release. White, who is recuperating after tearing his right Achilles tendon in Week 4, is being designated as a post-June 1 cut, which provides the Bills additional cap savings.
The three players alone combined for 27 seasons of NFL experience, with 16 of those years spent with the Bills. The moves made were necessitated with Buffalo entering the offseason being a projected NFLhigh $44 million over the 2024 season cap.
• The Washington Commanders are signing veteran tight end Zach Ertz, two people with knowledge of the move told The Associated Press.
One person familiar with the signing said the contract for next season is worth up to $5 million.
Ex-coach sentenced for soliciting photos
Former college track and field coach Steve Waithe was sentenced to five years behind bars for setting up sham social media and email accounts in an attempt to trick women, including some he coached, into sending him nude or semi-nude photos of themselves.
Waithe, who coached at Northeastern University in Boston, Penn State University, Illinois Institute of Technology, the University of Tennessee, and Concordia University Chicago,
pleaded guilty last year to 12 counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and one count of computer fraud, prosecutors said. The 31-yearold Waithe also pleaded guilty to cyberstalking one victim through text messages and direct messages sent via social media, as well as by hacking into her Snapchat account, prosecutors said.
• LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo was fined $10,000 by Major League Soccer for complaining that last weekend's game against Salt Lake was played amid snow and lightning. The league said Cherundolo's comments after Saturday's 3-0 loss in Utah were in violation of the league's public criticism policy.
• Angel City Football Club has added another teenager, signing U-17 midfielder Kennedy Fuller. Fuller, who will turn 17 on Saturday, was signed via the NWSL U-18 Entry Mechanism. The contract is through the 2026 season with an option for 2027. Fuller, who joins Alyssa Thompson, Gisele Thompson and Casey Phair as teenage signings with Angel City, is the second youngest behind Phair, who is also 16.
— Damian Calhoun
• Russian and Belarusian athletes were barred from marching in this year's Paralympics opening ceremony in Paris, even if they are approved to compete as neutrals.