Nadal withdraws from U.S. Open

Rafael Nadal’s Grand Slam count will stay stuck at 11 for now, sidetracked by another knee problem.

The third-ranked Spaniard withdrew from the U.S. Open on Wednesday. Tendinitis has kept him out of action since his stunning loss at Wimbledon in late June.

The injury already forced him out of the London Olympics, where he was supposed to defend his title and carry Spain’s flag in the opening ceremony.

“I am very sad to announce that I am not ready to play the US Open in NY. Thanks to my fans for their support and specially, the new yorkers,” Nadal wrote on his Twitter account.

Nadal is still only 26, but the withdrawals raise questions about the future of a player who has had recurring knee problems in the past.

Nadal’s absence immediately leaves a trio of heavy favorites at the last Grand Slam event of the year: defending champion Novak Djokovic; five-time U.S. Open winner and currently top-ranked Roger Federer; and 2008 U.S. Open runner-up Andy Murray, who won the gold medal in singles at the London Games by beating Federer in the final.

SOCCER

Darington Nagbe scored in the 82nd minute to give the Portland Timbers a 2-2 tie with host Toronto FC on Wednesday night. Nagbe headed home a cross from Steven Smith past Milos Kocic to cancel out second-half goals from Toronto strikers Luis Silva and Eric Hassli.

Robbie Keane scored in the 64th minute to give the Los Angeles Galaxy a 1-1 draw with host Columbus in the Crew’s first match since the death of rookie midfielder Kirk Urso on Aug. 5. The Crew (8-8-5) controlled the first half but couldn’t score until Jairo Arrieta’s skimming 22-yarder eluded goalkeeper Josh Saunders in the 47th minute. Keane tied it for LA (11-11-4) with a tap-in off a goalmouth pass from the right side by Sean Franklin. Urso died at age 22. His death has been attributed to heart failure, but the exact cause hasn’t been confirmed.

From Our Press Services