Briefs | Rafael Nadal pulls out of season-ending Masters Cup

Tennis

Top-ranked Nadal cites fatigue: Rafael Nadal of Spain pulled out of the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai, China, on Monday, citing fatigue after a long season and the need to prepare for this month's Davis Cup final against host Argentina.

Nadal, ranked No. 1 in the world, made the announcement on his Web site, describing his withdrawal as "one of the most difficult decisions in my career."

Second-ranked Roger Federer of Switzerland will be seeking his fifth Masters Cup title. He won in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007.

WTA Tour season to end in Qatar: After a wide-open year in which five players held the No. 1 world ranking, American Serena Williams enters the WTA Tour's season-ending championship in Doha, Qatar, with a goal in mind and her sense of humor intact.

"I need the money," she said.

Williams will be seeking a prize worth as much as $1.34 million in the Sony Ericsson Championships. The tournament starts today.

Auto racing

Bullet went through roof of RV and hit woman in arm: A NASCAR fan in her recreational vehicle at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth was wounded by a stray bullet Sunday after someone apparently fired a gun into the air, police said.

A bullet went through the roof of the RV before the Dickies 500 Sprint Cup Series race, hitting a 62-year-old woman in the right arm, relatives said. She was taken to a hospital with a "significant wound" and was listed in stable condition, police said.

Running

Two die after finishing ING New York City Marathon: Two runners died after completing Sunday's ING New York City Marathon, one shortly after crossing the finish line and the other several hours later.

Carlos Jose Gomes, 58, complained about feeling ill shortly after the race and died at a hospital, police said. The cause of death was a heart attack, the medical examiner's office said Monday. The identity and cause of death of the other runner were not disclosed.

Golf

Ballesteros reportedly is making progress: Seve Ballesteros continues to make progress after surgery on a cancerous brain tumor.

Ballesteros, 51, is conscious, breathing unaided and able to talk to relatives, officials at a Madrid, Spain, hospital said. Ballesteros is receiving rehabilitation treatment. He had a 6 ½-hour operation Oct. 24 to remove the brain tumor and reduce swelling around the brain.

Normans win Golf Skills Challenge: Greg Norman Jr. hit a 111-yard pitching wedge to an inch from the cup in the final event, and he and his father won the Golf Skills Challenge in Aventura, Fla.

The younger Norman returns to classes at the University of Miami on Wednesday $145,000 richer for his share of the top prize. The event featured four pairings of pros and their caddies.

Fred Couples of Seattle won the long-drive competition with a 311-yard blast.

Horse racing

Hystericalady is sold for $3 million: Hystericalady, a 5-year-old mare partly owned by George Todaro of Seattle, was sold for $3 million on the first day of Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale in Lexington, Ky.

Grade I winner Hystericalady was sold as a racing or broodmare prospect to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.

John Ferguson, who made the purchase for Sheikh Mohammed, indicated it is unlikely Hystericalady will race again. She won 11 of 23 starts and earned almost $2.4 million.

Todaro told Daily Racing Form: "She's 5, and even though she's sound, after that it sort of goes downhill in terms of her price as a broodmare prospect."

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer bought Hystericalady as a yearling for $125,000.

Cummings-trained Viewed takes Melbourne Cup: Australian trainer Bart Cummings, 80, celebrated a record-extending 12th victory in the Melbourne Cup as 40-1 shot Viewed won the 148th edition of Australia's richest race by a nose over Bauer. Blake Shinn rode Viewed, who earned $2.1 million.

Equestrian

Federation asks Olympic officials to resign: The International Equestrian Federation is trying to remove the top officials who run the Olympic discipline of dressage because it says they are too inflexible. The federation said it has asked for immediate resignations from the six-member dressage committee.

"The committee has been seen to work in isolation, not fully representing the interests of the dressage community as a whole," the FEI said in a statement.

NHL

MVP Ovechkin returns to Capitals after a week away: Alex Ovechkin, last season's league most valuable player, returned to the Washington Capitals. Ovechkin practiced with the team after a week away to spend time with his ailing grandfather in Russia.

Seattle Times news services