Serena Williams, citing foot injury, withdraws from U.S. Open | Tennis

Tennis

Williams had foot surgery last month: Top-ranked Serena Williams pulled out of the U.S. Open on Friday, saying she still is recovering from surgery to repair cuts on her right foot.

"It is with much frustration and deep sadness that I am having to pull out of the U.S. Open," Williams said in a statement released by her publicist.

Williams, 28, called missing the tournament "one of the most devastating moments of my career."

She reportedly was hurt by a broken glass at a restaurant while she was in Munich, Germany, in early July and had surgery in Los Angeles on July 15.

Williams is the first No. 1 woman to miss the U.S. Open since the rankings began in 1975, according to the U.S. Tennis Association.

The U.S. Open starts Aug. 30.

Americans to square off in Ohio: Andy Roddick beat second-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia 6-4, 7-5 to set up the first semifinal between Americans at the Cincinnati Masters for men since Andre Agassi beat Roddick in 2004.

Roddick will face friend Mardy Fish, who upset fourth-seeded Andy Murray of Scotland 6-7 (7-9), 6-1, 7-6 (7-5).

In the other semifinal in Mason, Ohio, Roger Federer of Switzerland will face Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus. Baghdatis beat top-ranked Rafael Nadal of Spain to advance.

Auto racing

Johnson wins pole: Jimmie Johnson, four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, earned the pole for Saturday's Irwin Tools Night Race in Bristol, Tenn.

Kasey Kahne of Enumclaw was 11th in qualifying, and Greg Biffle of Vancouver, Wash., was 21st.

Busch triumphs: Kyle Busch won the Food City 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Bristol — his 10th in the series this year.

Kahne, who was in an accident on the 83rd lap, finished 37th and Derrike Cope of Spanaway was 39th.

NBA

Ex-Sonic West is suspended after guilty plea: Free-agent guard Delonte West, a former Sonic who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers last season, was suspended without pay for 10 games after pleading guilty last month to weapons charges.

The Minnesota Timberwolves waived West, 27, on Aug. 3 after acquiring him in a trade.

Thunder player Krstic released after brawl during tournament in Greece: Serbia's Nenad Krstic, a center for the Oklahoma City Thunder, was released after being held in police custody overnight for his role in a fight during a game against Greece at the Acropolis tournament in Athens, Greece.

College basketball

Former Alabama player Torrance is in critical condition: Ex-Alabama point guard Mikhail Torrance, 21, collapsed after a workout in Bradenton, Fla., and is hospitalized in critical condition, a person familiar with the situation said.

Torrance said earlier this summer he was diagnosed in 2009 with an enlarged heart. He had been planning to spend the coming season with Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel.

Horse racing

California board denies Oak Tree a license to conduct meet at Santa Anita: The California Horse Racing Board denied a license to Oak Tree Racing Association to run its fall meet at Santa Anita in Arcadia because of concerns about the track surface.

Horse owners, trainers and an expert on synthetic racing surfaces told the board at its meeting they oppose having the fall meet at Santa Anita because of safety concerns about the synthetic surface.

The group of owners and trainers said they prefer Hollywood Park in Inglewood, which has a different brand of synthetic surface.

Santa Anita is planning to replace its synthetic surface with a dirt track later this year.

Swimming

Adrian excels: Nathan Adrian of Bremerton was part of the U.S. 400-meter relay team that placed first in the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, Calif.

Adrian, who won the 100 freestyle Thursday, joined with Olympic icon Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and Jason Lezak to triumph in 3 minutes, 11.74 seconds. Furthermore, Phelps won the 100 butterfly in 50.86 and Lochte took the 200 backstroke in 1:54.12.

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