Jun 19 2009
Nadal Withdraws from Wimbledon
Rafael Nadal, citing continuing knee pain, will not defend his Wimbledon title next week. The number-one player struggled at the French Open before losing in the fourth round. Two exhibition matches this week were apparently enough to tell Nadal he could not play at his utmost. I hope he feels better by late August when the U.S. Open begins.
Texas, behind two solo home runs in the bottom of the ninth, rallied past Arizona State, 4-3, tonight at the College World Series. Texas won Bracket 2 and earned a spot in the final series starting Monday. Earlier Friday, Louisiana State eliminated Arkansas, 12-5, to clinch Bracket 1.
Rain stayed away from Bethpage State Park, site of the U.S. Open, Friday. Thirteen hours of golf were played. The first round was finished and the second round started. Lucas Glover leads at six-under par. The second round is scheduled to be completed Saturday. After the standard 36-hole cut, the third round is supposed to start tomorrow afternoon. However, the forecast is for heavy mid-afternoon rain.
North Korea earned a berth in next year’s World Cup. North Korea and Saudi Arabia played to a 1-1 draw in Riyadh Wednesday. Earlier that day South Korea, already assured of playing in the World Cup, held Iran to a 0-0 tie at home. The two draws meant North Korea’s 12 points were enough to finish second in its qualifying group. North Korea’s only other World Cup appearance was in 1966. Saudi Arabia took third and will be in a playoff for an additional World Cup spot.
