NEW YORK — Rafael Nadal was seeded No. 1 for the U.S. Open on Tuesday, making it the first time since January 2004 that a man other than Roger Federer holds that top spot at a Grand Slam tournament.
Ana Ivanovic is the No. 1 seed on the women’s side. The tournament begins Monday, and the draw will be announced Thursday.
The U.S. Open followed Monday’s rankings for its seedings, and Nadal replaced Federer at No. 1 for the first time this week. The Olympic, French Open and Wimbledon champion will try for his first U.S. Open title — he’s never been beyond the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows and lost in the fourth round last year.
Lleyton Hewitt, the 2001 U.S. Open champion, withdrew from the tournament after undergoing hip surgery.
Settlement reached for Sonics move
OKLAHOMA CITY — Clay Bennett’s ownership group has reached a final settlement with the city of Seattle, allowing the former SuperSonics franchise to move to Oklahoma City. Attorneys filed a document in Seattle federal court noting that the parties had agreed to pay their own court costs after reaching the settlement.
The NBA hasn’t announced what the Oklahoma City team will be called, and Bennett has refused to confirm a television station’s report that the name would be “Thunder.”
Inspirational teen dies of cancer
PITTSBURGH — John Challis, who inspired professional players with his battle against cancer, died at his parents’ home. He was 18.
Challis made national headlines when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Pittsburgh Pirates game against the New York Yankees in June, leaving his home team a motivational message on their message board.
“Have fun,” he wrote to the Pirates. “It’s the reason we play ball.”
The 5-foot-5, 93-pound teenager was diagnosed with terminal cancer when he was 16.
“John had every reason to complain about his situation, but he chose not to,” Pirates president Frank Coonelly said. “What he did do was show unfathomable courage and great wisdom for someone so young. John’s body could not win the battle with cancer, but John’s tremendous spirit will live on amongst all those he and his story impacted across the country.”
Indiana’s Crean signs lucrative deal
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana basketball coach Tom Crean signed a 10-year contract worth at least $23.6 million. The deal includes an annual base salary of $600,000 and additional payments for promotional work. He will receive $1.4 million this season from outside income, a total that will increase slightly each year of the contract.
Footnotes.
Outspoken former NFL star Warren Sapp will appear on “Inside the NFL,” which moves to Showtime this fall, while Hall of Famer Dan Fouts is returning to CBS as an analyst for college and pro football games.
• The Detroit Shock signed six-time WNBA all-star Taj McWilliams-Franklin to a one-year contract extension and free agent Ashley Shields to a seven-day contract.
The Associated Press
