MADRID, Spain — Doubles star Bob Bryan will miss this weekend’s Davis Cup semifinal against Spain because of a shoulder injury and was replaced on the U.S. team Tuesday by Mardy Fish.
Bryan’s withdrawal follows that of James Blake. He pulled out last week citing exhaustion, making way for 39th-ranked Sam Querrey.
Bryan is recovering after receiving a cortisone shot for an inflamed left shoulder that has bothered him since Wimbledon.
“I aggravated it pretty bad at the (U.S.) Open and only made things worse,” Bryan said. “I knew if I wanted a chance to play the rest of this year, I had to shut it down now. I can’t even hit any balls.”
This will be the first time in 16 Davis Cup matches that Bryan and twin brother Mike won’t play together. The Bryans, who are 14-2 since debuting in 2003, helped the U.S. win the Davis Cup last year.
The best-of-five series begins Friday with two singles matches, followed by doubles Saturday and reverse singles Sunday. The Spaniards are led by No. 1 Rafael Nadal.
Wie fires 70 in LPGA sectional
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — Michelle Wie shot a 2-under-par 70 to begin the LPGA sectional qualifying tournament.
Despite the strong start in the 72-hole qualifying event, Wie, 18, emerged from the scoring room and informed her agent that she wouldn’t do any interviews until Friday’s final round.
Wie’s 70 put her four shots behind Sun-Ju Ahn of South Korea.
Players allocated to women’s soccer league
NEW YORK — Kristine Lilly will play for Boston, Abby Wambach will be in Washington and Hope Solo will suit up for St. Louis in the new Women’s Professional Soccer league.
U.S. national team players were allocated to the league’s clubs, with each of the seven squads receiving three players.
The league is scheduled to debut in April. It will also have franchises in the Bay Area, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York/New Jersey.
Footnotes.
Carolina Hurricanes captain Rod Brind’Amour underwent surgery to remove torn cartilage from his left knee and is expected to be ready for the start of the NHL season.
• The Anaheim Ducks placed defenseman Mathieu Schneider on waivers.
• South African Oscar Pistorius completed his gold-medal haul at the Paralympics in Beijing, winning the 400 meters to go with victories in the 100 and 200. American Jim Bob Bizzell won the silver medal.
• Auburn tailback Brad Lester (neck) has returned to practice but his status remains uncertain for Saturday’s game against LSU.
• Tom Boonen won his second stage at the Spanish Vuelta, while Alberto Contador maintained his overall lead — 1 minute, 17 seconds ahead of teammate Levi Leipheimer — with five stages remaining.
• Brooks Conrad and Donnie Murphy each had two hits and drove in a run to help the Sacramento River Cats beat the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees 4-1 and win the Triple-A championship game in Oklahoma City for the second consecutive year.
The Associated Press
