WIMBLEDON, England — Defending champion Rafael Nadal and top-ranked women’s player Dinara Safina were seeded No. 1 for Wimbledon on Wednesday.
There were no big surprises when the All England Club announced the seedings for the grass-court Grand Slam tournament, which opens Monday. The draw will be released Friday.
The top-ranked Nadal has been having trouble with his knees the past few months and received treatment after pulling out of the Wimbledon warm-up event at Queen’s Club. The Spaniard plans to test them by playing exhibition matches on grass against Lleyton Hewitt today and Stanislas Wawrinka.
The top six spots in the men’s list follow the rankings. Five-time champion Roger Federer is No. 2, followed by Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin Del Porto and Andy Roddick.
Among the women, Safina of Russia is followed by Serena Williams and defending champion Venus Williams. The only major change from the rankings is 2004 Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova as the No. 24 seed despite being ranked 59th.
Mother Goose up next for Rachel Alexandra
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra is heading to Belmont Park after all. Co-owner Jess Jackson‘s Stone- street Farms announced his filly will return to the track June 27 in the 1 1/8-mile Mother Goose Stakes, nearly three weeks after Jackson decided to rest his star rather than run her in the Belmont Stakes.
“Rachel is rested, healthy and ready to run,” Jackson said.
Calvin Borel will ride the filly in the Mother Goose.
Alabama to appeal sanctions
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama plans to appeal a ruling by the NCAA Committee on Infractions that forced the football program to vacate 21 wins.
Alabama’s football program and 15 other sports were placed on three years’ probation after 201 athletes were found to have used their scholarships to get free textbooks or other materials they weren’t entitled to, including 22 who obtained more than $100 in supplies for other students. The NCAA labeled those 22 “intentional wrongdoers.”
University president Robert Witt said the penalties were excessive.
• Drew Gordon of UCLA has partially torn the patellar tendon in his right knee during tryouts for the U.S. team that will play in the Under-19 world basketball championships. The sophomore forward was hurt Tuesday in Colorado Springs. There were no immediate details about his prognosis.
Footnotes.
Boston Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference underwent surgery to repair an abdominal hernia and a torn groin. His recovery time is estimated at four to six weeks.
• Diana Taurasi scored 28 points, rookie DeWanna Bonner had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and the Phoenix Mercury beat the visiting Minnesota Lynx 104-80.
• Spain tied an international record by winning its 14th straight soccer game, beating Iraq 1-0 on David Villa‘s goal in the 55th minute to advance to the Confederations Cup semifinals in South Africa. The Associated Press
