NEW YORK — Defending champion Juan Martin del Potro withdrew from the U.S. Open on Saturday, saying he “cannot compete at the top level yet” after having an operation on his right wrist in May.
He becomes only the third U.S. Open men’s champion in the 42-year Open era who didn’t defend the title. And del Potro’s announcement arrives a day after Serena Williams became the first No. 1 in the 35-year history of the women’s rankings to miss the U.S. Open. She still is recovering from surgery for cuts on her right foot.
• Only one game away from a straight-set defeat, Mardy Fish pulled out 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1 victory over boyhood friend and high school teammate Andy Roddick in the semifinals of the Cincinnati Masters.
Fish will play second-ranked Roger Federer, who beat unseeded Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 6-3, in today’s final.
ESPN’s Mariotti arrested
LOS ANGELES — ESPN personality and sports columnist Jay Mariotti was released from jail on $50,000 bail, hours after being arrested on suspicion of felony domestic assault.
Mariotti, 51, was arrested Saturday about 4 a.m. after an argument with his girlfriend, authorities said.
Mariotti is a well-known sports commentator who can be seen on the ESPN’s “Around the Horn.” He also writes for the sports website . Previously, he wrote a sports column for The Denver Post and Chicago Sun-Times.
Mariotti allegedly got into an argument with his girlfriend at a club in Santa Monica, and they were observed exchanging harsh words before leaving in a car. The argument continued at the couple’s apartment on the west side of Los Angeles, where Mariotti allegedly pushed and shoved the woman.
Blind Luck wins Albama Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Blind Luck fought off Havre de Grace inside the sixteenth pole to win the $500,000 Alabama Stakes for 3- year-old fillies by a neck at Saratoga Race Course.
• Irish-bred Debussy won the Arlington Million, rallying to beat 2009 champion Gio Ponti by a half-length in Arlington Heights, Ill.
• Duke of Mischief won the $300,000 Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., beating Redding Colliery by 2 1/4 lengths.
Power to start from pole
SONOMA, Calif. — Will Power set an IndyCar Series record with his eighth pole this season.
Power broke Helio Castroneves‘ 2007 record at Infineon Raceway, turning in the fastest time after barely making it into the final round of knockout qualifying for today’s race.
Footnotes.
Kevin Durant scored 15 points and the U.S. overcame a poor shooting start to beat Lithuania 77-61 in Madrid in a warm-up for the basketball world championships. Former Nuggets forward Linas Kleiza scored 12 points for Lithuania.
• Marco Huck stopped Matt Godfrey in the fifth round to retain his WBO cruiserweight title in Erfurt, Germany.
