Past champs Agassi, Williams unseeded
Andre Agassi and Serena Williams were not seeded for the U.S. Open on Tuesday because they fell too far in the rankings during injury-interrupted seasons.
Both Agassi and Williams have won the U.S. Open twice and used to be ranked No. 1.
Another past champion, Marat Safin, also is unseeded. That means Agassi, Williams and Safin will not have any sort of protection in today’s draw and could wind up facing a top player in the first round.
The U.S. Open seeds players directly according to the ATP and WTA rankings, so No. 1-ranked Roger Federer and Amelie Mauresmo – the reigning Wimbledon champions – are seeded No. 1.
All of the Grand Slam tournaments seed 32 men and 32 women.
“Kim Clijsters’ wrist injury will keep her out of next month’s Fed Cup final against Italy, hurting Belgium’s hopes of winning the title.
NBA
Pacers get Harrington
The Indiana Pacers finally completed a sign-and-trade deal with the Atlanta Hawks for forward Al Harrington.
The Pacers acquired Harrington and center John Edwards in exchange for a 2007 first-round pick. Harrington spent the first six years of his career with the Pacers before spending the last two in Atlanta.
“San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker will miss four to six weeks but won’t have surgery on the right index finger he broke playing for France in preparation for the world championship.
Parker injured the finger in a tuneup game against Brazil last week.
“Argentina star Walter Herrmann is close to signing a deal with the Charlotte Bobcats.
“Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge, the second overall pick in the NBA draft, will undergo surgery today to repair a small ligament tear in his right shoulder.
Auto racing
NASCAR fines Edwards
NASCAR fined Carl Edwards $20,000 for intentionally hitting Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s car at the end of Saturday’s Busch Series race at Michigan International Speedway.
Miscellany
Louisville will relocate
The University of Louisville will trade in historic but outdated Freedom Hall for a state-of-the-art downtown facility as the primary tenant of a 22,000-seat arena that will be draped in black and red when it opens in 2010.
“Oklahoma has banned its athletes from working at a car dealership where two football players – including the team’s starting quarterback – broke NCAA rules by accepting payment for more work than they performed.
“Despite shooting a 6-over-par 78 in the second round, Billy Horschel won the stroke-play qualifying at the U.S. Amateur Golf Championship at Chaska, Minn.
“Saint Liam, the 2005 Eclipse Award winner as thoroughbred racing’s Horse of the Year, was euthanized after injuring his hind leg at Versailles, Ky.