Nadal, Federer withdraw in Paris

Top-ranked Rafael Nadal retired because of a knee injury after losing the first set, 6-1, against Nikolay Davydenko in the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters on Friday, hours after Roger Federer pulled out because of a sore back.

Second-ranked Federer pulled out shortly before his quarterfinal against James Blake but said the injury wasn’t serious.

Federer and Nadal said they hoped to play in the season-ending Masters Cup that begins Nov. 9 in Shanghai.

Blake, seeded 11th, will face No. 13 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the lowest surviving seeded player. He defeated No. 7 Andy Roddick, 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (5).

Defending champion David Nalbandian reached the semifinals by defeating fourth-seeded Andy Murray, 7-6 (3), 6-3, and will next meet Davydenko, the 2006 champion.

BASEBALL

Brewers prepared to pursue Sabathia

Pitcher CC Sabathia will soon be receiving a contract offer from the Milwaukee Brewers. “We’re prepared to do something with him here very shortly,” General Manager Doug Melvin said. . . . Manager Charlie Manuel hoisted the World Series trophy while players basked in a swarm of confetti, the Phanatic mascot danced and hundreds of thousands of Phillies fans roared in celebration of Philadelphia’s first major sports championship in 25 years. Left fielder Pat Burrell led the procession, riding a horse-drawn carriage. . . . First baseman Carlos Delgado’s $12-million option for next year was exercised by the New York Mets.

JURISPRUDENCE

Agent Steinberg was arrested

Leigh Steinberg, once among the NFL’s most powerful agents, was arrested last month on suspicion of being drunk in public.

Steinberg, 59, was taken into custody Oct. 22 in Newport Beach after police received a report about a man “screaming and attempting to climb a hill” above the Newport Auto Center, according to the Associated Press.

Although no alcoholic beverages were found, officers said that they detected a “strong odor” of alcohol and that Steinberg’s speech was slurred.

Steinberg, whose arrest was first reported by the Orange County Register, was booked for investigation of public intoxication and released on his own recognizance. He faces a Dec. 8 hearing.

Calls to Steinberg on Friday evening were not immediately returned.

Steinberg’s client list, which once included Troy Aikman and Steve Young, and later Ben Roethlisberger, has dwindled in recent years. Most recently he was dropped by Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams.

-- Sam Farmer

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

North Carolina is unanimous No. 1

North Carolina is the first unanimous No. 1 since the Associated Press preseason top 25 poll began in 1981-82.

The Tar Heels are the preseason No. 1 for the second straight year, joining Nevada Las Vegas in 1989-90 and 1990-91 as the only schools to receive that status.

Connecticut was No. 2, followed by Louisville, UCLA and Pittsburgh. Arizona State was 15th and USC 18th.

GOLF

Duval moves into contention

David Duval, winless in seven years, laboring at No. 233 on the money list and playing his final PGA Tour event of the year, put together a strong round of three-under-par 69 at the Ginn sur Mer Classic that left him only two shots behind Ryan Palmer after the second round at Palm Coast, Fla. . . . Andy Bean made five birdies in six holes through intermittent rain showers at Sonoma, Calif., finishing at 10-under 134 to take a one-shot lead over Nick Price after two rounds in the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, the Champions Tour’s season-ending event.

ETC.

Rochette wins short program

Canadian Joannie Rochette won the women’s short program at Skate Canada in Ottawa. Fumie Suguri of Japan was second, and Caroline Zhang of Brea was third. . . . Ron Hornaday Jr. won a NASCAR Trucks Series race at Fort Worth to move to within six points of points leader Johnny Benson with two races to go.

Last week’s Breeders’ Cup that was televised from Santa Anita over two days on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 attracted 18,776,000 viewers and ratings that were 11% higher than in 2007, according to ABC. Last year’s Breeders’ Cup was televised on two networks, ABC and ESPN. . . . Alexei Cherepanov, the 19-year-old New York Rangers draft pick who died after collapsing during a game, was playing illegally for his Russian club, a top military officer said. Col. Vladimir Karpenko said that Cherepanov should have been serving his mandatory military service with his unit, not playing hockey with the Omsk club Avangard. . . . Paul Pettit, a 1950s “bonus baby,” will be the guest speaker at a Society for American Baseball Research meeting today at 10 a.m. at the L.A.84 Foundation, 2141 W. Adams Blvd. Information: (323) 730-4646.