Serena Williams will not play at U.S. Open

Top-ranked Serena Williams has pulled out of the 2010 U.S. Open because she is still recovering from surgery on her right foot. Williams, who won her 13th grand slam event at Wimbledon earlier this year and is ranked No. 1 in the world, cut her foot on broken glass at a restaurant in July and has not played since.

“It is with much frustration and deep sadness that I am having to pull out of the U.S. Open,” Williams said on the tournament’s website. “My doctors have advised against my playing so that my foot can heal.”

She called missing the tournament, which will begin Aug. 30, “one of the most devastating moments of my career.”

Tournament Director Jim Curley released the following statement: “We regret that Serena Williams is unable to play the U.S. Open and wish her a speedy recovery. She will be missed, but the tournament is about the competition and the players on the court. This year’s U.S. Open will be a memorable event, as it has been every year.”

Andy Murray, looking exhausted in 100-degree heat, lost, 6-7 6-1 7-6, to unseeded American Mardy Fish in their quarterfinal at the Cincinnati Masters. Fish, ranked 36th in the world, has now beaten the Brit in three successive meetings following victories in Miami and at Queen’s Club.

Fish will play Andy Roddick, who had his big serve working in a 6-4, 7-5 victory over third-seeded Novak Djokovic. Roger Federer also advanced by defeating Nikolay Davydenko, 6-4 7-5

Svetlana Kuznetsova thrashed China’s Zheng Jie, 6-1 6-3, to reach the semifinals of the Montreal Cup. Reaching the other semifinal was Vera Zvonareva, who upset an ailing Kim Clijsters, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

GOLF

Brandt Snedeker tied with Arjun Atwal

Former champion Brandt Snedeker shot a five-under-par 65 to tie Arjun Atwal for the 36-hole lead at the Wyndham Championship at Charlotte, N.C. Atwal, the first-round leader, had a 67 to match Snedeker at 12-under 128.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Hawaii might leave WAC

The Western Athletic Conference, down to six teams after the departure of Fresno State and Nevada to the Mountain West Conference this week, could lose another with Hawaii “fleshing out the possibility” of going independent in football, a source close to the situation told Sporting News.

Representatives from the Mountain West and Conference USA are considering a plan to pit their champions in a title game, with the winner gaining an automatic BCS berth, sources told the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

Former Oregon football coach Mike Bellotti has disputed a report by the Oregonian that former Ducks running back LeGarrette Blount accidentally punched him during a closed practice in the 2008 season.

ETC.

Cheryl Miller, Vlade Divac honored

Already a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, former Riverside Poly and USC standout Cheryl Miller will add some international flavor to her Hall of Fame resume. Miller and 16 others will become the newest members of the International Basketball Federation Hall of Fame later this year, FIBA announced Friday. Former Laker Vlade Divac of Serbia is also a member of the 2010 class that will be inducted Sept. 12 in Instanbul.

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The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation said Friday that Antonio Margarito may get a boxing license in Texas as soon as Monday when it’s expected his official mailed-in application arrives, accompanied by a $20 license fee check. That’s good news for those wanting to see Margarito fight Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13 at Cowboys Stadium outside Dallas.

-- Lance Pugmire

Free-agent guard Delonte West has been suspended 10 games without pay after pleading guilty to weapons charges.The NBA said West, who spent the last three seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, pleaded guilty last month to carrying a concealed weapon and wearing, carrying, and transporting a handgun, in violation of Maryland law.

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Jack Quinn’s two-run double broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fifth inning as Fairfield, Conn., defeated Auburn, Wash., 3-1, in the first game of the Little League World Series at South Williamsport, Pa. Blake Toler and Jake Orlando hit homers in the first inning and Pearland, Texas, powered past Plymouth, Minn., 10-8.

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Florida Marlins catcher Ronny Paulino was suspended for 50 games for violating Major League Baseball’s drug policy. The Marlins put Paulino, who was batting .259 with four home runs and 37 RBIs in 91 games, on the restricted list.