Nadal out of US Open

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/18/603729header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/18/603729header.jpg" /></a></div> Defending US Open champion Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the final grand slam of the tennis year with a wrist injury.<br /> <br /> The world number two's participation at Flushing Meadows was always in doubt after he pulled out of ATP 1000 events at the Rogers Cup and Cincinnati Masters last month.<br /> <br /> He had initially hoped to be fit for the US Open but announced on Monday that he had lost his race against time.<br /> <br /> Nadal – winner of 14 grand slam titles – beat current world number one, Novak Djokovic, in four sets at last year's final in New York.<br /> <br /> The Spaniard posted on his official Facebook page: "I am very sorry to announce I won't be able to play at this year's US Open, a tournament on which I've played three consecutive finals in my last participations.<br /> <br /> "I am sure you understand that it is a very tough moment for me since it is a tournament I love and where I have great memories from fans, the night matches, so many things.<br /> <br /> "[There is] not much more I can do right now, other than accept the situation and, as always in my case, work hard in order to be able to compete at the highest level once I am back."<br /> <br /> Nadal also beat Djokovic in four sets to win the 2010 US Open final.<br /> <br /> The 28-year-old's withdrawal will mean he ends the year with just one grand slam title – achieved in Paris at the French Open, a tournament he has won nine times.

championship news sports Rafael Nadal SPORTS US Open Nadal out of US Open

Defending US Open champion Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the final grand slam of the tennis year with a wrist injury. The world number...

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Rain halts play at Valhalla

The final round of the US PGA Championship has been suspended due to heavy rainfall at Valhalla.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-27cTW9y522Q/U-fPLM2vG5I/AAAAAAAAAEw/rXU6hG8_zoA/s1600/595431header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Rain halts play at Valhalla" border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-27cTW9y522Q/U-fPLM2vG5I/AAAAAAAAAEw/rXU6hG8_zoA/s1600/595431header.jpg" title="Rain halts play at Valhalla" width="320" /></a>With the heavens opening over the Kentucky course, officials had no choice but to bring a halt to the fourth round of golf's final major of the year, with huge puddles forming.<br /> <br /> The PGA of America subsequently confirmed that play would be halted for at least one hour, although continued rainfall puts Sunday's play at jeopardy.<br /> <br /> Bad weather also affected the second day of the tournament, where the inclement conditions saw several players have their tee time put back.<br /> <br /> The delay in play is likely to affect players at the top of the leaderboard, leader Rory McIlroy was due to tee off with Bernd Wiesberger - who sits second - at approximately 15:00 local time (20:00 GMT).<br /> <br /> McIlroy - who is 13 under par for the tournament - is targeting a hat-trick of victories after triumphing at The Open Championship last month and at last week's WGC Bridgestone Invitational.<br /> <br /> That run has helped the Northern Irishman reclaim top spot in the world rankings, but he faces stiff competition from the likes of Rickie Fowler who is two shots adrift, while Phil Mickelson and Jason Day are a further stroke off the pace.<br /> <br /> Despite the poor weather, Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen showed that low scoring remained a possibility - he was four under par through 11 holes before the break in play.<br /> <br /> Shane Lowry also carded four under in his final round, a score which took him to one under par for the tournament.<br /> <br /> However, Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello will act as a warning to the leaders, he shot a nine-over-par 80, including double-bogeys at the seventh and the 12th, to end his tournament at 10 over par.

America america's cup finals championship golf news sports Rain halts SPORTS US PGA US PGA Championship Rain halts play at Valhalla

The final round of the US PGA Championship has been suspended due to heavy rainfall at Valhalla. With the heavens opening over the Kentuck...

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Williams must target world championship

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/motorsports/2014/8/6/590905header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/motorsports/2014/8/6/590905header.jpg" /></a>Performance chief Rob Smedley says Williams must aspire to win the Formula One world championship despite not being a works team.<br /> <br /> Williams have not tasted glory since claiming both the constructors' and drivers' crowns in 1997 - the latter coming courtesy of Jacques Villeneuve.<br /> <br /> However, they have been impressive during the 2014 season, currently sitting fourth in the standings, and head of vehicle performance Smedley believes the team's current supply deal with Mercedes can enhance their prospects.<br /> <br /> "This team has to have ambitions to win the world championship," he told Autosport. "Yes, we are not a works team, but are Red Bull really a works team? Mercedes are a works team and Ferrari are definitely a works team because they work under the same roof.<br /> <br /> "But if you look at the differing fortunes of those teams, does being a works team give you automatic access to winning races and championships? I don't think so.<br /> <br /> "The ambition of this team has to be to win world championships and to get back to how it was.<br /> <br /> "We should not be setting ourselves to be best of the rest because if we want to do that, we have already achieved that ambition, so now we have to go on and win world championships."<br /> <br /> Williams' last race victory came at the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix, with Pastor Maldonado topping the podium.

championship Formula One Rob Smedley Williams must target world championship

Performance chief Rob Smedley says Williams must aspire to win the Formula One world championship despite not being a works team. Williams...

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