Nadal, Raonic to miss U.S. Open tune-up

Rafa Nadal's U.S. Open preparations have suffered another setback after the Spaniard withdrew from next week's Cincinnati hard court event with a nagging foot issue, organizers of the Masters 1000 tournament said on Wednesday.

Nadal suffered a shock exit last week in Washington, where he kicked off his lead-up to the U.S. Open, and on Tuesday pulled out of the ongoing Masters 1000 event in Toronto with a left-foot issue.

The Spaniard is the latest in a number of high-profile names to sit out next week's Western & Southern Open, joining a list that includes Canadian Milos Raonic, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Sofia Kenin.

Raonic, who was runner-up at the 2020 Western & Southern Open, which was held in New York in a bid to limit travel ahead of the U.S. Open due to the COVID-19 outbreak, is battling a heel injury.

The U.S. Open runs from Aug. 30-Sept. 12.

At the National Bank Open in Montreal, Canada's Rebecca Marino continued her amazing climb, defeating Paula Badosa, Spain, 1-6, 7-5, 6-4.

After a rough start, falling 4-0 and losing the first set, the 30-yearold Vancouver native settled in and battled back, taking the second set and breaking Badosa twice in the third before sealing the game with an ace to advance to the third round.

“Any time you can beat a girl who's in the top 100, top 50, it's something to feel good about, particularly as I'm building my ranking back up,” said Marino, who came into the tournament ranked 220th in the world. On Tuesday, Marino upset No. 16 seed Madison Keys of the U.S. in straight sets.

In women's doubles, Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski playing with Brazil's Luisa Stefani, downed Renata Voracova, Czech Republic, and Julia Wachaczyk, Germany, 6-4, 4-6, 10-4

Later, Marino paired with fellow Canadian Leylah Annie Fernandez, to victory over Elixane Lechemia, France, and Ingrid Neel, United States, 5-7, 6-3, 10-2.

On the men's side at the National Bank Open in Toronto, Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime struggled losing 7-5, 6-4 to Dusan Lajovic of Serbia.

Britain's Justin Rose was named the recipient of the PGA Tour's Payne Stewart Award on Wednesday, which honours a player for his character, sportsmanship and a commitment to charity.

Named after the three-time major champion Stewart, who died in a private plane crash in 1999, Rose will receive his award at a ceremony on Aug. 31 in conjunction with the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

“I am truly humbled and honoured to be associated with the enduring legacy of Payne Stewart through this award,” Rose said in a statement.

A former world No. 1, Olympic gold medallist and U.S. Open champion, Rose is also respected for his charitable work.

In 2009, Rose and his wife Kate established their own foundation that works with charities in South Africa, the U.S., the Bahamas and England.

The San Francisco 49ers are signing veteran safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, his agency confirmed on social media Wednesday. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed.

Clinton-Dix, 28, last played in the NFL in 2019 with the Chicago Bears.

A former first-round draft pick out of Alabama in 2014, Clinton-Dix spent his first four-plus seasons with the Green Bay Packers, becoming their starter at free safety. In his best season, 2016, he made the Pro Bowl and was named a second-team All-Pro.

The Packers traded Clinton-Dix to the Washington Football Team at the 2018 trade deadline, where he finished out the season as a starter before joining Chicago.

Clinton-Dix attempted to catch on with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, where he followed former Packers coach Mike McCarthy. But the Cowboys cut him before the season started — despite US$2.25 million owed to him in guaranteed money — and he hasn't seen game action since.

The Seattle Seahawks released defensive end Aldon Smith on Wednesday, and in a corresponding move, signed linebacker Lakiem Williams to the 90-man roster. Smith signed a one-year, US$1.127 million contract with the Seahawks on April 15. A warrant was issued for his arrest two days later in Louisiana on an assault charge. He was accused of choking a man unconscious after an altercation in a coffee shop.

Smith, 31, made a strong comeback last season with the Dallas Cowboys after four years out of the league.