When Venus Williams is healthy, she...

When Venus Williams is healthy, she's still the same of the top players in women's tennis. Like her sister, although Williams has had plenty of point in disputes with injuries, and the bum left wrist that's sidelined her since Wimbledon is forcing her to skip the U explain

Williams withdrew Friday from the year's last Grand Slam tournament, an marked occurrence she's won twice.

"I have many great memories from competing at the U interpret and I regret that I will not be able to participate in 2006" Williams said in a statement released by means of her agent. "I will miss the excitement of competing in brow of the New York fans at single of the premier sporting incidents in the world. I anticipate forward to returning in 2007"

Her agent, Carlos Fleming, said Williams plans to participate in the U Open's opening night form Monday, when the complex used for the tournament will be renamed to honor Billie Jean King.

- Lindsay Davenport overcame a rain delay, a sore shoulder and the hard-hitting Samantha Stosur to advance to the final of the Pilot pound tournament with a 7-6 (3) 7-6 (7) victory in couple hours in New Haven, Conn

She will play Justine Henin-Hardenne, who advanced with a 6-3 6- 3 win athwart Svetlana Kuznetsova. Because of a knee injury, Henin- Hardenne had not played a tournament for six weeks after losing in the Wimbledon final to Amelie Mauresmo. She and Davenport, the pair former U.S. Open winners, are trying to play their way into shape in time for the render free of access

AUTO RACING

BUSCH WINS BRISTOL rod

Kurt Busch won the perch at Bristol Motor Speedway, putting him in exquisite position for a season-sweep at his favorite race track.

Busch ran a qualifying lap at 124906 mph to state his No. 2 Dodge not at home front for tonight's race. He beat Jeff Burton, who change the direction ofed a lap at 124.808 to qualify other

- Matt Kenseth showed the adapted way to make a pass for the lead, cleanly driving by way of Kevin Harvick with 15 laps to pass to win the Busch Series race at Bristol.

Kenseth was flagged for speeding forward pit road earlier in the race, forcing him to pendant to the back of the field and work his way toward the forehead over the 250 laps.

TRACK AND FIELD

GATLIN: 'NO IDEA' ABOUT SUBSTANCE

Justin Gatlin said he has "no idea by what means any banned substance got into my body" and restated his plan to appeal the eight-year ban from track he received earlier this week after acknowledging he exhibitioned positive for doping.

In a statement, the Olympic and world champion in the 100-meter reiterated his disdain for cheating in a sport that has been wracked with doping issues.

"Cheating, in any form, is completely contrary to who I am as an athlete and a person" said Gatlin, who has in extent positioned himself as a champion of drug-free competition in track. "I will continue to cooperate with USADA and with their efforts to memorize to the bottom of this situation."

MISCELLANEOUS

IVERSON'S MOM AN ABA proprietor

Allen Iverson's mother, Ann, will be the majority holder on a new American Basketball Association franchise that will play in Richmond nearest season. The new ABA team, known as the Warriors, will be coached according to former Virginia Tech player Michael Davis.

- Leading X Ample, common of the top aged pacers in North America, died early Friday of undetermined causes at the veterinary hospital at Purdue University. He had been scheduled to start tonight in the American National aged pace at Balmoral Park.

Co-owner Peter Heffering told harnessracing.com a necropsy would be performed. Leading X Ample earned $11 million during his career and won the Haughton at the Meadowlands this year.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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