Sports briefs

TENNIS

Injured Nadal withdraws

Rafael Nadal withdrew yesterday from tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati because of a right wrist injury, putting in doubt his status for a title defense at the U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 25. Nadal plays lefthanded, but he uses a two-handed backhand. He said in a statement issued by the Toronto tournament that he injured himself Tuesday.

Serena returns, wins

Top-ranked Serena Williams won in her first match since defaulting in a doubles match with sister Venus at Wimbledon, beating Karolina Pliskova, 7-5, 6-2, last night in the second round of the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford, Calif.

Lisicki record serve: 131 mph

The WTA says Sabine Lisicki has hit the fastest recorded serve in the history of the women's tennis tour, reaching 131 mph. Lisicki hit the serve at 5-5, 40-30 of a first-round loss against Ana Ivanovic in the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California, on Tuesday. The previous fastest WTA serve was 129 mph, by Venus Williams at the 2007 U.S. Open.

Roddick doubles comeback?

If Andy Roddick is willing to go through the necessary steps to return to competitive tennis, the U.S. Open would offer him and pal Mardy Fish a doubles wild card next year. Roddick complained this week that he wanted to play doubles with Fish at Flushing Meadows next month -- until finding out that the 2003 U.S. Open champion is not eligible to compete currently.

NBA

Nets assistants named

The Nets named Paul Westphal, John Welch, Tony Brown, Joe Wolf and Jay Humphries as assistant coaches and Jim Sann as an assistant coach/advance scout on new coach Lionel Hollins' staff. Westphal has been a head coach with the Suns, SuperSonics and Kings. Welch will return for his second season as an assistant. Brown, Wolf and Humphries have experience as NBA assistants. Sann is in his second stint with the Nets.

SOCCER

Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake tie

Thierry Henry scored on a shot to the lower right corner in the 57th minute to help the Red Bulls rally for a 1-1 tie with Real Salt Lake (8-4-9) in Sandy, Utah. The Red Bulls (5-6-10) have played to five draws in their last eight matches.-- AP