Associated Press
DUESSELDORF, Germany ó Andy Roddick withdrew from the French Open on Monday because of a right shoulder injury and hopes to be ready for Wimbledon.
The sixth-ranked American, who lost in the first round at Roland Garros the last two years, retired from the semifinals of the Rome Masters on May 10. He skipped the Hamburg Masters last week, but had been expected to play this week at the World Team Cup in Duesseldorf.
“Andy is pulling out with an upper back shoulder injury, the same thing that he had in Rome,” said John Roddick, Andy’s brother and the U.S. captain at the World Team Cup. “He’s pulling out of here and he’s also going to miss the French Open, too.”
At the French Open, Roddick’s best showing came in his debut in 2001 when he reached the third round. He reached the second round in 2004 and ’05, but has lost in the first round four times.
But his success this year in Rome had given Roddick hope ahead of the French Open, which starts Sunday. The former top-ranked player also has won two titles this season, in San Jose and Dubai.
ALL-ACC
GREENSBORO ó Florida State catcher Buster Posey has become the second straight Seminoles player to win the ACC player of the year award.
The ACC announced its all-conference team Monday, and Miami led the way with eight players on the first team. That includes freshman of the year Chris Hernandez, a left-handed pitcher who was 10-0.
Hurricanes coach Jim Morris claimed his first ACC coach of the year award for leading Miami to the No. 1 national ranking and the top seed in this week’s league tournament in Jacksonville, Fla.
Posey leads the league in 10 offensive stat categories, hit .471 and had 68 RBIs in following Tony Thomas as Florida State players to win the award.
North Carolina’s Alex White is the ACC pitcher of the year.
BARKLEY
ATLANTA ó Charles Barkley said Monday he will stop gambling, at least for now, less than a week after acknowledging he owed a $400,000 debt to a Las Vegas Strip casino.
“I like to go into Vegas, it’s a fun place, but you know what, I’ve got to stop gambling. That’s the bottom line,” Barkley said during TNT’s pregame show before Game 7 between San Antonio and New Orleans. “I am not going to gamble anymore. For right now, the next year or two, I’m not going to gamble.”
The Wynn Las Vegas resort alleged in a civil complaint filed Wednesday in a Nevada state court that Barkley failed to repay four $100,000 casino markers, or loans, received last Oct. 18 and 19.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
CLEMSON, S.C. ó Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden says starting linebacker Cortney Vincent will not return for the 2008 season. Vincent had been suspended for spring practice for an unspecified violation of team rules.
– TALLAHASSEE, Fla. ó Florida State receiver Preston Parker will have to sit out the first two games of the 2008 season after pleading guilty Monday to two misdemeanor charges.
The 21-year-old Parker, the Seminoles’ most versatile player last season, was arrested in April on a felony charge for allegedly having a loaded .45-caliber pistol in the dashboard of his car.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
WILMINGTON ó One of East Carolina’s top scorers and rebounders has transferred to North Carolina-Wilmington.
John Fields has enrolled in summer classes and will have two seasons of eligibility with the Seahawks beginning in 2009-10.
Fields played high school ball in Fayetteville and averaged 9.6 points and 5.5 rebounds for East Carolina last season, ranking second on the team in both categories. Under NCAA transfer rules, he must sit out this coming season.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ó The Tennessee Lady Vols had home-field advantage and the better ranking. But they will be missing the Women’s College World Series after playing for the national championship in 2007.
Virginia Tech used a 56-minute rain delay Sunday night and rallied for a 4-2 win to eliminate No. 13 Tennessee (50-16). The loss means the Vols will miss the College World Series for the first time in four years.