Rafael Nadal's announcement Wednesday that he will miss key U.S. Open warm-up events at Toronto and Cincinnati with a right wrist injury will have some rivals "licking their chops."

So says Wimbledon semi-finalist Milos Raonic, among those surprised to learn that the 28-year-old Spaniard, the reigning U.S. Open champion, would be sidelined for the ATP Masters Series events, where he was also reigning champion.

Serena Williams put a worrying Wimbledon behind her Wednesday, launching her build-up to the US Open with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Karolina Pliskova at Stanford.

Chris Bosh made it official on Wednesday, inking a new deal with the NBA's Miami Heat that was reportedly worth $118 million over five years.

After testing the free agent market, Bosh turned down a maximum offer from the Houston Rockets to return to Miami, even as superstar team-mate LeBron James opted to return from Miami to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Everton broke their club transfer record on Wednesday when they paid £28 million (35.4m euros, $47.4m) to sign Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku on a five-year deal from Premier League rivals Chelsea, the club announced.

Lukaku finished as Everton's top scorer last season after finding the net 16 times in 33 appearances while on loan at Goodison Park, helping Roberto Martinez's side to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League.

Julio Grondona, the longtime head of the Argentine Football Association, has died. He was 82.

The announcement was made Wednesday by the South American football confederation, CONMEBOL.

Wayne Rooney has what it takes to succeed Steven Gerrard as captain of England, his former Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand believes.

Roma beat Real Madrid 1-0 on Tuesday in a friendly match disrupted by a pitch invasion, with a Palestinian flag being waved among the intruders.

Approximately 20 fans, mostly young men, appeared to overwhelm the security officials.

Former Zambia Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach Herve Renard could take charge of serial 'chokers' Ivory Coast this week.

Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams advanced to the second round of the WTA Stanford hardcourt tournament Tuesday by defeating Poland's Paula Kania 6-3, 6-2.

Embattled Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling lost his attempt to block the $2 billion sale of the team to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

In allowing the deal to go forward, Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas sided Monday with Sterling's estranged wife, Shelly Sterling, who negotiated the record sale after the NBA banned the 80-year-old billionaire for making offensive remarks about blacks.