Tiger Woods, Naomi Osaka, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams: Sports round-up

A weary and wounded world number one Rafael Nadal retired from his U.S. Open semi-final while trailing Juan Martin del Potro 7-6(3) 6-2 on Friday.

Woods had no prior knowledge of Nike's Kaepernick commercial

Tiger Woods said on Friday that the Nike commercial narrated by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick was "something that's special" but added he did not know the company was producing the advert. Former San Francisco 49er Kaepernick sparked a national debate when he knelt during the national anthem in the 2016 NFL season to protest racial injustice and police brutality.

Osaka takes winding path from Japan to U.S. Open final

As Naomi Osaka sprinted through her matches at the U.S. Open this year, pushing aside anyone who stood in her way, it would have been easy to mistake the young Japanese phenom's success as predestined. But the road from her home country to New York, then Florida and finally, a U.S. Open final against Serena Williams, has been a circuitous one, marked by incremental improvements both physically and mentally.

Icons Rooney, Villa to meet at Yankee Stadium

Two longtime European soccer icons will take center stage late Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium when the Wayne Rooney-led D.C. United visits New York City FC and David Villa. Rooney, the longtime English international and Premier League star at Manchester United and Everton, has four goals and five assists in 11 appearances with the Black-and-Red since coming over on a transfer two months ago. D.C. United (8-11-6, 30 points) has gone since 6-4-1 since his debut in a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on July 14 and has moved within six points of sixth-place Montreal for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot with nine games remaining, seven of which will be played at Audi Field.

Nationals may find relief as closer Doolittle returns

The Washington Nationals have their saving grace back. Left-handed closer Sean Doolittle was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list on Friday. Doolittle, one of the most effective relievers in the major leagues with a 1.45 ERA and 22 saves before he went on the DL on July 10 with a sprained toe on his left foot, hasn't pitched in a game since July 6. His injury was a stress reaction of the second left metatarsal.

Nadal retires to send Del Potro into U.S. Open final

A weary and wounded world number one Rafael Nadal retired from his U.S. Open semi-final while trailing Juan Martin del Potro 7-6(3) 6-2 on Friday, sending the Argentine back to the Flushing Meadows final for the first time since his 2009 triumph. Nadal, who had never before retired from a U.S. Open match, showed signs of distress almost from the start as he limped noticeably after a grueling 69-minute opening set.

Serena, Osaka ready to write history in U.S. Open final

A year after Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka were both caught up in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, both will be trying to make history in the U.S. Open final on Saturday. For Williams, the joy of giving birth for the first time last September was quickly followed by a series of complications that led to multiple life-saving surgeries.

Americans Bryan and Sock win U.S. Open doubles title

American Mike Bryan claimed a record 18th Grand Slam men's doubles title when he and compatriot Jack Sock beat Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo 6-3 6-1 in the U.S. Open final on Friday. The meeting between the last two Wimbledon champions proved one-sided as Poland's Kubot and Brazil's Melo, seeded seventh, had no answer for the tactical game deployed by the third-seeded American duo.

Schauffele grabs halfway lead as Woods, McIlroy retreat at BMW

Xander Schauffele vaulted to a two-stroke halfway lead at the BMW Championship in Pennsylvania on Friday as Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods slipped back in the second round. American Schauffele hit 17 greens in regulation and used a hot putter for a six-under-par 64 on the Aronimink course west of Philadelphia.

Gwynn's family settles suit with tobacco company

The family of Tony Gwynn has reached a confidential settlement in its wrongful death suit against the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co., according to reports. Gwynn, who played all 20 seasons of his Hall of Fame career with the San Diego Padres, died in 2014 of cancer of the salivary gland. He was 54.

(With inputs from Reuters)