OLYMPICS

Nadal, defending Olympic champion, withdraws from London games with injury

Defending Olympic tennis champion Rafael Nadal pulled out of the London games on Thursday with an undisclosed injury. Nadal did not mention any specific injury, but he canceled a charity match in Madrid on July 4 because of tendon problems in his left knee. He has had recurring knee problems in the past.

Nadal has not played since losing in the second round of Wimbledon to then 100th-ranked Lukas Rosol, one of the most surprising results in the tournament’s history.

CYCLING: USA Cycling will reward gold medalists at the London Olympics with $100,000 in bonus money through a new incentive program. The “London 100K Challenge” will be the richest known Olympic reward program put forward by any cycling organization in the world.

The program includes $75,000 bonuses for silver medalists and $50,000 for any athlete winning bronze.

FOOTBALL

NEFL: The Southern Maine Raging Bulls, a semipro team in the New England Football League, will begin their 15th season at 7 p.m. Saturday against the New Hampshire Wolfpack at Deering High’s Memorial Field.

Southern Maine finished 8-4 and reached the final round of the playoffs last season.

The Raging Bulls will have eight local players on their roster, including five from Portland High: wide receiver Jake Alexander, running back Imadhi Zagon of Husson University, linebackers Bobby Nelson and Dylan Kenney, and cornerback Kyle Roberts.

Running back Phil Warren of Brunswick High and the University of Buffalo, and outside linebackers Nate Lavallee of Cape Elizabeth High and Michael Douglass of Gorham are also among the local players.

HOCKEY

NHL: Philadelphia signed Nashville defenseman Shea Weber to a 14-year offer sheet worth more than $100 million, said a person with knowledge of the decision.

• The Washington Capitals have signed forward Tom Wilson, 18, to a three-year, entry-level contract.

• The Minnesota Wild have signed teenager and first-round draft pick Mathew Dumba, 17. Dumba recently participated in the Wild’s prospect camp after serving as a captain for Canada in the U-18 world championships.

GOLF

PGA: Jason Bohn shot an 8-under 64 to take an early lead at the True South Classic before heavy rain halted play in the afternoon at Madison, Miss.

Luke Guthrie, a 22-year-old in just his third professional tournament, opened with a 65. J.J. Killeen, Steve Lowery, Ryuji Imada, Jason Gore and Willie Wood share a tie for third, two shots behind Bohn.

TENNIS

WTA: U.S. Olympian Christina McHale held off Misaki Doi of Japan 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 at the Mercury Insurance Open, advancing to a quarterfinal against No. 1 seed Marion Bartoli of France at Carlsbad, Calif.

McHale, the No. 5 seed, needed three match points in the last game before Doi hit a backhand into the net.

— From staff and news services