Sports in Brief: Nadal needs five sets to win

Rafael Nadal

excelled when he needed to most, winning the last two sets against

John Isner

on Tuesday to advance to the second round at the French Open with a 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-4 victory in Paris.

The five-time champion, who improved to 39-1 at Roland Garros, played a five-set match at Roland Garros for the first time in seven visits.

Also advancing to the second round were Australian Open finalists Andy Murray and Li Na, as well as Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters, and two-time French Open finalist Robin Soderling.

NFL: The league will punish teams next season if their players commit multiple flagrant hits that result in fines.

The punishment will be financial, although league vice president Adolpho Birch said he didn't rule out commissioner Roger Goodell applying further sanctions such as stripping clubs of draft choices.

The NFL has canceled next month's rookie symposium, the first league event called off because of the lockout. League spokesman Greg Aiello said the decision was made because of "the uncertainty of the labor issues we are facing and the logistical challenges of conducting the symposium."

Colts owner Jim Irsay says Peyton Manning should be ready to play by the preseason - if there is one - after having a second surgery on his neck. The comment appeared on Irsay's Twitter account shortly after The Indianapolis Star first reported that Manning had "minimally invasive" surgery on his neck at Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: The Villanova men's team will play five exhibition games during a tour of France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands from Aug. 7 through Aug. 16, the university announced.

The Wildcats' first preseason overseas journey since 2001 will find them playing against the national teams of Israel, Georgia, and the Netherlands on consecutive days in Amsterdam. Other opponents haven't been announced.

In other news, ESPN announced that Villanova would compete in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden, where it will meet Missouri on Dec. 6 in the first game of a doubleheader.

Crystal Gibson has resigned as Arcadia's women's coach to accept the same position at Division III St. Mary's College in Maryland.

CYCLING: Alberto Contador won a mountain time trial in Belluno, Italy, to increase his commanding overall lead in the Giro d'Italia, dedicating it to deceased Spanish rider Xavier Tondo. Tondo died in an accident Monday after he was crushed between his car and a garage door in southern Spain.

COLLEGE BASEBALL: Rowan righthanded pitchers Mike Swietanski and Steven Melchiorre, centerfielder Matt Citro, and catcher Nick Turano were honored by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

Swietanski, from West Deptford High, was named all-region second team, and Melchiorre, from Hammonton High, was named to the third team. Citro and Turano won Gold Glove first-team honors.

- Staff and wire reports