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Sports in Brief: Serena Williams ready to return

Serena Williams is returning to the tennis tour after nearly a year off because of various health issues. Williams will begin her comeback at a grass-court tournament in Eastbourne, England, next week. She then will defend her title at Wimbledon, which begins June 20.

Serena Williams

is returning to the tennis tour after nearly a year off because of various health issues.

Williams will begin her comeback at a grass-court tournament in Eastbourne, England, next week. She then will defend her title at Wimbledon, which begins June 20.

Williams has not played an official match since winning her 13th Grand Slam title at the All England Club last July.

A few days after that victory, Williams cut her foot on glass at a restaurant. She wound up having two operations because of that and later was treated for a blood clot in her lung.

"I am so excited to be healthy enough to compete again," Williams said in a statement released by her agent.

The 29-year-old returned to practice in April, an event she announced via Twitter, posting a picture of herself on court in a pink bodysuit.

Williams' older sister Venus, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, also is returning to action after an extended injury absence. Venus Williams has been sidelined since injuring her hip during the Australian Open in January, but her agent said last month she was on track to play at Eastbourne and Wimbledon.

BOXING: Floyd Mayweather Jr. is returning to the ring.

The undefeated six-time world champion announced on his Twitter feed that he will end a 16-month hiatus when he faces WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz on Sept. 17.

Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) hasn't fought since a unanimous decision over Shane Mosley on May 1, 2010, and has repeatedly declined to accept a bout against WBO welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao - a dream ticket many boxing fans are eager to witness.

Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs) is riding a six-match win streak, most recently defeating Andre Berto in April to claim the WBC crown in a fight many consider the year's best.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Penn State announced that its Sept. 10 football game against Alabama at Beaver Stadium will start at 3:30 p.m. and will be televised by 6ABC. It will be the Crimson Tide's first appearance in Happy Valley since 1989. The Nittany Lions also said their season opener, Sept. 3 against Indiana State at Beaver Stadium, will start at noon with the Big Ten Network carrying the game.

Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton announced he decided to resign so the Volunteers would have a "clean slate" when they go before the NCAA's Committee on Infractions later in the week.

Hamilton, who has been at the helm of Tennessee men's athletics for eight seasons, said it was both a personal decision and one that he hoped would help reunite the Vols fan base. During a three-year period, Hamilton fired a popular coach, hired a controversial one, and now the athletic department faces 12 NCAA infractions against the football and basketball programs.

SOCCER: Jozy Altidore scored in the first half and set up Clint Dempsey's goal in the second, and the United States opened its Gold Cup schedule with a 2-0 win over Canada in Detroit.

The 21-year-old Altidore was playing his first game in a Gold Cup, which is the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean. His goal in the 15th minute put the U.S. ahead, and Dempsey added one in the 62d off a nice cross from Altidore.

The U.S. bounced back after losing, 4-0, to World Cup champion Spain in an exhibition game Saturday. The Americans have never lost a group stage game at the Gold Cup.

HORSE RACING: The draw for Saturday's running of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown, will take place at 11 a.m. Wednesday. It will be streamed live on BelmontStakes.com.

- Staff and wire reports