Rafael Nadal returns a shot to Richard Gasquet during their U.S. Open first-round match. Nadal won, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3, on Wednesday in New York.

New York ? Everyone’s been curious about the condition of Rafael Nadal’s knees, so it made sense that his first Grand Slam opponent in three months would wonder as well.

Which might explain why Richard Gasquet tried a drop shot deep in the third set of his U.S. Open match against Nadal on Wednesday. Nadal made the long run necessary to get to the ball, and flipped it back over the net, winning the point.

Starting a bid to win the only Grand Slam title missing from his resume, Nadal encountered no apparent trouble from his much-scrutinized legs in a 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Gasquet at Flushing Meadows.

“He can win the tournament,” said Gasquet, a 2007 Wimbledon semifinalist and former top-10 player.

Nadal ceded the top spot to Roger Federer, whose bid for a sixth consecutive U.S. Open championship — and third Grand Slam title in a row this year — progressed with a 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 victory over Simon Greul of Germany in front of a night-session record crowd of 24,206.

Next for Federer is a matchup against two-time major winner Lleyton Hewitt, who defeated Juan Ignacio Chela, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. Federer has won 13 matches in a row against Hewitt, including in the 2004 U.S. Open final.

The defending women’s champion, Serena Williams, was spectacularly good in eliminating 51st-ranked Melinda Czink of Hungary, 6-1, 6-1, in 53 minutes in Wednesday’s last match.

Venus Williams, the 2000-01 champion in New York, had wide patches of white tape above and below her left knee, which began bothering her when she struggled through a first-round win Monday. Like Nadal, Williams looked hale Wednesday, and she easily dispatched Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States, 6-4, 6-2.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Motor City Bowl renamed

Detroit — The Motor City Bowl was rechristened Wednesday as the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, with the Detroit-based pizza chain stepping up to sponsor the college football bowl game as two of the region’s beleaguered automakers step down.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Tar Heels switch coaches

Chapel Hill, N.C. — University of North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams has reorganized his coaching staff for the upcoming season, the Charlotte Observer reported Wednesday.

Joe Holladay will move from an assistant coaching position on the bench to the administrative director of basketball operations position, UNC sports information director Steve Kirschner told the Observer.

Holladay will enter a three-year rotation with assistants C.B. McGrath and Jerod Haase during which which one of the three will serve as operations director and the other two will work on the bench in any given season. Previously McGrath and Haase rotated between the operations and bench coaching positions on a yearly basis. Assistant Steve Robinson, will remain on the bench each season.

Holladay, 61, joined Williams at Kansas University before the 1993-94 season after 23 years as a high school coach, teacher and administrator.

NFL

Cowboys top value rankings

New York — How ’bout them Cowboys? They’re No. 1 in something even before the NFL season begins: total value. The Cowboys are worth $1.65 billion, the most of any U.S.-based sports franchise, according to Forbes magazine’s annual rankings.

Broncos: Marshall staying

Englewood, Colo. — Moving to quell rumors, Denver coach Josh McDaniels said Wednesday the team had not held any talks involving a trade of suspended Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

“We’re looking forward to having Brandon back on Sept. 6 and starting our preparations for Cincinnati with him,” McDaniels said. “There’s no discussions whatsoever taking place between the Denver Broncos and any team in the NFL regarding Brandon Marshall.”

There were reports the New York Jets would be interested in trading for him.

McDaniels suspended Marshall for the rest of the preseason last Friday for detrimental conduct stemming for insubordinate actions during a practice.

Saints’ Young arrested

New York — Usama Young’s failure to appear for a past court date involving a parking violation led to his arrest this week after a relatively minor traffic stop in suburban New Orleans. Harahan Police Chief Peter Dale said officers initially pulled Young over for speeding and only intended to give him a ticket, but had to arrest him because their records turned up another unresolved violation.

Jets sign veteran TE

Florham Park, N.J. — The New York Jets signed veteran Ben Hartsock to a one-year deal Wednesday.

Favre won’t play Friday

Eden Prairie, Minn. — Brett Favre’s non-traditional arrival in Minnesota is not stopping Vikings coach Brad Childress from taking a traditional approach to the team’s preseason finale against Dallas. The 39-year-old quarterback will not play against the Cowboys on Friday night.

“I don’t see the upside,” Childress said on Wednesday.

BASEBALL

Rangers’ Young sidelined

Arlington, Texas — Texas Rangers All-Star third baseman Michael Young will miss at least two weeks because of a strained left hamstring, a significant blow for a team in the hunt for its first playoff appearance in 10 years.

Young had an MRI on Wednesday that confirmed that the injury sustained running out a grounder was a strain, and not something worse. He also had a blood platelet injection designed to accelerate the healing process.

Senate interests Schilling

Boston — Curt Schilling, the former major-league pitcher who won the allegiance of Bostonians by leading the Red Sox to the 2004 World Series, said Wednesday that he has “some interest” in running for the seat held for nearly 50 years by Democratic Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.

Schilling, a registered independent and longtime Republican supporter, wrote on his blog that while his family and video-game company, 38 Studios, are high priorities, “I do have some interest in the possibility.”

NBA

Hawks add center Collins

Atlanta — The Atlanta Hawks have added more depth and size to their frontcourt by signing center Jason Collins, who spent last season with Minnesota. Collins played in 31 games with Minnesota last season and averaged 1.8 points and 2.3 rebounds.

Warriors sign center Moore

Oakland, Calif. — The Golden State Warriors have signed free-agent center Mikki Moore.