Serena and Venus Williams lose in a match tiebreaker in their return to the US Open
NEW YORK (AP) — Serena and Venus Williams are out of the U.S. Open women’s doubles after losing in a match tiebreaker. The sisters blew a 5-0 lead in the 10-point tiebreaker and lost 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (10-7) on Friday night to Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint. It was the first U.S. Open match since 2022 at the Grand Slam tournament the sisters won twice. They pulled out the second set in a tiebreaker, battled back from 4-1 in the third set to tie it, but then faltered late. Serena came back to tennis this year at 44. Venus has continued to play on tour at 46.
Kickoff approaches for LSU but answers on eligibility chaos remain elusive
As the season’s opening kickoff drew ever closer, attorneys at LSU and the Southeastern Conference studied next moves in a spiraling eligibility crisis that boils down to a question that once seemed simple but isn’t anymore: Should players who have been on pro rosters be allowed to return to college? On one side of this growingly Kafkaesque battle is LSU, which has been practicing with two players who spent time in NFL training camps this summer. The team needs to decide whether to place them on their official roster ahead of its season opener against Clemson. On the other side is the SEC, which forbids former pros from returning to college in what it says is a basic principle of college sports.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to retire in December after transformative and tumultuous tenure
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is retiring at the end the year, bringing to a close her seven-plus years at the helm of the league and a stewardship that has been transformative and at times tumultuous. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced Engelbert's decision on Friday. Engelbert, who turns 62 in November, is the second-longest tenured WNBA president or commissioner. She helped negotiate a lucrative collective bargaining agreement this past spring that resulted in the league’s first set of million-dollar player salaries. Along with the financial gains, however, turmoil, tension and a strained relationship with players also have been a part of her tenure.
Pro Football Hall of Fame cuts selection panel nearly in half in the latest overhaul of the process
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is overhauling the selection process by eliminating a separate category for senior players, cutting the selection committee nearly in half and returning to in-person meetings. The Hall announced the new procedures that were approved by the Hall of Fame board following discussions with Hall of Fame staff, members and people on the selection committee. The changes will be in place for the Class of 2027 and come after the voting process came under heavy scrutiny for the most recent class, when six-time Super Bowl winning head coach Bill Belichick failed to get enough support for induction.
Maiava passes for 349 yards, hits frosh Mosley for 2 TDs in No. 14 USC's 39-0 rout of Fresno State
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jayden Maiava passed for 349 yards and threw two of his three touchdown passes to freshman Trent Mosley, and No. 14 Southern California rolled to a 39-0 victory over Fresno State. Tanook Hines also made a TD catch for the unbeaten Trojans, who followed up their Week 0 win over San Jose State by streaking to a 32-0 lead through three quarters over the Bulldogs. USC’s defense allowed just 49 yards in the first three quarters while recording two safeties and forcing two turnovers under new coordinator Gary Patterson. Jayden Mandal passed for 77 yards with an interception in his second career start for the Bulldogs.
McVay says entire Rams roster is traveling to Australia, but Aaron Donald's playing status still TBD
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams’ entire roster will travel to Australia for their regular-season opener next week. Coach Sean McVay still isn’t sure whether unretired defensive tackle Aaron Donald will play, however. The Rams were initially equivocal on whether Donald would make the long trip for the NFL’s first international game in Australia. The 35-year-old superstar only ended his retirement last weekend and rejoined the Rams after 2 1/2 years away. McVay said the Rams still haven’t decided whether Donald will suit up at the Melbourne Cricket Ground alongside Myles Garrett, but Donald has clearly made significant progress in his return to game shape.
Feeling good in return from injury, Carlos Alcaraz plans to take more long breaks from tennis
NEW YORK (AP) — Feeling better than he expected after a four-month absence, Carlos Alcaraz is planning to take more breaks during the tennis season. Alcaraz returned to play at the U.S. Open after being sidelined since April by a right wrist injury. The defending champion advanced to the fourth round Friday with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 victory over Wu Yibing. He said his body feels good and he’s had no setbacks after his matches. Alcaraz said the injury that forced him to withdraw during the Barcelona Open wasn’t caused by playing too much, so taking time off would be for mental, not physical reasons.
Former Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith is sued by investor over wind farm project
NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith is being sued by a Native American investment company over claims that the former Dallas Cowboys running back and his business partners misappropriated a $2.5 million loan that was supposed to fund a wind farm project in Texas. Kituwah LLC claimed in a lawsuit filed this week in Delaware that 4 13 Solutions used the money to repay an investor from previous dealings with Smith’s company. Kituwah’s attorneys said Smith misrepresented efforts to secure a U.S. Department of Energy loan that would have triggered repayment to Kituwah.
Williams sisters reunite their iconic doubles team, losing narrowly but thrilling the New York crowd
NEW YORK (AP) — Venus and Serena Williams returned to the U.S. Open for a doubles match for the first time in four years, thrilling fans with their performance. Despite losing to Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint in a close three-set match, the sisters put on a magical show. After losing the first set, they won a second-set tiebreak to force a decider, then almost won that set, blowing a 5-0 lead in the final tiebreak. The match came 25 years after they first faced each other in the U.S. Open final.
The presence of influencers and tennis etiquette become hot topics at the US Open
NEW YORK (AP) — After influencers interrupted Naomi Osaka's opening match at the U.S. Open, their presence and tennis etiquette have become a hot topic at the Grand Slam tournament. A chair umpire admonished a group of influencers who were recording a video in the middle of a point Monday night. Another was using a bright ring light to take photos. The next day, video screens featured a message asking fans to refrain from the use of flash photography or other lighting. Players expressed mixed feelings about influencers, given the chance to bring a new audience to the sport but also with the risk of them being a distraction.
