LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kelsey Plum banked in the winning shot just before the final buzzer and the Lo...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kelsey Plum banked in the winning shot just before the final buzzer and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Dallas Wings 81-80 on Wednesday night to spoil rookie Paige Bueckers' career-high 44-point performance.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
KELSEY PLUM GAME WINNER 🔥🔥🔥 At the last second KP gets the runner to go to secure the 81-80 win over Dallas! DAL-LAS | League Pass <a href="https://t.co/7dVq27VvIm">pic.twitter.com/7dVq27VvIm</a>— WNBA (@WNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1958379731125952766?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Bueckers scored the most points by a player in a single game in the WNBA this season and tied Cynthia Cooper's 28-year-old record for most points in a game by a first-year player.Bueckers scored Dallas' final 13 points, the last on a technical free throw with 1:03 remaining for an 80-79 lead. But the Wings (9-27) turned it over after winning the ensuing jump ball and Aziaha James missed a corner 3-pointer with about 20 seconds left to give Los Angeles the final shot.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
EVERY. SINGLE. BUCKET from Paige Buecker's historic 44-point performance 🎥 <a href="https://t.co/nHmxg1q4js">https://t.co/nHmxg1q4js</a> <a href="https://t.co/FfJiJoJwgV">pic.twitter.com/FfJiJoJwgV</a>— WNBA (@WNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1958390253120541108?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Plum used a high screen from Dearica Hamby to get into the lane for a left-handed floater that banked in before she was surrounded by Rickea Jackson and Rae Burrell in celebration.Plum finished with 20 points for Los Angeles (17-18). Jackson had 25 points and a career-high six 3-pointers, Hamby added 14 points and Cameron Brink had 11 points and eight rebounds.The Sparks' victory eliminated the Wings and Chicago Sky from playoff contention.Bueckers, whose previous high was 35 points against the Phoenix Mercury on June 11, went 17-of-21 from the field, including 4-of-4 from 3-point range, and 6-of-6 at the free-throw line.Bueckers moved past Cooper for third-longest streak of consecutive double-digit scoring games by a rookie in WNBA history with 29. Las Vegas forward A'ja Wilson holds the record of 33.Dallas and Los Angeles met last Friday, with the Sparks securing a 97-96 victory despite Bueckers scoring a game-high 29. The teams will meet again in Los Angeles on Sept. 7. The Sparks have won eight of the last 11 meetings with the Wings.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 20: Kelsey Plum #10 of the Los Angeles Sparks celebrates her last second game winning shot with Rickea Jackson #2 and Rae Burrell #12 during an 81-80 Los Angeles Sparks win over the Dallas Wings at Crypto.com Arena on August 20, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

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Plum banks in shot at buzzer, Sparks spoil Bueckers' 44-point night

DENVER (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani had a forgettable outing in his firs...

DENVER (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani had a forgettable outing in his first career pitching start against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.Ohtani left Wednesday's game after giving up five earned runs and nine hits in four innings and getting hit in the leg by a comeback line drive.With runners at second and third and one out in the fourth inning, Ohtani got hit by a 93-mph line drive off the bat of Colorado's Orlando Arcia on his right leg that caused him to limp and grimace in pain. The liner struck the reigning National League MVP and ricocheted toward the first base line. Ohtani gave chase and grabbed the ball on the line, spun to make a throw, but had no play as a runner scored.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Shohei Ohtani took a come backer off the leg and had to limp it off but stayed in the game <a href="https://t.co/TvouRzHyHk">pic.twitter.com/TvouRzHyHk</a>— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) <a href="https://twitter.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1958345794320232627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>After a mound visit from manager Dave Roberts and team medical personnel, Ohtani stayed in the game and got the last two outs of the inning, with the Dodgers trailing 5-0 at the time. The Dodgers lost to Colorado 8-3.Roberts said after the game that the line drive hit Ohtani on the thigh and managed to avoid his knee and any on-bone contact."I was just really relieved that it was the thigh, because it hit him flush," Roberts said. "If you're talking about the kneecap, that's a different conversation. When I saw the ball mark on his thigh, I was very relieved, relative to the situation."Through a translator, Ohtani said he had recently been hit in the same spot on his leg by a pitch. "I'm glad it didn't hit the knee," Ohtani said through a translator. "I think we avoided the worst-case scenario. So, I'm going to focus on the treatment."Ohtani was making his 10th start of the season after not pitching in the 2024 season while recovering from elbow surgery. The earned runs that he allowed matched the most he had permitted since July 2022, and the nine hits allowed matched a career high."I put the team in a bad spot," Ohtani said. "It was just a very regrettable outing. I wish I could have done better."Even after getting hit by the line drive, Ohtani stayed in the game and drew a walk in his plate apperance in the fifth inning. But, he did not bat in the eighth and was replaced by Alex Call, who struck out. Ohtani finished with a double and a walk and extended his on-base streak to 18 games.Roberts said he's "confident" Ohtani will play Friday against the San Diego Padres. Even before the injury, Ohtani was scheduled to sit out Thursday's series finale against the Rockies.He entered Wednesday without a decision and a 3.47 ERA. This season, he hasn't thrown more than 4 ⅓ innings or 80 pitches. Against the MLB-worst Rockies, he threw 66 pitches, 49 for strikes.Ohtani is batting .284 with 44 homers, one behind NL-leading Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies, with 83 RBIs.

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 20: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers wipes his forehead as he walks off the field in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 20, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.

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Ohtani 'avoided the worst-case scenario' after taking liner off leg

NEW YORK (AP) — Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori defended their U.S. Open mixed doubles title Wed...

NEW YORK (AP) — Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori defended their U.S. Open mixed doubles title Wednesday night, keeping a traditional team on top of a revamped event filled with singles stars.The Italians beat No. 3 seeds Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud 6-3, 5-7 (10-6), winning four matches over two days to earn $1 million— a huge raise over their earnings in New York last year in a format that looked nothing like this one.Errani and Vavassori were among the many critics of the changes to the event that shut out every other traditional doubles pairing, but had nothing but smiles — and plenty of hugs — after building a quick lead in the match tiebreaker and holding on in front of a large crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>It was the kind of crowd and atmosphere rarely enjoyed by doubles players and what U.S. Open organizers sought when they overhauled their tournament, moving it to well before singles play starts Sunday in hopes that the best-known players would play.Many of them did. But in the end, the event belonged to the doubles specialists.___More AP tennis: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tennis">https://apnews.com/hub/tennis</a>

Italy's Andrea Vavassori (L) and Sara Errani celebrate with the trophy after winning their mixed doubles final tennis match against Norway's Casper Ruud and Poland's Iga Swiatek at the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on August 20, 2025.

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Errani, Vavassori win revamped US Open mixed doubles to defend title

SAN DIEGO (AP) — San Francisco Giants right-hander Landen Roupp was carted off the field after he...

SAN DIEGO (AP) — San Francisco Giants right-hander Landen Roupp was carted off the field after he was hit by a line drive by Ramón Laureano of the San Diego Padres in the third inning Wednesday night. Roupp was hit on the back of his right thigh and the impact spun him part way around. His left knee then buckled and he went down to the ground face-first. He sat up and was holding his left knee as he was checked by a trainer before being loaded onto a cart. <figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Landen Roupp was carted off the field after sustaining an apparent left knee injury on this play <a href="https://t.co/AloB7aGKhx">pic.twitter.com/AloB7aGKhx</a>— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSGiants/status/1958358916049539186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Joey Lucchesi replaced Roupp and allowed a three-run homer by Gavin Sheets that gave the Padres a 6-0 lead. <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>___AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">https://apnews.com/hub/mlb</a>

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 20: Landen Roupp #65 of the San Francisco Giants leaves the game on a cart after being hit by a line drive by Ramón Laureano #5 of the San Diego Padres during the third inning of a game at Petco Park on August 20, 2025 in San Diego, California.

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Giants' Roupp carted off with injury after being hit by line drive

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — WWE's partnership with ESPN will start earlier than first announced.  The ...

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — WWE's partnership with ESPN will start earlier than first announced.The WWE's first premium live event on the network's platforms will be Wrestlepalooza from Indianapolis on Sept. 20. John Cena, who will retire from professional wrestling at the end of the year, will be part of the card.The other two premium live events this year — Crown Jewel on Oct. 11 and the Nov. 29 Survivor Series — will also be available to subscribers of ESPN's direct-to-consumer streaming service who have the unlimited plan.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>ESPN's direct-to-consumer package and upgraded app will debut on Thursday.When ESPN announced its deal with WWE on Aug. 6, the premium live events were supposed to move from Peacock in early 2026. A date was not announced but it was supposed to happen before WrestleMania.Peacock had been the home of WWE's premium live events since March 2021.

STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT - JANUARY 28: The WWE logo is seen on the front of the WWE wrestling world headquarters on January 28, 2024 in Stamford, Connecticut. WWE founder Vince McMahon resigned from the WWE and its parent company TKO as executive chairman and its board of directors following allegations of sexual assault made public in a lawsuit in Connecticut. A former employee Janel Grant accused McMahon, 78, of sexual assault and sexually trafficking her.

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WWE's partnership with ESPN will start sooner than expected

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Trea Turner had five hits and a pair of RBIs, Kyle Schwarber homered and drov...

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Trea Turner had five hits and a pair of RBIs, Kyle Schwarber homered and drove in five runs, and the Philadelphia Phillies completed a three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners with an 11-2 victory Wednesday.Turner has six multi-hit games in his last seven. He led off the game with a triple and collected four singles.Schwarber hit a National League-leading 45th homer and had an RBI double, a run-scoring single, and a sacrifice fly. He leads the majors with 110 RBIs, a career high.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Max Kepler had three hits, including a homer, and Bryson Stott had three hits and two RBIs for the Phillies, who have won four straight.Jesús Luzardo (12-6) struck out 12 in six innings. He allowed one run on three hits.Julio Rodríguez and Eugenio Suárez each hit solo homers for Seattle, which has lost five straight and seven of eight.Luis Castillo (8-7) allowed three runs on 10 hits in four innings.Major league home run leader Cal Raleigh went 0-for-4. Raleigh, with 47 homers, is one shy of matching the single-season record for home runs by a catcher.Key momentReliever José Alvarado made his first appearance for Philadelphia after serving an 80-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy. He received an ovation from the crowd and pitched a perfect eighth inning, striking out Raleigh to end it.Key statThe Phillies scored 29 runs and compiled 48 hits in the three-game sweep of Seattle — their most hits in a three-game span since 2007.Up nextThe Mariners return home to start a weekend series with the Athletics on Friday. Neither has named a starting pitcher.Philadelphia plays host to Washington for three games beginning Friday. RHP Taijuan Walker (4-6, 3.34 ERA) goes for the Phillies. The Nationals have not announced a starter.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 23: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with Trea Turner #7 after hitting a two run home run in the bottom of the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park on July 23, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Turner's 5-hit day, Schwarber's power lead Phillies to sweep of Mariners

Two-time All-Star guard Caitlin Clark missed another practice with her injured right groin Wednes...

Two-time All-Star guard Caitlin Clark missed another practice with her injured right groin Wednesday, and coach Stephanie White still does not have a timetable for her star's return.Clark has not played since hurting her groin in the final minute of a game July 15 at Connecticut. Three different muscle injuries this season have forced Clark to sit out 22 games including the last 13 — and All-Star weekend in Indianapolis.The worst part: White is simply hoping Clark returns for some of her team's last nine regular-season games. Indiana also lost three other key players with season-ending injuries over the last two weeks.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"Until she can get into practice and until you guys see her in practice, it's really status quo," White said after Wednesday's workout at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.Clark never missed a game in college and played in every Fever game last season when she won the WNBA's Rookie of the Year Award.Indiana spent the offseason going all-in on putting a stronger supporting cast around the former Iowa star and those moves appear to have paid off by keeping the Fever in playoff position without Clark and the rest.But Clark still has a role with the Fever."Caitlin's still there, like that hasn't wavered," All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell said. "And I think even though they're not in the lineup, we still feel everyone's presence."

Boston, MA - July 15: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark stands with her hands on her hips in the fourth quarter at TD Garden on July 15, 2025.

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Clark misses another practice, Fever call prospect of return 'status quo'

PHOENIX (AP) — A marketing panel with Castrol landed Alyssa Thomas on a NASCAR hood.  While atten...

PHOENIX (AP) — A marketing panel with Castrol landed Alyssa Thomas on a NASCAR hood.While attending the panel at the WNBA All-Star game last month, Thomas was approached by the motor oil company about putting her image on a NASCAR for an upcoming race. The Phoenix Mercury star loved the idea and helped in the design process, leading to her face making a 168-lap trip around Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the hood of RFK Racing's No. 60 Castrol Ford, driven by Ryan Preece."It was a fitting pairing, being that my nickname is The Engine," Thomas said. "Not too many people can say their face is on a car, let alone in a race, so it was a really cool experience."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Mercury had a lot of unknowns heading into the 2025 season after Diana Taurasi retired and Brittney Griner signed with the Atlanta Dream.Thomas has been the driving force behind the Mercury's rise.Fitting in perfectly in first-year coach Nate Tibbets' pace-and-space style, Thomas has been stuffing stat sheets while the Mercury have racked up wins. Entering Wednesday's games, Phoenix was fourth in the WNBA standings at 21-13 after finishing 19-21 a year ago."She's the ultimate winner, she's the ultimate competitor," Tibbetts said. "She wants to win at everything."Thomas was the three-time ACC player of the year at Maryland and an All-American her senior season before arriving in Connecticut in a draft-day trade with the New York Liberty in 2014. The 6-foot-2 forward spent her first 11 WNBA seasons with the Sun, twice leading them to the WNBA Finals while earning five All-Star nods. She's also made the all-WNBA team three times and the all-defensive team five times.Thomas arrived in the desert via an offseason sign-and-trade deal as a key part of the Mercury's rebuild, which includes fellow newcomer Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper, Phoenix's leading scorer a year ago."It was a decision that I made," Thomas said. "In speaking with Nate and Nick (U'ren), I just felt it was a perfect fit for me and my game, and off the court as well."Thomas has thrived.Already the WNBA's leader in triple-doubles, she has added five more with the Mercury, including a WNBA-record three straight this month. Thomas has 20 of the 52 triple-doubles in WNBA history, and her four this month match the most of any other WNBA player's career.Thomas was named an All-Star for the sixth time in her first season with the Mercury and has become an MVP contender with some of the best numbers of her career. She's third in the WNBA with 8.6 rebounds per game and second on the Mercury at 16.1 points while shooting a career-high 54.3% from the floor.Thomas' biggest impact in Tibbetts' offense may be her playmaking.Despite having the size of an interior player, she's used her vision and court awareness to become the WNBA's most prolific distributing forward. Thomas set the WNBA single-season record for assists with 316 in 2023 and is seventh on the league's all-time assists list, the only forward in the top 10. While in Phoenix, she's nearly doubled her career assist average with a league-leading 9.0 this season, over five per game more than the next closest player."There's just so much space, and I feel like it's a perfect fit for me," Thomas said. "It's been a long time since I've played with this many shooters."The Engine has been revving all season and is taking the Mercury with her.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 19: Alyssa Thomas #25 of the Phoenix Mercury smiles at the end of their victory over the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center on August 19, 2025 in San Francisco, California.

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Thomas driving new-look Mercury near top of WNBA standings

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Myles Garrett was expected to become a more vocal leader for the Cleveland Bro...

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Myles Garrett was expected to become a more vocal leader for the Cleveland Browns after signing a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/browns-myles-garrett-contract-7224a8d79ca854b4a2bf52239478e3f4">four-year contract extension worth $204.8 million</a> in March.However, Garrett was quiet in his first comments since picking up his eighth speeding ticket since being drafted by the Browns in 2017.“I’d honestly rather talk about football and this team than anything I’m doing off-field other than the back-to-school event that I did the other day,” Garrett said on Wednesday.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Garrett was asked a couple of other times about being cited for driving a Ferrari 100 mph on a suburban Cleveland interstate on Aug. 9. It got contentious when the All-Pro defensive end was asked what kind of leadership it showed to be pulled over for speeding shortly after the Browns came back from a road game.“I’ve answered it two different times. I’m going to need you to ask a different question so I can focus on this team and not, you know, this headline you’re trying to get out of these questions you’re asking,” Garrett said.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cleveland-browns-nfl-entertainment-sports-ohio-770ac9d512c38f152dd9aed4b56cee07">In 2022, Garrett flipped his Porsche</a> when he veered off a rural road near his home following practice. He suffered a sprained shoulder, strained biceps, cuts, and bruises in the wreck and was cited for failure to control his vehicle and unsafe speed. He missed one game because of the accident.When it comes to on-field matters, Garrett said he has noticed he has more leeway and a platform to lead during this training camp. That has included conversations with the coaching staff about the flow of the day's practices and what is being accomplished.Garrett also noted the changes have been more self-driven instead of coming from coaches or ownership.“I’ve heard that from multiple accounts with some players and coaches about the bit of a style change I’ve had of this year and being a bit more minute with the attention I give and the details that I bring, making sure the guys are bringing that same detail to the game and everybody being on the same page,” he said."It’s going to go as far as I want it to go, and we’re only as strong as the weakest link. I feel like I’ve got to continue to improve and find a way to elevate my teammates, not just myself.”Despite Cleveland going 3-14 last season, Garrett had 14 sacks and finished third in AP Defensive Player of the Year voting. He also became the first player since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 to have four straight seasons with at least 14.Garrett's focus is on trying to get the Browns' defense back on track. Cleveland had the league's stingiest unit in 2023, allowing only 270.2 yards per game, but was 19th last season at 342.1 ypg.“I think there were lapses in focus and discipline when we needed to be sharper," he said. "Whether that was in here or on the field. I think that it kind of leaks out. How you are every day is how you are when you need to be that person. I think how we’ve tightened up the ship and we’ve sharpened everything, I think we’ll continue to get better, and we’ll show not only glimpses but that we were and are that 2023 team.”Garrett and the rest of the starters are expected to see a couple of series in Saturday's preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams. He didn't play in the first two games after taking part in the joint workouts against the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/nfl</a>

BEREA, OHIO - JUNE 11: Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns warms up during Cleveland Browns mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 11, 2025 in Berea, Ohio.

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Garrett avoids speeding ticket questions, focused on Browns defense

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets acquired defensive tackle Jowon Briggs from the Cleve...

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets acquired defensive tackle Jowon Briggs from the Cleveland Browns in a trade Wednesday that also included draft picks.The Browns also sent a seventh-round pick in next year’s NFL draft to New York for a sixth-rounder next year.Briggs had 13 tackles with two quarterback hits in six games for Cleveland last season after being a seventh-round selection. The 6-foot-1, 313-pound D-lineman had 12 career sacks and 170 tackles during a college career that began at Virginia (2019-20) and finished with three years at Cincinnati (2021-23).<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Briggs adds depth to a defensive line in New York that’s led by three-time Pro Bowl pick Quinnen Williams and includes Micheal Clemons, Jay Tufele, Will McDonald, and Rashad Weaver.Defensive tackle Byron Cowart has missed time in training camp with an ankle injury, so the addition of Briggs could help fill that void for the Jets if Cowart is sidelined for an extended time.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/NFL</a>

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 8: Jowon Briggs #97 of the Cleveland Browns looks on from the sidelines during a NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on August 8, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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Jets acquire Briggs from Browns for late-round pick swap

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Johan Oviedo earned his first major-league win since 2023 and the Pittsburgh Pi...

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Johan Oviedo earned his first major-league win since 2023 and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 on Wednesday to take the three-game series.In his second start since having Tommy John surgery in late 2023, Oviedo (1-0) struck out six, allowed two hits, one run and had a walk in five innings. His last win came with six scoreless innings in an 8-6 victory against the Cubs on Sept. 21, 2023.Dennis Santana struck out one in a perfect ninth for his ninth save.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Toronto, first in the AL East, dropped two of three to Pittsburgh, last in the NL Central.George Springer quickly put the Blue Jays ahead, driving the 10th pitch of his leadoff at bat to the left-field bleachers for his 21st homer.Tommy Pham then plated a pair with a double in the bottom half. Bryan Reynolds hit a two-out double, Spencer Horwitz walked and Pham brought them in with a liner just inside the left-field line.Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt (11-7) was tagged for two runs and six hits, tying a season-high with 10 strikeouts and walking two in 5 2/3 innings.Key momentBo Bichette led off the fourth with a double. Oviedo kept him at second by striking out Alejandro Kirk, getting Daulton Varsho to fly out and sending Nathan Lukes down swinging after hitting Ty France with a pitch.Key statThe Pirates are 23-27 in a major-league high 50 games decided by a single run.Up nextBlue Jays RHP Shane Bieber (0-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his season debut Friday, opening a three-game series at Miami. The 2020 AL Cy Young winner was traded by Cleveland to Toronto on July 31 and has not pitched in the majors since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2024.The Pirates open a three-game home set against the Colorado Rockies on Friday.

PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 20: Johan Oviedo #24 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at PNC Park on August 20, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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Oviedo earns 1st win since 2023 as Pirates take series from Blue Jays

The College Football Playoff selection committee announced Wednesday it will place more emphasis ...

The College Football Playoff selection committee announced Wednesday it will place more emphasis on strength of schedule this year when determining which teams make the 12-team field.The committee said in a statement that the schedule strength metric has been adjusted to apply greater weight to games against strong opponents. An additional metric, record strength, has been added to go beyond a team’s schedule strength to assess how a team performed against that schedule.“This metric rewards teams defeating high-quality opponents while minimizing the penalty for losing to such a team,” the committee said. “Conversely, these changes will provide minimal reward for defeating a lower-quality opponent while imposing a greater penalty for losing to such a team.”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The adjustment to the evaluation process comes after some in the Southeastern Conference complained about last season’s inclusion of — at the time of selections — an 11-2 SMU of the Atlantic Coast Conference over a 9-3 Alabama or even a 9-3 South Carolina or 9-3 Mississippi.SMU’s losses were to an unranked BYU and a ranked Clemson in the ACC championship game. Alabama had bad losses against Vanderbilt and Oklahoma, both .500 at the time, but also had wins over a second-ranked Georgia, No. 21 Missouri, and No. 14 LSU.Prompted by concerns about how teams that don’t play in conference championship games are judged, the committee reviewed the movement of idle teams from the second-to-last ranking to the final ranking. The selection committee reaffirmed that movement in the final week should be evidence-based and did not recommend creating a formal policy prohibiting such movement.The committee also updated its policy on recusal of selection committee members.A member will be fully recused from the evaluation of a team if he or she receives direct compensation from the school in question or has an immediate family member who is a football player, football staff member, or senior administrator at the school. A fully recused member is not allowed to participate in any deliberations or vote concerning that school.A member will be partially recused if he or she has a secondary relationship with the school in question, such as an immediate family member employed by the institution but outside of the football program or senior administration. A partially recused member may remain present and participate in discussions related to the team in question, but is not allowed to participate in votes involving the team.The selection committee will release its five weekly Top 25 rankings on Nov. 4. The final rankings and playoff field will be announced Dec. 7.___Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up <a href="https://www.apnews.com/newsletters">here</a>. AP college football: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">https://apnews.com/hub/college-football</a>

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 18: A detailed view of the CFP National Championship Trophy during media day at the Georgia World Congress Center prior to the 2025 CFP National Championship between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on January 18, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.

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CFP committee will place more emphasis on strength of schedule

NEW YORK (AP) — Kei Nishikori withdrew from the U.S. Open on Wednesday, saying a back injury has ...

NEW YORK (AP) — Kei Nishikori withdrew from the U.S. Open on Wednesday, saying a back injury has not fully healed.Nishikori was injured in May and pulled out of the French Open. The 2014 U.S. Open runner-up from Japan returned earlier this month for a first-round loss in Cincinnati but said his back isn't healthy enough to play in New York."Hi fans, unfortunately, I will not be ready for the U.S. Open yet. I had an MRI taken of my back, and it's not 100% healed yet," Nishikori wrote in a social media post. "Working hard to be back on court soon. Thanks for the support."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Nishikori was ranked No. 4 in 2015, the highest by an Asian men's player, but has struggled with injuries in recent years and has fallen to No. 88. He missed the entire 2022 season after a hip injury.He will be replaced in the draw by a player who loses in the final stages of qualifying.

MASON, OHIO - AUGUST 08: Kei Nishikori of Japan in action against Camilo Ugo Carabelli of Argentina during the Men's Singles First Round match on day two of the Cincinnati Open 2025 at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 08, 2025 in Mason, Ohio.

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Nishikori will miss US Open because of back injury

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Bryce Underwood is ready to have all eyes on him this season, playing qua...

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Bryce Underwood is <a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-top-freshmen-b56ca327da0520393a236decc57edccd">ready to have all eyes on him</a> this season, playing quarterback for <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michigan-wolverines-football">No. 14 Michigan</a> hailed as the top-rated recruit in the country.He’s also ready to take some hits.The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Underwood told two reporters earlier this summer — at a car dealership that leveraged his <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nil-ncaa-house-settlement-b8018851c517b9cbf22a1d204967a3b0">name, image and likeness</a> to draw fans for autographs — that he has put on 15 pounds of muscle to get bigger, stronger and quicker.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“It’s made me more explosive,” Underwood said. “I feel way more faster.”The Wolverines trail four Big Ten teams in the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">AP Top 25</a>, but Underwood said people should expect a lot from them on both sides of the ball.“Offense and defense that they never seen before,” he said.Second-year coach Sherrone Moore, who might name a starting quarterback on Monday, said Underwood’s talent and comprehension of the offense under new coordinator Chip Lindsey are what have stood out the most so far from the freshman.“Consistency is the biggest thing,” he said. “Don’t turn the ball over, command the offense, make plays.”<h3>Sign-stealing</h3><a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-michigan-sign-stealing-b1bf55b0b93dad083bd97fe2c26faddb">Moore will be suspended</a> for the third and fourth game of the season as a self-imposed sanction in response to the NCAA investigation into the sign-stealing scandal that has loomed over the program for two years.The NCAA also suspended Moore for the 2026 opener, fined the school tens of millions of dollars and reduced official visits by 25% this season.Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said the governing body made errors interpreting its bylaws, adding that conclusions were made that were contrary to the evidence.“We will appeal this decision to ensure a fair result and we will consider all other options,” Manuel said.<h3>On the ground</h3>Michigan expects to take pressure off Underwood with a potentially dynamic duo in the backfield.Justice Haynes, who started six games last season at Alabama, and sophomore Jordan Marshall, who ran for 100 yards against the Crimson Tide in a bowl game win, are expected to split time at running back to give the team quite a 1-2 punch.“They compete in the weight room every single day, push each other and they just work as hard as they can,” Underwood said.<h3>Over-under</h3>Michigan was 8-5 in Moore’s debut season, closing with three straight wins, including a fourth in a row against rival Ohio State and over Alabama in a bowl game. The Wolverines are projected to have similar results this year.The Wolverines over-under is 8 1/2 wins, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.<h3>Michigan’s mantra</h3>Robby Emery, director of character development for Michigan football, has tried to set the tone with coaches and players to control what they can and to let the rest go.“We’re really living by this motto of TNT — today not tomorrow,” Moore said.<h3>The schedule</h3>Michigan opens with New Mexico on Aug. 30 under the lights at the Big House. The Wolverines travel to play Oklahoma, where Moore was an offensive lineman nearly 20 years ago, in Week 2.Moore will miss a home game against Central Michigan and the Big Ten opener at Nebraska.The Wolverines play rival Michigan State on the road Oct. 25 and close the regular season at home against rival and third-ranked Ohio State on Nov. 29.Michigan is not scheduled to play No. 2 Penn State, No. 7 Oregon or No. 12 Illinois.___AP college football: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">https://apnews.com/hub/college-football</a>. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: <a href="https://apnews.com/cfbtop25">https://apnews.com/cfbtop25</a>

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - APRIL 19: Bryce Underwood #19 of the Michigan Wolverines prepares to receive the ball during the second half of the Michigan Maize vs Blue Spring Football Game at Michigan Stadium on April 19, 2025 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

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Oregon made a splash during its first year in the Big Ten, going undefeated in the regular season...

Oregon made a splash during its first year in the Big Ten, going undefeated in the regular season and winning the conference title with a victory over Penn State in the championship game.So what do the Ducks do for an encore in season No. 2? Well, that’s coach Dan Lanning’s theme for the season: double down.Lanning is in his fourth year at Oregon and, while a national championship has eluded the Ducks, they went 13-0 overall and 9-0 in the Big Ten last season. The No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/cfp-rose-bowl-2025-oregon-ohio-state-8030a2a37d45c1a6d7dd15b51ae6c098">they fell to eventual champion Ohio State</a> in the quarterfinals.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"We have done an unbelievable job of building this team over time. You look at our success season to season, and as this team has grown, the process works. We’re close. We’ve been able to accomplish a lot," Lanning said.There are some big changes this season. Ten Oregon players from last season went to the NFL. Among them was senior quarterback Dillon Gabriel, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-draft-c8f5432414906672f7105a617c1501e8">who is now with the Cleveland Browns.</a>His likely replacement is Dante Moore, a sophomore who played for UCLA as a freshman before serving as Gabriel’s backup last season and eventually taking a redshirt. The former five-star recruit appeared in five games last season, completing 7-of-8 passes for 49 yards.But while the faces have changed, the goal remains the same, and for Lanning that’s just continuing the process."What’s the best version of us? If we’re playing our best football, if we’re being the best that we can possibly be, then that’s something I’m excited about. The results kind of take care of themselves," Lanning said. "What’s our goal? I mean, we have high standards. We came here to win championships. Obviously, we got an opportunity to taste that last year with the Big Ten championship. We want to win them all, not just some of them."Oregon opens the season ranked No. 7 <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">in the AP Top 25.</a><h3>Questions at receiver</h3>Senior receiver Evan Stewart was expected to be a prime target for Moore this season but he injured his knee in the offseason and is recovering from surgery to repair a torn right patellar tendon.He was Oregon’s top returning receiver with 48 receptions for 613 yards and five touchdowns last season. It is unclear whether he’ll play this season, although it seems unlikely.Oregon’s receiver corps was further depleted when Jurrion Dickey was suspended indefinitely during preseason camp. Dickey, a former five-star recruit, played in 15 games in two years with the Ducks, but had just two catches for 14 yards. Lanning did not specify the reasons for Dickey’s suspension.<h3>Departures</h3>Besides Gabriel, some of the other players who have moved on to the NFL include receiver Tez Johnson, who went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, tight end Terrance Ferguson, now with the Los Angeles Rams, defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and offensive lineman Josh Conerly Jr., who wound up with the Washington Commanders.Other departures included edge Emar’rion Winston and safety Tyler Turner, who transferred to Baylor, cornerback Rodrick Pleasant transferred to UCLA and defensive lineman MyKeil Gardner transferred to Arizona State.<h3>Key additions</h3>One big - as in 6-foot-8 and 300 pounds - addition to the Ducks is offensive tackle Isaiah World from Nevada. He’s considered a potential first-round NFL draft pick. Also joining Oregon is safety Dillon Thieneman from Purdue.Then there’s junior running back Makhi Hughes, a transfer from Tulane who rushed for 2,401 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.<h3>The schedule</h3>Oregon opens the season at home on Aug. 30 against Montana State. The Ducks will host former Pac-12 rival Oregon State on Sept. 20. The next week, Oregon visits No. 2 Penn State in probably the marquee conference game of the season, given that a meeting with Ohio State isn’t on the schedule. The Ducks host No. 20 Indiana on Oct. 11. They wrap up the season on Nov. 29 on the road against Washington.___Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up <a href="https://www.apnews.com/newsletters">here</a>. AP college football: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">https://apnews.com/hub/college-football</a>

EUGENE, OREGON - APRIL 26: Head coach Dan Lanning of the Oregon Ducks looks on during the Oregon spring game at Autzen Stadium on April 26, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon.

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The clock is ticking until Cadillac joins the Formula 1 grid. Literally.  “On the wall of every o...

The clock is ticking until Cadillac joins the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/formula-one">Formula 1</a> grid. Literally.“On the wall of every office that we have is a countdown clock,” team principal Graeme Lowdon told The Associated Press in a recent interview. “It’s counting down to two things.”One is the first “fire-up” of the car with its engine, and then the other is free practice at Cadillac's first official F1 session in Melbourne, Australia, in March next year.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>It will be the start of a new mission for General Motors, and the end of a process to join F1, which included years of negotiations, a change of name and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/indycar-andretti-ownership-df96b5a6b746b528291fa72e3a298e12">leadership</a>, even a U.S. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/liberty-media-andretti-formula-one-gm-7d5877e5918ce1698655f57dfd9cc375">Justice Department investigation</a>.Ted Lasso in F1As a British racing boss creating an American team, Lowdon feels like an “inverse <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ted-lasso-renewed-season-four-sudeikis-3b5d02162d6f230bcb0f7db665b3db4d">Ted Lasso</a>,” the fictional U.S. soccer coach in London. Hired in part for his experience navigating the sport's complex process for approving new teams, Lowdon says he's worked hard to adapt to U.S. racing culture for a team that will build its cars out of Fishers, Indiana.There's also a design and manufacturing site near the British Grand Prix track at Silverstone, but Cadillac has a vision of running an “American team,” Lowdon said. The idea is to get as many different perspectives on designing a race car as possible.“Formula 1 is a very creative business,” Lowdon said. "With diversity of thought comes innovation and hopefully lap time."Lessons from NASAPast attempts to operate an F1 team outside of the sport's heartlands in England and Italy have rarely worked. Cadillac is taking lessons from the 1960s space race.Rather than read a list of racing failures, Lowdon looked for non-F1 projects with “immovable deadlines, huge amount of public scrutiny, multiple sites, highly technical," he said. “The best example I could find were the Apollo missions.”“I looked a lot into how NASA had done the management structure of the business. I thought there were some very clever things that they did that we could build into a new design of a Formula 1 team, a complete new way of managing it. The primary objective was to maximize peer-to-peer communication between engineers.”F1’s other American team, Haas, is more reliant on Europe. Its HQ is in North Carolina, but the team is largely based in Britain and designs its cars in Italy.Drivers on the short listWhile existing teams have their race drivers heavily involved in the design of 2026 cars, Lowdon said the fact that Cadillac hasn't confirmed who its drivers will be shouldn't be seen as a setback.There are “three or four” names on Cadillac's shortlist halfway through the 2025 season, and Lowdon says Cadillac has more leverage in contract discussions than usual.“Because we’re out of sync with the other teams, we’re not under the same time pressure,” Lowdon said. “No driver is sitting there saying, ‘Oh yeah, Aston Martin are going to sign me next week,’ if you don’t sign them.”The new team could be a way back to F1 for drivers like Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas, or Zhou Guanyu, who lost their race seats for 2025. There's also been speculation about various Americans and ex-F1 drivers like Mick Schumacher.Bottas, a 10-time race winner for Mercedes, joked about the race to sign for Cadillac with a viral video on social media, remarking on the “nice seat” in a Cadillac SUV.“I’ve known him for a long time. I know his sense of humor, I appreciate his sense of humor, and he’s got a big fan following,” Lowdon said. “My phone got super busy almost immediately when (Cadillac’s F1 entry) was confirmed. It was very clear that everyone wants to drive a Cadillac, and so I guess Valtteri has just made it even more clear.”___AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>

28 November 2024, Hamburg: The company logo of the US car manufacturer Cadillac can be seen in front of the Cadillac showroom in Hamburg city center. Photo: Marcus Brandt/dpa

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Cadillac counts down to its F1 debut with lessons from NASA

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger both hit two home runs, Aaron Judge launc...

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger both hit two home runs, Aaron Judge launched his 40th of the season and the New York Yankees matched a franchise record with nine longballs Tuesday night in a 13-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.Judge, Bellinger and Stanton went back-to-back-to-back in the first inning to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead four batters into the game — after the first pitch was delayed nearly two hours by rain.José Caballero connected twice for his first career multihomer game. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ben Rice also went deep for the Yankees, who won their fourth straight and looked awfully comfortable in a road game at their spring training home.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Count 'em up. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RepBX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RepBX</a> <a href="https://t.co/mgtV6qrsfI">pic.twitter.com/mgtV6qrsfI</a>— New York Yankees (@Yankees) <a href="https://twitter.com/Yankees/status/1958026382979576219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>New York took full advantage of the cozy dimensions before a crowd of 10,046 at George M. Steinbrenner Field, where the Rays are playing while Tropicana Field undergoes repairs.Bellinger went 4-for-5 with three RBIs.Following the long rain delay, Shane Baz (8–10) gave up Judge's 429-foot shot to center field. Bellinger followed with a 381-foot drive to right, and Stanton lined a 386-footer to right-center.Baz allowed six runs and seven hits, including five homers, in three innings. He has yielded 29 earned runs in his last 28 innings (9.32 ERA) over six starts.Carlos Rodón (13-7) earned the win, allowing two runs in six innings.New York also hit nine home runs in its second game of the season, a 20-9 victory over Milwaukee on March 29 at Yankee Stadium.Key moment The Yankees became the first team in major league history to hit back-to-back-to-back homers in the first inning three times in one season (also March 29 and April 29).Key stat Judge became the fourth Yankees player with at least four 40-homer seasons, joining Babe Ruth (11), Lou Gehrig (5) and Mickey Mantle (4). Judge hit 52 homers in 2017, 62 in 2022 and 58 in 2024.Up next Rays RHP Drew Rasmussen (10-5, 2.60 ERA) starts Wednesday against Yankees rookie Cam Schlittler (1–2, 3.94).

TAMPA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 19: Giancarlo Stanton #27 celebrates with Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees after hitting a home run in the first inning against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on August 19, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Texas Rangers are going to skip Jacob deGrom’s scheduled start this w...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Texas Rangers are going to skip Jacob deGrom’s scheduled start this week because of shoulder fatigue, but the club said it is merely managing his workload and he is not expected to spend time on the injured list.The five-time All-Star, who was supposed to start Wednesday night in Kansas City, was examined in Texas by Dr. Keith Meister, and the checks came back clean. That means deGrom could make his next start as soon as next week.The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner has pitched 140 1/3 innings across 24 starts this season, going 10-5 with a 2.76 ERA. That is by far the most innings deGrom has thrown since 2019, when he eclipsed 200 for a third consecutive year with the New York Mets.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The right-hander missed most of the 2022 season with a stress reaction in his shoulder. He underwent his second Tommy John surgery the following year, and made it back in time to make three brief starts last September.___AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">https://apnews.com/hub/mlb</a>

BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 25: Jacob deGrom #48 of the Texas Rangers gestures in the eighth inning after his no-hit bid is broken during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 24, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland.

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Rangers' deGrom to miss scheduled start with shoulder fatigue

NEW YORK (AP) — Around 8 p.m. Monday, Iga Swiatek was holding up her Cincinnati Open championship...

NEW YORK (AP) — Around 8 p.m. Monday, Iga Swiatek was holding up her Cincinnati Open championship trophy.Around 8 a.m. Tuesday, she was getting ready for her mixed doubles match at the U.S. Open in New York City.It's been a quick turnaround.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"This was the most extreme situation and most extreme schedule I've had after a title win," Swiatek, currently ranked second in the world, said Tuesday afternoon. "An hour and a half after the match, we already went to catch a plane."But that didn't slow her down. Swiatek and Casper Ruud, her mixed doubles partner, won both of their Tuesday matches to secure a spot in Wednesday's mixed doubles quarterfinal, where they'll be competing for a spot in the $1 million title game."Actually, it's kind of nice to have another task, and to not let yourself be lazy but really focus on the next exciting thing," she said about the quick turnaround.Ruud didn't always feel quite so calm about it. He was dining in New York while Swiatek played her title match in Ohio and keeping a close eye on the score. He was secretly chatting with Swiatek's team throughout the match — "she doesn't know this," Ruud said with a laugh — and wondering about their doubles match the next morning."I can't lie. I was a little concerned," he said about watching Swiatek continue to progress through the Cincinnati Open’s rounds. He exited the tournament in the first round."(But) she was here doing her warmup at 10 a.m. … I look at Iga and I'm like, 'This is determination, like I've never seen it before.'"The quick turnaround from Cincinnati is new for singles players at the U.S. Open. With this year's reimagined mixed doubles draw, which includes top singles players for the first time, the week that was usually recovery time is now playing time.Carlos Alcaraz, the men's champion in Cincinnati, faced a similar turnaround to his afternoon doubles match with Emma Raducanu. He did have a few more hours on each end, given the scheduling of both tournaments.Alcaraz was knocked out of mixed doubles Tuesday afternoon, but Swiatek and Ruud will be back in action Wednesday."Iga will have a good sleep tonight," said Ruud. "She deserves that."___AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 19: The doubles team of Iga Swiatek of Poland and Casper Ruud of Norway talk during their match against the team of Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe of the United States during the mixed doubles first round at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 19, 2025 in New York City.

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NEW YORK (AP) — The new U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament drew plenty of criticism for everythin...

NEW YORK (AP) — The new U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament drew plenty of criticism for everything from its format to its field.With mostly singles players, some who rarely play doubles at all, it felt less like a Grand Slam championship than an exhibition — which is what one player referred to it as Tuesday.The fast-pace event, with shorter matches and a smaller field, already has two teams halfway to a trophy — and a $1 million prize. Whoever wins won't apologize for the way they got it.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"This is the official mixed doubles. If we get to the final tomorrow, I'm sure everyone is going to be pretty determined to try to win this thing,” Casper Ruud said.Ruud and Iga Swiatek, the No. 3 seeds, easily won their two matches to advance to Wednesday's semis. So did defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, the only traditional mixed doubles team in the 16-team field.Past U.S. Open singles champions Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu were quickly eliminated with a 4-2, 4-2 loss to Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper, the No. 1-seeded team. The No. 2 seeds, Taylor Fritz and Elena Rybakina, also went quickly in a 4-2, 4-2 loss to Errani and Vavassori.Fritz, last year's U.S. Open runner-up in men's singles, and Rybakina, a past Wimbledon women's singles champion, are exactly the types of players the U.S. Tennis Association was seeking when it revamped the tournament.Now a 16-team event played over two days, mixed doubles starts well before the singles tournaments begin on Sunday, with organizers believing singles stars would be more interested in playing if it didn't interfere with their rest and recovery during that event.Traditional doubles specialists like Errani and Vavassori were among the biggest critics of the changes. Even Karolina Muchova referred to the event as an exhibition during the postmatch interview after her team's opening victory over Venus Williams and Reilly Opelka.The prize of $1 million to the winning team would be a huge boost to doubles players, but Errani and Vavassori are the only traditional doubles team in the event."We also are playing for all the doubles players who could not compete here, so we tried to do our best," Vavassori said.Errani and Vavassori didn't even know originally if they would get a chance to defend their title in the new format, which gives eight teams automatic spots based on the players' combined singles rankings. The other spots are wild cards awarded by the USTA.The Italians were given one of them and they showed off their skills in a first-round victory that took just 42 minutes. The shortened format allows the matches to speed by, knowing winning teams would have to play twice on the first day to reach the semifinals and finals on Wednesday night.When Errani and Vavassori won the title last year in Flushing Meadows, it was late in the second week of the tournament in a stadium with plenty of empty seats.The new schedule has mixed doubles being played now when usually the only competitions taking place are the qualifying events for the singles tournaments. Admission onto the grounds during what the USTA calls "fan week" is free, so Louis Armstrong Stadium stadium was packed for the opening match, a far bigger crowd than mixed doubles generally draws.Some fans may not have even realized that the match was headed to a second set after Errani and Vavassori took the opener in just 19 minutes. In traditional tennis scoring, they would have had to win 6 games instead of 4 to win the set."I think some people could easily view it as they had to do less work to win the match. Stamina's definitely less of a factor now that sets are only to four in the first two rounds, but I think it's good," Jay Maresco of New York said after watching the Italians' second-round victory. "It keeps the pace going. It's definitely better for the U.S. Open to keep the matches going in and out faster and more people in and out of Armstrong."The sets to four games with a 10-point match tiebreaker instead of a third set were used through the semifinals. Only the final would resemble a regular match, with sets to six games, tiebreakers at 6-all and a 10-point tiebreak for a third set.Teams were still being withdrawn and entered into the final hours, with top-ranked Jannik Sinner pulling out Tuesday morning after getting ill during his loss to Alcaraz on Monday in the Cincinnati final.___More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 19: The doubles team of Emma Raducanu of Great Britain and Carlos Alcarez of Spain talk on the baseline during the mixed doubles first round match against Jessica Pegula of the United States and Jack Draper of Great Britain at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 19, 2025 in New York City.

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