Kawhi Leonard says he is feeling "good and getting stronger" as the Los Angeles Clippers small forward continues his recovery from a knee injury.
The two-time NBA champion missed the final eight games of the 2023-24 regular season after suffering inflammation in his right knee, as well as most of the Clippers' first-round series defeat to the Dallas Mavericks in the playoffs.
Leonard has since undergone surgery and heavily focused on strengthening his knee during the Clippers' training camp in Hawaii.
However, the 33-year-old knows he must not rush his return to competitive action, or playing in successive games.
"I feel good. [I have] just been taking my time, getting stronger and getting ready," he said during the Clippers' 91-90 pre-season defeat to the Golden State Warriors, in which he did not feature.
"We're just taking it slow, day by day, and just trying to get me back on the floor. Once those conversations come, we'll see what they're talking about [on the best approach for back-to-backs]."
Leonard played 68 regular-season games last term, his most in a single campaign since 2016-17.
And while he wants to feature as regularly as possible this season, he is focused on maintaining his fitness for the crunch stages of the campaign.
"This is what I work for," he added. "I strive to get a championship, and I'm not out there to try to [solely] play 82 games.
"I'm trying to win, even though [playing as much as I can] that's obligated for me. I try to. But it hasn't worked out [the last two post-seasons], so we'll see."
Jannik Sinner came from a set down to overcome Tomas Martin Etcheverry to progress at the Shanghai Masters.
Sinner, who came from behind in both of his first two matches at the China Open, where he eventually lost in the final to Carlos Alcaraz, had to showcase his fighting spirit once more on Sunday.
The world number one eventually prevailed 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-2, requiring two hours and 39 minutes to get the job done.
Standing in the way of Sinner and a place in the quarter-finals will be either Roberto Carballes Baena or Ben Shelton.
Earlier on Sunday, Daniil Medvedev also came from behind to claim a 5-7 6-4 6-4 victory over Matteo Arnaldi.
"It was a very tough match, a very close one," said Medvedev. "I actually felt like that’s where tennis is funny. I felt like in the first set, I was probably the better player, had more opportunities. I didn’t manage to [win] it, played a bad game at the end of the set.
"In the other sets, I thought it was closer. Maybe even he had the edge on some of the moments, but that's why tennis is crazy.
"You can win when you don’t expect it, and lose when you expect to win, so I’m happy to be here again in two days."
Data Debrief: Master of the Masters
Moving to a record 74-26, only four players since the format's introduction in 1990 have claimed more wins from their first 100 ATP 1000 matches than Sinner (74).
Sinner is behind only Rafael Nadal (83), Stefan Edberg (77), Pete Sampras (76) and Jim Courier (75).
Novak Djokovic was relieved to edge past Alex Michelsen at the Shanghai Masters as his quest for a 100th career title got up and running.
Djokovic, who has won the tournament in China on four occasions, needed almost two hours to overcome his American opponent on Saturday, eventually doing so 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (11-9).
The Serbian's slow start was punished by Michelsen, who raced into a 4-1 lead in the opening set, with Djokovic managing just three points from the first three games.
But the 24-time grand slam champion rallied to take the first set to win his 11th tie-break from the 15 he has played this season.
"It was the first match against Alex and I also hadn't played in a while, so it took me a little time to get the rust off," said Djokovic after his first match sine the US Open.
“He started off terrifically; big serves and an aggressive style of tennis, he's not afraid to step it up and take it to his opponent."
Djokovic then led 4-1 in the second, only to allow Michelsen back into the contest, but the Serbian held his nerve in the decisive tie-break, saving two set points to advance.
The 37-year-old has now won 35 of the 40 matches he has contested at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Shanghai - more than any other player.
Djokovic is also the only player in history (since 1990) to win all nine ATP Masters 1000 titles, a feat he has achieved twice on his way to a record 40 titles at this level.
He is yet to reach a final in the series this year, with the Serbian acknowledging the difficulties he faced against his American opponent.
"I was 4-1 up, 15/40, and he hit the net-cord that went over. It could easily have been 6-1 for me in the second,” Djokovic said.
"But at this level, things can change very quickly.
"It was a very close encounter and I thought a high level of tennis in both sets. I'm just glad to keep calm when it mattered in the second-set tie-break.
"I'm glad to really be challenged by a young player, and I'm looking forward to the next one."
Up next for Djokovic is either Italian Flavio Cobolli or wildcard Stan Wawrinka.
Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run homer in his postseason debut, Teoscar Hernández’s two-run single gave Los Angeles its first lead in a playoff game in two years, and the Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 7-5 in their NL Division Series opener Saturday.
Manny Machado's two-run homer off Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, also making his first playoff appearance, put Los Angeles in an early 3-0 hole.
Ohtani quickly bailed out the Dodgers with his two-out homer that tied it 3-all in the second inning. The Japanese superstar went deep with fans chanting “MVP! MVP!” His shot travelled 372 feet to right field, the sellout crowd of 53,028 recording it all on their phones.
San Diego went ahead 5-3 before the Dodgers rallied with three runs in the fourth.
Tommy Edman scored on a wild pitch by reliever Adrian Morejon, who took the loss. Ohtani had a broken-bat single and later scored, along with Mookie Betts, on Hernández’s single off Jeremiah Estrada that put the Dodgers ahead 6-5.
It was their first lead in a postseason game since the seventh inning of Game 4 against the Padres in the 2022 NLDS. Los Angeles was swept by Arizona in a Division Series last year.
Trailing 7-5, the Padres had the potential tying runs on base with two outs in the ninth. Fernando Tatis Jr. singled off Blake Treinen before Jurickson Profar walked to bring up Machado, who struck out swinging.
Mets rally again for another win
Mark Vientos and Brandon Nimmo sparked another comeback in New York’s electric run through the National League playoffs, helping the Mets score five runs in the eighth inning against a pair of All-Star relievers as they rallied for a 6-2-win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of their Division Series.
Phillies ace Zack Wheeler struck out nine and limited the Mets to just one hit over the first seven innings but was lifted after a startling 30 swings-and-misses over 111 pitches.
New York then pounced on Philadelphia relievers Jeff Hoffman and Matt Strahm in the eighth.
In true Mets fashion this October, the Mets had to rally, not just on the scoreboard, but on a gut-check in each at-bat.
Francisco Alvarez hit a leadoff single against Hoffman before three straight batters reached base after facing 0-2 counts. Francisco Lindor worked a walk from his 0-2 count and Vientos followed with a tying single. Nimmo laced a go-ahead single off Strahm past a drawn-in infield for the 2-1 lead.
After Pete Alonso lofted a sacrifice fly for a 3-1 lead, Jose Iglesias singled and J.D. Martinez greeted Orion Kerkering with an RBI single. Starling Marte’s sacrifice fly capped the uprising.
The Mets have scored 18 runs in the eighth and ninth innings over six games since Monday. New York joined the 1980 Phillies and 1999 Mets as the only teams to win consecutive playoff games after trailing in the eighth inning or later.
Verdugo lifts Yankees over Royals
Alex Verdugo hit a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning and saved at least one run with a sliding catch along the left-field line, boosting the New York Yankees to a 6-5 win over the Kansas City Royals in their AL Division Series opener.
New York’s Gleyber Torres and Kansas City’s MJ Melendez hit two-run homers in a back-and-forth game in which the Royals wasted leads of 1-0, 3-2 and 5-4 and the Yankees failed to hold 2-1 and 4-3 margins.
Kansas City pitchers tied its season high with eight walks, forcing in a pair of runs in the fifth inning. The Yankees were just 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position before Verdugo lined a single off loser Michael Lorenzen to make it 6-5.
Verdugo’s hit scored Jazz Chisholm Jr., who singled leading off and stole second on a play allowed to stand following a video review. Yankees manager Aaron Boone started Verdugo in left over rookie Jasson Domínguez in a defense-influenced decision. Verdugo entered the game in a 2-for-34 skid at the plate.
With the Yankees trailing 3-2, Verdugo made a sliding catch on Michael Massey’s fourth-inning fly just inside the line to strand two runners. The ball hit Verdugo’s right wrist just below his glove and bounced off his chest before he grabbed it with his bare left hand.
Four Yankees relievers combined to allow only an unearned run over four innings after ace Gerrit Cole allowed four runs in five-plus innings. Clay Holmes, dropped from his closer’s job last month, worked 1 2/3 innings for the win. Luke Weaver got four straight outs with three strikeouts for the save in his postseason debut.
Yankees star Aaron Judge went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, and Royals standout Bobby Witt Jr. was 0 for 5, barking at plate umpire Adam Hamari after a called third strike in the ninth.
Guardians strike quick, blank Tigers
Lane Thomas highlighted a five-run first inning with a three-run homer and the Cleveland Guardians unleashed their lights-out bullpen to complete a four-hitter in a 7-0 win over the Tigers in an AL Division Series opener.
Thomas' shot - on his first career postseason swing – off reliever Reese Olson helped the Guardians cool off the Tigers, who stormed into the playoffs with a second-half surge before sweeping AL West champion Houston in the wild-card round.
Tanner Bibee pitched 4 2/3 innings before Guardians manager Stephen Vogt swung the door open to baseball's best bullpen to finish off the Tigers.
Cleveland's relievers combined for 4 1/3 hitless innings to finish and match the largest shutout victory margin in club postseason history. Detroit struck out 13 times and didn't get a runner past first in the final four innings.
The shutout was the worst in Detroit playoff history since Game 1 of the 1945 World Series.
Cleveland's bullpen was as advertised. Rookie Cade Smith replaced Bibee and struck out all four batters. Tim Herrin fanned two in the seventh, Hunter Gaddis pitched the eighth, and Emmanuel Clase, who led the AL with 47 saves, worked the ninth.
David Fry added a two-run double for the AL Central champion Guardians, who were unaffected by not playing for almost a week with a first-round bye.
Tiffany Langley’s netball journey has been marked by years of dedication, disappointment, and unwavering perseverance.
So, as she prepares to represent Jamaica for the first time as part of the Sunshine Girls squad to the Fast5 Netball World Series in New Zealand, Langley views her inclusion as a hard-earned opportunity for redemption and a stepping stone toward becoming a staple in the senior setup.
Langley’s selection for the November 9-10 tournament comes as a welcome reward after years of near misses at the youth level. She has been on the fringes of the national programme since her early teens, as she trained diligently with both the Under-16 and Under-21 teams.
Yet, despite her efforts, she narrowly missed out on making the final cut for international tournaments—experiences that could have easily derailed a young athlete’s confidence. But for Langley, those setbacks only fueled her desire to push harder and prove herself worthy.
“This opportunity means everything to me. It’s something I’ve been working towards for years, and I guess I can say my hard work has now paid off because being a part of a national team to represent my country is a dream come true,” Langley shared.
“Missing out on the Under-16 and Under-21 squads at that point was tough, but I never gave up. So for this opportunity to come at this point in my career, it gives me the confidence that I was lacking before to keep pushing forward, and now I’m excited to see what the future holds for me,” she told SportsMax.Tv.
For Langley, her selection to the Sunshine Girls’ Fast5 squad—a variation of netball known for its fast-paced style and tactical intensity—marks a turning point in her career.
Though Fast5 is different from the traditional 7-a-side format, the 24-year-old believes the condensed format suits her skill set and will allow her to showcase her versatility on the court.
“It’s a different game in many ways, but it’s also an opportunity to test yourself under pressure. I’ve been working hard on my speed, agility, and decision-making, and I’m mentally and physically ready to give it my all,” Langley shared.
“Mentally, I reassured myself that I’m good enough to be a part of this team and capable enough to get the job done. Physically, I am working extremely hard to better my skills in training to ensure that I deliver when I am called upon,” she added.
Langley, who started her netball journey at Gaynstead High School before transitioning to GC Foster College, believes her story is one of perseverance and resilience, as she is of the view that many athletes, when faced with repeated setbacks, might have opted to hang up their boots. However, the bubbly player’s love for the sport and her dream of representing Jamaica at the highest level kept her motivated.
Now with the opportunity there for the taking, Langley’s goal is to make a strong impression during the Fast5 tournament to show selectors that she can be a valuable asset for the team in both short and long formats of the game.
If she can deliver on her promise, she hopes this will be the first of many senior appearances.
“I’m not just happy to be here; I’m determined to make an impact. This isn’t just about making my debut; it’s about establishing myself as a player for the future. I want to be a part of the senior team for years to come, so this is just the beginning. I want to use this chance to learn, grow, and cement my place in the squad,” Langley asserted.
While they might find the going tough in New Zealand, Langley, a wing-attack, who is set to play centre at the tournament, is confident that the Dalton Hinds and Nardia Hanson-coached team has enough talent to cause some problems.
“I rate our chances highly. I love the work everyone is putting in at training; I love the camaraderie among us, and I’m so excited to see what this competition has to offer, as I am sure we all want to keep improving to be consistent in making more Sunshine Girls teams,” Langley ended.
Novak Djokovic marked his Shanghai Masters return with a hard-fought straight-sets win over Alex Michelsen.
The four-time champion, who is appearing in this event for the first time since 2019, required two tie-breaks before prevailing 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (11-9) in just under two hours.
Djokovic, still donning a protective sleeve over his right knee, made a slow start in only his second match since losing to Alexei Popyrin in the US Open third round, winning just four points in the first three games as he fell 4-1 behind.
However, the 24-time major winner broke back in the seventh game before dominating the tie-break for first blood.
Roles were reversed in the second set as Michelsen cancelled out an earlier break in game seven.
However, the American squandered two set points to level and was eventually punished by Djokovic, who will play either 28th seed Flavio Cobolli or three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka in the next round.
Data Debrief: Djokovic continues American dominance
Djokovic was given an early scare, but his experience eventually showed as he came through.
Including team events, the Serb has now won his last 33 ATP-level matches against American opponents, with his last such defeat coming against Sam Querrey at Wimbledon in 2016.
The 24-time major winner also demonstrated his determination when the pressure intensified, and he has now come through 12 of his 16 tie-breaks played this season.
Coco Gauff recovered from a set and a break down to reach the China Open final with a 4-6 6-4 6-2 victory over Paula Badosa on Saturday.
Having given up an early break in the opener, Gauff got one of her own by converting her eighth break point in a mammoth eighth game featuring 10 deuces, only for Badosa to hit back immediately to go a set up.
Gauff lost serve immediately in the second set to go on the back foot, only to level the match with back-to-back breaks, the second of them to love.
The decider began with a series of breaks, Gauff taking two of them as the momentum swung her way, then she protected her lead all the way to reach her first final since winning January's Auckland Open.
The 20-year-old is the youngest player to reach the women's singles final at the China Open since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010.
She has fought from a set down to win in each of her last three matches, the first time she has done so in her career. She is the first player to do so in WTA-1000 events since Iga Swiatek at Indian Wells 2022.
Data Debrief: Gauff brings up century
Saturday's match was Gauff's 100th at WTA 1000-level events, and her 67th such victory.
Among American players, only Serena Williams (87), Venus Williams and Jessica Pegula (70) have bettered her 67 wins through their first 100 matches at such events.
Jannik Sinner notched up his 250th career win after defeating Taro Daniel in his Shanghai Masters opener.
The world number one wrapped up a commanding 6-1 6-4 victory over his Japanese opponent in just over an hour-and-a-quarter on Saturday.
Sinner, who is fresh from reaching the Beijing final last time out, is targeting his seventh silverware of the season, in which he has already triumphed at the Australian Open and US Open.
"I felt quite comfortable today," said the Italian, who set up a clash with 31st seed Tomas Etcheverry. "I also feel in good shape physically, which is very important for me.
"Of course, I will try to improve for tomorrow's performance, but today I was serving really, really well - especially in important moments - and was moving well."
Data Debrief: 250 up for Sinner
Sinner became the first player born in the 2000s to reach 250 career wins, while taking his tally for a remarkable campaign to 60.
The Italian, who won 64 matches last term, is the sixth player aged 23 or under to record 60 or more ATP wins in successive seasons, after Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Sinner also maintained his perfect record in opening-round matches this year (14-0), and is now 51-0 against players ranked outside the ATP top 20.
Carlos Alcaraz began his Shanghai Open campaign with a straight-sets win over China's Shang Juncheng, bringing up his 10th straight victory.
Just three days on from his epic victory over Jannik Sinner in the China Open final, Alcaraz recorded a 6-2 6-2 win over Shang inside one hour and 17 minutes.
The four-time grand slam winner wasted no time by breaking in the very first game of the encounter, then repeated the trick six games later to take the opener, avoiding any pressure as he won 82% of his first-serve points.
Alcaraz produced the shot of the match early in the second set, producing a brilliant backhand flick to salvage a point while backtracking from the net.
Back-to-back breaks midway through the second set sealed Alcaraz's 10th straight victory, after which he hailed the performance of his 19-year-old opponent.
"I'm not used to playing against players younger than me," Alcaraz said. "He has been playing good tennis lately, winning his first ATP title [in Chengdu], so I'm pretty sure he's going to climb the rankings.
"At the net he told me that it's a pleasure share the court with you. So these kinds of things that I hear from younger players, it's great."
Data Debrief: Double figures for Alcaraz
Alcaraz's victory was his 10th in succession since he suffered a shock second-round defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp at the US Open in August.
He will face another Chinese player in the next round, taking on world number 560 Wu Yibing.
As the excitement for the upcoming Mouttet Mile Invitational continues to build, another international contender joins the fray. Guyanese-based Olympic Kremlin is confirmed to participate in the Caribbean's richest horse race at Caymanas Park on December 7.
Olympic Kremlin, a seven-year-old chestnut horse, boasts an impressive pedigree and racing record. Bred in Brazil, he is sired by Japanese stallion Agnes Gold out of Sweet Lemonade by Lemon Drop Kid. The horse's career highlights include five victories in Brazil, earning close to US$90,000, and two wins from two starts in Guyana, including the prestigious Guyana Cup (August 22) and the President's Cup over a mile (September 22).
While in Jamaica, Olympic Kremlin will be trained by Alford Brown, who expressed confidence about his prospects.
"His preparation will be done throughout the entire month of November heading into the race. He has an outstanding chance, and I expect big things from him," Brown said.
Olympic Kremlin is set to arrive in Jamaica at the end of October, following a journey that will take him from Guyana to Miami before reaching the island. This move allows for a full month of local preparation before the big race.
Christopher Wills, VP Operations at Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), operators of Caymanas Park, welcomed the news.
"We're excited to have Olympic Kremlin joining the Mouttet Mile field. His participation further solidifies the race's status as a truly international event. The inclusion of such high-calibre horses from around the Caribbean and beyond is exactly what we envisioned when creating this prestigious race. We look forward to hosting Olympic Kremlin and his connections, and we're excited to see how he performs against our top local talent," he said.
Earlier this year, six prominent overseas-based horses—Sheer Delight, Pack Plays, Barnaby, Legacy Isle, Commandant, and Real Macho—expressed an interest in participating in Caymanas Park’s marquee race day.
The Mouttet Mile Invitational is a Grade One event for three-year-olds and upward going over a mile (1,600m) and in successive years has set the record for the largest purse in the English-speaking Caribbean. The 2024 purse is set at a historic US$250,000.
Last year’s Mouttet Mile was won by Rough Entry, an overseas entrant ridden by Canadian jockey Julien Leparoux. The addition of Olympic Kremlin to the Mouttet Mile field underscores the event's growing international appeal and Caymanas Park’s status as a premier racing destination in the Caribbean.
Iga Swiatek has announced the end of her three-year partnership with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, saying the split was a mutual agreement.
Wiktorowski, who joined Swiatek's team in 2022, helped her become the first Polish player to reach world number one and she has since spent 123 weeks at the top of the rankings.
Swiatek also won 19 of her 22 career titles and an Olympic bronze medal in Paris earlier this year with Wiktorowski, along with four grand slam victories.
"After three years of the greatest achievements in my career, together with my coach Tomasz Wiktorowski we decided to part ways," Swiatek wrote on Instagram.
"I want to start with a big thank you and appreciating our work together."
Swiatek has not competed since losing to Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals of the US Open, choosing to withdraw from the China Open due to personal reasons.
The 23-year-old has also pulled out of the recent Korea Open in Seoul, citing fatigue, and next week's Wuhan Open.
Swiatek won the French Open and US Open during her opening season with Wiktorowski, before embarking on a 37-match winning run in 2022 - the longest streak by a woman this century.
The Pole won a fifth grand slam, which was her fourth with Wiktorowski, at Roland Garros in June, making it three consecutive wins at the tournament in Paris.
"Coach Wiktorowski joined my team for three seasons, when I strongly needed changes and a fresh approach to my game," Swiatek continued.
"His experience, analytical and strategic attitude and enormous knowledge about tennis helped us to achieve things I've never dreamed of only a few months after we started working together."
But Swiatek was disappointed with her hard-court performances this season, exiting the Australian Open in the third round and the US Open in the last eight.
The Pole said she has held "first talks" with prospective new coaches and will take a "couple of weeks" to start work with her next appointment.
"Our main goal was to become number one player in the world and coach Wiktorowski was the one who said it first," Swiatek concluded.
"Due to this important change on my team, I give myself a couple of weeks to start cooperation with a new coach.
"I'm in the middle of first talks with coaches from abroad (non-Polish) because I'm ready to take the next step of my career. I will let you know when I make a decision."
Daniil Medvedev held off a stern test from Thiago Seyboth Wild to edge through his Shanghai Masters opener on Friday.
The Russian won the tight contest in straight sets, prevailing 7-5 7-5 in just under two hours.
Seyboth Wild started brightly, superbly defending five break points in the opening game before breaking Medvedev to take a 3-1 lead.
A three-game winning run at the end of the first set was enough for the world number five to edge in front.
The Brazilian made another strong start in the second but was his own worst enemy as he racked up 47 unforced errors throughout the match to Medvedev's 28.
Despite going down a break again, Medvedev rallied, staying patient to mount another comeback and book his place in the next round against Matteo Arnaldi.
Data Debrief: Patience pays off
Last year, Seyboth Wild stunned Medvedev in the opening round at Roland Garros, as his high-risk, high-reward method paid off and he earned the win with 69 winners and 77 unforced errors.
Despite pushing the 28-year-old all the way, it did not garner the same reward this time around, despite getting 29 winners to Medvedev's 17.
The highly anticipated 51st Running of the Phillip Feanny Gold Cup is set to showcase some of Jamaica's finest 3-year-old fillies as they compete over seven furlongs for a coveted purse of JMD$2.5 million. This Grade 3 event, part of the Jamaican Racing Calendar since 1967, was renamed last year in honour of Philip Feanny, OD, a true icon of Jamaican horse racing, affectionately known as 'The Maestro'.
Feanny, a Jamaica Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame inductee, holds the record for the most classic wins at Caymanas Park. His illustrious career includes conditioning the most Triple Crown winners and setting a World Record in 1992-93 for the most classic horse races won, with the legendary jockey Winston Griffiths, OD by his side.
his year’s race promises to add to the Gold Cup's rich legacy, which began with KILLOWATT’s win in 1967 and his repeated victories in 1968 and 1970. The track and stakes record of 1:22.4, set by Feanny's own EROS in 1994 and repeated in 1995, still stands, underscoring Feanny's enduring impact on the sport.
With 10 entries confirmed, the competition promises an exciting field as these top-tier fillies vie for glory. Among the contenders are Desert Malibu, Wall Street Trader, Atlantic Convoy, Funcaandun, Is That A Fact, Norblar, Further and Beyond, Intrestntimesahead, Banadura, and Major Danger. They will look to follow in the footsteps of last year's champion, SHE’S MY DESTINY, who came from behind to overtake Mahogany, the 2022 Horse of the Year runner-up.
The Phillip Feanny Gold Cup is part of an electrifying championship season that has already seen impressive victories. Recent winners include LOVISA in the BGLC/TOBA Millionaire Series Race, BRENDA BOY in The Reprieve Trophy, Impressive Force in The RonRon Trophy, and SISTREN TREASURE in The Typewriter Trophy.
As the race season unfolds, the competition among jockeys is equally intense. Raddesh Roman and Tevin Foster are locked in a fierce battle for the champion jockey title, each sitting at 99 wins for the season. Both are on the brink of the 100-win milestone, adding extra excitement as they prepare for the big race day.
As we head down the Trail to the Mile, all eyes are on Caymanas Park and the stellar field of fillies aiming to etch their names into the storied history of the Phillip Feanny Gold Cup. With a legacy built on excellence and passion for horse racing, the 2024 event promises to be yet another thrilling chapter in Jamaican horse racing history.
The Duhaney Park Red Sharks have solidified their status as a rugby league powerhouse, clinching their 10th National Club Championship (NCC) title in Jamaica with a dramatic 17-16 victory over the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Warriors. This victory at the UWI Mona Bowl also marks the Red Sharks' eighth consecutive Grand Finals win, underscoring their dominance in Jamaican rugby league.
The match was a rollercoaster from start to finish. JDF made an explosive start, taking a 9-0 lead within the first 15 minutes thanks to winger Shezorye Thompson, who scored a try and two goals, complemented by a drop goal from center Demar Williams. Duhaney Park responded in the 20th minute when loose forward Owen Linton crossed the try line, though Ryan Grant's missed conversion left the Red Sharks trailing 4-9 at halftime.
The second half saw JDF further extend their lead to 15-4 through a brilliant try by Jowayne Forbes, who made a break from his own half, evading six defenders to score in the right corner. This play was considered the try of the game, putting immense pressure on the Red Sharks. However, Duhaney Park gradually clawed their way back into contention. Prop Khamisi McKain scored a try under the posts, and Grant converted to reduce the deficit to 10-15.
In the 64th minute, back-rower Jenson Morris closed the gap even further, scoring an unconverted try in the left corner to make it 14-15. JDF then managed a drop goal from Thompson, nudging their lead to 16-14. However, Duhaney Park kept their composure, with Grant slotting a crucial penalty eight minutes from time to level the scores at 16-16.
The game seemed destined for extra time until veteran scrum-half Chevaughn Bailey stepped up in the 78th minute, sealing the win with a perfectly executed drop goal from 30 meters out. The late score sent Duhaney Park fans into ecstatic celebrations, as the team secured a hard-fought victory.
Duhaney Park's head coach Roy Calvert praised the JDF for their performance, describing the final as the toughest game in recent seasons. “This final is probably the hardest game we have had in two to three seasons. Kudos to the Army for a great fight. I am proud of my boys, especially our youngsters, who really stood up. It’s our 20th year as a club, and getting the win means a lot to us,” Calvert said.
JDF’s coach Sergeant Kemar Catwell commended his team’s resilience against the defending champions. “My team showed a lot of character against a very good Red Sharks team. We had our chances, and if we had taken them, it might have been a different outcome. Hats off to Duhaney Park; champions find a way to win, but JDF will be back stronger,” Catwell remarked.
In the third-place playoff, the Washington Bulls edged out the St. Catherine Thundercats 3-2 on kicks after regular time ended with both teams tied at 10-10.
Scorers
Duhaney Park Red Sharks: Tries by Owen Linton, Khamisi McKain, and Jenson Morris; goals by Ryan Grant (2); drop goal by Chevaughn Bailey.
JDF Warriors: Tries by Shezwayne Thompson and Jowayne Forbes; goals by Shezwayne Thompson (3); drop goal by Demar Williams.
As two of the founding clubs of rugby league in Jamaica celebrate their 20th anniversary, this thrilling match serves as a testament to the fierce rivalry and competitive spirit that defines the sport on the island.
Karolina Muchova secured an upset at the China Open, snapping Aryna Sabalenka's 15-match winning streak to reach the semi-finals.
The Czech prevailed in two hours and 48 minutes with a 7-6 (7-5) 2-6 6-4 win over the number one seed on Friday.
Muchova started strong, forcing Sabalenka to defend three break points in the opening game, but they were evenly matched throughout.
Sabalenka almost took the first set, but Muchova held her nerve, successfully fighting back against two set points before taking the tie-break.
The Belarusian looked back to her free-flowing best in the second though, earning two breaks as she forced the decider in comfortable fashion.
Sabalenka took an early lead in the final set, but from 4-2 down, Muchova clawed her way back, going on a four-game winning streak at the end to book a meeting with Qinwen Zheng or Mirra Andreeva in the final four.
Data Debrief: Czech mate
Given Sabalenka's recent hot streak, this does look like an upset, but it is actually pretty run-of-the-mill for Muchova.
She has now won her last three matches against Sabalenka in WTA events, defeating her at Cincinnati, Roland Garros 2023 and China Open 2024.
Excluding the BJK Cup, only Iga Swiatek (85.3%) has a higher winning percentage than Muchova on hard-court in WTA events during 2024 (84.6%, 11-2), surpassing Sabalenka (82.5%, 33-7).
The 28-year-old has reached just her second career semi-final and is the player with the fewest WTA-1000 wins during the season before the start of the China Open (one) to reach this stage of the tournament.
Julius Randle says he is happy to be at the Minnesota Timberwolves where he "feels wanted" but admitted feeling shocked by the New York Knicks trade.
He was part of a blockbuster trade, joining the Timberwolves with Donte DiVincenzo, as Karl-Anthony Towns headed the other way in a deal that was completed earlier this week.
Randle was a three-time All-Star with the Knicks as their starting power forward, a Most Improved Player winner and a two-time All-NBA selection.
Last season, he averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game, though he did not play in the playoffs after dislocating his shoulder on January 27 and opted to undergo surgery in April after two months of rehab.
Although he had initially been looking forward to another shot at the playoffs with the Knicks, he is now invigorated about joining another championship contender.
"It was a lot of emotion," Randle said. "You spend a lot of time living in one place, you know, New York, going there five years ago... A lot of blood, sweat, and tears put into that organization and uniform. Initially, it's always going to be a shock.
"You want to be somewhere where you feel wanted. I feel wanted here. At this point in my career, I've accomplished a lot of great things on an individual level, but I want to win a championship. This is a perfect opportunity to do that.
"[The trade] was a breath of fresh air. I'm excited to bring everything I've learned here over the past five years and help these guys out. My only thing here is I just want to help.
"I want to help [Anthony Edwards]. I want to help Rudy [Gobert], Naz [Reid] - all those guys. I want to help win a championship, and that's the only thing that matters."
The Timberwolves start their season against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 22, with their preseason beginning against the same opponent on Friday.
Kirk Cousins passed for a career-high 509 yards and four touchdowns, the last of them a 45-yard scoring pass to KhaDarel Hodge in overtime that gave the Atlanta Falcons an improbable 36-30 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night.
After a wild fourth quarter that featured a blocked field goal, a fumble and an interception, Cousins and the Falcons (3-2) got the ball back at their own 20 with 1:14 remaining in regulation and no timeouts, trailing 30-27.
Cousins completed five passes to push Atlanta to the Buccaneers 29, then hustled to the line to spike the ball with a single second on the clock. In all the confusion, the Falcons were called for delay of game as they lined up for a tying field goal, but it didn't cost them.
Younghoe Koo knocked it through from 52 yards to force overtime, one week after he made a 58-yarder with 2 seconds left to beat the New Orleans Saints.
The Falcons won the coin toss in overtime and made sure Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers (3-2) didn't get their hands on the ball again. Cousins connected with Drake London on a couple of passes before throwing one over the middle to Hodge, who split the secondary and raced untouched to the end zone to end the game.
Pete Alonso delivered a clutch, three-run homer off closer Devin Williams in the ninth inning and the New York Mets rallied for a wild 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night to win their NL Wild Card Series.
The Mets' comeback victory in the decisive Game 3 gave them their first playoff series win since claiming the NL pennant in 2015. They advance to a Division Series beginning Saturday at rival Philadelphia against the NL East champion Phillies.
The Brewers, making their sixth playoff appearance in the last seven years, still haven't won a postseason series since reaching Game 7 of the NL Championship Series in 2018.
Milwaukee appeared to have the victory in hand after Jake Bauers and Sal Frelick broke a scoreless tie by opening the seventh inning with back-to-back homers off José Buttó. Tobias Myers and three relievers had combined on a two-hit shutout through the first eight innings.
Twelve straight Mets had been retired when they opened the ninth against Williams, a two-time NL reliever of the year who had earned the save Wednesday in Milwaukee’s Game 2 victory.
But Francisco Lindor opened the ninth by walking on a 3-2 pitch. After Mark Vientos struck out, Brandon Nimmo singled to put runners at the corners.
That brought up Alonso, who has 226 career homers in six seasons but hadn’t gone deep since Sept. 19.
After getting ahead 3-1 in the count, Alonso sent a 3-1 changeup over the wall in right field to give the Mets the lead.
Edwin Díaz pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win and David Peterson, making his first relief appearance of the season, worked the ninth for his first major league save.
Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid told the media Thursday the team was waiting for swelling to go down on Rashee Rice's knee before performing additional tests.
Three hours later, the Chiefs had enough information to know he'll be side-lined for at least one month.
The Chiefs placed Rice on injured reserve later Thursday, meaning he will out for a minimum of four weeks.
Rice was injured in last Sunday's 17-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, and it was reported he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
There has been no update on the extent of the injury, but a torn ACL would side-line him for the rest of the season.
The second-year receiver was injured on a bizarre play when he collided with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who inadvertently dove into Rice's knee as the two team-mates were attempting to tackle Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton on an interception return.
Rice was carted off to the locker room shortly after leaving the field and eventually ruled out of the game.
His injury is the latest blow to a Kansas City team that is already without leading rusher Isiah Pacheco, who is recovering from a fractured fibula he sustained in Week 2.
It also leaves Mahomes without his top target, as Rice led the NFL with 24 receptions through this season's first three weeks.
No other Kansas City player had double-digit receptions entering Week 4, though Travis Kelce finally took on a larger role in the offence.
The veteran tight end had seven receptions for 89 yards against the Chargers after catching eight passes for 69 yards in the first three games.
Despite losing two of their top play-makers, the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs are 4-0 heading into their Week 5 Monday night game against the New Orleans Saints.
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