Iga Swiatek continued her preparations for the US Open in style as she cruised to a straight-sets victory over Marta Kostyuk at the Cincinnati Open.
The Pole needed just 69 minutes to advance to the quarter-finals of the competition, earning a 6-2 6-2 victory after rain delayed the start of play in Ohio.
Swiatek started the encounter as it meant to go on, earning a break point in the third game which proved decisive as she made her mark on proceedings early on.
Despite the best efforts of the Ukrainian, the world number one strolled to within a set of victory after winning 73% of her first-serve points.
Kostyuk simply had no reply to her Polish opponents' dominant service game, finding herself 3-0 down in double quick time in the second.
Swiatek would drop just six points in the final three games, concluding the encounter with a love game to set up a tie against the winner of Mirra Andreeva and Jasmine Paolini on Saturday.
Data Debrief: Swiatek replicates winning streak
Since Swiatek’s debut on Tour in 2019, only two players have won 14+ consecutive WTA-1000 main draw matches, those being the Pole herself in 2022 (23, Doha - Toronto) and again this year (14, current streak).
Only Agnieszka Radwanska (14, between 2012 and 2013) has made more WTA-1000 quarter-finals in consecutive seasons than the Pole in 2023-2024 (13) since the format’s introduction in 2009.
The Adelaide Thunderbirds have secured a powerhouse for their 2025 campaign, re-signing four-time national premiership winner Romelda Aiken-George for a second season in pink. The Jamaican superstar, renowned for her towering presence under the post, will return to the Suncorp Super Netball League as one of the most formidable goal shooters in the game.
Aiken-George, entering her 16th season in the national league, delivered an extraordinary performance in 2024. She racked up a staggering 736 Nissan Net Points, netted 517 goals, and pulled down 69 rebounds. Her impact was undeniable, culminating in a Player of the Match performance during the Grand Final, where she amassed 57.5 NNP, 42 goals, and 10 rebounds to lead the Thunderbirds to victory.
Her debut in Round 1 against the Queensland Firebirds was nothing short of spectacular, scoring 48 goals and officially becoming Thunderbird #108. With 230 games to her name, Aiken-George's experience and skill set make her an irreplaceable asset for the Thunderbirds' attack end.
Thunderbirds General Manager of High Performance, Jace Bode, expressed his excitement about Aiken-George's return. "Romelda was a dominant target for us under the post in 2024 and once again showed why she is one of the best shooters the sport has ever seen," Bode remarked. "Her competitiveness on court and ability to take ball in the air and convert to goal was second to none. She added invaluable experience to our attack line and built strong connections with the players around her. We look forward to welcoming her back in 2025."
Aiken-George's re-signing is more than just a continuation of her journey; it's a statement of intent from the Thunderbirds. With her at the helm of their attack, the team is poised to defend their title and continue their reign as the league's top team.
Fans can expect nothing less than brilliance from Aiken-George as she dons the pink once more, ready to lead the Thunderbirds to further glory in 2025.
New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo says the competition to be starting quarterback "isn't over" after Drake Maye's impressive performance against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Maye impressed in their 14-13 preseason loss on Thursday, playing four series as he finished 6-of-11 for 47 yards with a four-yard rushing touchdown.
So far, he has mainly been used as the backup option behind Jacoby Brissett during the Patriots' training camp.
The coach praised Maye's performance, though admitted the offense are yet to find their rhythm ahead of the new season.
"Stepping up into pressure, I thought he did a better job overall with using his legs and really extending plays," Mayo said on Friday.
"[The quarterbacks] have to maintain their composure and get the call to the huddle and get those guys out the huddle and be ready to go. [Maye]'s always been like that in my mind.
"I think the entire offense definitely needs to play and continue to jell, and that's what we're going to do."
The Patriots signed Brissett to a one-year contract in March, and immediately named him as a starter, with his experience proving invaluable.
He has struggled to hit his stride in preseason so far though, finishing 3-of-7 for 17 yards in three series on Thursday, including a costly end zone interception.
With only one preseason game still to play, against the Washington Commanders on August 25, Mayo plans to use both quarterbacks, giving them a chance to stake their claim on the position.
"We have three more days of training camp practices, and it's our job as coaches to evaluate, and the competition isn't over," Mayo added.
"They have to show not only themselves and the coaches [but] also their teammates.
"For me, we always talk about competition, and that's at all spots. Even if Drake beats out Jacoby, he earned that role.
"We don't really take that into consideration when he's ready to go. If he's better than Jacoby, then he'll play, and he'll start."
P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy is pleased to announce the inaugural JamRockerz Basketball Classic which is scheduled to start at 9:30 this morning and run until Sunday, August 18, at the Montego Bay Community College.
The tournament will feature elite teams, including the #1 club program in the USA, Team Takeover from Maryland, DC, Hardwood Kings from Brampton, Onario, Canada, and P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy International which comprises P.H.A.S.E.1 members from the United States and Canada. Jamaica will be represented in this six-team pool play event by P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy Kingston JA, P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy Montego Bay JA, and P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy Trelawny, JA
This highly anticipated youth basketball tournament is poised to become a premier season-ending event for top youth club teams from around the world, providing a unique blend of high-level competition and cultural experience in Jamaica’s prime tourist district.
The event comes on the heels of a historic international travel season for P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy, which saw the club secure its first U17 Championship in Miami, FL, and a U19 tournament championship in Atlanta, GA. The JamRockerz Basketball Classic aims to build on this success and continue the momentum by offering a thrilling weekend of basketball and cultural exchange.
"Competitions like the JamRockerz Basketball Classic are vital to the growth and development of basketball in Jamaica," said Wayne Dawkins, global director and coach for P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy. "With the incredible support of our partners, we’re confident that this event will put Jamaica on the map as a global destination for competitive youth basketball.
Dave Black, the Jamaican director and coach for P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy, added, "We’ve worked hard to connect with some of the best youth clubs from around the world, and we’re excited to showcase the talents of this inaugural group here in Montego Bay."
The JamRockerz Basketball Classic is made possible through the support of several key partners, including Jamaica's Tourism Enhancement Fund, which recognizes the tournament’s potential to boost local tourism by drawing international visitors to Montego Bay. NBA Houston Rockets pro player Tari Eason who will be in attendance to motivate the young athletes and present special gifts to the participants. Additionally, the event is supported by Kingston Marley, grandson of the legendary Bob Marley, and founder of the Children for Change charity. Kingston, who began his charity work at just 9 years old, now at 16, plays alongside his peers as a member of P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy Jamaica.
Tickets for the JamRockerz Basketball Classic will be available at the door, priced at $500 for local students and $1,000 for local adults.
Dak Prescott has revealed talks over a new contract with the Dallas Cowboys are "going well", though he is in no rush to get a deal sorted before the new season.
Prescott is set to enter the final season of the four-year, $160m contract he penned in 2021 and will make $29m in 2024.
With no agreement reached on a new deal for the 31-year-old quarterback, rumours about his future have abounded this offseason. If no agreement is struck, he will hit free agency in 2025 and cost Dallas $40m against the salary cap.
The Cowboys are also yet to tie down star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who has held out on returning to practice for three weeks, totalling over $1m in fines as he seeks a new deal.
Prescott, though, is confident his own future will be resolved, though he has not put a timeframe on negotiations.
"I'm not putting that much thought into hoping it gets done now, hoping it gets done in a couple of weeks, during the season or whenever it happens," Prescott said on Thursday.
"I just know conversations are on the right way. I enjoy being a Cowboy 1,000%, I enjoy living in Dallas, I enjoy everything about it.
"But this is a business. Conversations are going well, but I'm thankful to be where I am right now and that's here."
Prescott's 410 completions and passer rating of 105.9 in 2023 were career-best figures, while he also played all 17 regular-season games for the first time since being drafted in the fourth round in 2016.
Prescott has managed to stay largely injury-free since an ankle issue limited him to just five outings in 2020, and he puts his availability down to thorough work away from the field.
"It's something that I do each and every day, making sure I'm staying focused on it. Not trying to miss anything," Prescott said of his fitness regimen.
"If anything, it's just going to be maybe a rest here and there. No long-term [issues], especially with the schedule we're on.
"When I put the cleats down and I'm done. I want it to be on my terms and not because my body said that's not enough."
The New York Knicks will visit the Boston Celtics for the first game of the 2024-25 NBA season on October 22 after the schedule for the new campaign was confirmed.
The Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks 4-1 in the NBA Finals to win their first championship since 2008 last season, their 18th crown taking them clear of the Los Angeles Lakers at the top of the all-time charts.
They will open the defence of their title against rivals New York, who finished second to Boston in the Eastern Conference in 2023-24.
The Knicks were plagued by injuries throughout the 2023-24 postseason and were beaten by the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals, but they have moved to strengthen during the offseason by adding Mikal Bridges in a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets.
That game will form part of an opening-night double header, preceding the Minnesota Timberwolves' clash with the Los Angeles Lakers, as LeBron James enters his record-equalling 22nd NBA season.
The following day will feature Paul George's Philadelphia 76ers debut as they take on the Milwaukee Bucks, while the Los Angeles Clippers will welcome the Phoenix Suns to inaugurate their new home arena, the Intuit Dome.
Other standout fixtures for the season include Klay Thompson's reunion with the Golden State Warriors following his move to Dallas, which is set for November 12.
His Mavs debut could come against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, with the two Texas teams set to face off on October 24.
The 2024-25 All-Star Weekend will be staged in San Francisco from February 14 to February 16, with the regular season set to wrap up on April 13.
The Rugby Championship returned with a bang last weekend.
World champions South Africa stated their intent from the very start, dishing out a 33-7 thrashing to end Australia's unbeaten run under Joe Schmidt.
Meanwhile, New Zealand's crown could be under threat after they suffered an opening day slip-up as Argentina pounced, upsetting the All Blacks with a 38-30 victory.
Australia and New Zealand have a chance to right those wrongs on matchday two, while South Africa and Argentina will be looking to pull clear at the top of the table.
Here, we run through the best Opta stats ahead of this weekend's action, picking out the players to watch in each contest.
NEW ZEALAND V ARGENTINA
New Zealand's defence of their Rugby Championship title did not get off to the desired start as they let their half-time lead slip to lose to Argentina in Wellington last weekend, ending head coach Scott Robertson's perfect start.
However, they will be stepping out in Auckland this time around, a happy hunting ground for them as they are undefeated across their last 51 Test matches there (49 wins, two draws), scoring an average of 36.7 points per game across that span. Their last defeat in the city was a 20-23 loss against France in July 1994.
New Zealand also won their only previous meeting with Argentina at Eden Park, cruising to a 33-10 victory in the 2011 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.
They bring plenty of physicality too, having made 11 offloads in the first round, the most of any team; the All Blacks have logged more than 10 offloads in their last two matches in the competition after doing so only once across their previous nine games in the tournament beforehand.
Argentina, meanwhile, won their Rugby Championship opener for the first time, having lost it in their previous 11 appearances.
And, after coming from behind to win that game, they look to have a new lease of life under Felipe Contepomi as they aim to get back-to-back wins over New Zealand for the first time.
Indeed, Los Pumas have won each of their last two Test matches against tier one opposition (38-30 v New Zealand and 33-25 v France) - the last time they recorded a longer winning run in such fixtures was a three-match span at the 2007 Rugby World Cup (v France, Ireland and Scotland).
Argentina made 183 tackles in round one of the Rugby Championship, the most of any team; it is the third time they have logged 180+ in a match in the tournament since the beginning of 2021 – Australia (twice) are the only other team to have done so more than once in that time.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
New Zealand – Ethan Blackadder
Despite being on the wrong end of the scoreline, Blackadder managed to catch the eye as he completed 20 tackles in round one of the Rugby Championship, the most of any player.
In fact, it was the joint-most he has made in a Test match for the All Blacks (also 20 v Ireland in November 2021).
Argentina – Matteo Carreras
While Agustin Creevy stole the headlines during Argentina's win last weekend, Matteo Carreras' involvement was equally important.
He has scored three tries in his last two Test matches, including one try against New Zealand last time out, as many as he scored in his eight Tests prior to that run combined (three).
AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa started as they mean to go on with their statement win over Australia last weekend, and they have now won their last three Test matches against the Wallabies by an average margin of 24.3 points.
The last time the Springboks recorded a longer winning run against the Wallabies was a seven-match span from August 1969 to August 1971.
Indeed, South Africa have won each of their last two Test matches against their opponents in Australia, conceding no more than eight points on the day in either of those two wins.
South Africa's form anywhere away from home is impressive enough. They have won each of their last six Test matches outside their country, with three of those six victories coming by a single-point margin on the day. The last time the Springboks recorded a longer winning run outside the country was a nine-match span from August to November in 2007.
Rassie Erasmus' side completely dominated as they gained 547 metres on matchday one of the Rugby Championship, 149 metres more than the team with the second most (Argentina – 398); only once across their last 22 matches in the competition prior have the Springboks gained more in a game (698 v Australia in July 2023).
Schmidt's hopes of a strong start to the tournament quickly evaporated in Brisbane, but a move to Perth could be a good boost for their confidence, with Australia only losing one of their last nine Test matches in the city (winning seven, drawing one).
Australia won 20 line-outs (inc. two steals) in round one of the Rugby Championship, the most of any team; only once across their last 40 Test matches prior to that game had the Wallabies logged as many (20, inc. four steals v Fiji in September 2023). If they can make those count, they could give themselves a chance.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Australia – Harry Wilson
While Australia's attacking play left much to be desired, Harry Wilson provided them with a driving force as he crossed the gainline on 10 carries on matchday one, the second most of any player (Ardie Savea, 12).
He also won seven line-outs, the most of any player in the opening round of the tournament.
South Africa – Kurt-Lee Arendse
Kurt-Lee Arendse continued his impressive run of form with two tries against Australia last time out, meaning he has now scored four tries in his last four Test matches.
He has scored five tries in his two career appearances against the Wallabies, scoring a hat-trick against them last year in addition to last week's brace.
Rookie Weston Wilson became the ninth player in franchise history to hit for the cycle and Alec Bohm and Nick Castellanos hit back-to-back homers in the first inning to power the Philadelphia Phillies to a 13-3 drubbing of the Washington Nationals on Thursday night.
Wilson tripled and singled in the fourth, homered in the seventh and then doubled to right in the eighth, with Alex Call failing on a diving attempt.
Wilson had the 10th cycle in Phillies history - Chuck Klein did it twice - and he was the first home player to accomplish the feat at Citizens Bank Park since David Bell in 2004.
Wilson had just 16 at-bats and 22 plate appearances last season, officially making him the first rookie in Phillies history to hit for the cycle.
Philadelphia jumped on Mitchell Parker for four first-inning runs, with Bohm hitting a three-run shot and Castellanos following with 16th of the season.
Trea Turner had three hits and two RBIs and Johan Rojas drove in three runs for the Phillies, who collected 17 hits in their second straight win following a four-game skid.
Zack Wheeler allowed two runs and three hits over six innings for his 12th win, one off the National League lead.
Keibert Ruiz hit a pair of homers as Washington dropped to 1-6 this season against Philadelphia.
Baez lifts Tigers to sweep
Javier Baez hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning and the Detroit Tigers allowed one hit and rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners to complete a three-game sweep.
Detroit trailed 1-0 in the eighth after Seattle got seven two-hit innings from Bryce Miller, but Yimi Garcia walked Parker Meadows, who stole second. After Zack McKinstry popped out and Akil Baddoo grounded out, Andres Munoz relieved and hung a 2-1 slider that Baez lined over the fence in left field.
Munoz hadn’t allowed a hit in a franchise-record 12 consecutive outings.
The Mariners scored four runs in the three-game series and dropped three games behind AL West-leading Houston.
Kenta Maeda pitched one-hit ball over 5 1/3 innings, Shelby Miller earned the win with 1 1/3 innings before Jason Foley worked the ninth for his 16th save to preserve Detroit’s fourth straight win.
Brewers rally past Dodgers for split
Jackson Chourio and Wiliam Contreras homered in the first inning and scored again in an eighth-inning comeback as the Milwaukee Brewers rallied for a 6-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in a matchup of division leaders.
Milwaukee trailed 4-3 in the eighth before loading the bases on Chourio’s double, a walk to Garrett Mitchell and William Contreras’ infield single.
Willie Adames singled home Chourio to tie it and Tyler Black’s grounder sent Mitchell home. Contreras scored an insurance run from third when Rhys Hoskins grounded out with a batted ball that hit pitcher Daniel Hudson’s leg.
Devin Williams earned his third save in as many opportunities and ended the game by striking out Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani. That save came one day after Williams preserved a 5-4 victory by retiring Ohtani, Betts and Freddie Freeman in order.
After falling behind 3-0 in the first inning, the Dodgers rallied to take a 4-3 lead when Kike Hernández greeted Elvis Peguero with a tiebreaking two-out single in the sixth inning.
Jamaica is setting its sights on reclaiming the top spot in Caribbean table tennis over the next decade, with the recent launch of a summer camp aimed at nurturing the next generation of talent. The Jamaica Table Tennis Association (JTTA), in collaboration with Skills Unlimited Table Tennis Academy (SUTTA) and Taylor and Chancellor Halls at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, hosted the inaugural SUTTA/Taylor Hall/Chancellor Hall Table Tennis Summer Camp from July 15 to August 14 at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. This camp marks the first step in what is intended to be a series of initiatives aimed at re-establishing Jamaica’s dominance in the sport regionally.
The camp, which targeted both junior and senior athletes, was designed to enhance the skills of Jamaica's table tennis players, providing them with the training necessary to compete at the highest levels regionally. Dale Parham, Director of the Program, president of SUTTA, and head coach, expressed his hope that the camp would become an annual event, setting the foundation for sustained development in the sport.
Kingston College's table tennis coach, Colin McNeish, who also played a key role in the program, emphasized the importance of year-round preparation. He believes that with consistent training and dedication, Jamaican players have a strong chance of reclaiming the top spot in Caribbean table tennis within the next decade.
The camp featured several of Jamaica’s top under-19 national players, including Jayden Ebanks, Tsenaye Lewis, Gianna Lewis as well as Navaeh Scott and Kira Scott. Also in attendance were Karecia Peterkin, Gmarco Smith, Kayon Denton, Azizi Johnson, and Ajani Spencer. Under-11 champions Malone and Shacoil Bird, also participated, gaining valuable experience and exposure.
JTTA President Ingrid Graham praised SUTTA for launching the summer program, highlighting the significant improvement in both national players and novice participants. She noted that many young players had been lacking sufficient play time, making the camp an excellent initiative to address this gap. Graham also expressed gratitude to Taylor Hall and Chancellor Hall for providing the venue, which allowed the camp to avoid rental costs.
Coach Dale Parham, Carl Chang of Western Sports and JTTA President Ingrid Graham
Athol Hamilton, Taylor Hall's Student Services and Development Manager, echoed the importance of the camp, stating that supporting it was an easy decision given Taylor Hall’s strong investment in sports. Hamilton also indicated that efforts are being made to make the facilities available throughout the academic year to ensure ongoing training.
National players Gianna and Tsenaye Lewis shared their enthusiasm for the camp, underscoring the importance of consistent practice in honing their skills. Both sisters expressed a desire for the camp to become a permanent fixture on the calendar, citing its significant benefits for their development as players.
Carl Chang of Western Sports, who attended the camp's closing tournament, underscored the camp’s role in reviving table tennis in Jamaica. Although Western Sports is not the title sponsor, they have provided support for junior-level players, further contributing to the growth of the sport.
The summer camp also served as a crucial preparatory phase for the players ahead of the Jamaica Table Tennis Association National Senior & Junior Championships, scheduled to take place from September 6-8 at the National Indoor Sports Complex.
The success of the camp was made possible through the support of Taylor Hall, Chancellor Hall, JTTA, SUTTA, the Sports Development Foundation Jamaica, Western Sports, Optical Solutions International Limited, and Graham International Consulting and Research INC. These partnerships reflect a collective commitment to ensuring that Jamaica once again becomes a dominant force in Caribbean table tennis.
Yulia Putintseva produced an impressive upset, knocking defending champion Coco Gauff out of the Cincinnati Open in the second round.
The 29-year-old rallied over three sets to hold off Gauff's comeback with a 6-4 2-6 6-4 win in just under two hours.
Putintseva immediately set the tone by breaking the American's serve twice in the opening three games, and though Gauff pulled back to level things at 4-4, the Kazakh got another vital break to take the first set.
The world number two came out on a mission in the second though, piecing together a three-game winning streak as she managed to force a decider.
And it looked like Gauff had found her stride when she took a 4-2 lead, but Putintseva won the last four games in a row to turn the tide and set up a meeting with Paula Badosa in the next round.
Data Debrief: Gauff falls short again
After a disappointing Olympic debut, Gauff made an early exit from the Canadian Open, and she has been relegated to another early exit here.
She was looking to become just the second player to win consecutive titles here, but instead, she struggled once again, making nine double faults against a flawless opponent.
Meanwhile, Putintseva is playing her first tournament since Wimbledon, where she knocked out Iga Swiatek en route to the fourth round. Before this year, she had never progressed past the first round in Cincinnati.
Now, she is only the fourth player in the past four decades ranked outside the WTA's top 20 to claim wins over the top two on multiple surfaces in a season.
Alexander Zverev claimed his 50th tour-level win of the season with a straight-sets victory over Karen Khachanov in the Cincinnati Open on Thursday.
The German took just 76 minutes to ease into the next round, earning a 6-3 6-2 win while coping with a second-set rain delay.
Zverev fought back from break point in the third game to set him up for a vital break in the sixth as he took the first set.
And he raced into a 3-0 lead in the second against a spirited Khachanov, who just could not find any answers to his aggressive approach as the world number four hit 16 winners compared to the Russian's nine.
He will now play either Max Purcell or Pablo Carrena-Busta for a place in the quarter-final.
Data Debrief: Fifty up for Zverev
It is an impressive landmark for Zverev to hit, but he is also the first to register 50 wins at ATP events in 2024.
It is the fifth time the 27-year-old has won 50+ matches in a single season, and he is just the second German to do so during the Open Era, after Boris Becker.
Alex de Minaur has confirmed he will particpate in the US Open later this month despite withdrawing from the men's singles at the Paris Olympics.
De Minaur sustained a hip injury against Arthur Fils at Wimbledon that forced him to withdraw from his quarter-final match against Novak Djokovic.
The Australian did still compete in the men's doubles at the Games alongside Alexei Popyrin, but lost in the first round to beaten finalists Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram.
De Minaur's best finish at Flushing Meadows came in 2020 when he reached the quarter-finals, losing to eventual champion Dominic Thiem in three sets.
The world number 10 has also reached the same stage in his two grand slam appearances this year at the Australian Open and French Open.
"Been working hard trying to recover from my injury," De Minaur wrote on Instagram on Wednesday.
"It’s been very tough missing tournaments and excited to say I’ll be playing US open. Thanks to all the support I’ve gotten, it’s definitely helped me through these tough times."
Rory McIlroy is eyeing a strong finish to the PGA Tour season as he goes in search of a record fourth triumph at the FedEx Cup this week.
McIlroy, who won the title in 2019 and 2022, has won twice on the PGA Tour this season, adding to his victory on the DP World Tour at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
The 35-year-old is still without a major success, falling just short in June's U.S. Open to Bryson DeChambeau following a late collapse at Pinehurst.
McIlroy arrives at the FedEx Cup Playoffs third in the rankings behind two-time major winner this year Xander Schauffele and recent Olympic champion Scottie Scheffler.
But the Northern Irishman is confident he can end the season on a high ahead of an intense three-week stretch.
"I certainly don't want to sit up here and belittle my achievements this year and what I've done, but at the same time, I expect a certain standard from myself," McIlroy said.
"I've won a couple of times, but I've had an opportunity to win a few more times than that and haven't been able to get over the line.
"I would have liked to have added a couple more to that win column. But there's still three tournaments left in this PGA Tour season.
"Even the three years that I've won the FedExCup, I came into the Playoffs, I think in 36th and was able to win, but then '19 and '22 I was a further up and closer to the lead."
"I think when the bulk of the season has come and gone, and you've got this opportunity of three weeks to really flip the script a little bit or change the narrative and what that season means.
"I think that's a motivating factor, and part of the reason that I've probably played well in the Playoffs for the last three years."
Two-time champion Naomi Osaka and fellow former winners Stan Wawrinka, Dominic Thiem and Bianca Andreescu were given wildcards for the upcoming US Open.
Osaka, who lost in the final round of qualifying for the Cincinnati Open, won the first of her four grand slam titles at Flushing Meadows in 2018, winning again two years later.
The former world number one returned to the tour this season after giving birth last year, but has struggled to find the form that led her to climb to the top of the rankings.
The Japanese is now ranked 90th in the WTA rankings, with her best finishes coming in Doha and 's-Hertogenbosch where she reached the quarter-finals in both.
She will be joined in the women's singles by Canada's Andreescu, who was crowned the US Open champion after her win over Serena Williams in 2019.
The 24-year-old returned to action this year after missing nine months due to a back injury and reached the French Open third round in her first event back.
Meanwhile, Thiem headlines the wildcards in the men's singles in what will be the final grand slam of his career after confirming he will retire at the end of the season.
The Austrian won the US Open in 2020 in an epic five-match thriller against Alexander Zverev, but has failed to his best form after sustaining a wrist injury three years ago.
Also returning thanks to a wildcard is Wawrinka, eight years on from when he claimed the title in New York against Novak Djokovic at Flushing Meadows.
The 39-year-old's triumph in the United States was the latest of his three career grand slams, having previously prevailed at the Australian Open and French Open.
Baltimore Ravens have confirmed that tight end Mark Andrews avoided injury after being involved in a car accident on Wednesday.
Andrews, who is heading into his seventh season in the NFL, was driving to the Ravens' team facility for training camp when the incident occurred.
The 28-year-old was evaluated by the team's medical staff and did not “sustain any apparent injuries,” the team added.
After practice on Wednesday, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh provided an update on Andrews while reiterating the importance of wearing seatbelts.
“Mark (Andrews) wore seatbelts,” Harbaugh said. “That was an accident that happened and it was pretty significant, I believe.
"He came out of it with nothing. Nothing at all, not a scrape.”
“I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and well wishes,” Andrews said in a statement.
“This is a great reminder about the importance of wearing seatbelts and remaining alert while driving a car.”
Andrews was already scheduled for a rest day on Wednesday and is expected back at practice in the coming days, according to the Ravens.
The three-time Pro Bowler finished last season with 544 yards and six touchdowns in the 10 games he featured in.
The Ravens are scheduled to host the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday in the team’s second pre-season game.
Daniil Medvedev suffered consecutive opening game losses as he was dumped out of the Cincinnati Open by Jiri Lehecka in straight sets.
Medvedev, who was beaten by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Montreal last week, endured another early exit, losing 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 in just under two hours against the Czech.
“It’s amazing to be back, to be honest. To get a win against such a talented player as Daniil surely is, is just such a bonus for me," Lehecka said on being back in his first tournament in three months after injury.
Lehecka squandered four game points in the opener, with Medvedev also missing an opportunity for an early break, but the Czech was able to hold his opening serve.
The pair traded blows for the remainder, but the world number five struggled in the tiebreak, losing three games in a row to hand Lehecka the advantage.
And the decisive moment came in the seventh game of the second, as Lehecka broke Medvedev's serve, edging closer to a memorable triumph.
The Czech missed four match points in the final two games, but was not to be denied a fifth time, ending the encounter with a fierce serve to set up a meeting with Frances Tiafoe in the next round.
Data Debrief: Lehecka continues winning return in Cincinnati
Since 1990, Lehecka is now the fourth player ranked outside the ATP's top 30 to claim top five wins at three ATP Masters 1000 events in a season after Gaston Gaudio (2001), Hicham Arazi (2001) and Tommy Paul (2022).
Excluding the ATP Tour Finals, Medvedev has been defeated in three consecutive ATP matches on hard court for the first time since October in 2017.
Iga Swiatek survived in her return to hard courts at the Cincinnati Open, outlasting Varvara Gracheva in three sets to advance to the third round.
Swiatek, who was playing in her first match since her bronze medal at the Olympics, was taken to a third-set decider, but emerged as a 6-0 6-7 (8-10) 6-2 victor in Ohio.
“For sure, the transition is probably the hardest, from the slowest surface to the fastest surface,” Swiatek said.
“But that’s why I’m still happy with my performance, and looking forward to another match to kind of still do the grinding and implement what I was working on, but not really focusing on the results.”
The world number one looked set for a comfortable passage to the next round of the competition after winning the first set 6-0, serving three of her seven aces in the opener.
But her French opponent responded, matching Swiatek stride for stride in the second before prevailing in a tie-break to take the encounter the distance.
However, Swiatek would once again show her dominance, winning the final four games in a row to set up an encounter with Marta Kostyuk, who defeated Lulu Sun in straight sets.
Data Debrief: Swiatek surpasses yearly triumphs
Despite a third set, Swiatek has claimed 11.2% (27/242) of total sets played by a score of 6-0 in completed WTA 1000 matches - the highest rate of any player (min. 20 sets) since the format's introduction in 2009.
The Pole now has 28 WTA-1000 match wins in 2024, surpassing her own career-high of 27 (2023). Only Serena Williams (36, 2013) has now recorded more WTA-1000 wins in a season, since the format’s introduction in 2009.
Aaron Judge became the fastest in major league history to hit 300 home runs, reaching the milestone with a three-run shot in the eighth inning in the New York Yankees’ 10-2 rout of the lowly Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.
Judge hit his major league-leading 43rd home run on a 3-0 up-and-in sinker from Chad Kuhl to extend the lead to 9-2.
Chicago had intentionally walked Juan Soto to bring up Judge, who had not homered on a 3-0 pitch since 2021.
Judge hit that mark in his 955th game and 3,431st at-bat. Ralph Kiner reached 300 homers in his 1,087th game and Babe Ruth did it in his 3,831st at-bat.
Soto also went deep after hitting three home runs in a 4-1 win over the White Sox on Tuesday. He has 34 this season and six in his past four games.
Austin Wells had three hits, including a home run, and three RBIs for the Yankees, who moved back atop the AL East with a one-half game lead over Baltimore.
The White Sox lost for the 26th time in 28 games and have dropped 12 consecutive series. They are on pace to finish 39-123, which would be the most losses since the 1889 Cleveland Spiders went 20-134.
Streaking Astros sweep Rays
Maurico Dubon delivered a tiebreaking single in the 10th inning and Josh Hader pitched two hitless innings as the Houston Astros won their season-high eighth straight game, 2-1 over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Automatic runner Pedro Leon moved to third on Jeremy Pena’s deep fly to center and after Zach Dezenso struck out and Jake Meyers walked, Dubon’s single to center gave the Astros the lead.
Houston was hitless until Peña homered for the second straight game, leading off the fifth against Zack Littell with his 12th of the season.
Ronel Blanco limited the Rays to two hits over six scoreless innings and Hader struck out three for the win.
The Astros have outscored opponents 44-20 during the eight-game run with their pitchers posting a 2.34 ERA.
Tampa Bay has scored two or fewer runs in nine of its last 13 games.
Sizzling Diamondbacks roll over Rockies
Eugenio Suarez hit a grand slam and drove in five runs to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to their season-high sixth straight victory, 11-4 over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.
Joc Pederson had two RBIs as the Diamondbacks finished a three-game sweep and improved to 18-3 in their last 21 games. Following a 6-1 homestand, the defending NL champions go on a nine-game trip to Tampa Bay, Miami and Boston.
Arizona has totalled 46 runs during the six-game streak while batting .329.
Suarez had three hits, driving the first pitch he saw from Riley Pint into the left-center seats for a 10-3 lead in the sixth and his fourth career slam.
Jordan Montgomery allowed three runs on five hits and three walks over six innings with a season-high eight strikeouts.
The last-place Rockies, who lost for the eighth time in 11 games, committed three errors and hit four batters. Colorado fell to an NL-worst 17-46 on the road.
Matthew Judon has a new team to negotiate a new contract with.
The New England Patriots traded Judon to the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday for a 2025 third-round draft pick, according to multiple reports.
As one of the NFL's top edge rushers, Judon had been seeking a new contract with the Patriots.
He is due to make $6.5million this season in the final year of his current deal, and the Falcons have yet to offer him a new contract, according to NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero.
Since signing that contract prior to the 2021 season, he has registered 32 sacks in 38 games for New England.
Judon, who turns 32 years old on Thursday, had a career-high 15 1/2 sacks in 17 games in 2022 to earn his fourth Pro Bowl selection, but was limited to just four games last season because of a biceps injury. Before his season ended in Week 4, however, he notched four sacks.
A fifth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2016, Judon has 66 1/2 sacks and 87 tackles for loss in 114 career games.
The eight-year veteran now joins an Atlanta team that went 7-10 in 2023 and is looking to contend for the NFC South crown after acquiring quarterback Kirk Cousins earlier this off-season.
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