Serena loses first match since saying she’s ready to retire.
Serena loses first match since saying she’s ready to retire
TORONTO (AP) – Serena Williams has lost her first match since telling the world she is ready to leave professional tennis. Nobody knows exactly how many games Williams will play before he walks away. The 23-time Grand Slam champion left the National Bank Open on Wednesday night in a 6-2, 6-4 loss to Belinda Bencic. The second-round match of hard court tuning for the US Open came a day after 40-year-old Williams announced “the countdown has begun” to her playing career and said she wants to have another child and pursue business interests. She made it sound like her final goodbyes could come at the US Open. It begins August 29 in New York.
Serena’s legacy: Many wins, many opinions on problems
Serena Williams is famous for her 23 Grand Slam singles titles. That’s more than any other tennis player accumulated during the sport’s professional era, which began in 1968. But sheer numbers can’t capture all that Williams has represented throughout a remarkable career that began as a teenager in the 1990s and is notable for not only achievement but longevity, including a record 10 major championships after the age of 30 . What Williams has done without a racquet in hand is also quite remarkable, be it her off-court interests or her stance on important issues in tennis and society in general.
Tigers GM Al Avila sacked after 7 years, no playoffs
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers have fired general manager Al Avila, ending a seven-year tenure with no playoff appearances. Owner Chris Ilitch announced the move with his team struggling through another disappointing season. Detroit competed 43-68 on Wednesday, most recently in the AL Central. Ilitch invested millions during the offseason to bring his team back into competition. Assistant General Manager Sam Menzin assumes the day-to-day leadership role. Avila was promoted to general manager a little over seven years ago after serving as an assistant to Dave Dombrowski. The Tigers only had one winning season during Avila’s tenure. Avila was the only Latino general manager or equivalent in the majors.
Watson starts Browns preseason opener as suspension looms
CLEVELAND (AP) — Deshaun Watson will begin Cleveland’s exhibition opening in Jacksonville while waiting to learn if the NFL will manage to keep him off the field for much longer. Watson may face a year’s suspension for alleged sexual misconduct. He plays the Jaguars on Friday night. It is the quarterback’s first game since Jan. 3, 2021, his last with the Houston Texans. The three-time Pro Bowler sat out last season after demanding a trade and before being accused of assault and molestation by two dozen women during massage therapy sessions in Texas. Watson was banned for six games last week for breaching the personal conduct policy, but the league wanted a harsher sentence and appealed. A referee selected by Commissioner Roger Goodell reviews the case.
Rodolfo Castro’s MLB phone on the field is a relatable moment
PHOENIX (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Rodolfo Castro’s phone faux pas was an understandable moment. The 23-year-old accidentally left his smartphone in the back pocket of his baseball pants and it flew out as he slid into third base during the Pirates’ 6-4 loss to the Diamondbacks. Castro apologized after the game, saying it was a mistake. Major League Baseball players are prohibited from using such technologies during games. But it’s far from the first time a phone has made a cameo appearance on a pro sports ground. Nearly 20 years ago, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Joe Horn made a hidden phone part of a touchdown celebration.
Bengals’ Joe Burrow still healing, no timetable for return
CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is still healing from an appendectomy two weeks ago, and coach Zac Taylor said there was no timetable for his attendance at training camp. The third-year quarterback has been watching practice from a golf cart or scooter. Burrow’s father, Jimmy Burrow, told radio analyst Dave Lapham last week that it could be “a couple of weeks” before his son can practice. The Bengals got good news when right tackle La’ el Collins was released for practice. Taylor says few, if any, starters will play in Friday’s first preseason game.
Prospect Grissom homer on debut, Braves beat Red Sox 8-4
BOSTON (AP) — Top Atlanta prospect Vaughn Grissom hit Lansdowne Street on his major league debut to lead the Braves to an 8-4 win over the Boston Red Sox. Marcell Ozuna also hit a homer for Atlanta. Grissom was called up by Double-A earlier in the day. Grissom, 21, hit the first pitch he saw in the seventh inning over the Green Monster and the seats above and onto the street below for a two-run drive and his first major league hit. Grissom singled and scored in ninth place. Atlanta finished a two-game sweep. The Red Sox lost their fourth straight game and their sixth of seven.
Santana’s homer collects Mariners for a 4-3 win over the Yankees
SEATTLE (AP) — Carlos Santana hit a 0-17 slump with a two-run go-ahead homer with three runs in Seattle’s seventh inning and the Mariners rallied to lead the slumping New York Yankees 4-3 hit. Aaron Judge hit his 45th homer of the season in the Major League Season Series 4-2 for the Yankees, who lost eight of 10. Seattle hasn’t lost a series to a team other than AL West-leading Houston since mid-June, when it lost four of five to the Los Angeles Angels.
Vela gets the MLS All-Stars going with a 2-1 win over Liga MX
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (AP) — Carlos Vela scored in the third minute and Raúl Ruidíaz converted a 73rd-minute penalty in the Major League Soccer All-Star Team’s 2-1 win over Mexico’s Liga MX on Wednesday night. Kevin Álvarez scored for Liga MX in the 83rd minute, which sailed past goalkeeper Sean Johnson. The MLS team defeated Liga MX in Los Angeles last year after a 1-1 draw on regular penalties. Minnesota United goaltender Dayne St. Clair made four saves and was named Most Valuable Player of the Game.
The FedEx Cup Playoffs are here and LIV Golf is a hot topic
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – The PGA Tour’s lucrative postseason begins Thursday and talk is still raging about the Saudi Arabia-funded LIV Golf League. Rory McIlroy says common sense prevailed when a federal judge in California ruled against three LIV players who wanted a piece of the FedEx Cup pie. Talor Gooch and Hudson Swafford hoped for a favorable verdict in Memphis. You will not play. The field for the FedEx St. Jude Championship consists of 120 players. Five players have retired through injury or other reasons. They will be fighting for $75 million in bonus money, along with two tournaments with $15 million in prize money.
The Associated Press