AP Sports

Thanks to Zendaya, Serena and more, tennis is having a moment as the US Open arrives

NEW YORK (AP) — Tennis is having a moment right now as the U.S. Open arrives to wrap up the 2024 Grand Slam season. Even before play begins in New York on Monday, there is a lot of attention being paid to the sport away from the courts and across pop culture. There was Zendaya’s movie “Challengers.” Roland Garros serves as a setting in Season 4, Episode 1 of “Emily in Paris.” There were recently released docuseries about Serena Williams and Roger Federer and there is an upcoming show about Carlos Alcaraz. Williams hosted the ESPYs. Coco Gauff, Rafael Nadal, Amelie Mauresmo and Williams all had roles during the opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics last month. And so on.

Bulked-up Big Ten and SEC set to dominate college football on and off the field

In the new era of college football, there are three categories: Being a member of the Big Ten or the Southeastern Conference; Pondering how to get into the Big Ten or SEC; Wondering if you’re in danger of being left behind by the Big Ten and SEC. The days of the Power Five are over. Now, it’s a Super Two. Whether this is good for the overall health of college football is questionable. What the future holds is uncertain. But for now, at a time when college sports has never been more volatile, the Big Ten and SEC are bastions of riches and stability in a raging storm.

Caitlin Clark’s progression answers questions about how she would handle the transition to the WNBA

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark entered the WNBA with questions about how tough the transition to pro basketball would be for the established college star. Now, three months into her professional career, Clark is crafting a new image with a record-setting rookie season. Sure, it’s taken the No. 1 draft pick some time to get acquainted with her new point guard duties, new town and her new Indiana Fever teammates. And while Clark appears to be settling in and getting quite comfortable in her new digs, fans continue to tune in to watch her progress.

Nelly Korda shoots 68 and leads by 3 during 2nd round of Women’s British Open at home of golf

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) — World No. 1 Nelly Korda has shot 4-under 68 to take a three-stroke clubhouse lead during the second round of the Women’s British Open in her quest for a second major title of a dominant year for the American. Korda was bogey-free around the Old Course on another blustery day at St. Andrews while picking up birdies at Nos. 17 and 18 for the second straight day and more at the par-5 No. 5 and No. 9. She started on the 10th hole. Korda was on 8 under for the tournament. England’s Charley Hull was the overnight leader by one stroke after a first-round 67 and shot even par. Hull was tied for second place with defending champion Lilia Vu of the United States (70).

Hideki Matsuyama withdraws from the BMW Championship with a lower back injury

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (AP) — Hideki Matsuyama has withdrawn from the BMW Championship with a lower back injury. Matsuyama pulled out of the tournament Friday morning, shortly before his second-round tee time at Castle Pines. A day earlier, Matsuyama shot a 5-under 67 to sit one shot off the lead. He won the PGA Tour’s playoff opener last week in Memphis, Tennessee. At No. 3 in the FedEx Cup standings, he is assured of having a strong position for next week’s staggered start at the Tour Championship. Matsuyama says in a statement that he’s “disappointed” to withdraw but says his lower back discomfort “made it impossible to play.”

Analysis: Eagles have assembled another “Dream Team” but they know talent alone doesn’t win

Vince Young’s infamous “Dream Team” declaration of the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles came to mind when general manager Howie Roseman added another playmaker to a loaded offense. How’s Jahan Dotson for a third receiver? The 2024 Eagles may have more talent than any team in franchise history, including the underachieving 2011 club and the Super Bowl champion 2017 squad. Jalen Hurts. Saquon Barkley. A.J. Brown. DeVonta Smith. Dallas Goedert. Now Dotson joins the mix after the Eagles acquired the 2022 first-round pick from Washington for draft picks in a rare deal with a division rival just two weeks before the regular season opens.

Ilkay Gundogan returns for his second spell at Man City after just a year at Barcelona

Ilkay Gundogan is back at Manchester City for a sequel few could have expected. The former Germany midfielder completed his return to City on Friday on a free transfer and a season-long deal a year after leaving for Barcelona. The 33-year-old Gundogan has the option of a further season at City. He was the captain when Pep Guardiola’s team captured the Premier League-FA Cup-Champions League treble in the 2022-23 campaign. That confirmed his place in the growing pantheon of City greats. Gundogan was at City for seven years after joining in 2016 as Guardiola’s first signing.

This Italian sprinter will become the first transgender woman to compete at the Paralympics

BOLOGNA, Italy (AP) — Valentina Petrillo fell in love with athletics as a 7-year-old while watching Italian sprinter Pietro Mennea win gold in the 200 meters at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. She wanted to be like him. Four decades later Petrillo is about to finally realize her dream, but not at the Olympics. In two weeks, she is set to become the first transgender woman to compete at the Paralympics when she runs the 200 and 400 meters in the T12 classification for visually impaired athletes in Paris.

Steve Serio and Nicky Nieves picked as US flagbearers for Paralympics opening ceremony

PARIS (AP) — Former gold medalists Steve Serio and Nicky Nieves have been chosen as the United States’ flagbearers for the Paralympics opening ceremony. The American Olympic and Paralympic committee announced the decision. Serio has helped the U.S.’s wheelchair basketball team to gold medals at the 2016 and 2020 Paralympic Games. Nieves helped Team USA win its first gold in sitting volleyball in 2016. The opening ceremony for the Paris Paralympic Games is on Wednesday.

Dan Wilson steps into the role of manager for the Seattle Mariners

SEATTLE (AP) — Dan Wilson will manage his first game for the Mariners on Friday night when Seattle opens a series against the San Francisco Giants. Wilson was chosen as the replacement for Scott Servais, who was fired on Thursday following a 1-8 road trip that dropped Seattle to 64-64 on the season. Wilson arrived in Seattle in the mid-1990s and became a beloved figured as a player for the Mariners. He spent 12 seasons behind the plate as the catcher for some of the best teams in franchise history.