AP Sports

Mirra Andreeva defeats No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka to reach the French Open semifinals at age 17

PARIS (AP) — Mirra Andreeva, a 17-year-old unseeded Russian, has defeated No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka at the French Open to reach the semifinals. Andreeva became the youngest Grand Slam semifinalist since 16-year-old Martina Hingis in 1997 with her 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4 victory Wednesday. Andreeva is ranked 38th. On Thursday, she will face 12th-seeded Jasmine Paolini, a 28-year-old from Italy who also reached her first major semifinal. She was a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 winner against No. 4 seed Elena Rybakina, the Wimbledon champion two years ago. The other semifinal matchup is No. 1 Iga Swiatek against No. 3 Coco Gauff, who both won quarterfinals Tuesday.

The NBA Finals were too late for Dallas’ Luka Doncic to watch as a kid. Now, he’s in them

BOSTON (AP) — Luka Doncic didn’t stay up all night to watch NBA Finals games as a kid. They usually started at something like 3 a.m. in his native Slovenia. He had school to get to a few hours later. He’d wake up and find out who won. Make no mistake, though: Doncic was paying attention. The 25-year-old makes his NBA Finals debut for the Dallas Mavericks when they take on the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of this year’s title series on Thursday night. He could become the first player to win a scoring title and a championship in the same season since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000.

Analysis: Novak Djokovic’s bad knee follows Rafael Nadal’s injuries and Roger Federer’s retirement

PARIS (AP) — It would be foolish to count Novak Djokovic out of any match, no matter how dire the circumstances or how big the deficit. He’s shown that, over and over again, as recently as his last two wins at the French Open. It also would be a mistake to write off Djokovic after a torn meniscus in his right knee forced him to withdraw from the clay-court tournament where he was the defending champion and was supposed to play in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. And it would not make much sense at all to begin pondering whether this could presage the real and true end of the Big Three era.

Betting scandals for MLB’s Marcano and NBA’s Porter are hardly the first in pro sports

Sports and gambling are once again in the spotlight following lifetime bans handed to San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano and Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter. MLB said Marcano placed 387 baseball bets totaling more than $150,000 with a legal sportsbook. The 24-year-old Venezuelan with 149 games of major league experience became the first active player in a century banned for life because of gambling. His ban came nearly two months after an NBA probe found Porter disclosed confidential information to sports bettors and wagered on games, even betting on the Raptors to lose. Those are far from the only betting scandals involving professional sports.

Ippei Mizuhara spoke for baseball star Shohei Ohtani. He also stole nearly $17M from him

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — Baseball star Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter has pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud in a gambling case that stunned the sports community. Ippei Mizuhara entered his guilty plea Tuesday in federal court in Santa Ana, California. Prosecutors say he exploited the Japanese-English language barrier to isolate Ohtani and profit from his proximity to the two-way player’s power. He admitted to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani’s Arizona bank account to cover his growing gambling bets and debts with an illegal bookmaker, plus $325,000 worth of baseball cards and his own medical bills. Ohtani says the plea has given him closure.

Caitlin Clark, physical play and questions about fouls dominating discussions around the WNBA

Caitlin Clark has been involved in several physical plays to start her WNBA career and Indiana Fever coach Christie Sides believes some of the fouls against the high-profile rookie have crossed the line. There are no shortage of opinions about what’s happening, ranging from Clark is being targeted because of all the attention accompanying her transition into the league to race being a factor in the physical play. The conversations exploded following the latest non-basketball foul involving Clark. Chicago’s Chennedy Carter sent the top-pick to the floor with a shoulder hit on Saturday. Clark says she now expects to be on the receiving end of a couple of hard fouls a game.

Schauffele now a major champion at Memorial and facing a big stretch of golf

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — Xander Schauffele was able to take a few weeks off after claiming his first major at the PGA Championship. He came to realize he’s still the same person and his life hasn’t changed. Now he returns to the Memorial to face a tough stretch of golf. The Memorial is a signature event with a top field and big purse. Then it’s off to the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 and then another signature event at the Travelers Championship. Tournament host Jack Nicklaus isn’t thrilled with a new date for the Memorial that pushes it right up against a major.

Kansas leaders and new group ramp up efforts to lure the Kansas City Chiefs from Missouri

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top Kansas legislators have intensified efforts to woo the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs by offering to let the professional football franchise shape a plan for using state bonds to finance a new stadium in Kansas. State House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Senate President Ty Masterson said Tuesday that the Legislature would consider the proposal during a special session set to convene June 18. The two leaders invited the Chiefs to weigh in on the plan in a May 23 letter to the team’s chairman and CEO. Meanwhile, a new nonprofit group called Scoop and Score has launched a campaign for the proposal and registered 20 lobbyists.

Stewart has 33 points and 14 rebounds, Angel Reese ejected as the Liberty beat the Sky 88-75

CHICAGO (AP) — Breanna Stewart scored a season-high 33 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the New York Liberty to an 88-75 victory Tuesday night over the Chicago Sky, who lost rookie Angel Reese to an ejection in the fourth quarter. Reese was thrown out with 2:31 remaining after receiving two technical fouls following a brief interaction with an official. Sabrina Ionescu added 24 points for the Liberty, who won their fourth straight. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton added 14 points for New York (8-2), which avenged a 90-81 loss to Chicago on May 23. Chennedy Carter scored 16 points and Reese had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Chicago.

Analysis: A year after PGA Tour’s surprise deal with Saudis, still no clarity on where golf is going

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — One year after the PGA Tour announced a proposed deal with the backers of LIV Golf, there still aren’t many answers about where golf is headed and how to repair the fractured landscape with great players on two tours. It remains one of the most stunning developments in golf. Not just making the deal with the Saudis, but keeping the entire membership in the dark. Perhaps the biggest change from a year ago is players now have a majority voice on the board. But what exactly do they want? Where is golf headed, and how does it get put back together?