Sports

French Open: Carlos Alcaraz reaches final after Lorenzo Musetti retires with injury in fourth set

PARIS (AP) — Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has reached the French Open final after Lorenzo Musetti retired from their semifinal early in the fourth set. Alcaraz was leading 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-0, 2-0 when the eighth-seeded Italian had to stop playing on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Musetti had treatment on the inside of his left thigh late in the third set and then again before the start of the fourth. The second-seeded Alcaraz goes for his second French Open title and fifth major overall against either top-ranked Jannik Sinner or 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic in the final. They were playing their semifinal later Friday.

Dallas Stars fire coach Pete DeBoer after losing in the West final for a 3rd year in a row

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer has been fired after three seasons with the team, getting to the Western Conference final each time but never advancing past that for a shot at the Stanley Cup. The move came Friday, a week since the Stars ended their season in a 6-3 loss at home to Edmonton in Game 5 of the West final. DeBoer made the curious and much-discussed decision to bench Jake Oettinger after his star goalie gave up two goals on two shots in the first 7:09. Two days later, the coach acknowledged he still hadn’t talked to Oettinger about that decision.

Mr. Clutch: Tyrese Haliburton keeps delivering in the ultimate moments for the Pacers

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers went to the Eastern Conference finals last year and got swept. He went to the Olympics last summer and didn’t play much. He came into this season with high expectations and his Indiana Pacers got off to a 10-15 start. And on top of that, some of his NBA peers evidently think he is overrated. But in the ultimate moments of these playoffs, most recently Game 1 of the NBA Finals, he keeps delivering. His jumper with 0.3 seconds gave the Pacers a 111-110 win over the heavily favored Oklahoma City Thunder.

Aaron Rodgers and Mike Tomlin are kindred spirits. Their union carries plenty of stakes for both

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Aaron Rodgers and Mike Tomlin will have plenty on the line when they join forces this fall in Pittsburgh. Rodgers, a four-time MVP quarterback, is hoping to end his career on a more upbeat note after two miserable seasons with the New York Jets. Tomlin, the NFL’s longest tenured head coach, hasn’t had a single losing season in his 18 years in Pittsburgh. Bringing in Rodgers offers the Steelers their best chance to be competitive in 2025, though it could come at the cost of the club being in position to find its quarterback of the future in the 2026 draft.

Arise Sir David! Beckham to be awarded a knighthood by King Charles, according to media reports

LONDON (AP) — David Beckham, the former England soccer captain who has been an ambassador for the U.N. children’s fund, is to receive a knighthood in next week’s honors list from King Charles III, according to U.K. media reports. Without citing sources, the BBC said Friday that Beckham is set to receive the honor for his soccer career and his contributions to British society. The knighthood will make Beckham “Sir David” and his wife, former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, “Lady Beckham.” In 2003, Beckham was awarded the Order of the British Empire, or OBE, for services to soccer. The Associated Press has not been able to immediately confirm the reports.

Panthers look to even the Stanley Cup Final against the Oilers in Game 2

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The defending champion Florida Panthers look to even things up in the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 on Friday night. The Oilers won Game 1 in overtime on Leon Draisaitl’s power-play goal following a puck-over-the-glass penalty on Florida’s Tomas Nosek. The Panthers have won 10 of 11 playoff series since Matthew Tkachuk arrived via trade and Paul Maurice was hired as coach, making the final all three years. Connor McDavid, Draisaitl and the Oilers hope to sweep the first two games of the best-of-seven series at home before play shifts to Sunrise, Florida next week.

Hilary Knight eager to introduce PWHL and women’s hockey to her new team in Seattle

As Hilary Knight winds down her international career, the face of U.S. women’s hockey isn’t done with her trailblazing ways. Next up for the four-time Olympian, who took on USA Hockey for better wages and helped establish the PWHL, is introducing women’s pro hockey to the league’s expansion franchise in Seattle. Knight left behind two years as Boston Fleet captain to become the first player to agree to sign a contract with Seattle, which joins the league along with Vancouver. The 35-year-old Knight has fond memories of playing in Seattle, first as a member of the U.S. national team in 2022.

Tottenham fires coach Postecoglou despite winning Europa League to end trophy drought

LONDON (AP) — Tottenham has fired manager Ange Postecoglou two weeks after he won the Europa League and the club’s first trophy in 17 years. Tottenham beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final but otherwise had a dismal season. Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League standings, one spot above the relegation places. Postecoglou spent two seasons at Tottenham after joining from Celtic in June 2023. His team finished fifth in the Premier League in his first season but suffered a serious dip in results this past season. But he fulfilled his promise that he “always” delivers silverware in his second season.

The Comeback Playoffs: There have been 10 rallies from 15 points or more down in this NBA postseason

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Welcome to the Comeback Playoffs, led by the Indiana Pacers. Indiana’s rally from 15 points down in Game 1 of the NBA Finals was the 10th such comeback — from 15 or more — in this season’s playoffs. The Pacers and Tyrese Haliburton are responsible for five of those comebacks; the rest of the league, combined, have the other five. Since the NBA began keeping track of such things in 1997, there has never been a postseason with more 15-point comebacks or more by a single team than the Pacers have pulled off this spring.

A year from World Cup, US tries to right itself after Copa America and CONCACAF Nations League flops

One year from hosting the World Cup for the first time since 1994, the U.S. team is struggling to right itself on the field and regain the confidence of a distressed fan base. Shaken by flops at the Copa America and the CONCACAF Nations League, the U.S. plays Turkey on Saturday at East Hartford, Connecticut, and Switzerland on Tuesday at Nashville, Tennessee. The team then heads to the CONCACAF Gold Cup, its last competitive matches until its World Cup opener on June 12 next year.