NEW YORK (AP) — Venus Williams is back at the U.S. Open to play a Grand Slam singles match for the first time in two years. There will be those who focus on her age, because at 45, she is the oldest player to compete in singles in New York since 1981. But when the tournament begins Sunday, there are plenty of other entrants and fans who are eager to see Williams return to action because they consider her iconic. She and her younger sister Serena transcended their sport and became important for more than just all of the trophies they won and their time at No. 1 in the rankings.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Yu Darvish combined with three relievers on a three-hitter, and the San Diego Padres pulled even with the Los Angeles Dodgers atop the NL West once again with a 2-1 victory. Manny Machado had an RBI single and scored in the fourth inning for the Padres, who rebounded sharply after getting swept over three games last weekend in Chavez Ravine. The archrivals are even at 73-56 with 33 games left in the regular season. Alex Freeland hit his first major league homer for the defending champion Dodgers, who have lost three of five since last Sunday’s sweep.
LONDON (AP) — Tottenham continued its flying start to the Premier League season under new coach Thomas Frank as Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha secured an impressive 2-0 victory at Manchester City. It was an afternoon to forget for City goalkeeper James Trafford. Spurs scored four without reply at City last season and this time celebrated a 2-0 triumph as on-loan Palhinha capitalized on a mistake by home debutant Trafford shortly after Johnson had opened the scoring. Dango Ouattara scored on his debut to help Brentford to a 1-0 win over Aston Villa. Bournemouth beat 10-man Wolverhampton 1-0 and Burnley defeated fellow promoted team Sunderland 2-0. Leeds played at Arsenal later Saturday.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Open tryouts for the Women’s Professional Baseball League have begun at the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy. On Friday, players from 10 countries, including Japan, Australia, and Mexico, began showcasing their skills. The event includes baserunning drills, bullpen work, and a live game on Monday. Participants range in age from 17 to 57. Notable attendees include Mo'ne Davis, known for her Little League World Series win as a pitcher. Many players, like Allison Dougherty and Heather Strong, are excited about the opportunity to play professional baseball rather than softball.
ATLANTA (AP) — Tommy Fleetwood is back for more. His year has been defined by close calls and heartache as the Englishman tries to win for the first time on the PGA Tour. He shot 63 at soft East Lake and shares the lead with Russell Henley going into the weekend on a rain-soaked course that is producing low scores. Henley shot 66. They are two ahead of Cameron Young who shot a 62. Young is a strong Ryder Cup candidate. Scottie Scheffler extended his streak to 19 rounds under par by making birdie on the final hole for 69. He's five back.
TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Former NBA star Shawn Kemp was sentenced to 30 days of electronic home monitoring for shooting at two men inside a vehicle in a Washington state mall parking lot. The Seattle Times reported Kemp must begin home monitoring within two weeks. He must also serve one year of state Department of Corrections supervision and complete 240 hours of community service. Prosecutors had recommended the six-time NBA All-Star be sentenced to nine months in jail, a year of supervision and pay restitution. But Judge Michael Schwartz of Pierce County Superior Court on Friday found the circumstances surrounding the crime warranted a lesser sentence. Kemp said he acted in self-defense.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says that the draw for the 2026 World Cup will happen on Dec. 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington. He made the announcement with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office. The U.S. is hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico. The event will determine the tournament’s groups and opening round games. Trump has taken over the Kennedy Center, installing himself as chair. Infantino brought the World Cup trophy to the Oval Office, and Trump joked about keeping it, calling it “a beautiful piece of gold.”
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The NFL joined the WNBA in having a sex toy thrown onto the field when someone tossed one during the Tennessee Titans’ preseason finale. The neon green sex toy landed near the 6-yard line with about five minutes left in the Titans’ win over the Minnesota Vikings on Friday night. The teams were on the field with the Titans on offense near midfield when the object hit the field close to the Tennessee sideline. The Titans say they reported the incident to police. Similar toys have been tossed at several WNBA games, resulting in at least three arrests.
NEW YORK (AP) — Mirra Andreeva, João Fonseca and Vicky Mboko are part of a precocious group of teenagers at the U.S. Open this year. When play begins in New York on Sunday, those three 18-year-olds will be worth keeping an eye on, as will other teens such as Learner Tien and Iva Jovic. They have been rising through the rankings and picking up Grand Slam victories against higher-ranked and more-accomplished opponents. Andreeva already has been a major semifinalist and is the youngest woman since Maria Sharapova to be ranked in the top five. Fonseca was the youngest man since 2011 to reach Wimbledon's third round.
OBERHOFEN, Switzerland (AP) — Two Olympic gold medalists have accepted a three-month ban after a scandal over tampering with ski jump suits for Norway men’s team at this year’s world championships. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) said Saturday that Norwegians Marius Lindvik and Johann André Forfang were “willing to accept” the sanctions proposed by the federation’s ethics committee. FIS said Lindvik and Forfang, who were provisionally suspended in March, “were not charged with actual knowledge of the manipulations” but said that they should have checked questions about the night-time adjustments. The length of the sanction, with “the period of the provisional suspension already served” to be deducted, opens the way for both men to compete in the Winter Olympics in February.