Update on the latest sports
APTENNIS-US OPEN
Djokovic and Zverev meet in another semifinal
NEW YORK (AP) — Novak Djokovic’s (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich-ehz) bid for an Olympic gold medal was stopped in the semifinals in Tokyo by Alexander Zverev. Now it’s Zverev again who can end the top-seeded Djokovic’s quest for the first calendar-year Grand Slam in men’s tennis since Rod Laver in 1969.
They meet in the second semifinal Friday, after No. 2 seed Daniil Medvedev (DAN’-ihl MEHD’-veh-dehv) plays No. 12 Felix Auger-Aliassime (OH’-zhay AL’-ee-ah-seem). That match is underway.
Zverev rallied from a set down to beat Djokovic in Tokyo, then went on to win the gold medal for Germany. Seeded fourth in Flushing Meadows, Zverev has won 16 straight matches since Auger-Aliassime beat him at Wimbledon.
Djokovic won the championship at Wimbledon for his 20th Grand Slam title, tying Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for most by a men’s player. With a victory Friday, Djokovic will tie another Federer record with his 31st appearance in a Grand Slam final.
In other action Friday:
— Rajeev Ram of the U.S. and Joe Salisbury of Great Britain won the U.S. Open men’s doubles championship for their second Grand Slam title as a team. The fourth-seeded duo beat the seventh-seeded pair of Jamie Murray of Britain and Bruno Soares of Brazil 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
— Americans Coco Gauff and Caty McNally advanced to their first Grand Slam women’s doubles title match when one of their semifinal opponents stopped playing and left the court in a wheelchair with a leg injury. Luisa Stefani landed awkwardly near the net during a first-set tiebreaker, collapsed to the ground and was unable to continue. She and Gabriela Dabrowski were leading the tiebreaker 2-1 when the semifinal was halted.
MLB-NEWS
Bauer won’t pitch again this season, leave extended by MLB
UNDATED (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer will miss the rest of the season. Major League Baseball and the players’ association have extended his administrative leave through the end of the World Series.
The decision had been expected, given that Bauer has not pitched since June 29 and was running out of time to get back in shape to return to the mound while games remained. The regular season is scheduled to end Oct. 3 and the minimum ramp-up time for pitchers is generally regarded as three weeks.
Bauer was first placed on seven days’ paid leave July 2 under the MLB and players’ union’s joint domestic violence and sexual assault policy following allegations by a Southern California woman. MLB and the union have since agreed to several extensions.
In other MLB news:
— Boston ace Chris Sale has tested positive for COVID-19, sidelining the left-hander while the Red Sox fight for positioning in the crowded AL playoff picture. The seven-time All-Star had been scheduled to start Sunday in Chicago against the AL Central-leading White Sox. The 32-year-old Sale missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Since returning Aug. 14, he is 3-0 with a 2.52 ERA. Any prolonged absence for Sale would be a big blow for the Red Sox, who entered Friday with a one-game lead over the New York Yankees for the AL’s top wild-card spot.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-BIG 12 EXPANSION
Big 12 welcomes BYU, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston
UNDATED (AP) — With Oklahoma and Texas on the way out, the Big 12 announced Friday that it has invited BYU, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston to join the Power Five conference and said it has not ruled out further expansion in the future.
The eight continuing members of the Big 12 unanimously approved applications from the four schools that sought membership after the league learned the Sooners and Longhorns will leave for the Southeastern Conference no later than July 2025.
Formal approval of the invitations was pending on some campuses, but the expansion is all but done.
BYU said all its sports will begin Big 12 schedules in the 2023-24 athletic season. BYU is an independent in football but competes in the West Coast Conference for basketball and so-called Olympic sports like track and swimming. The other three schools compete in the American Athletic Conference, which requires 27 months’ notice for schools that want to leave. That means they will join the Big 12 no later than July 1, 2024.
T25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL-KANSAS/COASTAL CAROLINA
No. 17 Coastal Carolina looks to keep rolling vs Kansas
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — No. 17 Coastal Carolina looks to continue its rise, this time with its first home game against a Power Five conference opponent. The Chanticleers, who have won 12 of their past 13 games, host Kansas Friday night.
Coastal Carolina has won both games against the Jayhawks the past two seasons, and both contests were played in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has called for fans to wear white for a “White-Out” this week. It’s hoping to set an attendance record at its 20,000-seat Brooks Stadium.
Coastal Carolina opened the season with a 52-14 victory over The Citadel.
NFL-NEWS
Ravens’ Edwards, Peters headed to IR
UNDATED (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens are putting running back Gus Edwards and cornerback Marcus Peters on injured reserve with knee injuries.
Coach John Harbaugh announced the moves Friday, describing the injuries as season-ending, non-contact ligament tears from practice. Baltimore’s backfield has been hit hard by injuries during the preseason. Running back J.K. Dobbins is out for the season with a knee injury, and Justice Hill is on IR as well.
The Ravens have signed running back Latavius Murray and signed running back Devonta Freeman to the practice squad. They also added Le’Veon Bell to their practice squad earlier this week.
In other NFL news:
— Odell Beckham Jr.’s playing status for Sunday’s opener at Kansas City remains up in the air, but Jadeveon Clowney’s good to go. Beckham, who has mounted a quicker-than-projected comeback from knee surgery, was limited in practice Friday and coach Kevin Stefanski said the star wide receiver is questionable to face the Chiefs. Beckham’s 2020 season ended in October when he tore his left anterior cruciate ligament. Clowney returned to practice after missing two days with an unspecified illness. The Browns signed the defensive end to help their pass rush and All-Pro end Myles Garrett.
— Tyrann Mathieu (TY’-ran MATH’-yoo) remains in the COVID-19 protocol and the Kansas City Chiefs remain uncertain whether their All-Pro safety will be cleared in time for their season opener against the Cleveland Browns. The Chiefs essentially are preparing two defensive game plans depending on whether Mathieu, who is fully vaccinated, returns the two negative tests 24 hours apart that are required for him to take the field on Sunday. Mathieu tested positive Sept. 1, giving the Chiefs plenty of time to work other players into the mix. Juan Thornhill is likely the first in line next to Daniel Sorensen in base defense, but the Chiefs also have Armani Watts available on the back end.
— New York Jets wide receiver Jamison Crowder will miss the season opener at Carolina on Sunday while he continues to recover from COVID-19. Crowder was placed on the COVID-19 list last Friday after testing positive for the coronavirus. Crowder, who is vaccinated, is still working through symptoms. Jets coach Robert Saleh ruled Crowder out Friday for the game against the Panthers. Fellow wide receiver Keelan Cole didn’t practice Friday and is uncertain to play after injuring a knee a day earlier. And safety Sharrod Neasman was ruled out for the game after not practicing all week with a hamstring injury.
— Indications are Saquon (SAY’-kwahn) Barkley is going to play for the New York Giants in the season opener against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, roughly a year after tearing his right ACL. Coach Joe Judge said the 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year had a good week of practice, terming the workouts encouraging and promising. The second-year head coach said the running back will need final approval from the team’s medical staff to play. The Giants listed Barkley as questionable. Barkley last played in a game against the Bears on Sept. 20.
— The Buffalo Bills have ruled out starting defensive tackle Star Lotulelei (loh-too-LAY’-lee) from their season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Lotulelei has a calf injury. He is the Bills’ top defender against the run. He opted out last season due to COVID-19 concerns. Coach Sean McDermott said Lotulelei was hurt during Buffalo’s preseason-ending win against Green Bay two weeks ago. Receiver Emmanuel Sanders was listed as questionable because of a foot injury.
— Washington is putting Curtis Samuel on short-term injured reserve because of a lingering groin injury, meaning the wide receiver will miss at least the first three games of the season. The 30-year-old has been dealing with a lingering groin injury for months and missed all of training camp. He also spent time on the NFL’s COVID-19 list in August.
— Former Patriots quarterback Cam Newton says he was caught by surprise by his release by New England and believes his weeklong absence near the end of training camp due to a mishap related to COVID-19 testing protocols contributed to coach Bill Belichick’s decision. In a video posted on social media, Newton says he doesn’t plan to retire from football and believes rookie Mac Jones will have success as Patriots quarterback. Jones, the 15th overall pick in April’s draft, became the first quarterback ever selected in the first round by Belichick during 21-year tenure in New England.
NBA-RAPTORS-HOME GAMES
Raptors approved to play games in Toronto
TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Raptors have gotten approval from the Canadian government to play games at their home arena this season, a team spokesman said Friday.
Toronto played last season in Tampa, Florida, because of travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s not clear whether the team will be allowed to have full attendance at Scotiabank Arena. Fans who attend games will be required to show proof of vaccination.
The Raptors will open their preseason against the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 4 — their first game at Scotiabank Arena in more than 19 months.
NHL-FLAMES MOVES
Flames sign defensemen Gudbranson, Stone to 1-year deals
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — The Calgary Flames signed defensemen Erik Gudbranson and Michael Stone to one-year deals on Friday.
Gunderson’s contract is worth $1.95 million and Stone signed for $700,000, the club said.
Gudbranson, 29, has played 10 NHL seasons for six teams: Florida, Vancouver, Pittsburgh, Anaheim, Ottawa and Nashville. He has 77 points and 640 penalty minutes in 563 games.
The 31-year-old Stone is also a 10-year veteran. He has spent the past five seasons with the Flames and had four points in 21 appearances last season.
