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US Open ‘very hopeful’ unvaccinated Novak Djokovic can play

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:40:13 GMT

After Novak Djokovic withdrew from tournaments in Florida and California because he still can’t travel to the United States as a foreign citizen who is not vaccinated against COVID-19, a U.S. Tennis Association spokesman said Saturday the group is “very hopeful” the top-ranked player will be allowed into the country for the U.S. Open in August.“Policies concerning access to the United States are determined by the White House. We are very hopeful that the policy preventing Novak Djokovic from entering the United States will be rescinded, or lapse, in the near future,” the USTA’s Chris Widmaier wrote to The Associated Press. “No COVID-19 restrictions are in place at the U.S. Open for any player, fan or other attendee. Novak, one of our sport’s great champions, would be welcome to compete at the 2023 U.S. Open.”The two-week U.S. Open starts in Flushing Meadows on Aug. 28.Djokovic, a 35-year-old from Serbia, was unable to get to New York for the season’s last Grand Sla...

Johannessen, Baldwin lead, still to finish 3rd rounds at SDC

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:40:13 GMT

ST. FRANCIS BAY, South Africa (AP) — Kristian Krogh Johannessen and Matthew Baldwin shared the lead at the SDC Championship in South Africa on Saturday when the third round was suspended because of fading light.The pair had moved to 11 under par through 13 holes when players were called off at the St. Francis Links course on South Africa’s south coast.The tournament, which is making its debut on the European tour, is playing catchup after high winds caused a postponement on Friday, leaving many players to complete their second rounds and move straight to their third rounds on Saturday.Norway’s Johannessen led by three shots when the second round was finally completed on Saturday but third-round playing partner Baldwin whittled away at that lead with four birdies and no dropped shots through those 13 holes.As the Englishman made his move, Johannessen dropped a shot on No.11, his second bogey of the round.Daniel Brown and Joost Luiten earlier set the clubhouse target of 9 ...

March Madness: Brackets in tatters as 2nd round begins

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:40:13 GMT

March Madness has truly begun! By the end of the first round, a trio of top seeds were already gone — No. 1 seed Purdue, No. 2 seed Arizona and No. 4 seed Virginia — and gone with them were millions of busted brackets.Here is what to know with Sweet 16 bids on the line at the NCAA Tournament, including the favorites and underdogs as well as key games:TOP SEEDSThe top four seeds in the tournament were given to Alabama, Houston, Kansas and Purdue. Each had its share of headaches to set up what is already proving to be a chaotic tournament and the Boilermakers were the first to fall, ousted in a first-round stunner. Here is the latest from each region:EAST REGION: The Boilermakers got a No. 1 seed for the fourth time, but Purdue was dumped by Fairleigh Dickinson in a near-historic upset. The region appears to be wide open for the likes of No. 2 seed Marquette, Duke, Michigan State and more.SOUTH REGION: Alabama, led by coach Nate Oats in a challenging season, is a No. 1 seed for the fi...

Byron out to validate Hendrick’s strong start despite fines

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:40:13 GMT

HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — Back-to-back wins haven’t stopped William Byron from believing he and his Hendrick Motorsports team have a lot to prove in Sunday’s NASCAR stop in Atlanta.In fact, Byron said Saturday, there’s even more on the line. Drivers of the Hendrick Chevrolets want to show the strong start to the season is not the result of illegally manipulating NASCAR’s rules.NASCAR slammed Hendrick Motorsports on Wednesday with the largest combined fine on one team in series history for allegedly modifying louvers, which direct air through the hoods of cars. The penalty included a combined $400,000 in fines — $100,000 to each of its four crew chiefs — plus four-race suspensions for the crew chiefs — Byron’s, Kyle Larson’s and Alex Bowman’s included. Those suspensions begin with Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Hendrick is appealing the penalties, which also affected the drivers by losing 100 regular-season points and 10 playoffs po...

Perez on pole for Red Bull in Saudi Arabia for 2nd year

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:40:13 GMT

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Sergio Perez stepped up for Red Bull to ensure the team started from the pole at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after a mechanical issue sidelined two-time defending world champion Max Verstappen. Verstappen was fastest in all three practice sessions at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit but his qualifying effort was cut short Saturday when he radioed “I have a problem. Engine, engine problem,” during the second session. The Dutchman drove to the pits, where a driveshaft issue was discovered, and Verstappen’s qualifying effort was over. It left Perez as the lone Red Bull representative in the final round of qualifying and he went on to win pole for the second consecutive year — the only two poles of his career. Verstappen will start 15th. Charles Leclerc qualified second for Ferrari but will drop 10 positions at the start of Sunday’s race because of a grid penalty for exceeding the allotted electronics control unit on the car’s engine in the season-ope...

Indiana State takes down South Carolina Upstate 67-62 in CBI

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:40:13 GMT

DAYTONA BEACH. Fla. (AP) — Courvoisier McCauley had 20 points and 11 rebounds in Indiana State’s 67-62 win over South Carolina Upstate on Saturday in the CBI Tournament. Cameron Henry scored 19 points and added six rebounds for the Sycamores (23-12). Robbie Avila added 10 points.Jordan Gainey led the Spartans (16-16) in scoring, finishing with 18 points and two steals. Trae Broadnax added 12 points, eight rebounds and two steals for South Carolina Upstate.Indiana State will play Eastern Kentucky or Cleveland State in the quarterfinals on Monday. Eastern Kentucky and Cleveland State play on Sunday.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Strong earthquake shakes coastal Ecuador; damage unclear

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:40:13 GMT

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — A strong earthquake shook Ecuador on Saturday, but there was no immediate word on major damage or injuries.The U.S. Geological Survey reported an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 in the country’s coastal Guayas region. It was centered about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Guayaquil, Ecuador’s second-largest city.Videos shared on social media show people gathering on the streets of Guayaquil and nearby communities. People reported objects falling inside their homes in Guayaquil, which anchors an urban area of over 3 million people about 170 miles (270 kilometers) southwest of the capital, Quito.The earthquake was also felt in northern Peru.Source

Tottenham wastes 2-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Southampton

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:40:13 GMT

SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) — Tottenham missed out on the chance to move up to third in the Premier League by throwing away a two-goal lead Saturday as James Ward-Prowse’s stoppage-time penalty earned last-place Southampton a 3-3 draw.Tottenham had taken a 3-1 lead after Pedro Porro and Ivan Perisic netted their first goals for the club and Harry Kane scored his 23rd of the campaign.Southampton had only scored twice in its previous five league appearances but the hosts showed the same fight that saw them recently take points off Chelsea and Manchester United to come back and boost their survival hopes.Ward-Prowse’s late penalty, after Pape Sarr had fouled Ainsley Maitland-Niles in the area, added to second-half efforts by Che Adams and Theo Walcott to earn Saints a point.Both teams had to make early substitutions after Tottenham forward Richarlison limped off after five minutes with an injury and Southampton’s Armel Bella-Kotchap was forced off in the eighth with an injury to hi...

Fans cheer Brooks’ return in Bournemouth’s 3-0 loss at Villa

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:40:13 GMT

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Aston Villa enjoyed a third win in four Premier League games as it beat Bournemouth 3-0 at home with goals from Douglas Luiz, Jacob Ramsey and Emiliano Buendia on Saturday.Both sets of fans had a reason to cheer when Bournemouth midfielder David Brooks came on in the 79th minute for his first appearance since being diagnosed with cancer in October 2021, a moment that brought applause all around Villa Park.Luiz finished from close range to put Villa ahead in the seventh minute before Ramsey and Buendia added further goals in the last 10 minutes.Bournemouth had gone close to equalizing just past the hour mark through Philip Billing’s free kick that was saved in fine style by Emiliano Martinez.Midtable Villa extended its unbeaten run, adding to the wins over Everton and Crystal Palace and a draw at West Ham.Bournemouth slipped a place to 19th, a point adrift of safety, having failed to further boost its survival bid after the surprise 1-0 win over Liver...

Englewood investigates officer-involved shooting

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:40:13 GMT

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (KDVR) -- The Englewood Police Department investigated an officer-involved shooting in the area of Oxford Avenue and Broadway on Saturday.EPD said at 1:26 p.m. that Oxford Avenue was closed between Broadway and Lincoln Avenue for the shooting. Blake Street Tavern closing after 20 years in Denver Police told FOX31 that the officer was okay. No further details were available and the investigation was ongoing.