AP Sports Summary for September 5th, 2023.
Aryna Sabalenka is about to be No. 1 in the WTA rankings. She could be the new US Open champ, too
NEW YORK (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka is going to be the No. 1 player in the WTA rankings next week, replacing Iga Swiatek there. That much is certain. The way Sabalenka is playing at the moment, she might very well supplant Swiatek as the U.S. Open champion, too. In Sabalenka's first match since being assured of rising to the top of women's tennis, she showed off the power-based game that allows her to dominate so many opponents, overwhelming No. 13 seed Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-3 on Monday night in Arthur Ashe Stadium to advance to her fifth consecutive major quarterfinal.
Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton are putting the 'US' in the US Open
NEW YORK (AP) — There are three American men in the U.S. Open quarterfinals for the first time since 2005. Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton are the trio this time and all will be in action Tuesday. Fritz goes up against 23-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic for a spot in the semifinals, while Tiafoe and Shelton play each other. Djokovic says he understands why American tennis fans aren't happy that they haven't had a male Grand Slam singles champion since Andy Roddick 20 years ago. He knows they got used to having champion after champion in earlier days.
As sports betting spikes, help for problem gamblers expands in some states
When the NFL season kicks off, Kentucky residents will be able to legally bet on games for the first time. When they do, they also will be funding the state's first-ever program for people with gambling problems. Nearly three-fourths of the states have moved swiftly to allow sports betting since the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for it five years ago. State funding for problem gambling services generally has not kept pace — averaging just 38 cents per capita. But more states, like Kentucky, are requiring at least a portion of their sports wagering revenues to go toward helping addicted gamblers.
Dodgers pitcher Julio UrÃas arrested near Los Angeles stadium where Messi was playing MLS game
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio UrÃas was arrested near BMO Stadium, where Lionel Messi was playing in a Major League Soccer game with numerous celebrities in attendance. Exposition Park public safety said its officers arrested UrÃas at about 11 p.m. on Sunday inside the park, which is home to the stadium. The department would not immediately disclose what charges UrÃas was arrested on, but said it would release more details Monday. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department booking records show UrÃas posted $50,000 bail and was released shortly before 5 a.m. on Monday. He is due in court Sept. 27. Major League Baseball intends to investigate.
Georgia football staffer Jarvis Jones arrested for speeding, reckless driving
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Police say former Georgia and NFL linebacker Jarvis Jones was arrested for speeding and reckless driving ahead of the Bulldogs' season opener. Jones now works as a player coordinator for the football program. His arrest late Friday is the latest driving investigation to tarnish the two-time reigning national champions. They have struggled to deal with the issue since a high-speed crash killed offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy on Jan. 15. Georgia coach Kirby Smart declined comments other than to say Jones will face "internal discipline."
Fan ejected from US Open match after German player said the man used language from Hitler's regime
NEW YORK (AP) — A fan was ejected from a U.S. Open tennis match early Tuesday morning after German player Alexander Zverev complained the man used language from Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime. Zverev, the No. 12 seed, was in the fourth set of his match against No. 6 Jannik Sinner when he suddenly went to chair umpire James Keothavong and pointed toward the fan, who was sitting in a section behind the umpire. During a changeover shortly after, the fan was identified by spectators seated near him, and he was removed by security. Zverev went on to beat Sinner in five sets and will play defending U.S. Open champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
Shohei Ohtani's agent says the star plans to continue as a pitcher and hitter after his elbow heals
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani's agent says the Los Angeles Angels' two-way superstar is determined to continue his career as both a pitcher and a hitter after he recovers from his latest elbow injury. Nez Balelo said Monday that he thinks it's "inevitable" that Ohtani will need some sort of procedure to heal the ligament tear in his pitching elbow, but they're still gathering opinions on whether that procedure should be Tommy John surgery or a nonsurgical remedy. Balelo said Ohtani will continue playing as the Angels' designated hitter for the foreseeable future this season. Balelo said Ohtani also intends "to be in somebody's lineup next year DHing when the bell rings."
Leonard helps Duke stun No. 9 Clemson 28-7 in a lopsided ACC opener
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Riley Leonard broke loose from a tackler and sprinted to the open for a 44-yard touchdown that highlighted Duke's tough and physical performance that shocked ninth-ranked Clemson 28-7 in the season opener for both teams. Jaquez Moore and Jordan Waters ran for fourth-quarter touchdowns to turn this into an unexpected blowout of the preseason Atlantic Coast Conference favorite. It was Duke's first win agianst Clemson since 2004 and ended a 28-game losing streak against top-10 opponents. Cade Klubnik threw for a short touchdown to Will Shipley in what became Clemson's only score.
No. 4 Alabama, No. 11 Texas meet in rematch of last year's down-to-wire game
No. 11 Texas and No. 4 Alabama are set to meet again a year after going down to the wire. The two tradition-rich programs and future Southeastern Conference opponents are set to face off in a potential Top-10 showdown in Tuscaloosa. Alabama won 20-19 last year on a field goal in the final seconds. The close loss was still enough to vault the Longhorns into the Top 25. It gave Steve Sarkisian and Texas a measure of credibility while exposing the Tide's vulnerability. Alabama had 15 penalties in the game.
Serbia moves into World Cup semifinals by beating Lithuania, which had just topped the U.S.
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Serbia was more than happy to help Lithuania repeat some odd history. Bogdan Bogdanovic led the way with 21 points and Serbia beat Lithuania 87-68 in the World Cup quarterfinals. Lithuania was playing less than 48 hours after beating the U.S. to close out second-round play. That was the third time Lithuania has beaten the U.S. in senior men's national competition. And in all three of those tournaments, Lithuania wound up not turning a victory over the U.S. into a medal. The best it can do now is fifth in Manila. Serbia is in the World Cup semifinals for the third time in the last four tournaments.
AP-Scorecard
Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:
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INTERLEAGUE
Final Cincinnati 6 Seattle 3
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AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Kansas City 12 Chicago White Sox 1
Final Boston 7 Tampa Bay 3
Final Toronto 6 Oakland 5
Final Houston 13 Texas 6
Final Minnesota 20 Cleveland 6
Final Baltimore 6 L.A. Angels 3
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Chicago Cubs 5 San Francisco 0
Final Arizona 4 Colorado 2
Final Pittsburgh 4 Milwaukee 2
Final Philadelphia 9 San Diego 7
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TOP-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Final Duke 28 (9)Clemson 7
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TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
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INTERLEAGUE
Seattle at Cincinnati 6:40 p.m.
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AMERICAN LEAGUE
Minnesota at Cleveland 6:10 p.m.
Boston at Tampa Bay 6:40 p.m.
Detroit at N-Y Yankees 7:05 p.m.
Chi White Sox at Kansas City 7:40 p.m.
Houston at Texas 8:05 p.m.
Baltimore at L-A Angels 9:38 p.m.
Toronto at Oakland 9:40 p.m.
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Milwaukee at Pittsburgh 6:35 p.m.
L-A Dodgers at Miami 6:40 p.m.
N-Y Mets at Washington 7:05 p.m.
St. Louis at Atlanta 7:20 p.m.
San Francisco at Chi Cubs 7:40 p.m.
Colorado at Arizona 9:40 p.m.
Philadelphia at San Diego 9:40 p.m.
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WOMEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Chicago at Indiana 7 p.m.
Los Angeles at Connecticut 7 p.m.
New York at Dallas 8 p.m.
Washington at Phoenix 10 p.m.
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