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[ad_1] CNN  —  Novak Djokovic cruised through to the US Open final after a dominant 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7-4) win against American youngster Ben Shelton. Shelton, playing in his first ever grand slam semifinal, came out all guns blazing but was unable to lay much of a glove on the ever-impressive Djokovic. The world No. 2 was at his imperious best during the clash and controlled proceedings against Shelton from start to finish. “These are the kinds of matches and occasions that I still thrive on and get me going and inspire me every day to try and work as hard as the young guys,” Djokovic said during his on-court interview after the win. “The grand slams are the ones that motivate me the most to play my best tennis, perform my best tennis.” The Serbian’s first break came in the sixth game of the match and after go...

[ad_1] CNN  —  The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has “formally warned” Russian tennis player Anastasia Potapova after she was seen wearing a Spartak Moscow soccer jersey ahead of her match against American Jessica Pegula at Indian Wells, a spokesperson told CNN Thursday. World No.1 Iga Świątek was critical of the WTA for allowing Potapova to wear the shirt, saying on Tuesday that “more should be done to help Ukrainian players because everything we discuss in tennis is about Belarusian and Russian players.” Potopova has been pictured wearing the shirt on several occasions, including in Dubai in a photo she posted to her own Instagram account. When asked about the shirt after the match, Potapova said she had supported Spartak since she was 13 and saw no provocation in it, Reuters news agency reported. In an email to CNN, WTA spokesperson Amy Binder said: “Regardi...

[ad_1] CNN  —  The free-agent saga surrounding shortstop Carlos Correa has finally come to an end. The coveted World Series winner signed a six-year guaranteed contract to return to the Minnesota Twins, the MLB team announced Wednesday. The deal is reportedly worth $200 million, according to the salary tracking website Spotrac. Minnesota is the third MLB team this offseason with whom the 28-year-old has agreed a massive deal. “I’m happy to be here in Minnesota, I’m happy to be a Twin,” Correa told reporters Wednesday. “We started something special last year and there is some more work to be done. At the end of the day, we want to bring a championship back to this city. That’s what we’re going to work for from now on.” After a lone season in Minnesota, Correa agreed on a 13-year, $350 million contract on December 13 with the San Fra...

[ad_1] CNN  —  Jon Rahm won the 2023 Masters on Sunday, clinching his first green jacket and second career major with an unflappable showing at Augusta National. The Spaniard put on a clinic in consistency to ease to a four shot victory ahead of LIV Golf Series duo Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson. After two days of miserable weather had seen multiple suspensions of play at the 87th edition of the historic major, it was fitting that blue skies and sunshine set the backdrop for the crowning of Rahm, whose victory sees him leapfrog reigning Masters champion Scottie Scheffler as world No. 1. Having begun his tournament with a four-putt double bogey, Rahm recovered immediately and never looked back, carding a final round three-under 69 to finish 12-under. On the birthday of late Spanish golf icon Seve Ballesteros ...

[ad_1] CNN  —  Novak Djokovic is the odds on favorite for the men’s title at the Australian Open this year and he will begin the tournament against Spain’s Roberto Carballés Baena, seeking a record-equaling 22nd grand slam and 10th Australian title. Meanwhile, women’s world No. 2 Ons Jabeur is in action in the match beforehand, as she aims to better the two grand slam finals she reached last season, while USA’s Sloane Stephens takes on Russia’s Anna Potapova on Court 7. From 7pm ET Aryna Sabalenka (5) vs. Tereza Martincova Katherine Sebov vs. Caroline Garcia (4) Matteo Berrettini (13) vs. Andy Murray From 3am ET Tamara Zidansek vs. Ons Jabeur (2) Roberto Carballés Baena vs. Novak Djokovic (4) From 7pm ET Garbiñe Muguruza vs. Elise Mertens (26) Xiyu Wang vs. Karo...

[ad_1] CNN  —  “The Island Green” – three words that have struck fear into the hearts of even the most talented golfers . A short, 125-yard par-three surrounded by water, TPC Sawgrass’ iconic penultimate hole has drowned many a dream at The Players Championship for more than four decades. On Thursday, Hayden Buckley had other ideas. After making a steady start to his first round at the PGA Tour’s flagship event, the American — having started from the 10th hole – teed up at the 17th at one-under par, tied for eighth. One swing later, he was level for the lead. Using a pitching wedge, the 27-year-old had sent his ball sailing over the water and comfortably onto the green; his ball bouncing three times before settling and curling leisurely into the cup. A rapturous crowd roared their del...

[ad_1] CNN  —  The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced Tuesday that it will return to hosting tournaments in China in 2023 after previously suspending all events in the country, including Hong Kong, last November due to the uncertainty over tennis player Peng Shuai’s safety . Peng was feared to be held incommunicado by the Chinese government after she accused retired Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of forcing her into sex during a years-long on-off relationship. The immediate response from Chinese authorities was to censor any mention of the accusation online and block Peng’s Weibo account from search results. Peng disappeared from public view for more than two weeks, prompting the world’s biggest tennis stars and the United Nations to demand answers as to her whereabouts – as well as a full investigation into her allegations against Zhang. Peng, a three-tim...

[ad_1] CNN  —  Jessica Pegula , the daughter of the owners of the Buffalo Bills, showed her support for Damar Hamlin during her straight sets win in the second round of the Australian Open . The world No. 3 wore Hamlin’s number three on her shorts during her 6-2 7-6(5) victory over Belarus’ Aliaksandra Sasnovich. “I definitely wanted to do something,” Pegula said after her win when asked about paying tribute to Hamlin. “We were kind of figuring out what the Bills and the Sabres were doing, just as far as what was the message. I knew they would probably do something and what message were they trying to send. It ended up being kind of the ‘3’ was the symbol.” Hamlin was hospitalized in Cincinnati when his heart suddenly stopped after a tackle during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on January 2. The 24-year-old Bills safety was discharged after more than a week ...

[ad_1] CNN  —  Matt Fitzpatrick conquered reigning champion Jordan Spieth in a playoff to seal an emotional RBC Heritage victory at Hilton Head on Sunday. With the duo unable to be separated at 17-under par after an enthralling final day battle, the Englishman broke the deadlock in stunning fashion on the third playoff hole, punching his approach shot to within inches of the cup before tapping home for birdie to clinch his second PGA Tour title. His first had come after a similarly close-fought final round at the US Open in Brookline last year. There had been a late scare then when his last tee shot found the bunker, and the 28-year-old’s heart rate will have been just as high when both of Spieth’s putts for birdie across the first two playoff holes looked destined to settle in the cup. Yet once again, Fitzpatrick endured, weathering the storm to become only the second Engli...