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Swiatek ends Gauff’s 16-match winning streak to advance to China Open final

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:55:32 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Second-ranked Iga Swiatek ended Coco Gauff’s 16-match winning streak as she advanced to the China Open final with a dominant 6-2, 6-3 victory over the U.S. Open champion on Saturday.It was the 19-year-old Gauff’s first loss since the quarterfinals in Montreal, a span that included titles in Cincinnati and at Flushing Meadows.Swiatek will meet fifth-seeded Elena Rybakina or Liudmila Samsonova, who play later Saturday, in the final. The Polish player made just four unforced errors in the first set, keeping consistent pressure on Gauff’s serve, and made a decisive break at 3-1 to ease through the set in 40 minutes.Swiatek maintained her vice-like grip on the match, breaking Gauff at the start of the second set to lead 2-0. A medical timeout to have Gauff’s right shoulder assessed didn’t break Swiatek’s momentum as she closed it out to extend her head-to-head record against her rival to 8-1. “I’m really happy with my performance,” Swiatek said. “It...

Netanyahu tells Israel “We are at war,” his first remarks since Hamas launched unprecedented attack on Israel

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:55:32 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Netanyahu tells Israel “We are at war,” his first remarks since Hamas launched unprecedented attack on Israel.Source

Bangladesh spins out Afghanistan for 156, Sri Lanka fields against South Africa at World Cup

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:55:32 GMT

Bangladesh’s spinners bowled out Afghanistan for a below-par 156 at the Cricket World Cup on Saturday.Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz and captain Shakib Al Hasan combined to take six wickets as Afghanistan was dismissed in 37.2 overs, the last three wickets falling without a run being added.Top-scorer Rahmanullah Gurbaz (47) and Ibrahim Zadran (22) put on 47 for the first wicket, but Gurbaz’s dismissal in the 26th over ignited a collapse after he holed out in the deep while attempting a big shot against left-arm fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman’s slower ball.Afghanistan has picked three frontline spinners in its side, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.Ahead of the day-night game in Delhi, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field against South Africa. Sri Lanka has arrived at the World Cup without injured leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, while skipper Dasun Shanaka is also struggling with his batting.Sri Lanka will be relying on young left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalag...

Atlanta Braves host the Philadelphia Phillies in NLDS Game 1

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:55:32 GMT

Philadelphia Phillies (90-72, second in the NL East during the regular season) vs. Atlanta Braves (104-58, first in the NL East during the regular season)Atlanta; Saturday, 6:07 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Phillies: Ranger Suarez (4-6, 4.18 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 119 strikeouts); Braves: Spencer Strider (20-5, 3.91 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 281 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -208, Phillies +173; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies square off in Game 1 of the NLDS.Atlanta has gone 52-29 in home games and 104-58 overall. Braves hitters are batting a collective .276, the best team batting average in the NL.Philadelphia has a 90-72 record overall and a 41-40 record in road games. The Phillies are 44-16 in games when they hit at least two home runs.The teams meet Saturday for the 14th time this season. The Braves are ahead 8-5 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Ronald Acuna Jr. has 35 doubles, four triples and 41 home runs for the Braves...

Los Angeles Dodgers host the Arizona Diamondbacks in NLDS Game 1

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:55:32 GMT

Arizona Diamondbacks (84-78, second in the NL West during the regular season) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (100-62, first in the NL West during the regular season)Los Angeles; Saturday, 9:20 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Merrill Kelly (12-8, 3.39 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 187 strikeouts); Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw (13-5, 2.46 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 137 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Dodgers -202, Diamondbacks +169; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday in Game 1 of the NLDS.Los Angeles has gone 53-28 at home and 100-62 overall. The Dodgers have the second-ranked team slugging percentage in the NL at .456.Arizona has a 41-40 record in road games and an 84-78 record overall. The Diamondbacks have a 31-14 record in games when they hit two or more home runs.The teams square off Saturday for the 14th time this season. The Dodgers lead the season series 8-5.TOP PERFORMERS: Mookie Betts has 40 doubles, a triple and 39 home runs ...

Heat, Sunshine and Some Showers this Weekend

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:55:32 GMT

The weather pattern overall remains fairly nice this weekend following a great stretch of weather this week.A weak front is heading south across Florida, which will lead to a gradual increase in rain chances, however.On Saturday, the main story will be the heat with record high temperatures possible in spots, especially in Marathon, with forecast highs in the low to mid 90s.Skies will feature a mix of sun and clouds paired with the potential for a few, late-day, passing showers across the mainland.This very weak front will then be entering the region of South Florida on Sunday, so rain chances will be a higher at a 40-50% chance.Like Saturday, lots of dry time is expected with sunshine and patchy clouds. The best chance for seeing some rain or a thunderstorm will be from the mid-afternoon through early-evening hours.By Monday, this front will either start to stall right across South Florida or just to our south. Regardless, winds should be more out of the north by then, which should...

EU condemns Hamas attack on Israel as ‘terrorism in its most despicable form’

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:55:32 GMT

European leaders condemned the surprise attack on Israel by the Hamas militant group early Saturday and proclaimed Israel’s right to defend itself.“It is terrorism in its most despicable form,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement. “Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks.”Hamas caught Israel off-guard early Saturday morning with thousands of rockets fired and dozens of heavily armed gunmen storming into Israel’s south. The Israel Defense Forces responded by striking Hamas targets in Gaza. “The IDF is initiating a large-scale operation to defend Israeli civilians,” the IDF said in a statement.“We are at war,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declared. “And we will win,” he said in a message to Israelis.Across Europe, messages of indignation poured in.“Horrific images from Israel,” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said, calling t...

Building vs. buying: Orioles’ ALDS matchup with Rangers shows there are two ways to a turnaround

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:55:32 GMT

For those who weathered the Orioles’ 100-loss seasons, 2023 has certainly looked and felt different. The clubhouse hurrahs of recent weeks, with champagne and beer spraying and cigar smoke in the air, have helped it smell and taste different, too.But perhaps the most notable change, outfielder Austin Hays said, is how it sounds.“Just the postgame celebrations when you win — opposed to it being dead and quiet,” Hays said. “There was no music being played. There’s no postgame speeches. There’s no music on the planes, on the bus rides. There’s so much more that goes into it than just the three hours on the field.“Man, there’s nothing better and there’s nothing more fun than winning in the big leagues.”The team Baltimore faces in the American League Division Series can relate. In 2021, as the Orioles lost 110 games, the Texas Rangers fell 102 times. They were the two worst teams in the AL. Two years late...

Four most important Patriots players Week 5 vs. Saints

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:55:32 GMT

If the Patriots are still interested in salvaging their season — and Wednesday’s trade for cornerback J.C. Jackson suggests they do — the next two games on the schedule are must-wins.The Saints come to town on Sunday in a winnable game. And then the Patriots will face off against the Raiders in Las Vegas. If they can win both of these matchups, they’ll have a 3-3 record before likely losses against the Bills at home and the Dolphins in Miami.If the Patriots lose both games against the Saints and Raiders? It’s looking pretty likely that they’ll start the season 1-7 in full-on Caleb Williams watch.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots Extra Points: Rookie has ‘good future,’ Jamie Collins retires, more New England Patriots | Patriots-Saints injury report: Rhamondre Stevenson, Trent Brown among 10 questionable for Sunday New England Patriots | ‘Nut slap’ parody about Patriots...

Netanyahu tells Israel 'We are at war' after Hamas kills at least 22 in an unprecedented attack

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:55:32 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — The ruling Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. Six hours after the invasion began, Hamas militants were still fighting gunbattles inside several Israeli communities in a surprising show of strength that shook the country. Israel’s national rescue service said at least 22 people have been killed and hundreds wounded, making it the deadliest attack in Israel in years. The Soroka Medical Center in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba said it was treating at least 280 casualties, with 60 in serious condition.There was no official comment on casualties in Gaza, but Associated Press reporters witnessed the funerals of 15 people who were killed and saw another eight bodies arrive at a local hospita...