Finally, The People's Champion has come back to The Grandest Stage of Them All.  It's WrestleMani...

<p>Finally, The People's Champion has come back to The Grandest Stage of Them All.</p><p>It's WrestleMania Week, and as Cody Rhodes looks to finally finish his story, he'll come face-to-face with one of WWE's all-time greats: The Rock.</p><p>Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is scheduled for tag team action with his cousin Roman Reigns against Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Saturday - the first night of WrestleMania 40. With the electrifying one set to lace up his boots again, we ranked all of The Rock's previous WrestleMania matches.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>11. WrestleMania 32 vs. Erick Rowan</h3><p>It took The Rock six seconds to deliver a Rock Bottom and secure the win. There isn't much more to say here. Moral of the story: Always have your wrestling gear on under some tearaway pants because you never know when a match will break out.</p><h3>10. WrestleMania 13 vs. The Sultan (Intercontinental title)</h3><p>Then known as Rocky Maivia, Johnson defended the Intercontinental Championship in his WrestleMania debut. He defeated The Sultan, a first cousin of The Rock who later evolved into Rikishi. The match was slow, and fans chanted "Rocky sucks!" while Maivia went through a vanilla set of moves. The highlight was Maivia's dad, Rocky Johnson, coming out to help his son ward off an attack after the match.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uoEbC40oZZQ?si=pfpD5DoAD7T9eL85" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><h3>9. WrestleMania 14 vs. Ken Shamrock (Intercontinental title)</h3><p>Now under the "People's Champion" moniker, The Rock once again defended the Intercontinental Championship, but this time against a UFC legend and in controversial fashion. The Rock was basically thrown around like a rag doll, and the match was over in only five minutes. Even though Shamrock made The Rock tap out via ankle lock to win the title, Shamrock reapplied it after the bell and was disqualified, returning the belt to The Rock. A hot start to the match that saw fans in Boston on their feet for "The Most Dangerous Man in the World" fell flat.</p><h3>8. WrestleMania 29 vs. John Cena (WWE Championship)</h3><p>This was a sequel to what was supposed to be a "once-in-a-lifetime" match the year before. The match wasn't disastrous, but it felt too much like its predecessor. It didn't help that The Rock tore his abductor and abdominal muscles and suffered a hernia early in the match. Cena got the last laugh by winning the title back, and The Rock had his movie "Hercules" delayed due to injury. It turns out we didn't need to see this matchup twice in our lifetimes.</p><h3>7. WrestleMania 15 vs. 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin (WWE Championship)</h3><p>The Rock had his first WrestleMania main event when he took on Austin in the first chapter of their trilogy. The bout started strong, going straight into the crowd and giving fans an up-close view of two legends in the making. The match fizzled from there, though, and lacked a signature moment. Austin went on to win his third WWE Championship.</p><h3>6. WrestleMania 16 vs. Triple H vs. Big Show vs. Mick Foley (WWE Championship)</h3><p>The Rock found himself in a Fatal 4-Way elimination match for the WWE Championship in Anaheim. A chaotic no-disqualification match with a McMahon in every corner had everything you would expect from a WrestleMania main event. The Rock made it to the final two of this weapons-filled contest as Big Show and Foley hit the showers. However, it was The Rock's own corner man, Vince McMahon, who turned on him to help Triple H stay champion and set up the next chapter of WWE programming. The Rock might not have won, but he certainly entertained in his second WrestleMania main event.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;"> <iframe style="width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;left:0px;top:0px;overflow:hidden" frameborder="0" type="text/html" src="https://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/xqm4du" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen="" title="Dailymotion Video Player"> </iframe> </div></figure><h3>5. WrestleMania 20 with Mick Foley vs. Evolution </h3><p>Reunited with his old tag team partner, The Rock 'n' Sock Connection took on Evolution members Randy Orton, Batista, and Ric Flair in a 3-on-2 handicap match. This bout had one purpose: To showcase Orton and Batista as the future of WWE. With Foley's physical abilities diminishing, The Rock provided most of the offense for his team and kept the Madison Square Garden crowd entertained.<strong> </strong>But it was Orton's signature RKO finisher on Foley that let the world know the future had arrived.<strong> </strong>Evolution picked up the win and The Rock went off to Hollywood, staying away from the ring for the next seven years.</p><h3>4. WrestleMania 28 vs. John Cena</h3><p>This match was made a full year in advance and headlined WrestleMania in 2012. It was The Rock's first match since WrestleMania 20 and everyone questioned if he could still perform. He answered all those questions in spectacular fashion, and surprisingly stole a win from the seemingly invincible Cena. The risky yearlong build paid off and the match truly felt like a once-in-a-lifetime attraction between two of the biggest stars in WWE history.</p><h3>3. WrestleMania 19 vs. 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin</h3><p>Every successful franchise has a trilogy: "Star Wars," "Indiana Jones," "The Mighty Ducks" - the list goes on. WWE has The Rock and Stone Cold. In their final encounter, the longtime rivals put on a classic wrestling match in Seattle filled with riveting storytelling. It took three Rock Bottoms for The Rock to finally beat Austin. The match also marked Austin's original retirement before he returned for one night at WrestleMania 38.</p><h3>2. WrestleMania 18 vs. 'Hollywood' Hulk Hogan</h3><p>"A match for the ages" is how commentator Jim Ross described The Rock versus Hogan on St. Patrick's Day 2002 in Toronto. The two legends locked eyes for several moments in front of a roaring crowd before the action picked up, producing one of the most iconic visuals in WrestleMania history. The Rock was supposed to be the good guy, but the Toronto crowd favored Hogan, flipping the match on its head. The Rock used the heat to his advantage, resorting to some heel tendencies en route to victory.<strong> </strong>He delivered the best match of the night, and helped revive Hulkamania.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vs01TOrus2A?si=opYAMGds76UcANBY" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><h3>1. WrestleMania 17 vs. 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin (WWE Championship)</h3><p>In what's still considered the greatest WrestleMania of all time, The Rock met Austin in the main event for the second time. A "no disqualification" stipulation was a last-minute addition to a highly anticipated tilt. Those in attendance in Houston got everything a wrestling match should have: Action, suspense, and drama. It was a near-perfect night for two future Hall of Famers, and they both oozed "WWE Attitude" in what many considered a curtain call for the Attitude Era. The stunner of the night saw Austin get help from his old nemesis, Mr. McMahon, to win another WWE title.</p>

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - APRIL 01: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson attends WrestleMania XXVlll at Sun Life Stadium on April 1, 2012 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

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Ranking all 11 of The Rock's matches at WrestleMania

WWE's biggest summer party is here, and Roman Reigns will once again be the main attraction at Su...

<p>WWE's biggest summer party is here, and Roman Reigns will once again be the main attraction at SummerSlam in Detroit.</p><p>The blockbuster event marks Reigns' 1,070th day as WWE's top champion, a feat that hasn't been achieved seen since Hulk Hogan ran wild in the late 1980s.</p><p>For the third time in his reign in a one-on-one setting, Roman takes on his real-life cousin, Jey Uso, who hopes to finally end Reigns' championship run. With the Bloodline story peaking and a title change looking plausible, we look back on the five defining moments of Reigns' historic championship run.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>An unlikely partnership</h3><p>Reigns felt bland in the first portion of his WWE career. The company pushed him as a top star, offering him air time and high-profile opponents week after week, but he struggled to develop a character fans could connect with.</p><p>That started to change in July 2020. After an extended absence during the COVID-19 pandemic, Reigns returned with a different demeanor. He was aggressive and methodical, both on the mic and in the ring, and he exuded a palpable new energy.</p><p>Then, in a surprising twist, Reigns revealed longtime rival Paul Heyman as his new manager days before taking on Braun Strowman and Bray Wyatt in a triple threat match for the Universal title at Payback in August. For years, Heyman countered Reigns as Brock Lesnar's manager. So when they joined forces, it signaled the creative change that fans begged WWE to try with Reigns.</p><p>With Heyman by his side, Reigns won the Universal Championship, marking the start of his title run.</p><h3>The Tribal Chief is solidified</h3><p>It didn't take long for the new champion to appoint himself the "Head of the Table," declaring himself the king of the decorated <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoa%27i_family">Samoan dynasty</a>. The dynasty is connected by blood and features many WWE legends including The Rock and Rikishi. Reigns touted himself as superior to them all - to the chagrin of the Uso twins.</p><p>Jey vowed to prove he was championship material and could be the Head of the Table. After failing in his first bout with Roman at Clash of Champions in September 2020, he got another opportunity at Hell in a Cell 2020, looking to win his first major singles title inside WWE's famously demonic structure.</p><p>Reigns earned one of his early signature title defenses in dramatic fashion, beating his cousin into saying "I quit" to win the match. And, as a stipulation, the Usos were forced to follow his orders from there on out. But what happened after the match was equally as memorable: Roman's father, Sika Anoa'i, and uncle, Afa, came out to congratulate him. They placed a ceremonial lei around his neck, letting the world know he was now truly the Head of the Table, the leader of the Bloodline, and the Tribal Chief.</p><h3>The champ is done</h3><p>In 2017, Reigns took on John Cena at No Mercy and came out victorious. It was supposed to be a passing-of-the-torch moment from the last face of WWE to the next, but the whole thing fell flat.</p><p>Much like when Reigns predictably won the 2015 Royal Rumble or defeated the Undertaker at WrestleMania 33, fans rolled their eyes and groaned when Reigns defeated Cena.</p><p>When they met again in 2021, the audience couldn't have been more invested. Cena stepped away from acting to let Reigns know he intended to break the all-time record for most world championships. But in the main SummerSlam event that year, Reigns took Cena out and retained his Universal Championship. This time, the fans embraced it and the torch truly felt passed.</p><h3>A unified champion</h3><p>Great champions need great rivals, and Brock Lesnar has been just that for Reigns. The two have battled often since 2015, often for WWE's top prizes. So when Lesnar (the WWE champion) and Reigns (the Universal champion) met in the main event of WrestleMania 38, it marked the pinnacle of a long, intense rivalry.</p><p>Reigns won again, defeating the former UFC heavyweight champion to leave The Grandest Stage of Them All with both of WWE's top singles titles.</p><p>Reigns and Lesnar would face off again at the following SummerSlam in a Last Man Standing match, but its impact didn't come close to WrestleMania 38's final moments.</p><h3>A WrestleMania nightmare</h3><p>"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes made a momentous return to WWE at WrestleMania 38 - the same night Reigns defeated Lesnar to merge the top two titles. A year later, Rhodes found himself in the main event of WrestleMania 39 trying to end Roman's near 1,000-day title reign.</p><p>The story was there: Cody was looking to honor his late father, Dusty, and win the title that long-escaped the Rhodes family. He won the 2023 Royal Rumble following a six-month recovery from a torn pectoral to earn his championship shot. And if there's one place to cap off a Hollywood-esque script, it's WrestleMania.</p><p>Or so everybody thought. But Reigns prevailed yet again, denying Rhodes the crowning moment fans expected to see.</p><p>Reigns hasn't defended the title since beating Rhodes. So the monumental reign lives on. Another victory at SummerSlam means Reigns will likely hit the three-year mark as champion. But it's going to end at some point, and SummerSlam - the marquee event of WWE's summer calendar - against Uso could very well be the time to end an all-time great storyline.</p>

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 02: (L-R) Cody Rhodes wrestles Roman Reigns for Undisputed WWE Universal Title Match during WrestleMania Goes Hollywood at SoFi Stadium on April 02, 2023 in Inglewood, California.

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Roman's reign: 5 defining moments of a title run that could end at SummerSlam

Wrestling fans' second Christmas has arrived.  WrestleMania 39 takes place April 1-2 at SoFi Stad...

<p>Wrestling fans' second Christmas has arrived.</p><p>WrestleMania 39 takes place April 1-2 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, as Hollywood hosts the flagship event for the fourth time in history. Months of riveting storytelling have led to a stacked card, making this two-day event one of the most anticipated WrestleManias in years.</p><p>With so much to cover, here are five things to look forward to at WrestleMania 39.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Rey vs. Dominik</h3><p>Rey Mysterio's decorated career has spanned over 30 years, and he'll be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame the night before wrestling his son in what could be his last hurrah.</p><p>In the past year, Dominik Mysterio has stepped out of his father's shadow to establish his own character. His transition to a villainous role has allowed Dominik to show a different side of himself, and his antagonistic charisma is a perfect counter to his father's heroic persona.</p><p>In recent months, Rey has gone back and forth about whether he should fight his son. But tension between the two boiled over a week before WrestleMania when Dominik insulted his mother, leading Rey to snap and finally accept his challenge.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YwHG3R6xF1w" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p>This will be only the second time that WWE features a father-versus-son match at WrestleMania, with the other being Vince versus Shane McMahon at WrestleMania 17. And unlike the McMahons, whose wrestling abilities were limited, the Mysterios have a chance to stand out this weekend. If Rey's Hall of Fame induction signals the end of the road, this will be his chance to hand the keys (or mask) to his son.</p><h3>Theory vs. Cena for U.S. title</h3><p>WrestleMania 39 begins with a match featuring its past and, potentially, future.</p><p>John Cena is set to compete in his 16th WrestleMania against up-and-coming U.S. champion Austin Theory. It'll be a full circle moment for Cena, who opened WrestleMania 20 in a match for the U.S. title versus Big Show in 2004. A 16-time world champion, it's safe to say he's done well since then. But those days are seemingly behind him, and the 45-year-old Cena has been used more to help showcase newer talent in recent years.</p><p>Insert Theory.</p><p>Theory had his biggest year yet with WWE in 2022. With a Money in the Bank win, the U.S Championship, and a moment with Stone Cold Steve Austin at last year's WrestleMania, it seems WWE is high on Theory's future. What better way for the company to put his name on the map than pair him with one of WWE's legends at WrestleMania?</p><p>In his first big WrestleMania match (sorry, Pat McAfee), Theory looks to prove that he can hang with the big names and handle the pressure of the spotlight. Cena may have already done it all in WWE, but that doesn't mean he'll go easy on the young guns.</p><h3>Edge vs. Balor inside Hell in a Cell</h3><p>For only the fourth time in WrestleMania history, WWE brings out the vicious Hell in a Cell. Unlike most Hell in a Cell matches in recent years, this one truly feels fitting as Edge and Finn Balor reach the apex of their year-long back-and-forth rivalry.</p><p>Since being kicked out of the Judgement Day faction he created, Edge has been looking to make Balor's life miserable. For Edge, this may be his way of saying goodbye to the event that helped him achieve Hall of Fame status; he <a href="https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/wwe/wwe-legend-edge-confirms-his-retirement-plans-after-raw-goes-off-the-air-watch-article-93751662">hinted at retirement</a> following a Monday Night Raw in Toronto last August. After a nine-year absence due to a neck injury, Edge triumphantly returned at the 2020 Royal Rumble and seems to be reaching the end of his second run.</p><p>If this is it for the Rated R Superstar at WrestleMania, participating in one of WWE's most grueling matches would be the perfect way to bid farewell to the grand stage. From jumping off a ladder to destroy Jeff Hardy, to spearing Mick Foley through a flaming table, to headlining with the Undertaker, Edge's career is full of WrestleMania moments.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TTQhLGweI98" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p>Hell in a Cell matches may have become oversaturated. However, considering it's the first Hell in a Cell match at WrestleMania in seven years, this one feels special.</p><h3>Zayn, Owens vs. the Usos for tag titles</h3><p>For the better part of two years, the Bloodline storyline has taken fans by storm. It's a long-winding tale that's featured character development, betrayal, and drama; you can basically call it a dramatic short film.</p><p>Roman Reigns and the Usos - who are real-life relatives - have been running WWE since they joined forces. But things haven't been the same since Sami Zayn popped into the picture last April. An unexpected addition to the group, the quirky Zayn ascended to stardom inside the intense confines of the Bloodline. And once Zayn turned his back on the Bloodline to come to the aid of longtime friend Kevin Owens, fans wanted to see gold around his waist.</p><p>After failing to beat Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in his hometown of Montreal at Elimination Chamber, Zayn turned his attention to the Usos and the tag titles. Now, with the help of Owens, Zayn looks to have his big WrestleMania moment by dethroning the longest-reigning tag team champs in WWE history.</p><p>Owens and Zayn have all the momentum and are expected to receive one of the loudest ovations of the weekend. Regardless of whether they get the job done, this match has the potential to steal the show.</p><h3>Rhodes vs. Reigns for world title</h3><p>It's the Cinderella story the Rhodes family has waited years to tell. After decades in the business, a Rhodes will finally main event WrestleMania when Cody takes on Reigns one year after returning to WWE.</p><p>It's been a long road for Cody, who had a lackluster tenure with WWE in the early 2010s before leaving the company in 2016. The 37-year-old spent the ensuing years touring the independent wrestling scene and helping create AEW, the second-largest wrestling promotion in North America, before returning to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in spine-tingling fashion.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zkMwhLLN0gM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p>Now, the "American Nightmare" is a three count away from winning the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, something neither his father - the legendary "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes - nor his brother, Goldust, ever did.</p><p>After a nasty pectoral injury last June, Cody clawed his way back to in-ring competition and secured a title shot by winning the men's Royal Rumble match in January.</p><p>On the other side of the ring, you have Reigns with his nearly 1,000-day title run. It'll go down as one of WWE's greatest reigns - no pun intended. Reigns, who's become the biggest star in the business today, couldn't be a better representation of a mountain that a climber needs to overcome.</p>

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5 things to look forward to at WrestleMania 39

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP)  Australia will play Bosnia and Herzegovina on hard courts at Memorial D...

<div>
<p>ADELAIDE, Australia (AP)  Australia will play Bosnia and Herzegovina on hard courts at Memorial Drive in Adelaide in the first round of next year's revamped Davis Cup competition on Feb. 1-2.</p>
<p>The two teams will meet for the first time when they play for one of 12 spots in the finals. The winners will join Croatia, France, United States, Spain and wild cards Argentina and Britain in the 18-team event from Nov. 18-24 next year in Madrid.</p>
<p>Croatia beat France in this year's final last weekend, while the U.S. and Spain were losing semifinalists.</p>
<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>
<p>Tennis Australia said Thursday the best-of-three set matches will take place over two days, with two singles matches played on Friday and a doubles match and the reverse singles played on Saturday.</p>
<p>---</p>
<p>More AP Tennis: https://www.apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports</p>
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ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 10: Frances Tiafoe of the USA competes in his match against Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia on day three of the 2018 World Tennis Challenge at Memorial Drive on January 10, 2018 in Adelaide, Australia.

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2019 Davis Cup: Adelaide to host 1st-round match

MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Jonathan Taylor rushed for 159 yards and Taiwan Deal ran for 111 yards and tw...

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<p>MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Jonathan Taylor rushed for 159 yards and Taiwan Deal ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns as No. 23 Wisconsin took advantage of five first-half turnovers to rout Illinois 49-20 on Saturday.</p>
<p>Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten), which has won nine straight against Illinois (3-4, 1-3), had three interceptions and recovered two fumbles on the way to building a 28-10 halftime lead. Alex Hornibrook, coming off an awful outing in a loss at Michigan last week, threw two touchdown passes and two interceptions.</p>
<p>Illinois turned Hornibrook's second interception into a 10-yard scoring drive to make it 28-17 early in the third quarter, but Wisconsin countered with a pair of touchdowns to push the lead to 42-17.</p>
<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>
<p>The Badgers opened with an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive, capped by Alec Ingold's 1-yard run. On the ensuing possession, linebacker T.J. Edwards returned an interception 28 yards to the Illinois 25-yard line and two plays later freshman Aron Cruickshank scored on a 23-yard jet sweep to put Wisconsin up 14-0.</p>
<p>Reggie Corbin scored on an 80-yard run for Illinois to cut the lead to 14-7.</p>
<p>An interception by 342-pound nose tackle Olive Sagapolu set up Wisconsin's next score. Hornibrook hit Jake Ferguson for a 21-yard touchdown to make it 21-7.</p>
<p>The Badgers converted a fumble recovery into a 35-yard touchdown drive, culminating in Hornibrook's 11-yard pass to Kyle Penniston.</p>
<p>Chase McClaughlin's 52-yard field goal on the final play of the half made it 28-10.</p>
<p>THE TAKEAWAY</p>
<p>Illinois: The Ilini entered with 1.83 interceptions per game, tied for fourth nationally, and picked off Hornibrook twice. They also came in leading the Big Ten in forced turnovers and were 12th in the nation.</p>
<p>Wisconsin: Hornibrook completed 13 of 22 passes for 188 yards, but was intercepted twice and had a third negated by a defensive penalty. But, he was far better than his performance at Michigan, when he was 7 for 20 for 100 yards with two interceptions and a string of 12 consecutive incompletions.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Illinois is at Maryland.</p>
<p>Wisconsin travels to Northwestern in a crucial Big Ten West showdown. The Wildcats entered Saturday's game at Rutgers 3-1 in the conference, a half-game in front of Wisconsin, Purdue and Iowa.</p>
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MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 06: Jonathan Taylor #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers scores a touchdown in the third quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin.

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Taylor and Deal carry No. 23 Wisconsin past Illinois 49-20

SUZUKA, Japan (AP)  Championship leader Lewis Hamilton claimed pole position for the Japanese Gra...

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<p>SUZUKA, Japan (AP)  Championship leader Lewis Hamilton claimed pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix on Saturday, leading a 1-2 finish for Mercedes and taking a step closer to securing his fifth Formula One title.</p>
<p>With rain threatening, Hamilton clocked a lap of 1 minute, 27.760 seconds to lead teammate Valtteri Bottas by 0.299. Red Bull driver Max Verstappen was third.</p>
<p>Mercedes read the weather conditions perfectly, ensuring that both drivers recorded their best laps early in the third part of qualifying, before the rain increased to secure their fifth consecutive one-two at Suzuka.</p>
<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>
<p>''The call we made to go out in Q3 which is probably the most difficult call,'' said Hamilton. ''You saw all of us fumbling and trying to figure out what to do - the team were spot on with it and it gave us an opportunity to grab this pole position.''</p>
<p>Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel's qualifying run did not go as well with the German hitting a wet patch and spinning off the course. Vettel finished ninth - later raised to eighth - further damaging his chances of catching Hamilton in the championship race.</p>
<p>''It's not the position we deserve to be in,'' Vettel said. ''I think we had better speed than ninth but we start there and then see how it goes. Anything could happen tomorrow, tomorrow's a new day. Obviously it's not easy when you start further back but it's not impossible.''</p>
<p>With five races to go, Hamilton leads Vettel by 50 points in the standings. Race winners get 25 points.</p>
<p>Hamilton, who claimed the 80th pole of his career, will be bidding for his fifth Japanese Grand Prix victory in Sunday's race.</p>
<p>''A big thank you to everyone back at the factory,'' said Hamilton. ''I'm so proud to be on this journey with them. Never in a million years thought I'd get to 80.''</p>
<p>Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen was fourth in Japan, ahead of Haas driver Romain Grosjean.</p>
<p>It was a disappointing afternoon for Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo who ended up 15th after failing to set a time in the second qualifying, heading into the pits at the end of his outlap with what appeared to be an engine problem.</p>
<p>Toro Rosso's Brendon Hartley claimed his best grid position in sixth, one place ahead of teammate Pierre Gasly.</p>
<p>Esteban Ocon was eighth, ahead of Vettel, with his Force India teammate Sergio Perez rounding out the top 10.</p>
<p>But Ocon was later handed a grid penalty and will start the race from 11th. Race officials ruled that he did not slow sufficiently during the red flag period.</p>
<p>Marcus Ericsson crashed at Turn 7 early in the session.</p>
<p>The Sauber driver ran wide onto the grass and spun into a barrier, leading to a six-minute red flag.</p>
<p>---</p>
<p>More AP auto racing: https://racing.ap.org</p>
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SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 06: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP waves to fans on the fan stage after qualifying for the Formula One Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka Circuit on October 6, 2018 in Suzuka.

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Hamilton claims pole for Japanese Grand Prix, Vettel 8th

WUHAN, China (AP)  Daria Kasatkina recorded her first victory over Lesia Tsurenko in three attemp...

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<p>WUHAN, China (AP)  Daria Kasatkina recorded her first victory over Lesia Tsurenko in three attempts in the first round of the Wuhan Open on Sunday as US Open champion Naomi Osaka was forced to pull out of the tournament due to a viral illness.</p>
<p>Kasatkina, the No. 13 seeded Russian, defeated her Ukrainian opponent 6-4, 7-5 to set up a second round match against either Bernarda Pera or the US Open junior champion and qualifier Wang Xiyu.</p>
<p>No. 7-ranked Osaka withdrew from the tournament after losing in the final of the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Sunday with lucky loser Polona Hercog replacing her in the main draw.</p>
<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>
<p>''I'm very sorry to have to withdraw from Wuhan. I look forward to playing in Wuhan next year,'' Osaka said in a statement.</p>
<p>Earlier this week, former top-ranked Victoria Azarenka also pulled out after she was forced to retire in the quarterfinals in Tokyo due to a viral illness.</p>
<p>In other first round matches, the Chinese duo of Zheng Saisai and Zhang Shuai won their first round matches.</p>
<p>Zhang stunned Australian Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-2 while Zheng defeated American Danielle Collins after losing the first set 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.</p>
<p>Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Julia Goerges, Monica Puig, Katerina Siniakova and Aliaksandra Sasnovich also advanced to the second round.</p>
</div>

Daria Kasatkina of Russia serves against Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine during their women's singles first round match of the WTA Wuhan Open tennis tournament in Wuhan on September 23, 2018.

Kasatkina advances to 2nd round of Wuhan Open

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  Kiki Bertens won her third WTA Tour singles title of the season on Sunda...

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<p>SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  Kiki Bertens won her third WTA Tour singles title of the season on Sunday and denied Ajla Tomljanovic her career first with a 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-2 win over the Croatian-born Australian.</p>
<p>The second-seeded Bertens, who won the final six games of the match, was a service break down twice in the first set, but fought back to level and then dominated the tiebreaker thanks to a strong first serve.</p>
<p>Bertens was behind 2-0 in the second set before coming back to take a 4-3 lead with a break, but Tomljanovic broke in the 10th game when Bertens netted a forehand, giving the Australian the second set.</p>
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<p>Tomljanovic again took a 2-0 lead in the final set, hitting a blistering forehand to the back of the court on break point that Bertens could only watch streak past her. But the Dutch player again staged a comeback, not dropping another game.</p>
<p>The consolation prize for Tomljanovic, who ended Hsieh Su-wei's eight-match winning streak in the semifinals, will be a big jump in the rankings.</p>
<p>Tomljanovic, who has lost all three WTA finals she has contested, was ranked in the 900s nearly three years ago due to persistent shoulder problems. But she has moved steadily up in the rankings and is projected to reach at least No. 44 next week.</p>
<p>The No. 12-ranked Bertens had dropped only one set going in to the final, while Tomljanovic needed three sets in each of her previous matches.</p>
<p>---</p>
<p>More AP sports: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports</p>
</div>

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 01: Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands returns the ball during her women's singles third round match against Marketa Vondrousova of Czech Republic on Day Six of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 1, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Kiki Bertens wins Korea Open in 3 sets over Ajla Tomljanovic

TOKYO (AP)  Naomi Osaka's dominant run came to end on Sunday in a 6-4, 6-4 loss to fourth-seeded ...

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<p>TOKYO (AP)  Naomi Osaka's dominant run came to end on Sunday in a 6-4, 6-4 loss to fourth-seeded Karolina Pliskova in the final of the Pan Pacific Open.</p>
<p>Playing in her first tournament since upsetting Serena Williams to win the U.S. Open on Sept. 8, third-seeded Osaka hadn't dropped a set previous to Sunday's final but was frustrated from the outset by the big-serving Czech player.</p>
<p>Pliskova came into Sunday's final having won her last four dating to the Brisbane International in January 2017 - and kept that streak alive while putting an end to Osaka's 10-match winning streak.</p>
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<p>Pliskova needed three dramatic sets in each of her matches to reach her second final of the season.</p>
<p>''I was just happy it didn't go to a third set,'' Pliskova said. ''Naomi was playing so good all tournament but I think she was a little bit tired today.''</p>
<p>Osaka started well with a pair of aces to win the opening game but Pliskova won her first break point of the match and took a 3-2 lead.</p>
<p>The 20-year-old local favorite was barely tested in her first three matches of the tournament but faced a much sterner challenge against Pliskova.</p>
<p>The frustration boiled over when Osaka double faulted in the ninth game of the second set to set up Pliskova's second break. The 20-year-old tossed her racket to the ground before collecting her composure, but it was too late.</p>
<p>Pliskova broke Osaka for a second time to go up 5-4 and then hammered her sixth ace to secure her 11th career title.</p>
<p>It was the second time Osaka came up short in the tournament. Two years ago, Osaka lost in the final to Caroline Wozniacki, this year's top-seeded player who was eliminated by Camila Giorgi in the second round.</p>
<p>Osaka has been in the spotlight both on and off the court since arriving back in Japan after her historic win in New York.</p>
<p>Despite being encouraged by the sold-out crowd at Tachikawa Arena, Osaka wasn't able to stage a comeback. She finished with 26 unforced errors and admitted to being exhausted after the match.</p>
<p>''I've literally never felt more tired in my entire life,'' Osaka said. ''To play the final of the U.S. Open and then to come here, I think I did pretty well. So if there is anything I can take from this it is that I am proud of myself.''</p>
<p>---</p>
<p>More AP sports: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports</p>
</div>

TACHIKAWA, JAPAN - SEPTEMBER 23: Singles champion Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic poses for photographs with the trophy after the Singles final against Naomi Osaka of Japan on day seven of the Toray Pan Pacific Open at Arena Tachikawa Tachihi on September 23, 2018 in Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan.

Osaka's winning streak comes to an end in loss to Pliskova

LONDON (AP)  No sooner had Anthony Joshua brutally dispatched another pretender to his heavyweigh...

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<p>LONDON (AP)  No sooner had Anthony Joshua brutally dispatched another pretender to his heavyweight titles than attention turned to who the British fighter would face next as he seeks to clean up boxing's most glamorous division.</p>
<p>An eagerly anticipated fight on Dec. 1 will go a long way to clearing that up.</p>
<p>Deontay Wilder, the WBC champion, is scheduled to take on Tyson Fury, the former champion before drug and health issues got in the way, somewhere in Las Vegas. It's a fight between two unbeaten heavyweights who represent the biggest threat to Joshua, the WBA, IBF and WBO belt-holder, and could provide his next opponent.</p>
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<p>Joshua, now with a 22-0 record after toughing out a victory over Alexander Povetkin in front of 80,000 at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, said he isn't bothered who wins out of Wilder and Fury. In fact, he even suggested he won't even watch it.</p>
<p>His promoter has other ideas, however.</p>
<p>''We want Wilder,'' Eddie Hearn said.</p>
<p>For Hearn, Wilder vs. Joshua - pitting the two biggest punchers in boxing together - would be one of the biggest fights in boxing history and would be must-see viewing, stylistically. There's also the issue of unifying the belts while the opportunity is there.</p>
<p>''We want to be undisputed heavyweight champion of the world,'' Hearn said, looking across to Joshua.</p>
<p>Hearn also sees Fury, a loudmouth out of the ring and a pragmatic boxer in it, as something of a turn-off.</p>
<p>''I don't want to be disrespectful here, but Tyson Fury is the most unentertaining fighter I've ever seen,'' Hearn said, dismissively. ''He's never been in a good fight in his whole career. Deontay Wilder against Joshua is the biggest fight in world boxing and it's the most exciting matchup you can make.''</p>
<p>The Wilder and Joshua camps negotiated last year for a fight - there was talk of $50 million on the table - but couldn't find a middle ground. Hearn is eager to resume talks and agree to a deal in the coming weeks that can be rubber-stamped as soon as Wilder beats Fury. He said $50m would be ''peanuts'' compared to what could be offer next year.</p>
<p>''I don't want to wait until December for him to finish his fight, get some rest and then start negotiating,'' said Joshua, who is contractually obliged to return to Wembley on April 13 for his next fight. ''I start training for a fight again early January. I want to get my fight fixed as soon as possible this side of the year, so I know what I'm doing next year.''</p>
<p>Aside from what will undoubtedly by tough negotiations with Wilder's people, another possible barrier for Hearn will be if Fury wins on Dec. 1. That would make a rematch likely, and also make Wilder a less-appealing prospect.</p>
<p>Joshua would then have to turn to someone like fellow Briton Dillian Whyte for his April 13 fight.</p>
<p>So, it's a case of wait and see for Joshua, who has a seven-month break before getting back in the ring. He'll do so with more experience in the bank after a difficult fight against Povetkin that started with the Briton getting a busted nose in the first round and ended with a devastating flurry of punches that sent the 39-year-old Russian nearly stumbling through the ropes.</p>
<p>In his last two fights, Joshua has beaten the previously undefeated Joseph Parker convincingly on points and then inflicted only Povetkin's second career loss. They were both ranked as the No. 3 heavyweight in the world when they took on Joshua, who realistically only has two credible rivals currently in the division.</p>
<p>Fury has returned after a 2 1/2-year absence with two almost farcically easy fights, which gave him some much-needed time in the ring but barely proved a thing.</p>
<p>Fury vs. Joshua - the bad boy against the poster boy - would get Britons excited but Wilder vs. Joshua really gets the pulses racing.</p>
<p>''No problem, I fight whoever,'' Joshua said. ''I'll always knock them down, one by one.''</p>
<p>---</p>
<p>More AP sports: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports</p>
<p>---</p>
<p>Steve Douglas is at www.twitter.com/sdouglas80</p>
</div>

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Anthony Joshua celebrates victory over Alexander Povetkin during the IBF, WBA Super, WBO & IBO World Heavyweight Championship title fight between Anthony Joshua and Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium on September 22, 2018 in London, England.

'We want Wilder': Team Joshua eager to fix unification fight

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  Ajla Tomljanovic has ended Hsieh Su-wei's eight-match winning streak wit...

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<p>SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  Ajla Tomljanovic has ended Hsieh Su-wei's eight-match winning streak with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 win over the Taiwanese player on Saturday at the Korea Open.</p>
<p>Hsieh won last week's Japan Women's Open at Hiroshima and the first three rounds in Seoul.</p>
<p>In Sunday's final, Tomljanovic will play second-seeded Kiki Bertens, who beat No. 3 Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-2 in an earlier semifinal Saturday.</p>
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<p>More AP sports: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports</p>
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NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 30: Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia during her women's singles second round match against Katerina Siniakova of Czech Republic on Day Four of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 30, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Bertens, Tomljanovic in Seoul final

TOKYO (AP)  Naomi Osaka eased into the final of the Pan Pacific Open on Saturday with a comfortab...

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<p>TOKYO (AP)  Naomi Osaka eased into the final of the Pan Pacific Open on Saturday with a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 semifinal win over Camila Giorgi.</p>
<p>The U.S. Open champion, who upset Serena Williams in the final in New York this month, overpowered her unseeded opponent with a dominant serve and will face fourth-seeded Karolina Pliskova in Sunday's final.</p>
<p>Osaka hammered nine aces over the course of the victory, and dropped just eight points in eight service games over the course of the match.</p>
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<p>''My serve got me out of a lot of trouble today,'' said Osaka. ''She was playing really well and my serve helped me. I was a bit nervous because I really wanted to reach the final.''</p>
<p>Two years ago, Osaka lost in the final to Caroline Wozniacki, this year's top-seeded player who was eliminated by Giorgi on Thursday.</p>
<p>Having not dropped a set over the course of her week, Osaka will next face a player who's needed three dramatic sets in each of her matches to reach her second final of the season.</p>
<p>Pliskova had to dig deep again to beat Donna Vekic 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in Saturday's other semifinal.</p>
<p>After saving two match points against American qualifier Alison Riske in the last round, and coming back from a set down against Daria Gavrilova earlier in the tournament, Pliskova had to go the distance once again, needing 2 hours and five minutes.</p>
<p>''It was another long one today!'' Pliskova said after the match. ''I feel like I'm improving in every match, but the opponents are always more tough. That's normal in semifinals - there's no easy opponents.''</p>
<p>---</p>
<p>More AP sports: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports</p>
</div>

Naomi Osaka of Japan hits a return against Camila Giorgi of Italy during their women's singles semi-final tennis match at the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo on September 22, 2018.

US Open champion Osaka reaches Pan Pacific Open final

LAS VEGAS (AP)  A glance at Saturday's middleweight title fight between Gennady Golovkin and Cane...

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<p>LAS VEGAS (AP)  A glance at Saturday's middleweight title fight between Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez:</p>
<p>At stake: Golovkin is risking his middleweight titles against Alvarez, who is a former 160-pound champion.</p>
<p>Once more: The fight is a rematch of their bout last September, which ended in a controversial draw.</p>
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<p>Where: The two fight at the T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip, where they met the first time.</p>
<p>When: The undercard begins at 8 p.m. EDT, with the main event expected to begin about 11 p.m.</p>
<p>Weights: Golovkin weighed in Friday at 159.6 pounds to 159.4 for Alvarez.</p>
<p>Meaty story line: The fight was originally scheduled for May but postponed after Alvarez tested positive for clenbuterol, which he blamed on eating tainted meat in Mexico.</p>
<p>Odds: Golovkin is a slight 7-5 favorite in the scheduled 12-round bout.</p>
<p>How much: The fight is a sellout, but is available on HBO pay-per-view at a cost of $84.95.</p>
<p>Records: Golovkin is 38-0-1 with 34 knockouts, while Alvarez is 49-1-2 with 34 knockouts.</p>
<p>Good pay: Alvarez is guaranteed $5 million to $4 million for Golovkin. Both will likely make many times that with a share of pay-per-view sales.</p>
</div>

LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 12: WBC/WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (R) speaks as Golden Boy Promotions President Eric Gomez (L) and Canelo Alvarez (2nd L) listen during a news conference at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on September 12, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Golovkin will defend his titles against Alvarez in a rematch on September 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

A glance at the Golovkin-Alvarez fight

LAS VEGAS (AP)  Tennis star Serena Williams talked about her fashion business, not tennis fouls d...

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<p>LAS VEGAS (AP)  Tennis star Serena Williams talked about her fashion business, not tennis fouls during an appearance before a business convention in Las Vegas.</p>
<p>The 23-time Grand Slam champion said not a word Friday about gender equality in sports or an argument she had last weekend with the chair umpire at her U.S. Open finals match in New York.</p>
<p>Williams said previously she was treated more harshly than a male player would have been after smashing her racket and arguing with match official Carlos Ramos during her finals loss to Naomi Osaka in New York.</p>
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<p>She received three code violations and was penalized one game. She was later fined $17,000.</p>
<p>Williams spent 25 minutes talking onstage with Sarah Robb O'Hagan, chief executive of Flywheel Sports, at the National Retail Federation trade show.</p>
</div>

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 08: Serena Williams of the United States returns the ball during her Women's Singles finals match against Naomi Osaka of Japan on Day Thirteen of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 8, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Serena talks fashion, not fouls, at Las Vegas event

LAS VEGAS (AP)  Canelo Alvarez has gone to bed the last few months thinking about how he's going ...

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<p>LAS VEGAS (AP)  Canelo Alvarez has gone to bed the last few months thinking about how he's going to knock out Gennady Golovkin in their middleweight title rematch.</p>
<p>To wake up Sunday morning as the 160-pound champion, though, he'll have to take some chances he didn't in his first fight with Golovkin a year ago. And that could be a real problem against a fearsome puncher who has knocked out 34 fighters in his 39 professional fights.</p>
<p>''I know it's going to be a tough fight,'' Alvarez said. ''But I'm going in there to knock him out.''</p>
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<p>Alvarez and Golovkin get another chance to settle what they couldn't last September when they meet in a rematch of their first fight, which ended in a draw. They do so Saturday night on the Las Vegas Strip not as the gentleman fighters they portrayed themselves to be then, but as bitter rivals who legitimately seem to dislike each other.</p>
<p>That showed at Friday's weigh-in, when the two fighters had to be separated in their only face-to-face appearance before the fight. Golovkin weighed 159.6 pounds and Alvarez weighed 159.4.</p>
<p>A positive test by Alvarez for clenbuterol forced the rematch to be postponed from May. At the same time it produced some hard feelings between the two fighters over Alvarez's contention that it was caused by eating contaminated meat in his native Mexico.</p>
<p>Whether that translates into a more entertaining fight remains to be seen. But both fighters seem determined not to let it be decided by the ringside judges.</p>
<p>''It's a real fight,'' Golovkin said this week. ''Like a real war.''</p>
<p>Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 knockouts) is a slight favorite in the rematch, much as he was in the first fight. Many at ringside thought he won that bout, but Alvarez pulled off a draw by winning the late rounds as the 36-year-old Golovkin seemed to fade.</p>
<p>The fight wasn't the ''big drama show'' that Triple G likes to talk about, with neither fighter down and neither fighter really hurt. But it was a tough, competitive matchup that delivered in other ways even without a winner at the end.</p>
<p>''I had a great experience from the first fight,'' Golovkin said. ''It's a little bit different this time, but I believe it will be a big fight for the fans.''</p>
<p>Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 knockouts) believes that, too, but sees a different result. It's one he's envisioned nightly in bed as he goes over scenarios that will help him win.</p>
<p>''Every night in my bed before I go to sleep I visualize what I need to do to get the knockout,'' Alvarez said through an interpreter. ''I know it's going to be a tough fight.''</p>
<p>The fight, which carries a pay-per-view price tag of $84.95, is big for the careers of both men. But Alvarez may have more at stake than Golovkin, the puncher from Kazakhstan who has held pieces of the middleweight title for eight years.</p>
<p>The most popular fighter in his native Mexico, Alvarez has taken a hit from some of his rabid fans both for testing positive and for not fighting more aggressively. He can only talk about the doping that got him suspended for six months by Nevada boxing authorities, but he can do something in the ring to alter the perception that his style is too conservative.</p>
<p>Golovkin trainer Abel Sanchez hopes he does just that.</p>
<p>''He's promised the fans he's going to knock him out but in order to do that you have to be in range and then it gets dangerous,'' Sanchez said. ''In order to win a fight you have to want to win a fight.''</p>
<p>Golovkin has - mostly through his trainer - tried to goad Alvarez into taking more chances in the rematch, claiming the Mexican star ran in the first fight. A more stationary Alvarez, of course, would make him easier to hit, but Alvarez is more comfortable as a boxer and counter puncher and used those skills to his advantage in the first fight.</p>
<p>The first fight delivered not only in the ring but at the cash register, with a $27 million gate and 1.3 million pay-per-view buys. The rematch is sold out, but a lackluster promotion might make it more difficult to sell as many pay-per-views as the two fighters did when they first met.</p>
</div>

LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 16: (L-R) Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez both celebrate after the final round in their WBC, WBA and IBF middleweight championship bout at T-Mobile Arena on September 16, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

A year later, Golovkin, Alvarez meet with bad intentions

YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP)  Naomi Osaka has been announced as the ''brand ambassador'' for a major Japa...

<div>
<p>YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP)  Naomi Osaka has been announced as the ''brand ambassador'' for a major Japanese car maker.</p>
<p>Osaka has been the main subject on talk shows and in newspapers since she defeated Serena Williams last weekend to win the U.S. Open title. She is the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles title.</p>
<p>Osaka appeared Thursday at Nissan's headquarters, which was mobbed with media curious to see the new champion who was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and a Haitian father, but left Japan at 3 to live in the United States.</p>
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<p>She also made an earlier appearance at a five-star Yokohama hotel.</p>
<p>Her mixed-race background - and those of many Japanese athletes - has raised the question about what it means to be Japanese.</p>
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Japan's Naomi Osaka, the US Open women's singles tennis tournament champion, attends a press conference at a hotel in Yokohama on September 13, 2018.

US Open winner Osaka signs deal with Japanese car maker

The chair umpire who penalized Serena Williams a game in the U.S. Open final has been assigned to...

<div>
<p>The chair umpire who penalized Serena Williams a game in the U.S. Open final has been assigned to officiate the Davis Cup semifinal matches between the United States and Croatia, The Associated Press has learned.</p>
<p>International Tennis Federation spokeswoman Heather Bowles confirmed to the AP on Tuesday that Carlos Ramos was chosen to work at the best-of-five series between the countries that begins Friday and concludes Sunday in Zadar, Croatia.</p>
<p>The U.S. team includes Jack Sock, Sam Querrey, Steve Johnson, Mike Bryan and rookie Frances Tiafoe.</p>
<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>
<p>Ramos was in the chair at Flushing Meadows last Saturday when Naomi Osaka won her first Grand Slam title by beating 23-time major champion Williams 6-2, 6-4. That match descended into chaos - with thousands of spectators booing and both players crying during the trophy ceremony - after Williams confronted Ramos about his rulings.</p>
<p>Williams, a 36-year-old American, was fined a total of $17,000 by the U.S. Open's tournament referee the next day for three code violations.</p>
<p>On Monday, the ITF, which oversees the Davis Cup, issued a statement defending Ramos, saying his ''decisions were in accordance with the relevant rules'' and that his rulings were ''reaffirmed by the U.S. Open's decision to fine Serena Williams for the three offenses.''</p>
<p>''Ramos undertook his duties as an official according to the relevant rule book and acted at all times with professionalism and integrity,'' the ITF statement added.</p>
<p>The governing body's support for Ramos came after the WTA, which operates the women's tour, was critical of the way things went between him and Williams in New York.</p>
<p>''The WTA believes that there should be no difference in the standards of tolerance provided to the emotions expressed by men vs. women and is committed to working with the sport to ensure that all players are treated the same,'' the tour's CEO, Steve Simon, said in a statement. ''We do not believe that this was done last night.''</p>
<p>Williams was cited by Ramos for getting coaching signals; for breaking her racket, which automatically cost her a point because it was her second code violation of the match; and for calling Ramos a ''thief,'' which cost her a game because it was her third code violation.</p>
<p>---</p>
<p>Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich</p>
<p>---</p>
<p>More AP tennis coverage: https://www.apnews.com/tag/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports</p>
</div>

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 08: Serena Williams of the United States discusses a coaching violation warning given by umpire Carlos Ramos during her Women's Singles finals match against Naomi Osaka of Japan on Day Thirteen of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 8, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

US Open final umpire Ramos gets US-Croatia Davis Cup matches

LAS VEGAS (AP)  For a sport often given up for dead, boxing is suddenly very much alive.  Turn on...

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<p>LAS VEGAS (AP)  For a sport often given up for dead, boxing is suddenly very much alive.</p>
<p>Turn on the TV and there's probably a fight on from somewhere. Tune in, and there's a good chance even the most casual boxing fan will find something to like.</p>
<p>The heavyweight division is coming back, and there's a group of welterweights so talented they are bringing back memories of the 1980s, when fighters like Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns and Marvelous Marvin Hagler ruled the ring and the biggest fights were magical affairs staged outdoors on the Las Vegas Strip.</p>
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<p>Networks are getting into bidding wars for fights, and a string of new deals means there's more boxing on free television than ever before.</p>
<p>And, of course, there's Saturday night.</p>
<p>That's when Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez step into the ring at the T-Mobile Arena to try to settle what they couldn't the first time around in a hotly anticipated showdown with the middleweight title at stake. The fight is a rematch of their draw last September, and this time both fighters have made it clear they just don't like each other.</p>
<p>It's a combination that should make this a pay-per-view worth reaching into the wallet for, though it's not cheap. Boxing still insists on a buy-in for its biggest fights, and at $84.95 to watch at home, this fight needs to deliver in a big way to justify the cost.</p>
<p>Whether it does won't be known until the two actually get into the ring together in a fight delayed from May after Alvarez tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug. But there's a lot to like about two big punchers meeting to settle things at 160 pounds the way fighters used to do it back in the day.</p>
<p>''I believe it will be a big drama show,'' Golovkin said. ''I wanted the first fight to be a big drama show, but he wouldn't fight me.''</p>
<p>Golovkin's complaint about Alvarez not standing toe-to-toe with him in the first fight isn't his only issue with the rematch. He also believes Alvarez is a cheater, and dismisses his claim that eating tainted meat in his native Mexico led to the positive test for clenbuterol.</p>
<p>''It's very strange because we know what happened. He was caught for doing illegal substances,'' Golovkin said through an interpreter. ''As far as his stories about the meat, you have to be really stupid to believe these kind of stories after being caught doping.''</p>
<p>Golovkin's other complaint centered on the purse split for the fight. Alvarez, who was a proven pay-per-view draw, got 70 percent of the take in the first fight, and was supposed to get 65 percent in the second, had it happened in May as planned.</p>
<p>But Triple G stood his ground, finally getting a 45 percent share after already booking another fight elsewhere that would have paid him only a fraction of the millions both he and Alvarez will make for their showdown.</p>
<p>All of which, of course, has raised some bitter feelings in the Alvarez camp.</p>
<p>''It's definitely more personal now. I really don't like him,'' Alvarez said. ''It's personal, and I take it that way. It will make me train harder and give it the extra push to knock him out.''</p>
<p>The fight itself is a classic matchup that has the potential to deliver more than the first fight, a good scrap that lacked the drama of knockdowns and ended in a draw that satisfied neither fighter. Whether it does largely depends on the chances both fighters take - or refuse to take.</p>
<p>Golovkin, the Kazakh who lives in Los Angeles, thought he won the first fight easily, even though one judge had it 118-110 for Alvarez. Golovkin did win the early rounds and seemed to be controlling the action until he faded late in the fight.</p>
<p>Golovkin, who has knocked out almost everyone put in front of him (38-0-1, 34 knockouts) has vowed to be more aggressive in the rematch. Alvarez, too, says he has some new tricks he will pull out to try to regain a fan base upset with him after his positive test for PEDs.</p>
<p>Whatever the strategy, it's the kind of fight that might have taken place it in the 1980s, when the best fought the best under the stars at Caesars Palace. Boxing is on a roll again, and the biggest fight of the year should set a tone for the sport moving forward.</p>
<p>A year after they first met, Golovkin-Alvarez II is once again must-see TV.</p>
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<p>Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at tdahlberg(at)ap.org or http://twitter.com/timdahlberg</p>
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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 27: Boxers Canelo Alvarez (L) and Gennady Golovkin face off after a news conference at Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live to announce their upcoming rematch on February 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.

Golovkin-Canelo rematch should be must-see TV

NEW YORK (AP)  Juan Martin del Potro stood with his hands on his knees, exhausted from taking the...

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<p>NEW YORK (AP)  Juan Martin del Potro stood with his hands on his knees, exhausted from taking the mightiest swings he could with his ferocious forehand.</p>
<p>Novak Djokovic kept getting the ball back, so del Potro would take a bigger whack, trying to find some spot in the corner of the court that would be uncovered.</p>
<p>That eventually wore him out and led to mistakes, and del Potro lost 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 on Sunday in the final of the U.S. Open, the tournament he most wants to win again.</p>
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<p>But just getting back, hearing those delirious Argentine fans sing ''Ole! Ole! DelPo!'' again between points, gave him something else rewarding to take home from Flushing Meadows.</p>
<p>''What I said on the stage, you can lose or win a trophy, but the love from the crowd, it could be even bigger than the tournament,'' del Potro said. ''That's what I got from them. It will be in the heart for the rest of the life.''</p>
<p>It wasn't long ago he never knew if he would hear that sound again. He nearly quit tennis in 2015, after four wrist surgeries that wouldn't let him regain the form that carried him past Roger Federer to win the 2009 U.S. Open.</p>
<p>The powerful player couldn't hit the ball hard enough with his backhand to threaten top players, let alone the rulers of the sport like Federer, Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. But del Potro not only stuck with it, he surged up to a career-high No. 3 in the rankings last month on the strength of a semifinal run at the French Open and a victory over Federer to win Indian Wells.</p>
<p>Djokovic said he believes del Potro will win another major title.</p>
<p>''With his wrist injuries, with coming back and still having faith, having belief in himself that one day he's going to be a top player and he's going to be fighting for Grand Slams,'' Djokovic said, ''I really wish him all the best.''</p>
<p>The quest to win a second major will have to wait until next year, but del Potro, who turns 30 this month, feels good about his chances with the way his wrist held up over the last two weeks.</p>
<p>''I will keep playing tennis for a few more years,'' he said. ''I don't know when will be my last tournament in this career, but I'm excited to keep surprising myself doing things like this. I'm very motivated to keep trying to win these titles.''</p>
<p>He was in tears afterward, with both Djokovic and John McEnroe coming over to give him a consoling pat on the shoulder as he sat on his chair waiting for the trophy presentation. He was drained from 3 hours, 16 minutes trying to find weaknesses in perhaps the best defender in tennis, especially after losing the 22-point, 20-plus minute game in the second set that was the match's pivotal moment.</p>
<p>Del Potro might have beaten other players Sunday, same as some of the losses to Federer and Nadal through the years may have been victories against lesser foes.</p>
<p>Some two hours after the match, del Potro walked out to the players garden to a greeting from his group of about a dozen friends who have led the cheers from his box, supporters from back home he has credited with keeping his spirits up during the depressing days when he was injured.</p>
<p>Beloved in Argentina and embraced in New York, he's looking forward to resuming his chase next year.</p>
<p>''I'm just doing my job, trying to be an example for the kids, to teach them that you have to do effort to get your goals in your life,'' del Potro said.</p>
<p>''I will try to keeping (troubling) these guys, playing in the next tournaments, and we'll see.''</p>
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<p>Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/briancmahoney</p>
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<p>More AP tennis coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports</p>
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NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 09: Novak Djokovic of Serbia is congratulated on his win by Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina after their Men's Singles final match on Day Fourteen of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 9, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Del Potro falls in US Open, but being back is his reward

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP)  English welterweight Amir Khan had to climb off the canvas to continue ...

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<p>BIRMINGHAM, England (AP)  English welterweight Amir Khan had to climb off the canvas to continue his comeback with a points win over Samuel Vargas on Saturday.</p>
<p>In his second fight since returning to the ring after a two-year absence, Khan was knocked to the floor in the final seconds of the second round.</p>
<p>The Colombian-born Vargas, a former North American champion, had already been put down himself when he stunned Khan and the capacity crowd.</p>
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<p>But, with potential next opponent Kell Brook watching at ringside, Khan recovered on his stool, came out and floored Vargas again.</p>
<p>The 31-year-old Khan (33-4), a former world super lightweight champion, was unable to finish the job and eventually had to settle for a unanimous points victory from the grueling fight.</p>
<p>Vargas' record dropped to 29-4 plus two draws.</p>
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<p>More AP sports: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports</p>
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BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 08: Amir Khan of England celebrates victory with his team over Samuel Vargas of Canada during their Welterweight bout held at Arena Birmingham on September 8, 2018 in Birmingham, England.

Amir Khan recovers to beat Samuel Vargas on points

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