NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz’s 15-match Grand Slam unbeaten run has ended at the U.S. Open with a 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 loss to Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round. Alcaraz’s exit in New York on Thursday night comes after he won the French Open in June and Wimbledon in July. The 21-year-old from Spain won the U.S. Open in 2022 and was 16-2 at the hard-court tournament in his career. This was his earliest loss at any major tournament since bowing out in the second round at Wimbledon in 2021 as a teenager. Alcaraz has never lost in the first round at a Slam event. He was a big favorite against the 74th-ranked van de Zandschulp.
Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter help Colorado hold off NDSU 31-26 to start Year 2 under Deion Sanders
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Shedeur Sanders threw for 445 yards and four touchdowns — three to Travis Hunter — and Colorado began Year 2 under Deion Sanders by holding off FCS power North Dakota State 31-26 on Thursday night. A 10 1/2-point favorite, the Buffaloes couldn’t shake a pesky Bison team that scored with 2:19 remaining to make things interesting. Shedeur Sanders looked as if he sealed the season-opening victory when he scrambled around and heaved a ball downfield on third-and-8 that drew a pass interference call. But North Dakota State got the ball back with 31 seconds remaining. Cam Miller launched a pass from his own 47 as time expired that was caught by Tyler Terhark 4 yards short of the end zone.
49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk ends contract dispute, agrees to 4-year, $120M deal, AP sources say
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Brandon Aiyuk’s long contract dispute with San Francisco came to an end Thursday when he agreed on a four-year contract to stay with the 49ers. A person familiar with the deal says the sides came to the agreement after Aiyuk missed his second straight practice despite being cleared by team doctors to participate. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn’t been announced. NFL Network first reported the agreement that will pay Aiyuk $120 million over four years with $76 million in guarantees.
Stephen Curry signs $63 million extension with Warriors for 2026-27 season
Stephen Curry has signed a one-year extension with the Golden State Warriors for the 2026-27 season, one in which the NBA’s all-time 3-point leader and Olympic gold medalist will earn nearly $63 million. The team announced the signing. ESPN first reported the agreement was in place, and Curry’s agent, Jeff Austin of Octagon, later confirmed it to The Associated Press. Curry is now guaranteed about $178 million for the next three seasons; about $55.8 million for this season, about $59.6 million for 2025-26 and now about $62.6 million — the most the Warriors could offer by league rule — for 2026-27.
Naomi Osaka’s forehand goes awry and she loses in the US Open’s second round to Karolina Muchova
NEW YORK (AP) — Karolina Muchova has eliminated two-time U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka 6-3, 7-6 (5) in the second round at Flushing Meadows. Osaka was a point from pushing the contest to a third set while serving for the second at 5-4 on Thursday night in Arthur Ashe Stadium. But Osaka missed forehand after forehand until she ceded that game and chucked her racket. Muchova then pulled out the victory in the ensuing tiebreaker. Muchova was the runner-up at the 2023 French Open and made it to the semifinals at the U.S. Open last year before losing to champion Coco Gauff.
No. 1 seeds Sinner, Swiatek move into the third round at the US Open; Alcaraz, Osaka eliminated
NEW YORK (AP) — Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner have flashed their No. 1 form with powerful performances that moved them into the third round of the U.S. Open. Carlos Alcaraz and Naomi Osaka couldn’t quite find the games that once had them on top of the rankings. Swiatek raced by Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara 6-0, 6-1, finishing off the match in 65 minutes. It took the 2022 U.S. Open champion longer than that to play the second set of her first-round match, when she needed a tiebreaker that she eventually closed out in 72 minutes. Sinner downed Alex Michelsen 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 in 1 hour, 39 minutes.
The Chiefs’ pursuit of a 3-peat is the hot topic among many storylines entering 2024 NFL season
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs chasing history will be the hottest topic throughout the NFL season. Kansas City’s three-peat quest is only one of many interesting storylines. Aaron Rodgers is back in New York after his first season with the Jets lasted only four plays. The 40-year-old four-time NFL MVP is returning from a torn Achilles tendon and aiming to help the Jets end the league’s longest active playoff drought. No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams takes over for the Bears, looking to end Chicago’s lengthy search for a franchise quarterback. Eighteen weeks and 272 games to determine the teams that’ll play in January to figure out which two face off in February for the Vince Lombardi trophy.
NFL places restrictions on Brady’s broadcasting access because of pending Raiders ownership stake
An NFL spokesperson says Tom Brady’s pending bid to become a part owner of the Las Vegas Raiders has triggered restrictions on his access to teams as part of his role as a Fox Sports broadcaster. Brady is not permitted to attend in-person or online broadcast production meetings and may not have access to team facilities, players or coaches. Fox staff is not subject to these limitations. He also must abide by the league constitution and bylaws that prohibit public criticism of officials and other clubs. Brady is allowed to broadcast Raiders games.
Jacoby Brissett is selected Patriots starting quarterback for Week 1 against Cincinnati
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Patriots coach Jerod Mayo has selected Jacoby Brissett as the starting quarterback for New England’s season opener at Cincinnati. Brissett gets the nod over rookie first-round draft pick Drake Maye, who he shared snaps with throughout training camp and the preseason. Brissett, who heading into his ninth NFL season, signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Patriots in March. It reunited him with the team that drafted him in in the third round in 2016. While Mayo acknowledged earlier this week that he felt Maye had outplayed Brissett this preseason, he said other factors shifted the pendulum toward Brissett, most notably his overall experience.
Scottie Scheffler takes giant leap toward $25 million FedEx Cup prize
ATLANTA (AP) — Scottie Scheffler started the Tour Championship with a two-shot lead. He had the best round of the opening day. The math in the FedEx Cup suddenly isn’t all that hard to figure out. The world’s No. 1 player made five birdies over the last seven holes at revamped East Lake for a 65. With the head start, he now leads by seven shots. That’s the largest 18-hole lead as far back as PGA Tour records go. Xander Schauffele spent too much time playing out of the rough and shot 70. He was tied with Collin Morikawa, who shot 66.
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