AP National Sports

By JOCELYN NOVECK AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Imagine if they could bottle a potion called “Just Serena.” That was Serena Williams’ succinct, smiling explanation for how she’d managed — at nearly 41, and match-rusty — to defeat the world’s second-ranked player and advance Wednesday to the third round of a U.S. Open

MILAN (AP) — The Italian soccer league has announced a number of energy saving measures. The Lega Serie A says stadiums will only be allowed to be lit for a maximum of four hours. It also reduced the amount of time floodlights could be fully turned on before kickoff from 90 minutes to an hour.

BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium teammates Jan Vertonghen and Michy Batshuayi were on the move Friday. They’re leaving Champions League teams to join new clubs ahead of the World Cup. Vertonghen moved home to join Anderlecht and play in the Belgian league for the first time aged 35. Anderlecht says the veteran defender signed a two-year

MILAN (AP) — United States defender Sergiño Dest is hoping to get more playing time ahead of this year’s World Cup in Qatar after joining Serie A champion AC Milan on transfer deadline day. Milan also has the right to buy Dest from Barcelona at the end of the season-long loan deal. The World Cup

LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II will skip the Braemar Gathering, a popular Highland Games event, as she struggles with issues getting around. The 96-year-old monarch previously decided to formally appoint Britain’s new prime minister on Tuesday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where she is vacationing, rather than return to London for the traditional ceremony

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Russell Wilson’s five-year, $245 million extension includes a $50 million signing bonus, $77 million in the first eight months and a whopping $165 million in guarantees — all before he takes his first snap for the Denver Broncos. Wilson left money on the table,

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA wants Champions League referees to be tougher with players who exaggerate contact trying to get an opponent shown a yellow card. UEFA says referees should punish attempts to “dupe” them with “acts of simulation or by over-reacting to light-contact fouls.” UEFA chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti calls such deception “disrespectful

By JOCELYN NOVECK AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Imagine if they could bottle a potion called “Just Serena.” That was Serena Williams’ succinct, smiling explanation for how she’d managed — at nearly 41, and match-rusty — to defeat the world’s second-ranked player and advance Wednesday to the third round of a U.S. Open

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Chevan Cordeiro threw a touchdown pass and ran for two scores, the second with 1:11 left in the game, and San Jose State rallied to beat Portland State 21-17 in a season opener. Dante Chachere capped a 99-yard fourth-quarter drive with a 12-yard TD pass to Beau Kelly to give

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Jordan Mims ran for two touchdowns in the first quarter and Fresno State used a fast start to cruise past FCS-member Cal Poly 35-7 in a season opener. Mims sandwiched a pair of 1-yard TD runs around a 13-yard scoring run by Nikko Remigio to put the Bulldogs up 21-0 in

By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Sports Writer MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Mo Ibrahim rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns as Minnesota opened the season by overwhelming New Mexico State 38-0. The victory spoiled a homecoming of sorts for head coach Jerry Kill. Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck and Kill shook hands before and after the game. Kill was

By MARK LONG AP Sports Writer GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Anthony Richardson is Florida’s unchallenged – and unproven — starting quarterback. He’s a budding star who’s already become a popular name found near the top of several 2023 NFL mock drafts. He’s big. He’s fast. He’s got arm talent. He’s a hometown hero eager to

By JOHN ZENOR AP Sports Writer Auburn quarterback T.J. Finley says he has grown since last season. Finley beat out two Power 5 transfers to hold onto the Tigers’ starting job heading into the opener against Mercer. He started the final three games of last season after Bo Nix’s season-ending ankle injury. Auburn lost all

By JOHN ZENOR AP Sports Writer The superlatives have been flying from Jahmyr Gibbs’ new Alabama teammates. They’ve called the Georgia Tech transfer “definitely electric,” ”a special talent” and “very dynamic.” It’s a lot to live up to for the top-ranked Crimson Tide’s new tailback, who is set to make his ’Bama debut Saturday against

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Rafael Nadal has come back to win at the U.S. Open after cutting himself on the bridge of his nose when his racket bounced off the court and smacked him in the face against Fabio Fognini. Nadal was bleeding and took a medical timeout. A

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Sports Writer TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Emory Jones ran for two touchdowns in his desert debut and Arizona State opened its fifth season under coach Herm Edwards with a 40-3 win over FCS Northern Arizona on Thursday night. The Sun Devils needed a few series to jell with 43 new players

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Sports Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Iga Swiatek is winning easily — and quietly. At this U.S. Open, even the world’s No. 1 player is a distant No. 2 as long as Serena Williams is still around. Swiatek says: “Yeah, that’s kind of her time right now.” The two-time French Open

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer PHOENIX (AP) — Christian Walker hit a two-run homer, Merrill Kelly pitched seven stellar innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-0. Walker hammered his 31st homer to deep left in the first inning off Milwaukee’s Brandon Woodruff, giving the D-backs a 2-0 lead. Geraldo Perdomo’s RBI

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Sean Clifford capped a masterful final drive by throwing a 10-yard TD pass to Keyvone Lee with 57 seconds left, rallying the Nittany Lions to a 35-31 victory. Penn State has won 10 straight in the series and six of its last seven season

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — ermaine Brown Jr. ran for 114 yards and touchdown, the UAB defense accounted for a pair of touchdowns, and the Blazers routed Alabama A&M 59-0 in the debut of head coach Bryant Vincent, who spent the last four seasons as offensive coordinator for the Blazers. Brown had a 19-yard touchdown run