Sports

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo has been included in the Portugal squad for upcoming Nations League matches against the Czech Republic and Spain. Portugal coach Fernando Santos says he is not worried with Ronaldo not playing much at Manchester United this season. He says “nobody here has any doubts about how important he continues

By The Associated Press Northwestern is in bounce-back mode with Southern Illinois of the Football Championship Subdivision visiting Ryan Field on Saturday. The Wildcats are coming off a 31-23 loss against Duke after beating Nebraska in Ireland. The Wildcats have had no problem moving the ball. They have more than 1,000 yards through two games.

By The Associated Press UCLA looks to close its non-conference schedule unbeaten when it hosts South Alabama on Saturday at the Rose Bowl. UCLA is seeking its first 3-0 start since 2015. The Bruins have won five straight dating back to last season and have averaged 47.6 points with each victory coming by at least

Virginia Tech will go for its second straight win when Wofford of the Football Championship Subdivision visits Saturday. The Hokies are allowing just 202 yards per game to rank fifth in the nation in total defense. Wofford failed to score in games against Chattanooga and Elon. Tech quarterback bounced back from a four-interception game against

Youngstown State (2-0) at No. 9 Kentucky (2-0), Saturday, noon EDT (SEC Network) Line: No line on FanDuel Sportsbook. Series: First meeting. WHAT’S AT STAKE Youngstown State of the Championship Subdivision faces its first Southeastern Conference opponent after a 49-16 rout of Dayton. Fresh off earning its first top-10 ranking since reaching No. 8 in

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy (AP) — Rory McIlroy’s first competitive round on next year’s Ryder Cup course was a success. The four-time major champion holed out an approach shot for an eagle en route to a 4-under 67 for an early share of the clubhouse lead in the opening round of the Italian Open at the

The Associated Press Rutgers is looking for a sixth straight win against Temple dating back to 2003. The Scarlet Knights are also going for their second straight 3-0 start before Big Ten play begins next week. The Owls are seeking back-to-back wins under first-year coach Stan Drayton. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano is looking to record

By The Associated Press Seventh-ranked Southern California is back in the top 10 for the first time since 2017 when it hosts Fresno State on Saturday. USC begins a stretch of three home games over the next four weeks. Fresno State faces a Pac-12 team for the second straight week and looks to bounce back

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — Chile presented its appeal challenging Ecuador’s place at the World Cup to FIFA in a case regarding an alleged ineligible player. A verdict is possible within 24 hours but another appeal is likely at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The 32-team World Cup starts on

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer Roger Federer is retiring from professional tennis at age 41 after a series of knee operations, closing a career in which he won 20 Grand Slam titles, finished five seasons ranked No. 1 and helped create a golden era of men’s tennis with rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Sports Writer PARIS (AP) — Olivier Giroud gets another chance to close in on France’s scoring record after being recalled by coach Didier Deschamps. Giroud needs three goals to equal Thierry Henry’s record tally of 51 and has a chance to stake a late claim for a place in the World

The Associated Press Coach Bobby Petrino returns to Arkansas as head coach at rising FCS program Missouri State. He left the Razorbacks after a scandal in 2012. His Bears won’t be afraid. Last year the Bears took Oklahoma State down to the wire in Stillwater before losing 23-16. No. 10 Arkansas finished a grueling two-game

By The Associated Press Duke is looking for a 3-0 start under new coach Mike Elko as it hosts North Carolina A&T on Saturday. The Blue Devils are coming off a win at Northwestern of the Big Ten Conference. North Carolina A&T is a Championship Subdivision program from the Big South Conference. The Aggies lost

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer Roger Federer announced Thursday that he is retiring from professional tennis at age 41 after winning 20 Grand Slam titles. This decision comes just days after the end of the U.S. Open, which is expected to be the last tournament of 23-time major champion Serena Williams’ career, and signals

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer Ilia Malinin made history late Wednesday when the 17-year-old wunderkind, and the heir apparent to Olympic champion Nathan Chen among American figure skaters, successfully landed the first quad axel in competition. Malinin pulled off the four-and-a-half revolution jump while winning the lower-level U.S. Classic in Lake Placid, New York,

LONDON (AP) — Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been called up by England for the first time and has an unlikely shot at making Gareth Southgate’s squad for the World Cup. Toney is a tall center forward who links up play well and is a great penalty-taker. He was playing for Peterborough in England’s third

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — The teenage sister of Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee has died of brain cancer. Bresee said Thursday on social that 15-year-old Ella had passed. The fifth-ranked Tigers honored Ella several times, including at last week’s game with Furman by wearing T-shirts with the phrase “Ella Strong.” Ella Bresee was in Clemson

LONDON (AP) — Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has undergone nose surgery to improve her breathing and will not play again until next year. The ninth-ranked Romanian writes in a post on Twitter that she felt “completely exhausted” after her first-round loss to qualifier Daria Snigur at the U.S. Open last month. She then