MOSCOW (AP) — Belinda Bencic won six of the last seven games and beat Polona Hercog 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals at the Kremlin Cup. The 10th-ranked Bencic needs to reach the...

LUXEMBOURG (AP) — Coco Gauff lost her opening match at the Luxembourg Open in straight sets on Wednesday, just three days after winning her first WTA title in Austria. Eighth-seeded Anna Blinkova o...

GENEVA (AP) — Amid concern about the expected searing heat in Tokyo, the IOC wants to move the 2020 Olympic marathons 800 kilometers north to find cooler and safer race conditions. The Internatio...

JEJU ISLAND, South Korea (AP) — Jason Day’s attempt to impress International team captain Ernie Els for a spot at the Presidents Cup took a positive turn on Thursday when the Australian shot a 6-u...

LONDON (Reuters) — The governing body of world athletics on Wednesday welcomed a landmark study showing high testosterone helped women run better, saying it justified its decision to bar Olympic cha...

The rules have changed since Lee Ann Walker last played competitive golf. She found out the hard way. Walker shot rounds of 85 and 74 at the Senior LPGA Championship at French Lick Resort in Indiana...

SOFIA (Reuters) — Bulgarian police said on Wednesday they had detained six people in connection with the racist abuse faced by England’s black players during a Euro 2020 qualifier in Sofia with mo...

TOKYO (Reuters) — In a game increasingly being dominated by giants, South Africa winger Cheslin Kolbe has a warning for those who would write off the smaller players on the rugby field. “There i...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams acquired Jalen Ramsey from the Jaguars on Tuesday night, ending the star cornerback’s tumultuous tenure in Jacksonville with a trade to the defending NFC c...

From Larry Bird to Ray Allen, the Boston Celtics have suited up some of the best perimeter shooters in NBA history. None of them ever had a hotter hand from behind the arc in a quarter than rookie ...

SEOUL (Reuters) — Long-time foes North and South Korea played a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, their first soccer match in the North in 30 years, but no fans were allowed in the stands and Pyongyan...

CHICAGO (AP) — Brigid Kosgei of Kenya won the Chicago Marathon on Sunday in 2 hours 14 minutes 4 seconds to break the world record for women in the event. The 25-year-old Kosgei bested the previo...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James believes Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey “was either misinformed or not really educated on the situation” regarding the potential consequences of his...

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — England’s Football Association called on UEFA to take “very stringent” action after the country’s European Championship qualifier against Bulgaria was stopped twice i...

TOKYO (AFP-Jiji) — As the Rugby World Cup enters the knockout stages this weekend, the following teams, including Japan, have a chance to lift the Webb Ellis Cup on Nov. 2. ■ New Zealand Wit...

Through four unbeaten pool-stage matches, Japan demonstrated that it deserves to be ranked among the world’s top eight rugby nations by beating traditional European powerhouses Ireland, ranked first...

OSAKA (Reuters) — Tonga gave captain Siale Piutau the parting gift of the team’s first victory at the Rugby World Cup, 31-19 over the United States on Sunday, a result that left the Eagles pointle...

FUKUOKA (AP) — A seven-try, 47-5 win over Samoa secured Ireland’s place in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals, removing any doubt about its progression to the knockout stages. Ireland moved atop P...

TOKYO (AP) — Japan got the chance to prove it was a worthy quarterfinalist and took it bravely with a 28-21 win over Scotland to bring some joy to a host country reeling from a ferocious typhoon ov...

LINZ, Austria (AP) — American teenager Coco Gauff advanced to her first WTA final by beating Andrea Petkovic 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday at the Upper Austria Ladies. The 15-year-old Gauff saved nine of 10...

TOKYO (Reuters) — The Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Namibia and Canada, which was scheduled to be contested Sunday in Kamaishi, has been canceled because of the destruction caused by Typhoo...

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels said they don’t know whether a longtime public relations official had been providing drugs to late pitcher Tyler Skaggs, as detailed in a report on ES...

TOKYO (AP) — Wales will play France in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals after laboring past Uruguay 35-13 to top Pool D. The Welsh swept a pool for the first time since 1987. Their victory lef...

TOKYO (Reuters) — Canada’s players helped the local community in Kamaishi recover from Typhoon Hagibis on Sunday after their final Rugby World Cup match against Namibia was cancelled due to the i...

NEW YORK (AP) — The Jets have waived quarterback Luke Falk to make room on the roster for newly reinstated linebacker Brandon Copeland. Falk started the last two games in place of Sam Darnold, who ...

Jan Frodeno won his third Ironman World Championship triathlon in a course record time in Hawaii on Saturday and continued German dominance of the men’s event. Frodeno, the 2008 Olympic champion, p...

NEW YORK (AP) — Connor McDavid had the tiebreaking goal and Leon Draisaitl had two goals and an assist — all in the third period — as the Edmonton Oilers beat the New York Rangers 4-1 Saturday f...

TOKYO (AP) — Tonga has beaten the United States 31-19 to avoid finishing last in Pool C, helped by a farewell try from retiring captain Siale Piutau. Piutau scored Tonga’s third try with just u...

TOKYO (Reuters) — The under-threat Rugby World Cup game between Japan and Scotland will go ahead as scheduled, tournament organizers said on Sunday, after an inspection of the Yokohama Stadium where...

FUKUOKA (Reuters) — Ireland played with 14 men for 50 minutes but still eased into the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup with a seven try, 47-5 thrashing of Samoa in their final Pool A match on ...

Olympic swimming gold medalist Conor Dwyer announced his retirement Friday, shortly after receiving a 20-month doping ban for having testosterone pellets inserted into his hip. Dwyer, 30, who won r...

TOKYO (Reuters) — Tensions have risen ahead of the final Rugby World Cup pool match between Japan and Scotland in Yokohama on Sunday, with Typhoon No. 19 still threatening to scupper the tie. The...

In sumo, two rikishi wrestlers square off in a dohyo ring under the watchful eyes of a gyoji referee. I wonder if you know how many people at most sit in places surrounding the ring that comprise the ...

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Gabe Kapler took the fall for the Philadelphia Phillies. He was fired Thursday, nearly two weeks after a disappointing finish to a season of big expectations highlighted by Bryc...

PHOENIX (AP) — Police arrested San Diego Padres pitcher Jacob Nix after he was accused of breaking into a suburban Phoenix home through a doggie door and was shot with a Taser by the homeowner. Ni...

HUMBLE, Texas (AP) — Austin Cook and Talor Gooch shot 8-under-par 64s Thursday to take the lead after the first round of the Houston Open. Cook, who tied for 11th as a Monday qualifier in 2015 whe...

SAITAMA (AFP-Jiji) — The Houston Rockets won a preseason exhibition game against the reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors 118-111 on Thursday, ending their Japan tour shadowed by controversy after ...

LeBron James raised his arms in appreciation of the cheering crowd in Shanghai shortly after the final buzzer, then removed his headband and flipped it toward some ticketholders clamoring for a one-of...

FUKUROI, Shizuoka (Reuters) — Australia made heavy work of it in difficult conditions but outlasted a tough Georgia team to round out their Rugby World Cup Pool D campaign with an unconvincing 27-8 ...

CHICAGO (AP) — Patrick Marleau scored two goals in his first game back with San Jose, and the Sharks beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 on Thursday night for their first victory of the season. Barcla...

SHANGHAI (AP) — Roger Federer saved five set points in the first set as he scrambled to a 7-6 (9-7), 6-4 win over 13th-seeded David Goffin on Thursday and advanced to the Shanghai Masters quarterfin...

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Mystics have won their first WNBA championship, getting 22 points from Emma Meesseman and 21 from banged-up league MVP Elena Delle Donne to beat the Connecticut Sun ...

DALLAS (AP) — Welterweight boxing champion Errol Spence crashed a speeding Ferrari in Dallas early Thursday and was badly injured, but is expected to survive, police said. The crash happened just ...

SUZUKA, Mie (AFP-Jiji) — The Japanese Grand Prix’s entire Saturday track program, including qualifying, has been cancelled as Typhoon Hagibis bears down on the Suzuka circuit, race organizers said...

TOKYO (Reuters) — All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said cancelling Saturday’s World Cup match against Italy due to Typhoon Hagibis was a ‘no-brainer’ but he also had sympathy for the Azzurri aft...

TOYOTA, Aichi (Reuters) — Italy captain Sergio Parisse made no attempt to hide his disappointment at the cancellation of their final Pool B match due to Typhoon Hagibis, saying that if the All Blac...

OITA (AP) — Unbeaten Wales is through to the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals after overcoming a serious fright from Fiji 29-17 in a drama-filled match under the dome in Oita on Wednesday. The Six Nat...

TOKYO (AP) — Scotland said it expects contingency plans to be put in place to play its crucial match against Japan, even though World Rugby said there are no backup plans if it has to cancel the mat...

ZURICH (AP) — FIFA has fined Hong Kong’s soccer federation 15,000 Swiss francs ($15,100) for fans disrespecting the Chinese national anthem before a World Cup qualifying game last month. Hong Kon...

TOKYO (Reuters) — Rugby World Cup organizers have canceled Saturday’s game between England and France as well as New Zealand’s match against Italy due to the risk from Typhoon No. 19, while Sund...

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Hall of Fame basketball coach Jim Calhoun has been accused of sexual discrimination by a former associate athletic director at the University of Saint Joseph, the Division III...

LOS ANGELES (AFP-Jiji) — The U.S. women’s team, eyeing a seventh consecutive Olympic title at next year’s Games in Tokyo, will start a four-game U.S. college tour next month as part of expanded ...

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves did not distribute their traditional red foam tomahawks to fans before Game 5 of their NL Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The foam cutouts are use...

Oakland Raiders linebacker Vontaze Burfict’s appeal to overturn his suspension for the rest of the season for a helmet-to-helmet hit has been denied. Appeals officer Derrick Brooks ruled Wednesday ...

TOKYO (Reuters) — A record TV audience in Japan watched the nation’s 38-19 win over Samoa in Pool A of the Rugby World Cup on Saturday, with more than 40 percent of the country tuning in. A peak ...

OITA (Reuters) — Winger Josh Adams scored a hat-trick as Wales prevailed 29-17 in an often chaotic but utterly compelling Pool D clash against Fiji on Wednesday to secure a spot in the quarterfinal...

KOBE (AP) — Cobus Reinach scored the quickest hat trick in Rugby World Cup history during a whirlwind first 20 minutes as South Africa demolished 14-man Canada 66-7 on Tuesday. The Springboks effe...

SHANGHAI (AFP-Jiji) — A fuming Andy Murray accused Fabio Fognini of shouting during a critical point as the Briton went down fighting in three bitter sets at the Shanghai Masters on Tuesday. The ...

FUKUROI, Shizuoka (Reuters) — George Horne scored a hat-trick as Scotland ran in nine tries in a 61-0 bonus-point thrashing of Russia on Wednesday to set up a crunch Pool A showdown with host natio...

KUMAGAYA, Saitama (Reuters) — Argentina’s backline cut loose for the first time at the Rugby World Cup as the Pumas closed a disappointing Pool C campaign with a 47-17 bonus point victory over th...

WASHINGTON (AP) — For a guy whose teams kept losing in the postseason, Max Scherzer sure is delivering now. Every time he’s pitched this October, the Washington Nationals have won. His latest ou...

TOKYO (AFP-Jiji) — Japan has publicly set itself the target of reaching the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals — but privately the tournament host has far loftier goals. Yuichiro Fujii, Japan’s tech...

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Owner Dan Snyder and President Bruce Allen summoned coach Jay Gruden to the Washington Redskins’ facility before dawn Monday to tell him he was being fired. “It was a brief ...

Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry agreed to terms on a one-year, $31 million contract extension, according to a published report Monday. Agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports told ESPN of the deal...

TOKYO (AP) — South Africa demolished 14-man Canada team 66-7 to pretty much confirm its place in the quarterfinals. The Springboks scored 10 tries and had four tries and a bonus point in a whirlw...

SHANGHAI (AP) — Andy Murray continued to make progress in his comeback from injury by winning his first-round match at the Shanghai Masters on Monday. The former No. 1 defeated Juan Ignacio Londero...

Honda-backed Naoki Yamamoto will take part in a Formula One grand prix weekend for the first time on Friday when he drives a Toro Rosso in opening practice at his home Suzuka circuit. Red Bull-owned ...

KUMAMOTO (AP) — France held off a spirited Tonga comeback to win 23-21 on Sunday and join group rival England in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals. Les Bleus lost 19-14 to Tonga eight years ago in...

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Through injuries and slumps, demotions and disappointments, Dansby Swanson and Adam Duvall got ready for the big moment. When it arrived, they were ready. Swanson hit a tying d...

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kevin Na finally won a sudden-death playoff on the PGA Tour when he least expected it. Staked to a three-shot lead to start the back nine at the TPC Summerlin, Na never imagined ...

TOKYO (AFP-Jiji) — An experimental New Zealand side recovered from a sticky start and two yellow cards to hammer Namibia 71-9 and move one step closer to finishing top of its pool at the Rugby World...

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kevin Na made 10 birdies on Saturday, and the one putt that came to his mind after matching his best score was a par. Na was in a bunker right of the green on the par-3 fifth hole,...

TOKYO (Reuters) — England secured its place in the World Cup quarterfinals with a crushing 39-10 victory over Argentina on Saturday as the Pumas were forced to play for more than an hour with 14 men...

American Simone Biles landed the triple-double on the floor exercise and the double-double dismount off the balance beam at the world gymnastics championships in Stuttgart, Germany on Saturday to have...

Officially, it’s an NBA first: Coaches successfully argued referees’ calls Saturday. Sacramento’s Luke Walton became the first coach to win a challenge — a new option for coaches to use in th...

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Sammy Blais had a goal and an assist, and his score midway through the third period was the winner as the St. Louis Blues beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 on Saturday. Jordan Binnington s...

KUMAMOTO (Reuters) — France weathered a Tongan storm to reach the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals with a nail-biting 23-21 victory over the Pacific islanders on Sunday, joining Pool C rivals England ...

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas has apologized for its risque Late Night at the Phog event in which rapper Snoop Dogg performed, stripper poles were wheeled onto the Allen Fieldhouse ...

CLEVELAND (AP) — Browns star Odell Beckham Jr. was fined $14,037 by the NFL for unsportsmanlike conduct after he fought with Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey last week. Beckham and Humphrey were f...

TOKYO (Reuters) — Defending champions New Zealand racked up the biggest points tally of the Rugby World Cup so far by running in 11 tries to hammer a spirited Namibia side 71-9 and charge back to t...

TOYOTA, Aichi — Sure enough, it was Kotaro Matsushima who had the honor of closing the match. Just before the end of Japan’s victory against Samoa on Saturday, his try was the Brave Blossoms’ fo...

OITA (AP) — Tevita Kuridrani and Dane Haylett-Petty crossed for two tries each in a 45-10 win over Uruguay on Saturday that did little to enhance confidence in Australia’s title credentials at the...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Stephen Strasburg turned in another dominant playoff outing, Max Scherzer overpowered Los Angeles for an inning out of the bullpen and the Washington Nationals held off the Dodger...

The NBA made one of Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive’s biggest hopes a reality. And a long-awaited debut in India went longer than planned. T.J. Warren hit the shot that put Indiana ahead for...

TOYOTA, Aichi (Reuters) — Kotaro Matsushima scored a bonus-point try deep into injury time as Japan moved to the brink of their first Rugby World Cup quarterfinal with a 38-19 Pool A victory over S...

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas resident Kevin Na had two back-nine eagles and shot a 9-under 62 on Friday for a share of the second-round lead in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Playing along...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Sparks have fired general manager Penny Toler after her postgame tirade when the team lost Game 2 in the second round of the WNBA playoffs. The team announced Fri...

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) —Los Angeles Rams linebacker Clay Matthews will be out for several weeks after breaking his jaw during their loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Matthews was hurt while attempti...

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA has charged Ajax and Borussia Dortmund after their fans damaged stadiums they visited in the Champions League this past week. UEFA said its disciplinary panel will jud...

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — Ivana Habazin’s trainer has been hospitalized after getting sucker-punched before the weigh-in for a title fight with Claressa Shields. Bashir Ali was hit, fell and struck his...

KOBE (AP) — They didn’t score a point and they were the first team officially eliminated from title contention at the Rugby World Cup, yet the Russians still had smiles on their faces. After wat...

TOKYO (AFP-Jiji) — High balls, cross-field kicks and the return of the mighty drop: kicking has been a prominent feature of the early rounds of the Rugby World Cup as teams seek to penetrate increas...

TOKYO (Reuters) — England marched into the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup with a 39-10 Pool C victory over an Argentina team reduced to 14 men for more than an hour after Tomas Lavanini was s...

MADRID (AP) — Real Betis and Eibar drew 1-1 in the Spanish league on Friday, a result that left both teams near the middle of the table. Fabian Orellana put Eibar ahead by converting a 34th-minute ...

TOKYO (AP) — Brodie Retallick is available to play, and the All Blacks are relieved. Now he’s Namibia’s problem. The former world player of the year will appear for the first time in 10 wee...

OITA (Reuters) — Australia ran in seven tries as they romped to a 45-10 bonus point victory over Uruguay in Rugby World Cup Pool D on Saturday despite their problems with high tackles resurfacing a...

FUKUROI, Shizuoka (Reuters) — South Africa ramped up the physicality to crush an Italy side reduced to 14 men for most of the second half 49-3 on Friday, moving above the Italians and New Zealand to...

KOBE (Reuters) — Ireland began to put its World Cup back on track after the shock loss to Japan, but it took it more than an hour to secure a bonus point and strengthen its quarterfinal chances in ...

TOYOTA, Aichi (Reuters) — Japan’s stunning 19-12 victory over Ireland last weekend set it on course for top spot in Pool A of the Rugby World Cup, but that hard-earned advantage will be largely un...

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians are exercising ace Corey Kluber’s $17.5 million option for next season. Kluber was limited to just seven starts after breaking his right arm on May 1, when ...

HIGASHI-OSAKA, Osaka (AFP-Jiji) — Winger Semi Radradra scored twice as Fiji produced a scintillating second-half performance to secure a 45-10 bonus-point win against Georgia Thursday, running in se...

TOKYO (Reuters) — After its momentous victory over Ireland, Rugby World Cup host Japan is hoping to take the next step toward its first quarterfinals appearance with a victory over Samoa on Saturday...

KOBE (Reuters) — Ireland began to resurrect their World Cup campaign after their shock loss to Japan with a scrappy 35-0 bonus-point victory on Thursday over a stubborn Russia in Kobe that moved th...

TOKYO (AP) — David Goffin’s impressive play at what is becoming one of his favorite tournaments continued Thursday at the Japan Open when he advanced to the quarterfinals. Goffin, who beat Denis...

SQUAMISH, Canada (AP) — Canadian ski cross racer Mikayla Martin died Tuesday after a mountain bike accident in her hometown of Squamish, British Colombia. The 22-year-old Martin, the winner of a wo...

NEW YORK (AP) — Oakland Raiders linebacker Vontaze Burfict has been suspended for the rest of the season for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle. NFL Vice President of...

SAO PAULO (AP) — A Brazilian judge said the model who accused soccer superstar Neymar of rape will face trial on charges of fraud. Another judge dropped serious charges that followed a decision to...

KOBE (Reuters) — Scotland’s limp defeat to Ireland in its World Cup opener prompted questions about the squad’s heart and desire, but coach Gregor Townsend said his players proved their mettle i...

ZURICH (AP) — Cardiff was ordered Monday by FIFA to pay €6 million ($6.5 million) to Nantes as a first installment of the transfer fee for Emiliano Sala, the Argentine striker who died in a plane ...

CHICAGO (AP) — The field of candidates to be the next manager of the Chicago Cubs is beginning to take shape. President of baseball operations Theo Epstein said Monday that former catcher David Ros...

Former U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic mowed down local favorite Yuichi Sugita 6-4, 6-4 on Monday to reach the second round of the Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo. The 31-year-old, beaten in ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A distance runner has been killed by lightning as he was about to cross the finish line for a 50-kilometer race in southeast Kansas. Thomas Stanley, 33, of Andover, was less...

KUMAGAYA, Saitama (AFP-Jiji) — Georgia overpowered Uruguay at the Rugby World Cup for a 33-7 bonus-point win on Sunday, the popular South American underdog unable to repeat its heroics against Fiji ...

HAMAMATSU (Reuters) — Japan got a lift from their scrum in their shock victory over Pool A favorites Ireland and captain Michael Leitch said his team’s 8-on-10 drills in the lead-up had paid off....

TOKYO (Reuters) — Wales withstood a furious Australian comeback to secure a 29-25 win in a dramatic Pool D encounter in Tokyo on Sunday, recording their first victory over the Wallabies at the Rugb...

TOKYO (AFP-Jiji) — After Wales made their Rugby World Cup bow on Monday, the main contenders for the Webb Ellis Cup have taken to the field. AFP looks at the standout players from the opening exchan...

KUMAGAYA, Saitama (Reuters) — Georgia brought Uruguay back down to earth with a bump when they ran in five tries for a 33-7 bonus point victory in the Rugby World Cup Pool D clash at a sun-bathed K...

TOYOTA, Aichi (Reuters) — South Africa’s electric wing Makazole Mapimpi scored two tries as they eased to a nine-try 57-3 win over neighbours Namibia, but it was a far from polished performance i...

FUKUROI, Shizuoka (Reuters) — Japan’s players vowed to continue making headlines after their stunning 19-12 win over Ireland at the Rugby World Cup on Saturday. The Pool A victory, which put th...

FUKUROI, Shizuoka (Reuters) — Jamie Joseph praised the courage of his Japan players after a momentous 19-12 victory over Ireland on Saturday, saying they had been preparing for the match for three ...

BEPPU, Oita (Reuters) — It seems the old joke that the most dangerous place to stand in a rugby team was between a prop and a plate of food has some basis after all, if you believe All Blacks hooke...

FUKUROI, Shizuoka (Reuters) — Hosts Japan stunned Ireland 19-12 in an extraordinary upset on Saturday to win their second match of the Rugby World Cup and put themselves in pole position to reach t...

OSAKA (Reuters) — Hooker Julian Montoya scored a hat-trick in the first 26 minutes as Argentina got their World Cup campaign back on track with a 28-12 victory over Tonga on Saturday that snapped a...

After a proposed expansion to an 18-game regular season received little support, NFL owners are reportedly now considering a 17-game schedule and a reduction in preseason games — or elimination of t...

SHIZUOKA (Reuters) — Japan speedster Kotaro Matsushima earned the nickname “Ferrari” after his Game 1 exploits but the host’s hat trick hero said he will face a three-ton truck in Ireland’s ...

MONTREAL (AP) — Montreal Canadiens Hall of Famer Guy Lafleur underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery on Thursday, the NHL club has confirmed. The team said the procedure took place at the Centre h...

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma will be sidelined at least until mid-October with a stress reaction in his left foot. The Lakers announced the extent of Kuzma’s in...

LONDON (AP) — Nick Kyrgios has been handed a suspended 16-week ban from the ATP Tour following an investigation into his abusive behavior in a tournament in Cincinnati last month. The Australian pl...

KAMAISHI, Iwate (AP) — Nodoka Kikuchi’s job as a tour guide at the Tsunami Memorial Hall is to detail the earthquake and deadly tsunami that hit this part of Japan’s northeast coast almost nine...

KAMAISHI, Iwate (Reuters) — Uruguay delivered the first upset of the Rugby World Cup with a stunning 30-27 victory over an error-prone Fiji in a Pool D match at the Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stad...

KUMAGAYA, Saitama (Reuters) — Samoa survived being reduced to 13 men for almost 10 minutes in the first half and struggled to overcome a limited and exhausted Russia team to open their Pool A campa...

Tokyo — Scotland suffered a second injury setback in as many days after scrumhalf Ali Price was ruled out of the rest of the Rugby World Cup on Tuesday, with Edinburgh’s Henry Pyrgos called up as ...

TOKYO — Japan know they face a huge challenge to contain Ireland in their second Rugby World Cup match later this week, and their forwards have hatched a plan to double team the big Irish ball-carr...

TOKYO — World Rugby issued a statement on Tuesday conceding that the officiating over the first weekend of the World Cup was not up to scratch and promising it would improve. Referees became a do...

TOKYO — All Blacks fans received welcome news on Monday with injured lock Brodie Retallick confirming he was hitting tackle bags at training and expected to increase the intensity of collision on h...

TOKYO — Ireland flanker Peter O’Mahony and centre Bundee Aki have not been ruled out of Saturday’s World Cup Pool A game against Japan after both passed the second of three head injury assessme...

TOKYO — Scotland’s poor start to the Rugby World Cup received another blow on Monday when it was confirmed that injured loose-forward Hamish Watson would play no further part in the tournament, w...

SAPPORO (Reuters) — There was no record score, no long list of try scorers and certainly no reason to get carried away, but England’s victory over Tonga in their World Cup opener on Sunday ticked ...

TOKYO — Fans will now be able to bring food into Rugby World Cup stadiums in Japan after the organizing committee admitted that the service at some venues was “not befitting” that of a showpiec...

TOKYO (Reuters) — Russia drew first blood in the Rugby World Cup on Friday, but ultimately failed to bridge the gap in class with host nation Japan in the opening match of the tournament. There was...

SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) — At the 16th attempt, Bournemouth finally earned a victory at the home of south-coast rival Southampton. It was sealed with a farcical goal, too. With Southampton still ...

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Antonio Brown was released by the New England Patriots on Friday after a second woman accused him of sexual misconduct — the third team in seven months to tire of the off-...

Fourth seed Angelique Kerber reached the Pan Pacific Open semifinals in Japan on Friday after American Madison Keys retired because of injury early in the deciding set. With the match clock at just o...

Goaltenders in the National Hockey League are seeing a recent increase in head injuries. Just two NHL goalies were concussed in 2016-17, missing a total of 15 games. Over the past two seasons, 14 dif...

Japan opened the Rugby World Cup on Friday evening with a 30-10 victory over Russia at Tokyo Stadium in Chofu, Tokyo. On Saturday morning, the flagship official Rugby World Cup 2019 Megastore near t...

Nike Inc. said on Thursday it had cut ties with New England Patriots player Antonio Brown, who has denied allegations by his former personal trainer of rape and sexual assault. “Antonio Brown is no...

TOKYO (AFP-Jiji) — Kotaro Matsushima scored a sizzling hat-trick as hosts Japan recovered from a torrid start to beat Russia 30-10 in their Rugby World Cup opener on Friday. Japan’s prolific win...

SAPPORO (AP) — Eddie Jones isn’t as comfortable as you might think on his return to Japan for the Rugby World Cup. In fact, the England coach is expecting a roller-coaster ride and is holding ont...

LONDON (AP) — Former England and Newcastle forward Peter Beardsley has been suspended from all soccer-related activity for eight months after being found guilty of making racist comments toward youn...

A former rugby player in the nation’s top league has been striving to promote the Rugby World Cup in Japan, always holding a rugby ball in his hands on his way to work since January. When a passeng...

Tiger Woods is playing another skins game with two big differences. This one is in Japan and will be broadcast live around the world by Discovery-owned GOLFTV. The event is called “The Challenge: ...

The biggest difference in this year’s Rugby World Cup from past tournaments is that other participating teams can’t overlook Japan as a minor rugby power. The Brave Blossoms’ successful 2015 Wo...

The organizing committee for the Rugby World Cup 2019 has announced that Japanese singer-songwriter Ayaka Hirahara will sing Japan’s national anthem backed by the Air Self-Defense Force’s Central...

SAPPORO (Reuters) — There is excitement in the air, mixed with a sense of trepidation, in Sapporo as it prepares itself for an influx of fans during the opening weekend of the Rugby World Cup. Aus...

National Hockey League players announced Monday they will not opt out of the collective bargaining agreement, guaranteeing labor peace until at least 2022. The NHL Players’ Association announced i...

Jack Hughes scored twice in his NHL preseason debut, including the winner 40 seconds into overtime to lift a New Jersey Devils split squad to a 4-3 win over the Boston Bruins on Monday night in Newark...

YUKON, Okla. (AP) — A 16-year-old Oklahoma high school football player has died after suffering an apparent head injury during a game. Yanda and Son funeral home said Peter Webb died Sunday at an ...

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) — South Africa’s superb revival over the past 15 months has taken them from one of their lowest-ever periods to genuine Rugby World Cup contenders as they chase a third globa...

PARIS (AFP-Jiji) — New Zealand will be made to fight all the way for a third consecutive title as a ground-breaking Rugby World Cup gets underway in Japan this week with half a dozen teams confident...

“Will Japan be able to supply enough beer during the Rugby World Cup?” — so asked a reporter at a press conference held in Tokyo by World Rugby, the governing body that organizes the World Cup....

HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) — Winger George Bridge scored four tries while fullback Ben Smith and center Ryan Crotty bagged doubles as New Zealand overwhelmed Tonga 92-7 Saturday in its last match b...

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) — World Cup winner Chester Williams, who broke racial barriers to emerge a national hero as one of South Africa’s first black rugby union internationals, died after a suspe...

KUMAGAYA, Saitama (Reuters) — A hat-trick of tries from Makazole Mapimpi led South Africa to a comfortable 41-7 victory over Japan on Friday in their final World Cup warm-up match, laying down a tou...

Ozeki Takayasu on Friday withdrew from the upcoming Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament due to a left elbow injury suffered during the previous Nagoya tournament in July, the Japan Sumo Association announced...

For Yumi Kajihara, winning a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is not a dream but a very realistic goal. And it is one that she wants to achieve for her mother, Yuri. A senior at the University o...

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — A flash flood swept across a soccer field in a southern Moroccan village, killing at least seven spectators at a local match, the official MAP news agency said Thursday. Heavy...

Two events featuring the Japanese national rugby team will be held from Monday through Sept. 30 at the head office of The Yomiuri Shimbun in the Otemachi area of Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, in tandem with th...

NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams flubbed yet another shot and wailed, “I keep missing my forehand!” She was in trouble, if only briefly, against 17-year-old American Caty McNally, who is friend...

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (Reuters) — The Spanish Grand Prix will stay on the Formula One calendar in 2020, the sport’s commercial rights holders and race organizers said Tuesday, with the season...

EL PUIG, Spain (AP) — With his eyes closed, Fabio Jakobsen beat Sam Bennett in a photo finish to win the fourth stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Tuesday, while Nicolas Roche kept the overall lead ahea...

The national women’s soccer team is Nadeshiko Japan, the baseball team is Samurai Japan and the artistic swimming squad is known as Mermaid Japan. While these monikers have become well known, other ...

BALTIMORE (AP) — Orioles general manager Mike Elias has fired 11 members of the scouting department and front office as part of an effort to turn around a team in the early stages of a major rebuild...

BARCELONA (AP) — Midfielder Joan Jordan scored in the second half to help Sevilla beat Granada 1-0 on the road and win its second match in as many rounds in the Spanish league on Friday. Jordan, one...

GENEVA (AP) — Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov tested positive for cocaine at the world championship and has been banned from the Russia team for four years. Kuznetsov failed a doping t...

MUMBAI (Reuters) — India’s dope testing laboratory has already addressed most of the concerns that were raised by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) about its standards and will apply within thre...

MELBOURNE (AP) — Kemba Walker scored 23 points and Myles Turner added 15 to give Team USA a 102-86 win over Australia on Thursday in a World Cup warm-up game. The attendance at Marvel Stadium, whi...

NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will finally meet in the U.S. Open, and they’ll do it in their very first match. A long-awaited Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal showdown could come...

BARCELONA (AP) — Lionel Messi was back in full training again on Wednesday and might be fit to face Real Betis in the Spanish league on Sunday. Messi had been training separately from the squad si...

The Los Angeles Wildcats and New York Guardians will be among the teams taking the field when the XFL returns in February. The league revealed the logos and names Wednesday for its eight teams, which...

The Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2017 will be the last to bear that title with World Rugby announcing on Wednesday it is adopting a policy of gender neutrality for its tournaments. In what it said is...

SYDNEY (AP) — Jason Day is hoping a one-week trip Down Under for the Australian Open will turn into two. He and Presidents Cup captain Ernie Els might already be formulating that plan. Australian O...

WASHINGTON (AP) — What started as an innocuous conversation during a public event has evolved into a golf partnership between NBA star Stephen Curry and Howard University. The two-time NBA MVP anno...

Abdul Hakim Sani Brown, who set a Japanese record of 9.97 seconds in the men’s 100-meter race, discussed his dream of one day breaking the world record currently held by Usain Bolt in a recent inter...

National rugby team captain Michael Leitch, left, and other members train in Abashiri, Hokkaido, on Tuesday, one month before the opening of the 2019 World Cup in Japan. There are 41 players at the ca...

The organizing committee of the Rugby World Cup in Japan, which will start on Sept. 20, and the international governing body World Rugby have compiled an emergency response plan for cases in which it...

ATLANTA (AP) — Pete Alonso and Amed Rosario helped the New York Mets pile up huge totals of hits and runs. The Mets needed almost all of them to hold off the homer-happy Atlanta Braves. Alonso dro...

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings have acquired forward Adam Erne from the Tampa Bay Lightning for a fourth-round pick in the 2020 draft. Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman made the move We...

PAARL, South Africa — The Rugby World Cup in Japan starts on Sept. 20. Japan’s shocking victory over South Africa in the 2015 World Cup in England raised the profile of the Brave Blossoms, who ...

Kazuya Adachi is aiming to clinch a berth for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and win a medal in the men’s kayak slalom single event there with a specially designed Japan-made canoe. The use of such a cano...

NEW YORK (AP) — Gleyber Torres walked to the plate in the eighth inning with runners on first and second, two outs and the Yankees ahead by five runs. Baltimore called for an intentional walk, and...

SUVA, Fiji (AP) — Japan caused the sensation of the 2015 Rugby World Cup when it beat South Africa in pool play and signaled its intention to be a danger for the top-tier nations again this year wit...

LIMA (AP) — Olympic fencing medalist Race Imboden took a knee in protest during his team’s foil medal ceremony at the Pan American Games. The American knelt during the national anthem at the med...

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez was knocked down seconds into the first round and lost his professional debut to Adan Gonzales on Saturday night. Ramirez suffered...

LIMA (AP) — After the final buzzer, the members of Argentina’s women’s basketball team huddled near the edge of the center circle and cried — even though they won. The team’s 73-59 victory...

MONTREAL (AP) — Top-seeded defending champion Rafael Nadal advanced to the Rogers Cup quarterfinals, beating Argentina’s Guido Pella 6-3, 6-4 in the wind Thursday. “A tough day in terms of win...

Applications for luxury ticket packages for the 2020 Tokyo Games, some costing millions of yen, will be accepted from the end of August, the organizing committee of the 2020 Tokyo Games announced Wedn...

LIMA (AP) — Nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis said Monday female athletes deserve fair and equal pay and criticized U.S. President Donald Trump as a “racist and misogynist.” Lewis was...

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Veteran defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk has signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning after being bought out by the New York Rangers. Lightning vice pr...

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A $1.9 billion stadium being built for the NFL’s Oakland Raiders when the team moves to Las Vegas next year is being named for Allegiant Travel Co., team and company officials sai...

NEW YORK (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies have sued the New York company that created the Phanatic mascot to prevent the green furry fan favorite from becoming a free agent. In a complaint filed F...

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Departing head coach Jill Ellis and the U.S. women’s national team opened their post-World Cup domestic Victory Tour with a 3-0 win over Ireland on Saturday night. Tobin ...

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Ryan Lochte scratched the B final of the 100-meter backstroke at the U.S. national swimming championships. The 12-time Olympic medalist qualified 15th in the preliminaries w...

Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon settled a sexual harassment lawsuit with a former employee of his sports marketing firm, the woman’s lawyer told The Washington Post. Moon originally denied th...

HONG KONG (Reuters) — North Korea has nominated Pyongyang as the host venue for a World Cup-qualifying soccer match against South Korea in October, clearing the way for the countries to play on Nort...

WELLINGTON (AFP-Jiji) — As the All Blacks chase a third straight World Cup in Japan, the schoolboy rugby competitions that forged many of New Zealand’s stars face an “alarming” fall in player ...

PARIS (AFP-Jiji) — A Swiss court ruling that blocks South African Caster Semenya from defending her world 800-meter title in Doha in September creates much-needed “parity and clarity” in athleti...

The past few weeks have been a blur to Zion Williamson. Picked No. 1 in the NBA draft by the New Orleans Pelicans. Signed his first pro contract that could be worth as much as $45 million over the ne...

SEOUL (Reuters) — Soccer fans in South Korea are taking legal action to seek compensation after Cristiano Ronaldo failed to play in a friendly during Juventus’ preseason tour in Seoul last week. ...

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Derek Holland was acquired by the Cubs from the San Francisco Giants for a player to be named, giving the Cubs a new left-handed bullpen option. As part of the trade announced Fri...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Just months after trading Odell Beckham Jr. to Cleveland, the New York Giants are being hit by a rash of injuries at wide receiver. Sterling Shepard, who was to take o...

Not only did All-Pro Bobby Wagner of the Seattle Seahawks negotiate a contract extension, but he reportedly is now the NFL’s highest-paid inside linebacker. The team announced Friday merely that W...

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) — Mexican boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez said on Friday he had been mugged by armed robbers in Mexico City, and he slammed mounting violence that has recently plagued the cap...

Even those who can’t get tickets for the 2020 Tokyo Games events will have chances to soak up some Olympic and Paralympic spirit by heading over to the new Tokyo Waterfront City area, which will be ...

Running back Ezekiel Elliott called an audible as the Dallas Cowboys set off for Oxnard, Calif., to begin training camp. Elliott, who is entering the second-to-last year of his rookie contract, warne...

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Portland Trail Blazers have added six-time All-Star Pau Gasol to their roster. President of basketball operations Neil Olshey announced Gasol’s signing Thursday. “Pau...

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Sabres forward Evan Rodrigues has been awarded a one-year, $2 million contract following an arbitration hearing. The independent arbitrator’s ruling was announced by...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kole Calhoun believes the death of Tyler Skaggs presented the Los Angeles Angels with a stark public challenge to go along with their private grief. Skaggs’ hurting teammates h...

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Former New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden was arrested again in New Jersey on Monday, this time on charges of driving while intoxicated. Gooden was pulled over after driving t...

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Diego Maradona had surgery on his right knee, the first of two procedures recommended by his doctors. Maradona’s attorney Matias Morla said the retired Argentine soccer great ...

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox have become the first team in the major leagues to extend protective netting from foul pole to foul pole, starting Monday night against the Miami Marlins. The ...

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) — Australia’s first-up thrashing by a second-string South Africa side in the Rugby Championship on Saturday has triggered alarm bells at home, but scrumhalf Nic White has sa...

CALGARY (AP) — The Calgary Flames have a tentative agreement for a new arena to replace the Saddledome. The city, NHL team and the Calgary Stampede have agreed in principle to terms. The Stampede,...

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Officials on Monday lifted the suspension of a Bulgarian boxer who kissed a reporter without her consent during a post-fight interview after he completed a sexual harassment course ...

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have suspended reliever Keone Kela two games for an unspecified violation of his contract. The team made the announcement on Monday shortly before opening ...

ZURICH (AP) — FIFA said its ethics judges have banned a soccer official from Botswana for life for taking bribes linked to convicted match-fixer Wilson Perumal. FIFA said Mooketsi Kgotlele, the fo...

In response to the severe heat of recent summers, high school sporting events are taking steps to prevent health problems, such as instructing players to sit during baseball opening ceremonies and con...

“As rugby is now in the spotlight, I want it also to be on foreign players on the Japan team. They have chosen Japan over their home countries, and fought for Japan. They are the best comrades [tea...

Students wearing serious looks on their faces stamped their feet, brandished their arms and shouted in Maori. It was a haka, a traditional dance of New Zealand’s indigenous Maori people. The haka...

FIFA is doubling its minimum ban for racist incidents to 10 games and will allow players to make victim statements and participate in proceedings, world soccer’s governing body said Thursday. Stric...

NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball’s All-Star Game had a record low television rating. The American League’s 4-3 victory over the National League on Tuesday night in Cleveland had a 5.0 rating and 11 sh...

Todd Gurley sounds like he’s running on borrowed time. The Los Angeles Rams’ primary ballcarrier said Tuesday he isn’t certain how his arthritic knee will hold up over the long haul. An “art...

In June 2017, when two rugby test matches were held in Shizuoka Prefecture and Tokyo between the Japanese and Irish national teams, announcements were made requesting spectators to stand up for the n...

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — While another reduced bid process was completed on Monday with Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo winning the 2026 Winter Olympics, the Los Angeles Sport Council (LASC) released a re...

NBA coaches likely will be challenging one call per game next season. The league told teams Friday that, pending expected approval by the board of governors on July 9, coaches may challenge a person...

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo will play for Greece at the basketball World Cup in China, saying on Friday he can play any position. The NBA MVP said he hasn’t “talked to the coac...

LONDON (Reuters) — Many of the traditions of the Wimbledon championships have endured for decades, but this year one familiar courtside sight will be missing. No longer will players be taking new ...

MILAN (Reuters) — AC Milan has voluntarily accepted a one-year ban from all European competitions for breaching UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, sport’s highest court CAS said Friday. A...

TOYOTA, Aichi — Host Japan moved into first place on Day 3 of the girls’ team competition on Thursday at the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture. Japan jumped up from second, ...

The ticket designs for the Rugby World Cup, which will open on Sept. 20, were revealed Monday in Tokyo. There are three types of tickets, each with a different background color: blue, red or purple....

A growing number of professional baseball and soccer stadiums are installing seating that draws on technology used in automobile seats, allowing spectators to sit in comfort for long periods. These s...

Japan national team and Alvark Tokyo forward Yudai Baba has accepted an invitation to participate in the minicamp of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, the B.League team announced Tuesday. The camp, to be ...

With 100 days to go before the Rugby World Cup begins in Japan, a clock counting down to the start of the first match was unveiled Wednesday at the Marunouchi Building in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, as part...

NARITA, Chiba — The Webb Ellis Cup, the trophy awarded to the winner of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, arrived at Narita Airport in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, on Monday. Japan is the first Asian nation t...