Author: Shekari Philemon

Jannik Sinner will miss the US Open due to a right knee injury, the world No. 1 announced Friday on social media, ending the Italian’s bid to defend the title he won at Flushing Meadows in 2024. He said in an Instagram post that he and his team had made the difficult decision after returning to the court in Monte Carlo over the previous few days and realizing he still needs more time to recover. He said he is very sad and disappointed, noting that New York has a special place in his heart and that he was looking forward…

James Harden agreed to a three-year, $97 million contract to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, completing a deal that will push the 11-time All-Star past $500 million in career earnings and keep the backcourt pairing with Donovan Mitchell intact for a team that reached the Eastern Conference finals last season. The contract includes a player option for the 2028-29 season and a trade kicker. He turns 37 on Aug. 26 and will become just the second player in NBA history to sign for more than $90 million in guaranteed salary at that age or older, with LeBron James…

Los Angeles Lakers minority owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong has no plans to sell his stake as the ownership transition continues, his family attorney confirmed Thursday, adding a stable element to an otherwise fluid ownership picture. The attorney described Iger and Kushner as good friends and said the family looks forward to being supportive partners. He said they are excited about the Lakers’ future and anticipate more championship years. Soon-Shiong, 74, bought into the team in 2010 when he purchased a 4 percent stake from Magic Johnson. He is a surgeon and cancer research pioneer with a net worth estimated above…

Kent Bazemore spent ten years in the NBA, earning nearly 78 million dollars over the course of his professional career. By most measures, that is the kind of financial foundation that should outlast retirement comfortably. But the former shooting guard is now speaking openly about how quickly that security can erode once the paychecks stop and the lawyers show up. His recent comments about the financial consequences of his divorce have spread rapidly across social media, landing in a moment when several other high-profile athletes are navigating similar legal battles of their own. What happened when the career ended Bazemore…

The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired forward Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets in a five-team trade Wednesday, agreeing to give the 23-year-old wing a four-year, $88 million contract as they retool their roster following a sweep by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals. Watson will sign his new deal with a player option and trade kicker as part of the sign-and-trade that brings him to Cleveland. He had career highs last season across all major statistical categories, averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 41 percent from three-point range. He started…

Victor Wembanyama was named captain of the French national basketball team on Wednesday, a formal recognition of the leadership role the 22-year-old has been stepping into throughout a summer that has included hosting Spurs teammates in France for workouts and team-building activities. The announcement came as France prepares for FIBA World Cup European qualifiers, a campaign with significant expectations. France is considered a serious contender for gold at the 2027 World Cup in Qatar and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Rudy Gobert captained the team during qualifying windows earlier this summer. Wembanyama told FIBA he was surprised by the appointment…

Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins suffered a torn ACL during Tuesday’s joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders, sources told NFL Network, dealing a significant blow to the Texans receiving corps, which was already working with limited depth. Higgins went down during red zone 11-on-11 drills when he ran a route in the end zone and fell awkwardly. He was unable to get up immediately but eventually limped off under his own power. Coach DeMeco Ryans said after practice that the team was evaluating the severity of the injury. The Texans confirmed the injury Wednesday. The loss of Higgins…

Nick Kyrgios described feeling helpless and alone as two years of injuries dismantled the career he built toward his peak in 2022, and said the positive cocaine test that led to his provisional suspension has given him the wake-up call he needed. The 31-year-old Australian, now ranked 919th in the world after playing just 10 singles matches on the ATP Tour since 2022, said on Instagram that he made a huge mistake and takes full responsibility for it. He said the injuries had taken a significant toll both physically and mentally and that his body had been unable to do…

Americans dominated the quarterfinal picture at the Cincinnati Open on Wednesday, with Tommy Paul upsetting top seed Alexander Zverev, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff and Madison Keys all advancing on the women’s side, and Brandon Nakashima joining Paul in the men’s quarters to give the United States a strong presence deep in both draws. Four women reaching the quarterfinals is the most since 2004 in Cincinnati, a milestone that reflects the depth of American tennis in the current generation. Paul beats Zverev in the headline result Paul rallied from a set down to defeat Zverev 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 in the marquee…

Alex Eala’s run at the Cincinnati Open is over after Amanda Anisimova rallied from a set down to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 Monday, denying the 21-year-old Filipina what would have been her 10th career victory over a top-10 opponent. She had been on a remarkable run against elite opponents this season, recording seven of her nine top-10 wins in 2026 alone. But Anisimova, the world No. 10, was too strong in the final two sets of their first career meeting on the WTA Tour, closing the match by winning six consecutive games after the 21-year-old appeared in control. After the…