World Sports

I grew up watching [Venus] play, so it’s incredible to play the final [against her]. [The nerves] are inside, of course I was nervous. It was very tough [the first set], we both had chances. Two years ago I lost to Serena in the final and she told me one day I’d win.

Don’t go outside. That’s your pro tip for the weekend. The heat index is above average for most of the country, humidity is turning everywhere into a sauna, and it’s just no fun. It’s OK, though, because we’ve got some sweet sports to keep you entertained throughout the weekend. We’re hitting the business end of Wimbledon, and baseball is heating up after the All-Star break. Sprinkle in a little X-Games,…

Don’t let the beaming smiles, the friendly banter and the gentle camaraderie of its contestants fool you. Pickleball is not for the fainthearted. “Frank has left some of his DNA on the court,” Denny Johnson said of the many skinned knees and bruises earned by his 82-year-old friend and pickleball partner Frank Slater. Said Slater: “You’ve gotta be tough.” The dramatic growth of the game — which looks like tennis…

GOLF BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Some of the best golfers in the world are competing in New Jersey this weekend — and vying for attention with a guy whose best finish was an age-group club title. That would be President Donald Trump. The president’s arrival at his club created such a commotion that crowds at the U.S. Women’s Open were asked to keep it down as golfers Lexi Thompson, Brooke Henderson…

Last summer, millions watched as a hometown hero returned to reclaim victory in a winner-take-all battle as the leader of a group that for years knew nothing but heartbreaking loss. No, I’m not talking about the King of the NBA East, LeBron James. I’m talking about the King of the North, Jon Snow, and his victory in the “Battle of the Bastards,” the penultimate episode of last season’s “Game of…

Honestly, there are so many amazing sports moments in history that it’s easy to forget exactly how they went down. Sure, we remember the big names — Shaq, Allen Iverson, Michael Phelps — but do you remember every single detail of these amazing plays? Of course not. That’s why you might not be surprised to recall that many of these moments involved that hot dog from Snapchat that everyone loves…

Don’t go outside. That’s your pro tip for the weekend. The heat index is above average for most of the country, humidity is turning everywhere into a sauna, and it’s just no fun. It’s OK, though, because we’ve got some sweet sports to keep you entertained throughout the weekend. We’re hitting the business end of Wimbledon, and baseball is heating up after the All-Star break. Sprinkle in a little X-Games,…

Last summer, millions watched as a hometown hero returned to reclaim victory in a winner-take-all battle as the leader of a group that for years knew nothing but heartbreaking loss. No, I’m not talking about the King of the NBA East, LeBron James. I’m talking about the King of the North, Jon Snow, and his victory in the “Battle of the Bastards,” the penultimate episode of last season’s “Game of…

Last summer, millions watched as a hometown hero returned to reclaim victory in a winner-take-all battle as the leader of a group that for years knew nothing but heartbreaking loss. No, I’m not talking about the King of the NBA East, LeBron James. I’m talking about the King of the North, Jon Snow, and his victory in the “Battle of the Bastards,” the penultimate episode of last season’s “Game of…

Don’t go outside. That’s your pro tip for the weekend. The heat index is above average for most of the country, humidity is turning everywhere into a sauna, and it’s just no fun. It’s OK, though, because we’ve got some sweet sports to keep you entertained throughout the weekend. We’re hitting the business end of Wimbledon, and baseball is heating up after the All-Star break. Sprinkle in a little X-Games,…

Robert Kinsler started United Fray in 2009. He was working as a real estate broker in Washington when he saw an article about leagues for Skee-Ball, the arcade game, in New York. He started his own league, charging $20 a person. At the start of the following year, several hundred people had signed up. He quit his job to focus on the league full time. Last year, United Fray had…

Many fans turn their attention to sports such as archery, luge, diving and biathlon only when the Olympic Games come around. Starting this weekend, a new broadcast channel will try to bridge that gap with year-round coverage of the Olympic movement. “Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA” is an Americanized version of the global channel the International Olympic Committee launched last year. A joint effort by the IOC, U.S. Olympic…

Mike Stobe/Getty Images It came nearly a half hour into his press conference, but Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe eventually landed on the perfect metaphor. He was asked why anyone should believe Conor McGregor has a chance to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. This is a fair question. Mayweather is 49-0 and one of the best defensive boxers in history. Conor McGregor will be in his first professional boxing match in…

Hoping to attract a younger buyer to its sensible but staid Accord, and persuade car shoppers to consider a sedan over an SUV, Honda has given its bestselling mid-sized car a sporty, sexy makeover. Unwrapped at twin events held in Detroit and Torrance on Friday morning, the new vehicle looks and acts more like a sports car. It sits wider and lower to the ground, has sleeker body lines and…

x Embed x Share CLOSE A look at which NBA players have signed new contracts during this year’s free agency period. USA TODAY Sports Pro sports leagues in the U.S. are flush with cash, but for how long?(Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto) Get those cartoonish contracts while you can, because the clock is ticking. While even run-of-the-mill NBA free agents figure out how to spend their new largesse — $23 million for J.J. Redick, really?…

BASEBALL CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Cubs found the pitching help they were looking for just a few miles from Wrigley Field. They hope it will give the scuffling team the kick it needs. The defending World Series champions acquired left-handed ace Jose Quintana from the White Sox in a major trade between crosstown rivals that could shake up the NL Central race. By landing the 2016 All-Star, the Cubs made…

NBA superstar LeBron James, approximating the trajectory for the use of sports analytics. Gregory Shamus / Getty Images There’s a fortune to be made crunching stats in a post-Moneyball world, and the potential for profit extends far beyond baseball, into everything from soccer to basketball. At the core of the story is what makes anything sports-related intriguing to so many people: an undying competitive spirit that has franchises — even…

Why Romelu? Who won with Venus Williams? And who is not a Belieber? • Test your knowledge on previous quizzes

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored 28 goals for Manchester United last season Both Los Angeles-based Major League Soccer clubs are interested in signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic if the Swede decides to end his career outside Europe. Free agent Ibrahimovic is currently recovering from knee surgery at Manchester United’s training ground. United have not ruled out signing the 35-year-old on a short-term contract once he is fit, but LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC…

BASEBALL CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Cubs found the pitching help they were looking for just a few miles from Wrigley Field. They hope it will give the scuffling team the kick it needs. The defending World Series champions acquired left-handed ace Jose Quintana from the White Sox in a major trade between crosstown rivals that could shake up the NL Central race. By landing the 2016 All-Star, the Cubs made…