U.S. OPEN
Men’s final wraps up the year’s last major
NEW YORK (AP) β It’s hard to imagine that anybody predicted the men’s final pairing for the U.S. Open championship. The title match is taking place this afternoon with tenth-seed Kei Nishikori (KAY nesh-ih-KOHR’-ee) facing 14th-seed Marin Cilich (CHIHL’-ihch). In the semifinals, each pulled a major upset as Nishikori eliminated top-seed Novak Djokovic (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich) 6-4, 1-6, 7-6, 6-3 and Cilich beat No. 2 Roger Federer 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Neither Nishikori nor Cilich has won a Grand Slam singles championship before. If Nishikori were to win he’d be the first from Asia. In his home country of Japan, Nishikori is already a celebrity as interest in today’s match shows. The official satellite TV provider in Japan, WOWOW, has been inundated with requests for service to watch the match.
The two have met seven times with Nishikori winning five of the encounters. Four years ago they met in the second round of the U.S. Open with the Japanese star prevailing in five sets, while two years ago in a third round match Cilich was the winner in four sets.
NFL-SCHEDULE
Two games on tap tonight
UNDATED (AP) β The first week of NFL play comes to a close tonight with two Monday Night games. In the first contest, the Detroit Lions are playing host to the New York Giants while the second contest has Arizona hosting San Diego.
The Lions are opening the season on a Monday night for the first time since 1971, and this will be Detroit’s first game under new coach Jim Caldwell. The Giants are looking to get back into the post season after missing the playoffs for two straight years. A new offensive coordinator, Ben McAdoo, was brought in and quarterback Eli Manning has reportedly struggled in the pre-season.
Both teams in the nightcap are coming off winning seasons. The Chargers were 9-7 and made the playoffs while the Cardinals finished 10-6 in Bruce Arians’ first season as head coach and failed to make the post season. The teams are playing for the second time in 12 days after they met in San Diego in the preseason finale.
NFL-RICE
Video reportedly shows Rice hitting fiancee
BALTIMORE (AP) β A new video that appears to show Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice striking his then-fiancee in an elevator last February has been released on a website. The grainy video by TMZ Sports apparently shows Rice and Janay Palmer in an elevator at an Atlantic City casino. Each hits the other before Rice knocks Palmer off her feet and into a railing. An earlier TMZ video showed Rice dragging Palmer, now his wife, from the elevator.
Rice’s lawyer, Michael Diamondstein, would not comment to The Associated Press. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello (eye-EHL’-oh) says the latest video was not made available to the league and “no one in our office has seen it until today.” Phone messages and emails to the Ravens were not immediately returned.
Rice was suspended for two games by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (guh-DEHL’), who later toughened penalties for domestic violence
MLB-SCHEDULE
Two day games on the schedule
UNDATED (AP) β It’s not customary for there to be day games on a non-holiday Monday, but there are two games on tap this afternoon.
In Detroit, the Tigers and Royals start a key series with first-place in the American League Central on the line. At the start of play the Royals top the Tigers by two games in the division standings and today’s game begins a three-game set. On the mound for the Royals is ten-game winner Jeremy Guthrie, while the Tigers are countering with 12-12 Justin Verlander.
Cleveland, the third place team in the AL Central, has a game this afternoon with the Angels. This is a makeup game from mid-June. The Angels begin play with a seven game lead over the Athletics in the AL West, while the Indians are 5 back of the Royals and 3 Β½ back of the final AL wild card berth.
It pretty much is do or die time for the Atlanta Braves’ chances of winning the National League East. They start the day seven games back of the Nationals and tonight those clubs kick off a three game series in Washington. The Braves are currently a half-game back of the second NL wild card spot.
The Dodgers can extend their lead over the Giants in the NL West tonight with a win. They are home to San Diego while the Giants, who trail the Dodgers by three games, have the night off.
A check of the remaining games shows Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, the Blue Jays home to the Cubs, Baltimore at Boston, the Mets home to the Rockies, St. Louis at Cincinnati, the Brewers hosting the Marlins, Oakland in Chicago to play the White Sox and Houston at Seattle.
