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Germany’s Angelique Kerber couldn’t take that final step up to No. 1.
The world’s second-ranked player wasted a chance to end Serena Williams’ long run at the top, dropping behind at the outset, repeatedly missing routine shots and falling to Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-1 in the championship match at the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio, on Sunday.
Williams will be ranked No. 1 for the 184th consecutive week, two shy of Steffi Graf ’s WTA record that ended in 1997.
Williams, the two-time defending champion in Cincinnati, missed the tournament because of a sore shoulder.
It was the biggest win of Pliskova’s career, the Czech’s first title in a premier tournament.
On the men’s side, top seed Andy Murray also ran out of steam in the title match. He fell to No. 12 seed Marin Cilic 6-4, 7-5, ending his careerbest winning streak at 22 matches.
Madison Keys, ranked No. 9 in the world, withdrew from the tournament in New Haven after injuring her neck during a practice session. She’s hoping to recover in time for the U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 29.
Tyrann Mathieu, Justin Bethel and Frostee Rucker practiced for the first time this training camp Sunday and Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said “there’s no doubt” all three will be ready for the Sept. 11 season opener.
Mathieu, an All-Pro safety last season who is coming back from surgery to repair a torn right ACL, participated in several plays in 11-on-11 drills with the first unit, surprising himself and his teammates with how much he was able to do.
“I’ve got my swag back,” he said. “I feel good, confident.”
Mathieu returns a much wealthier “Honey Badger” after he signed a six-year $63 million that included $21.5 million guaranteed and another $18.75 million guaranteed if he’s on the roster at the start of the 2018 season.
Bethel, a cornerback, is returning from foot surgery and defensive lineman Rucker had a foot injury that might have been related to offseason ankle surgery.
Arians also welcomed back wide receiver John Brown, out with a concussion since early in camp. However, Brown went back in the locker room after doing some individual work.
Arians said outside linebacker Alex Okafor, who did not practice, had decided to keep playing despite a torn biceps tendon rather than opt for surgery.
Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey is sidelined by a left hip injury that could force him to miss the season opener on Sept. 11 at Seattle. Pouncey was hurt in Friday’s exhibition game at Dallas. Coach Adam Gase said Sunday
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that Pouncey will likely sit out the final two exhibition games. Anthony Steen is expected to start at center in Thursday’s exhibition game against Atlanta.
Coach Ben McAdoo said he expects wide receiver Victor Cruz to work on some conditioning today. Cruz, who has not played in the opening two preseason games after missing all of last season with knee and calf injuries, is expected to practice Tuesday when the team has a normal workout.
No. 1 quarterback Alex Smith was 9 of 12 for 137 yards and one touchdown, leading the Chiefs to 17 points on four possessions, in Saturday night’s 21-20 loss to the Rams.
Christian Ponder, who was out of football last season but was signed early last week after backup quarterback Thad Lewis suffered a season-ending knee injury in the exhibition opener against Houston, scored on a 22-yard bootleg and then completed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Dres Anderson in Saturday night’s preseason win at Denver.
■ Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has missed the first two exhibition games with a sore right shoulder, is expected to begin fully participating in workouts this week in hopes of playing Friday against Green Bay.
Eric Ebron still hasn’t given a clear timetable in his return from the ankle injury he suffered more than two weeks ago, but the third-year tight end is starting to show signs of improvement. Ebron did not take part in Sunday’s practice, but he was on the field walking through blocking drills for the first time since he hurt his ankle Aug. 6. Ebron is expected to miss his third straight exhibition game Saturday at the Ravens.
Mark Sanchez, who started the Broncos’
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exhibition opener last week, was sacked three times and fumbled twice in Saturday night’s preseason loss to the 49ers. “I squandered a great opportunity to separate myself and put the team in a bad situation. No excuse for that. Poor, poor quarterbacking play,” said Sanchez, who completed 10 of 17 attempts for 120 yards.
Rookie kicker Roberto Aguayo was wide right on a 32-yard field goal and later on a 49-yarder in Saturday night’s win at Jacksonville. Those were Aguayo’s second and third misses of the preseason. A second-round pick from Florida State who finished his college career as the most accurate kicker in NCAA history, Aguayo missed an extra point in the preseason opener at Philadelphia.
Todd Bowles declined to say whether Geno Smith remained the team’s No. 2 QB behind Ryan Fitzpatrick or if Bryce Petty has surpassed him on the depth chart. The coach said earlier in training camp that there was no change in the pecking order, but Petty had a strong showing in a 22-18 loss at Washington on Friday night. Meanwhile, Smith struggled in the game and appeared to perhaps lose his stranglehold on the backup job. “I was clear about every position: 1, 2, 3, 4 going in,” Bowles said Sunday. “Until we make a change, there won’t be (a change). That’s any position. When we make a decision at the end of camp, if it changes, it changes. And if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”
Cornerback Lamarcus Joyner and Chiefs receiver Jeremy Maclin were ejected with 44 seconds left in the first half Saturday night after trading slaps to the head. Referee Pete Morelli accidentally identified Joyner as playing for St. Louis, resulting in boos from the Los Angeles Coliseum crowd.
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Oakland Athletics designated hitter Billy Butler and third baseman Danny Valencia were involved in a clubhouse spat Friday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Since then, Butler has missed Oakland’s games Saturday and Sunday with what manager Bob Melvin said was nausea and vomiting.
Neither Melvin nor any players would confirm the report, but Melvin did say Butler’s health woes were not related to the flu or any illness.
Valencia, who did not play in Sunday’s loss to the White Sox, issued a “no comment” about the alleged incident, but added, “What happens in the clubhouse stays in the clubhouse.”
All-star closer A.J. Ramos, who had been on the disabled list with a finger injury, was activated and pitched a perfect eighth inning on Sunday. Reliever Brian Ellington (0.92 ERA) was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans.
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After a solid rehab start on Saturday at Triple-A Tacoma, left-hander James Paxton (left elbow contusion) is expected to rejoin the Mariners rotation and likely to start Thursday at the White Sox.
Left-hander Manny Banuelos agreed to a minor league contract following his release by the Braves. A former top prospect in the Yankees organization, the 25-year-old Mexican missed 2013 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Right-hander Tyrell Jenkins was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett. The rookie, acquired in the November 2014 trade involving Jason Heyward and Shelby Miller, is 2-3 with a 6.30 ERA in eight starts.
Right-hander Huston Street has gone to Texas
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to seek a second opinion on his injured right knee and may need offseason surgery. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said surgery likely would be minor and would take place in the offseason. Street was placed on the 15-day DL with right knee inflammation on Aug. 2.
Manager Jeff Banister said Carlos Gomez, signed to a minor league contract Saturday, will primarily start in left field. “This guy can take over a game,” Banister said. The move allows Jurickson Profar to move into a utility role. Gomez may join the Rangers from Triple-A Round Rock during a series at Cincinnati that starts Tuesday night.
Cory Seager is hitting .457 (21 for 46) during his 12-game hit streak.
D J LeMahieu had three hits Sunday, including his 10th homer, to raise his average to .345, second in the NL to Washington’s Daniel Murphy. LeMahieu finished the homestand 14 for 20 with nine runs and two homers.
St. Louis got six extra-base hits Sunday to set a club record of 14 straight games with at least three extra-base hits.
Vince Velasquez, who struck out 16 Padres on April 14, fell to 0-4 with a 6.23 ERA in his last seven starts. Asked how he was going to fix things, Velasquez said he was going to take some swings. “I’m going to play a round of golf and take my mind off baseball,” he said. “I think a round of golf is going to solve it.”
The weekend series in Cleveland had a postseason-like atmosphere with thousands of Blue Jays fans at Progressive Field. All three games were decided by one run. “Shout out to Canada for coming down and supporting us this weekend,” pitcher Marcus Stroman said. “The Indians are a team we’re going to be battling with down the road, so hopefully we’ll see them in the playoffs.”
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