Delray Beach Open:
Elina Svitolina of Ukraine is set to debut in the top 10 after winning her second title of the season at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Svitolina dominated Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-2 in the final that started two hours late because of rain.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated defending champion Nick Kyrgios 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-4 in Marseilles, France, setting up an allFrench final. Tsonga will take on Lucas Pouille, who defeated Richard Gasquet 7-5, 6-3 to reach his first final this season.
Open 13:
Jack Sock won the last seven points of a second-set tiebreaker to beat Donald Young 6-4, 7-6 (2) in an all-American semifinal in Delray Beach, Fla. Sock, seeded third and ranked 21st in the world, will face No. 1 seed Milos Raonic of Canada or No. 7 Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina in today’s final.
Dominic Thiem and Pablo Carreno Busta will face off in today’s final of the clay-court event. Thiem defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-1, 6-4 to advance, and Carreno Busta eliminated 18-year-old Norwegian Casper Ruud, 2-6, 7-5, 6-0.
Rio Open:
When Indians MESA, ARIZ. — general manager Chris Antonetti crosses paths with Cubs counterparts Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer at Sloan Park today, they can share a laugh over their stressful state during the rain delay before the 10th inning of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series.
“I remember the look on Jed and Theo’s faces, same as mine,” Antonetti recalled at spring training. “Just ashen and fatigued and angst, (wondering) is this game ever going to end?”
The Cubs outlasted the Indians in one of the most memorable Game 7s in Series history. Its outcome heightened expectations about the possibility of a rematch.
Both teams are legitimate threats to repeat. But there are questions about their chances to return to the Series this fall.
Here are three factors that could dictate their fortunes.
Seven of the Cubs’ 10 players who started Game 7 were 27 or younger, including five 25 or younger.
“I can’t even put into words how good that is for us,” Kris Bryant said. “Ernie Banks never had a chance to play in a playoff game. For us to be able to do that that early in our careers, especially Game 7, I think
Experience:
The New York Jets on Saturday released center Nick Mangold, the longest-tenured member of the team.
An 11-year pro and a leader in the locker room, Mangold, 33, has said he doesn’t plan to retire.
A first-round draft pick in 2006 who played his entire career with the Jets, Mangold is a two-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler.
“While this is a sad day to leave so many great coaches, teammates and executives, I look forward to seeing what the future holds for me,” Mangold said. “I truly want to thank the fans for their amazing support over the past 11 years. It means a lot to see all the (hash)74 jerseys in the crowd every Sunday. Thank you all for a fantastic 11 years!”
Releasing its longest-tenured player saves New York more than $9 million against the salary cap.
Mangold missed eight games last season with an ankle injury, which he said made him want to play in 2017. In December, he told The Associated Press: “Shoot, I love football. I miss it dearly, so I’m planning on playing.” if we’re put in those situations again, we’ll know how to play relaxed.”
Meanwhile, the left side of the Indians’ infield — All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor and third baseman Jose Martinez — is younger than 25, and starting pitchers Trevor Bauer (26), Danny Salazar (27) and Carlos Carrasco (29) are under team control through at least 2018.
“Our rotation and even some of the guys in the bullpen are likely to be in Cleveland for the foreseeable future,” Antonetti said.
The danger for both sides is assuming that they will return to the Series soon even if they come up short this season.
“When you’ve been there, you know how to do it, you know you can do it because you’ve done it before. But there’s a sense of urgency you have to keep,” said Ben Zobrist, who has won consecutive Series with the Royals and Cubs. “That’s hard and that’s one of the challenges ahead. It can be easy to get complacent.”
Said Indians manager Terry Francona: “(What) will benefit our guys the most (is) when they look back and realize they just didn’t show up and end up in the postseason and the World Series. We started that work on day one of the offseason and day one of spring training.”
The Cubs still retain top prospects Eloy Jimenez and Ian Happ after trading top prospect Gleyber Torres to the Yankees for Aroldis Chapman,
Farm system:
His likely replacement is Wesley Johnson, who filled in last year when Mangold was hurt. But Johnson is a restricted free agent.
When defensive lineman Earl Mitchell got a head start on free agency after being released last week by the Dolphins, San Francisco managed to sell him on familiarity with coaches rather than past success for the team.
After mostly sitting out free agency last offseason, the Niners beat out Atlanta, Seattle and Denver for Mitchell’s services by officially signing him to a four-year $16 million contract on Saturday. Mitchell will be paid $5.5 million in 2017, a person familiar with the deal said on condition of anonymity because terms were not released.
Mitchell said he wasn’t deterred by the fact San Francisco won just two games a year ago, saying he believed in the new direction the franchise is headed in under coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.
“I’m not one of those types of guys who looks into the past,” Mitchell said. “I’m
49ers:
but there’s a noticeable gulf between their major league pitching staff and their top prospects at the lower levels.
“I like the guys we have, especially in low minors,” Hoyer said. “But one thing with pitching, there are a lot of innings and health we have to get through but haven’t done yet.”
Antonetti, meanwhile, is a firm believer in his farm system after trading outfielder Clint Frazier and lefthander Justis Sheffield — two of the Indians’ top four prospects, to acquire formidable left-handed reliever Andrew Miller last season.
“We have a quality group of major league players who have a chance to be with us for a while, and that’s bolstered by a farm system that we think has players who will help us move forward, including this year,” Antonetti said.
The decision to rebuild a franchise that resulted in its first Series title since 1908 turned out so well the Cubs virtually have a license to print money based on their nationwide popularity, significant upgrades at Wrigley Field and the possibility of a lucrative television contract.
Despite spending 109 games in first place and winning the AL Central by eight games, the Indians outdrew only the A’s and Rays among AL teams. Yet they did have enough financial flexibility to sign free-agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion to a three-year, $60 million contract Jan. 5.
Money:
Carmelo Anthony made a jumper with 0.3 seconds left to cap a 37-point night to lift New York. The Knicks blew a 17-point lead and fell behind by one when Jahlil Okafor scored with 9 seconds remaining. Okafor had a season-high 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Philadelphia.
Frank Kaminsky had 23 points and 13 rebounds, and Charlotte ended a five-game losing streak.
Terrence Ross scored 24 points, Nikola Vucevic had 16 points and 14 rebounds for Orlando.
Hassan Whiteside had 22 points and 17 rebounds for Miami. Indiana played most of the second half without All-Star forward Paul George, who was ejected after getting two technicals.
Dwyane Wade scored 20 points, and Jimmy Butler had 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to lead Chicago past Cleveland, which played without LeBron James. James missed the game with an illness.
Harrison Barnes scored 19 points, and Dallas ended a three-game losing streak. New Orleans fell to 0-2 since trading for DeMarcus Cousins and pairing him with Anthony Davis. Davis had 39 points and 14 rebounds. Cousins finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds.
Late Late Free-agent point guard Deron Williams cleared waivers and told the Cavaliers he intends to sign with them. Kevin Durant was expected to sit out against Brooklyn on Saturday with a bruised left hand.