Djokovic might pass up U.S. Open
Top-ranked Novak Djokovic is thinking of skipping the U.S. Open — if it is played — and instead returning to tennis competition on clay ahead of the rescheduled French Open.
Speaking to Serbia’s state broadcaster RTS on Tuesday, Djokovic said the restrictions that would be in place for the Grand Slam tournament in New York because of the COVID-19 pandemic would be “extreme” and not “sustainable.”
“Most of the players I have talked to were quite negative on whether they would go there,” Djokovic said. USOPC Chief Executive Sarah Hirshland cited global protests over George Floyd’s death in saying she will establish an “athlete-led group” to discuss change. Racism and the right to protest during medal ceremonies will be among numerous issues addressed.
UCLA’s athletic department launched a Voting Matters Initiative on Tuesday, focusing on voter education and registration among student-athletes.
Head coaches have agreed to dedicate time for voting education sessions for each of the school’s 25 NCAA-sanctioned sports.
The PGA Tour is leaving the 8:46 a.m. tee time vacant this week at Colonial as part of a tribute to Floyd and to support efforts to end racial and social injustice . ... The Evian Championship women’s major golf tournament has been canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak. The event in France had already been postponed from July to Aug. 6-9.
WBO featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson (14-0, 8 KOs) stopped Felix Caraballo with a bodypunch knockdown in the sixth round at Las Vegas in the first major boxing event held in North America since the start of the coronavirus outbreak. Precautions included no face-offs at the weigh-in, ample social distancing and masks on nearly everyone involved.
The UFC’s mysterious “Fight Island” is actually Yas Island, a popular tourist destination in Abu Dhabi where the mixed martial arts promotion will hold four shows in July . ... Paul “Rocky” Rochester , a defensive lineman on the New York Jets’ Super Bowl-winning team in 1969, has died. He was 81.