Murray to return to singles play in Cincinnati
Andy Murray will return to singles action at the Cincinnati Open starting on Saturday, Britain’s former world No. 1 said on Friday.
The 32-year-old three-time Grand Slam champion hasn’t played singles since losing last January in the first round of the Australian Open to Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut.
Murray then had hip surgery in a bid to salvage his career.
“That feeling when you accept a wild card for the singles in Cinci ... #LetsDoThis #HereWeGo,” Murray said in a brief post on Facebook.
Murray returned to doubles action at Queen’s Club this year, winning the title with Spain’s Feliciano Lopez, and also played mixed doubles with Serena Williams and men’s doubles with Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert at Wimbledon.
Mexican-American world heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. will fight Britain’s Anthony Joshua in a rematch in Saudi Arabia on Dec. 7, Sky Sports reported on Friday.
Ruiz produced one of boxing’s biggest upsets by stopping 29-yearold Joshua in the seventh round at New York’s Madison Square Garden on June 1. The Briton, previously undefeated and fighting for the first time in the United States, was defending his IBF, WBA and WBO titles, but was knocked down four times in the fight.
The New York state board responsible for economic development has approved a US$1.3 billion project to build a 19,000-seat arena that will be the new home of the New York Islanders as well as a 350,000-square-foot entertainment complex, according to a report by Newsday.
On Thursday, the six-member Empire State Development board unanimously voted for the project proposal by New York Arena Partners, which also includes a 250-room hotel and 43 acres of parking on vacant, state-owned property at Belmont Park on Long Island. The project is still subject to an environmental review.
A fan accused of making racist comments and derogatory gestures at a Hispanic family was banned by the Texas Rangers for an indefinite number of future home games.
In a statement released Friday, the club said: “The Texas Rangers are committed to providing a safe and welcoming fan experience for everyone who attends our home games. After reviewing information relating to the exchange that took place at last Saturday’s game, in which a family was subjected to offensive comments and a profane gesture made by a nearby guest, we are notifying the individual that he violated the club’s fan code of conduct and is indefinitely prohibited from attending Rangers home games.”
In a Facebook post shortly after the Rangers played the Detroit Tigers last Saturday at Globe Life Park, Jessica Romero pointed out in a Facebook post that the man “made it perfectly clear during the second inning that he’s not a fan of Hispanics.”
She posted a picture on Facebook of herself with husband Ramon and their young son that shows the man seated directly behind them making a derogatory gesture.
The Romeros were offered tickets to any home game this season by the Rangers, who said they wanted to “make their next trip to Globe Life Park a memorable and enjoyable experience.”
Joe Panik apparently landed on his feet with the New York Mets after being designated for assignment by the San Francisco Giants.
According to multiple reports, the 28-year-old second baseman will join the Mets. His availability comes at an opportune time for New York, which placed second baseman Robinson Cano on the injured list with a torn hamstring. It’s likely Cano will be out for the rest of the season.
Panik, a former all-star and Gold Glove winner, was batting a career low .235 with three home runs and 27 RBIs in 103 games.
In six seasons, Panik averaged .271 with 36 home runs and 221 RBIs for San Francisco.