Good Morning, Happy September sports fans! The next 30 days will feature the return of the NFL and college football, the most electric Grand Slam in tennis, WNBA playoffs, and the MLB playoff push. Ready to go? Letter Rip! |
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Photo: Frey/TPN / Getty Images |
Serena Williams Pulls off Huge Upset to Advance to Third Round
Serena Williams entered the second round of the US Open in unfamiliar territory- as a major underdog. She was listed as a +200 dog in her matchup against #2 seed Anett Kontaveit, her longest odds in 15 years. What oddsmakers didn’t take into account was the heart of a champion.
With her career on the line, Serena Williams delivered a vintage performance to take down the heavily favored Kontaveit in thrilling fashion. The first set was extremely competitive and resulted in Serena winning after a lengthy tiebreaker. However, Anett settled down after this and dominated the second set, winning 6-2. It looked like the 40-year-old may have been running out of gas, but she turned it on when it mattered most and answered by winning the third and final set 6-2 to claim the unlikely victory.
The New York crowd was simply incredible, roaring in support of Serena at every opportunity possible. You really could tell who won each point just by listening to the fans’ reactions. Serena showing she can clearly still compete at the highest level in addition to the incredible environment of the US Open makes her upcoming match against Ajla Tomljanovic must-see TV. Watch: Serena Williams vs. Anett Kontaveit Round 2 Highlights Additional Storylines
ESPN: Serena Williams Works Magic Again at US Open, Upsets No. 2 Seed Anett Kontaveit in Round 2 Yahoo!: Andy Murray reveals he hasn't felt as good in years after securing third round spot |
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Photo: Nick Cammett / Getty Images |
Baltimore Rookie Hits Homer in MLB Debut, O’s Continue to Surge
Welcome to the show! Gunnar Henderson, widely seen as the top prospect in baseball, made his debut in the big leagues last night to help the Orioles make a push for the playoffs. In just his second at-bat, he launched a 429-foot home run to announce his formally announce his arrival in the big leagues. Henderson went 2-4 overall and helped lead Baltimore to a 4-0 victory over the Guardians to improve to 68-61 on the season.
Seemingly overnight, the Orioles have become one of the most exciting young teams in baseball. Adley Rutschman was called up on June 21st and immediately made an impact, establishing himself as one of the best catchers in all of baseball. Combine that with an improved defense, a great bullpen, and an underperforming Blue Jays team, the O’s find themselves only 2 games back of the final Wild Card spot. Last year, the Orioles won just 52 games and were the bottom feeders of the MLB. This year, they now have two of the most exciting prospects in baseball, and their future looks as bright as ever. Definitely keep your eye on them throughout this last month of the season.
Watch: Gunnar Henderson Loses Helmet, Launches First Career Home Run Additional Storylines SI: How the Orioles Became the Most Unlikely Playoff Contender in MLB History
ESPN: Baltimore Orioles top prospect Gunnar Henderson promoted from minors, hits HR in MLB debut |
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The Favorites Bounce Back |
Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images |
Sky and Aces Pick up Victories to Knock Things up at 1-1
The #1 and #2 seeds responded to game 1 losses on their home court with game 2 victories before going on the road. While the Storm didn’t win on Wednesday, I still like their chances to pull off an upset, as long as Breanna Stewart can get some damn help on the offensive end.
Game 2: #2 Sky def. #3 Sun (85-77)
The Sky bounced back in a big way after their game 1 defeat and reminded everybody why they’re the defending champs with an assertive victory over the Sun. While the final score was in single digits, Chicago was in control of this game from the tip until the final buzzer. They responded well to Connecticut's physicality that overwhelmed them in game one, and all five Sky starters reached double-figures scoring. Game 2: #1 Aces def. #4 Storm (78-73)
The MVP candidates came to play last night, as both A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart went for 30-plus in game 2. However, it was the supporting cast of Las Vegas that was the key to their victory, particularly Chelsea Gray, who contributed 19 points and 7 assists. Her ability to bail the Aces out of bad possessions by creating her own shot and knocking down contested looks was absolutely huge, and something the Storm will definitely need going forward. Additional Storylines Yahoo!: Candace Parker Leads Well-Balanced Sky Offense to Even Semifinal Series
Yahoo!: A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray Power Aces to Even Semifinals Series vs. Storm |
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⚾️ Robbery in Queens!
Catch of the year!? Justin Turner hit a shot to dead center that looked like it had a good chance of going over the fence, but Brandon Nimmo bounced his entire body off the wall to make the incredible leaping catch to rob a home run. |
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Now that Serena Williams has established herself as a true force in this tournament after taking down the two seed, would you consider her the favorite to win the US Open? - Matthew Cahill |
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