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  • Major League Baseball Salary Increase Slowed to 1.4% in 2025 While Setting Record at $4.7 Million

    NEW YORK (AP) — The rate of increase for Major League Baseball’s average salary slowed to 1.4% last year while setting a record average at $4,721,393, according to final figures from the players’ association.

    The increase was the smallest since the average dropped in four straight seasons before 2022. The average rose 2.9% in 2024 to $4,655,366 after increases of 7.2% in 2023 and 14.8% in 2022, following a 99-day lockout that led to a five-year collective bargaining agreement.

    After declining to $3.68 million in 2021, a year following the coronavirus pandemic-shortened season, MLB’s average has risen 28.3% in the first four seasons of the current labor deal, an annual average of 7.1%. The current agreement expires Dec. 1 and another lockout appears likely.

    Union figures are based on the 2025 salaries, earned bonuses and prorated shares of signing bonuses for 1,046 players on Aug. 31 active rosters and injured lists, before active rosters expanded for the remainder of the season.

    MLB has not yet finalized its 2025 average. Its figures differ slightly because of methodology.

    The average each year is higher on opening day but declines during the season as higher-paid veterans are released and replaced by those with less service time.

    Players with less than one year of major league service averaged $822,589, according to the union, and those with one to two years averaged $1,179,192.

    Among players with two to three years who were eligible for salary arbitration, the average was $1,833,386 while those in that service class not eligible averaged $1,374,760. The top 22% of the class by service time is arbitration eligible.

    Averages among others in the arbitration-eligible years were $3,273,039 for the three-years-plus group, $3,932,847 in the four-plus group and $8,019,748 in the five-plus group, a year of service time shy of free-agent eligibility.

    The average rose to $9,649,380 for six-to-seven-year players and peaked at $22,034,231 for 11-to-12-year players before declining to $13,703,052 for the six players with 15 or more years of major league service.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • Eugenio Suárez and the Reds Agree to a $15 Million, 1-Year Contract, AP Sources Say

    Eugenio Suárez and the Cincinnati Reds have agreed on a $15 million, one-year contract, two people familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday night.

    The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical and had not been announced.

    Suárez was the top slugger left on the free agent market and the two-time All-Star returns to Cincinnati, where he played seven seasons. He hit 189 home runs for the Reds from 2015 through 2021, including 49 in 2019.

    The move gives the Reds the proven power hitter they had been seeking throughout the offseason. A third baseman for most of his 12-year major league career, the 34-year-old Suárez is expected to be Cincinnati’s primary designated hitter and perhaps play some games at third base or first.

    The team has Gold Glove winner Ke’Bryan Hayes at third, and touted prospect Sal Stewart is likely to play first.

    The Reds were one of many teams interested in Suárez at the trade deadline last year, but they didn’t want to part with key prospects. He was traded from Arizona to Seattle on July 31 and finished fifth in the majors with 49 home runs and fourth with 118 RBIs. He batted .228 overall with an .824 OPS.

    Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati has averaged 2.67 home runs per game since it opened in 2003. That is the second-highest homer rate in the majors among ballparks to host at least 1,200 games.

    Suárez was traded by the Reds to Seattle during spring training in 2022. He spent two seasons with the Mariners before getting traded to the Diamondbacks.

    Suárez broke into the majors with Detroit in 2014. He is a .246 career hitter with 325 homers, 949 RBIs and a .792 OPS.

    AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • Raiders Working on Deal to Hire Klint Kubiak as Head Coach, AP Source Says

    The Las Vegas Raiders are working toward finalizing an agreement to make Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak their head coach, a person with knowledge of the discussions said Sunday.

    The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no contract was in place and no announcement can be made until after next Sunday’s Super Bowl between the Seahawks and New England Patriots in Santa Clara, California.

    Kubiak, 38, would be the third coach in three seasons for the Raiders and fifth full-time leader since they moved to Las Vegas in 2020. He succeeds Pete Carroll, who went 3-14 in one season in Las Vegas after a storied run with Seattle that included two Super Bowl appearances and one championship.

    The front office will have nearly $90 million in salary cap space to surround Mendoza with talent, the second-highest amount in the league, according to overthecap.com.

    It was Kubiak’s work with Sam Darnold that got the Raiders’ attention. Darnold, taken third overall by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL draft, had been considered a bust until leading Minnesota to a 14-win season in 2024. But the Vikings moved on from Darnold, and he proved that season was no fluke, winning 14 games in Seattle en route to making the Super Bowl against New England.

    Kubiak’s father, Gary, coached Denver to the Super Bowl title in the 2015 seasons, and he played quarterback for the Broncos from 1983-91. Gary and Klint Kubiak would be the 10th father-son pair to serve as NFL head coaches, including interim coaches.

    Kubiak also has two brothers who are on staffs of other NFL teams — Klay with San Francisco and Klein with Dallas. Klay Kubiak, the 49ers’ offensive coordinator, also interviewed with the Raiders.

    The Raiders have been searching for a path back to their glory days. Three Lombardi Trophies sit in the team’s facility, but the Raiders haven’t won a playoff game since their last Super Bowl appearance in the 2002 season. They have made the postseason just twice since then, most recently in the 2021 season.

    Owner Mark Davis, frustrated at the lack of success, put the search in the hands of minority owner Tom Brady and general manager John Spytek.

    Brady was notably complimentary of Kubiak while serving as the Fox Sports analyst during the NFC championship game last Sunday between the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams NFC. Darnold completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns in Seattle’s 31-27 victory.

    The Raiders interviewed 15 candidates.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • Ohtani Won’t Pitch in World Baseball Classic, Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts Says

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani won’t pitch for Japan in the World Baseball Classic in March, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Saturday.

    Roberts said it was Ohtani’s decision to focus solely on being the designated hitter for his native country.

    He said the team “absolutely” would have supported Ohtani if he had wanted to also pitch. Ohtani’s teammate and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto will pitch for Japan in the WBC despite his heavy workload with the Dodgers last season.

    “Yoshi feels he wants to take it on and feels good, and we support him,” Roberts said at the team’s fan fest.

    Ohtani made two starts for Japan in the 2023 WBC and then came out of the bullpen in the ninth inning to clinch the championship by striking out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout for the final out against the United States.

    Ohtani tore his ulnar collateral ligament in August that year and later underwent elbow surgery, which kept him from pitching during his first season with the Dodgers in 2024, when he was their full-time designated hitter.

    He gradually returned to pitching last year and made four postseason starts during the Dodgers’ run to their second straight World Series championship.

    Ohtani didn’t confirm his decision not to pitch in the WBC when speaking with reporters before Roberts. The four-time MVP said through a translator that he had to “see how my body feels, feel the progression and see what happens.”

    The 31-year-old Ohtani said he’s had a normal offseason because he hasn’t been rehabbing from injury.

    “I’m very healthy,” he said. “Glad that I am.”

    Roberts said he won’t manage Ohtani any differently now that he’s going to pitch a full season. He said there will be ample rest days in between starts and Ohtani won’t be scheduled for any more two or three-inning starts.

    Ohtani, Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki were teammates on Japan’s WBC title team in 2023. But Sasaki won’t be pitching this time, coming off a rookie season filled with ups and downs that ended with him pitching out of the bullpen for the Dodgers.

    The WBC runs from March 5-17.

    Roberts is pondering his starting lineup ahead of the team reporting for spring training in Arizona on Feb. 13.

    “I do feel great about having Shohei lead off. I do feel great about having Will (Smith) in the 5 (spot) and then after that, I’m going to kind of read and react,” he said. “You certainly see Mookie (Betts) in the 3 (spot).”

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • Nelly Korda Has a 64 in the Cold and Wind to Take Lead in LPGA Opener

    ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Nelly Korda played her best golf in the worst of the conditions Saturday with an 8-under 64 in the frigid, blustery conditions that eventually led to play being suspended for the day in the season-opening Tournament of Champions.

    Korda had the best score of the week at Lake Nona, where the temperatures felt like they were in the 40s with a steady 20 mph wind and gusts nearly twice that strong.

    Going after her first win since November 2024, Korda was at 13-under 203, six shots ahead of Brooke Henderson among those who finished. Henderson shot 66.

    Amy Yang was at 10 under with two holes to play, including the par-3 17th, one of the most exposed holes on the golf course. Lydia Ko fell back with a double bogey and bogey on consecutive holes on the back nine. She was at 8 under through 16 holes.

    Youmin Hwang also was 8 under, and it was her putt that led LPGA officials to stop play. Hwang had an 18-foot birdie putt that she missed to the right, and the strong right-to-left wind sent her golf ball a few more feet to the right until it caught a ridge and rolled off the green.

    Hwang called over an official and before long play was suspended. Sue Winter, the LPGA rules official, said it was due to the couple of holes — particularly the 17th — that made it unfair.

    Players wore ear muffs and ski caps to try to stay warm, and it’s supposed to be even worse on Sunday as temperature plunge to freezing or colder.

    Korda got in two holes — both birdies — when the wind began to strengthen. And then she hit a gap wedge that landed a few feet beyond the hole and spun back in for an eagle on the third.

    She shot 30 on the front nine, added three birdies against one bogey on the back and had 64 to build a lead.

    “I knew the conditions were going to be tough, so getting off to a good start like that really helped,” Korda said. “Overall just stayed really focused and super committed on my lines. It’s really easy to doubt yourself and your lines in winds and conditions like this.”

    Korda won seven times in 2024 and then surprisingly went through all of 2025 without winning. Eager to get off to a good start, she seized control with great golf in bad weather, helped by the low, wind-piercing shots that carried her to a 64.

    “When you’re out there you’re so focused on being present and focusing in on the shot that it hasn’t really hit me like how well I played,” Korda said. “You’re almost in survival mode, especially the last holes.”

    Lottie Woad of England, who shared the 36-hole lead with Ko, was 3 over for her round through 16 holes and fell eight shots behind the lead.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • Cooper Flagg Breaks NBA Teen Record With 49 Points in Mavs’ Loss to Hornets

    DALLAS (AP) — As Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg set the NBA record for points by a teenager with 49 on Thursday night in a 123-121 loss to Charlotte, he broke the franchise rookie scoring record he shared with Mark Aguirre — whose jersey was retired at halftime.

    “Mark Aguirre is special. Such a special night for him and the whole organization,” said Flagg, who turned 19 in December. “I just feel blessed. It’s a pretty cool thing.”

    “You saw history,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “We saw history at halftime, and we got to see a young man play the game at a very high level. To have Mark in the building and break his record was pretty special.”

    Also special for the No. 1 draft pick last summer from Duke was playing his first NBA game against Kon Knueppel, his roommate as Blue Devils freshmen last season. Knueppel, drafted fourth, set his own career record with 34 points and hit the two winning free throws with 4.1 seconds left after being fouled at the rim by Flagg.

    “Cooper, he played like the best player we’ve played all season,” said Knueppel, who set a franchise rookie record hitting eight 3-pointers. “He had a heck of a game, he’s a heck of a player, and he’s going to have a heck of a career.”

    Flagg referred to Knueppel as his “brother for life.”

    Cliff Robinson set the previous NBA teen record of 45 at age 19 for New Jersey in a game against Detroit on March 9, 1980. Flagg’s previous high of 42 points also came in a defeat — 140-133 at Utah on Dec. 15. As did Aguirre’s, in a 118-112 loss to Golden State on Nov. 14, 1981.

    It didn’t start out looking like a historic night for Flagg. He shot 1 for 4 in the first quarter as the Mavericks fell behind by 15 points. He caught fire in the second period, hitting 8 of 9 including 2 of 3 from downtown plus 5 for 5 at the free-throw line. His 23 points in the period and 25 at halftime were both Dallas individual highs this season.

    Knueppel conversely came out hot. He hit his first three shots from behind the arc, 4 for 5 in the first period and added another in the second quarter.

    “When he sees some easy ones go in to start the game, it’s never a good thing (for an opponent),” Flagg said of Knueppel, who turned 20 in August. “That’s how it is for a lot of great shooters.”

    “Chirping back and forth,” Flagg said. “Just having fun.”

    The two leading candidates for Rookie of the Year finished the night with Flagg averaging 19.5 points per game, Knueppel 18.9. They’ll meet again on March 3 in Charlotte.

    It will be difficult to match their collective effort on Thursday night.

    “We’ll both be looking back on this night and this whole year in general the rest of our lives,” Flagg said.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • With History Already Made, Jessie Diggins Opens Her Final Olympic Chapter With Momentum

    The 34-year-old Minnesota native is retiring at the end of the season, and looking forward to finally getting some rest.

    “I’m really excited to have a whole weekend off,” Diggins told The Associated Press from the U.S. team’s training base in Livigno, Italy.

    “I realize that sounds kind of crazy, but … I haven’t had two days in a row that are actually mine in a very long time. So that’s going to feel really special.”

    Before that, she enters her fourth Olympics as the top challenger to the traditionally dominant Nordic skiers. With gold, silver, and bronze medals already to her name, Diggins is a strong favorite to add to her collection in Milan Cortina. Along the World Cup circuit this year, growing clusters of U.S. teammates have gathered to cheer her on, a presence that’s coincided with her retaining the lead in the overall women’s standings.

    “It was so cool — just feeling so much love across different sports,” Diggins said after winning her third overall Tour de Ski title in northern Italy this month. “It’s been really awesome.”

    She returned to the podium last weekend in Goms, Switzerland, at the final World Cup meet before the Olympics, where she finished second in the 20-kilometer classic, just 0.9 seconds behind Finland’s Johanna Matintalo.


    Zip lines, swim races, summers in Canada

    Growing up in Afton, outside Minneapolis, Diggins tried any sport that could absorb her uncontainable energy: skating, soccer, dance, gymnastics, rock climbing and athletics. Ski racing followed while she was still in elementary school.

    Her father, an outdoorsy Canadian, installed a zip line behind their house, and speed quickly became a fascination. That competitive edge sharpened during summers north of the border, racing other kids in swim meets along the shores of Lake Superior.

    Ski competitions began at 11 and never stopped. After outperforming the boys, Diggins jumped age categories, surging through her teens from state to national championships and onto an express path to the Olympics.

    By 2018, she was at the center of a historic breakthrough, teaming with Kikkan Randall in the sprint to claim the first — and still only — U.S. Olympic gold in cross-country skiing.

    After adding silver and bronze in 2022, Diggins will compete at Milan Cortina as part of a powerhouse group of American women that includes Alpine skiiers Mikaela Shiffrin, Lindsey Vonn and snowboarder Chloe Kim. A dual citizen, Diggins also openly roots for Canada.

    “I absolutely do,” she told the AP. “I kind of see it as team North America. And I am really, really proud of my Canadian citizenship. So many of my family lives up there, and both my parents were born there. I feel so proud to have half of my heart there.”


    Stressed by events in Minneapolis

    Her career took off in Europe and eventually led her to settle outside Boston, but Minnesota is never far away. Diggins said it has been stressful to follow the headlines about the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis where two people were fatally shot by federal immigration agents.

    “It’s been devastating following the news of what has been happening in Minnesota right now, and it’s really hard feeling like I can do nothing about it,” she wrote in an online post.

    As her career has flourished, she has also devoted herself to causes that mirror personal struggles — advocating for climate action as snowfall declines because of climate change and pushing for better access to treatment for people with severe eating disorders.

    “It makes every race so much more meaningful knowing that I’m trying to advocate for a better future,” she said.

    After advocacy, it’s back to the slopes.


    Glitter, gratitude and podium dancing

    Fans know Jessie Diggins’ winning formula: relentless endurance, downhill aggression and a finishing kick capable of breaking elite rivals.

    There’s also playfulness. She races with glitter face paint — a ritual now copied by younger American skiers — and after frequent finish-line collapses often celebrates moments later with a half-dance on the podium.

    Along the way, Diggins makes a point of publicly thanking those who helped her get there: wax technicians, sports psychologists, teammates and others.

    “I have to say a huge thank you to the team. I felt like I had awesome skis that were super competitive every single day,” she said after her latest Tour de Ski victory.

    “It takes a village, and I’m really proud of my village — really grateful for them. It was so fun to feel good on this last tour. And yeah, it was just really cool.”

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • Peralta Willing to Consider Multiyear Deal With Mets but Wants to Get Settled in New York First

    NEW YORK (AP) — Freddy Peralta is willing to consider a multiyear contract with the Mets before reaching free agency.

    But he wants to get settled in New York first.

    “I’ve got to see around, share time with my teammates and think about different ideas, learn about everybody, coaches (and) the organization in general,” the All-Star pitcher said Tuesday. “And then we can see.”

    The 29-year-old Peralta is due to make $8 million this season after the Brewers picked up their club option on a deal he signed in 2020. He can become a free agent following the World Series.

    So next winter, Peralta could be in line for a very lucrative contract as one of the most attractive players on the open market. And with only one year of club control remaining, he couldn’t fully ignore the chatter about a potential trade from small-market Milwaukee this offseason — or resist connecting the dots that made a move to the Mets a likely outcome.

    “I was trying to avoid that but I couldn’t because family members (and) everybody (was) talking about it all the time,” Peralta said on a Zoom call with reporters. “But I had a feeling that I was coming to the Mets.”

    His hunch came to fruition last Wednesday, when New York sent pitcher Brandon Sproat and touted prospect Jett Williams to the Brewers for Peralta and right-hander Tobias Myers.

    The deal reunites Peralta with Stearns, who ran Milwaukee’s front office from 2015-23. Stearns pulled off one of his biggest moves with the Brewers on Dec. 9, 2015, when he acquired Peralta, then a 19-year-old who hadn’t pitched above rookie ball, from the Seattle Mariners for veteran first baseman/designated hitter Adam Lind.

    “I knew that something was going to happen and it was a little hard at the same time, because I spent my whole career in Milwaukee and there’s a lot of great memories over there,” Peralta said. “But this is a business and anything can happen. I was prepared for the moment. And being honest, I’m really happy to be here in New York and be a member of the Mets organization.”

    Peralta’s arrival gives New York a much-needed frontline starter and appears to cap a hectic offseason for the retooled Mets, who parted ways with lineup mainstays Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo as well as star closer Edwin Díaz.

    New York’s rotation wore down last season, when the Mets had the best record in the majors through June 12 but missed the playoffs.

    Peralta made the National League All-Star team and finished fifth in Cy Young Award balloting last year, when he led the NL with 17 wins and also set career bests with a 2.70 ERA in 176 2/3 innings over 33 starts. He struck out 204 batters, six shy of his single-season high established in 2023.

    Peralta and Dylan Cease are the only major league pitchers to make at least 30 starts and record at least 200 strikeouts in each of the last three seasons. The Mets haven’t had a pitcher make 30 starts in consecutive campaigns since Steven Matz and two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom did so in 2018 and 2019.

    Kodai Senga, who had 202 strikeouts as a rookie in 2023, is the lone New York pitcher with a 200-strikeout season since 2019.

    Converted reliever Clay Holmes led the Mets with 12 wins, a 3.53 ERA and 31 starts last season, when only Holmes, Senga and David Peterson reached 100 innings for New York.

    “I think that’s the No. 1 important thing for me — to be healthy, to be ready every five days to take the ball and go and pitch and be there for the team,” Peralta said. “That’s what I have on my mind all the time — get the necessary work with the trainers in the weight room, mentally with the pitching coaches, just to protect myself and try to be there every five days. Because I know when you have 30 starts, ideally 30-plus starts, something good is going to be on the line.”

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • Sean Payton Says Broncos QB Bo Nix Has an Ankle Condition That Made Break Inevitable

    ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Sean Payton said at his season-ending news conference Tuesday that Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix had a preexisting ankle condition that make a fracture inevitable.

    Nix broke a bone in his right ankle on Denver’s game-winning drive in the Broncos’ 33-30 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs.

    Nix flew to Birmingham, Alabama, last week for an operation performed by Dr. Norman E. Waldrop III, a renowned foot and ankle specialist at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center.

    Nix watched from a suite Sunday as backup Jarrett Stidham took his place in Denver’s 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game.

    On Tuesday, the Broncos’ brass provided the fullest accounting yet of Nix’s injury, with Payton saying a preexisting issue made the fracture “a matter of when.”

    “What was found was a condition that was predisposed — they always find a little more when they go in,” Payton said. “It wasn’t a matter of if, it was a matter of when. When you look at the play and you’re trying to evaluate it — the operating surgeon said that this was going to happen sooner than later. Now, you go about the rehab, proper orthotics, all those things.”

    Payton said he has no concerns about Nix’s health going forward even though Nix has had several ankle operations going back to high school.

    “So listen, he’ll rehab his tail off and get ready and get back to being healthy,” Payton said. “I think for someone who runs with the ball, I think he’s done a pretty good job of protecting himself, not all the time, but for the most part, he’s done a pretty good job of sliding and understanding playing for another day.”

    General manager George Paton said Nix is tracking to return in May when the Broncos begin organized team activities.

    Just before going to the lectern for his wrapup news conference, Payton said he saw Nix cruising around team headquarters on his medical scooter, which he’ll use until he graduates to crutches and then a walking boot.

    “He was just up above us here,” Payton said from the atrium of the Broncos’ suburban headquarters. “I said, ‘What are you doing? Getting your scooter laps in?’

    “You have to know him. He’s fidgety to begin with,” Payton said. “He might have just been getting his scooter laps. He was up there, like, in an area he’d never be in department-wise. He’s handling it like a pro. Man, I’m sure there’s disappointment for him to have to watch” on Sunday.

    Nix led the Broncos (15-4) to a franchise record-tying 14 wins in the regular season and their first playoff triumph since Super Bowl 50 a decade ago. He’s won 25 games in two seasons and has an NFL-best 11 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime during that span.

    “It’s difficult to get as far as he brought us, and then also to see one of his contemporaries, someone in his draft class who he would have loved to have competed against, advance,” Payton said of Patriots QB Drake Maye, who was Nix’s predraft training partner.

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  • Giants and Outfielder Harrison Bader Agree to $20.5 Million, 2-Year Contract, AP Source Says

    SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Free agent outfielder Harrison Bader and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a $20.5 million, two-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Monday.

    The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical and had not been announced.

    The 31-year-old Bader batted .277 with 17 home runs, 54 RBIs and a .796 OPS in 146 combined games with Minnesota and Philadelphia last season — setting career highs in all those categories.

    He was especially productive for the Phillies after they acquired him at the July 31 trade deadline, hitting .305 with an .824 OPS in 50 games for the NL East champions.

    Bader, a Gold Glove center fielder with St. Louis in 2021, played all three outfield spots for the Twins last season. Philadelphia used him strictly in center, where he’s spent most of his career.

    A right-handed batter, Bader is a .247 career hitter with 88 homers, 322 RBIs, 105 stolen bases and a .714 OPS in nine major league seasons with the Cardinals, Yankees, Reds, Mets, Twins and Phillies.

    AP Baseball Writer Mike Fitzpatrick contributed to this report.

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  • Defending Champion Madison Keys Knocked Out of Australian Open by Fellow American Jessica Pegula

    MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Defending champion Madison Keys has been knocked out of the Australian Open by fellow American, and podcast pal, Jessica Pegula.

    Pegula, seeded sixth, defeated the ninth-seeded Keys 6-3, 6-4 on Monday at Rod Laver Arena to reach the quarterfinals. Pegula, who has never claimed a Grand Slam, won the first set in only 32 minutes.

    Pegula raced to a 4-1 lead in the first set, and Pegula also broke to open the second set and again surged to a 4-1 lead as Keys struggled with her serve. The match ended when Keys hit a forehand into the net.

    Pegula was excellent with her serve accuracy and kept the ball in the play with few unforced errors.

    Pegula and Keys had played three times previously, and Keys had won the last two.

    Pegula reached the U.S. Open final in 2024 but lost to Aryna Sabalenka. It will be her fourth appearance in the quarterfinals in Australia.

    Pegula and Keys are good friends and have been doing a podcast together. Keys had said earlier it would be the “first match in Grand Slam history between two podcast co-hosts.”

    In a later match Monday at Rod Laver Arena, fifth-seeded man Lorenzo Musetti faced American Taylor Fritz, who is seeded No. 9.

    In night matches, second-ranked Iga Swiatek was up against Australian Maddison Inglis, and the eighth-seeded man Ben Shelton faced Casper Ruud.

    Novak Djokovic was due to be the feature night match at Rod Laver Arena on Monday but has had a walkover into the quarterfinals after his opponent Jakub Mensik withdrew from their scheduled fourth-round match with an abdominal injury.

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  • T-Wolves and Warriors Return to Court in Support of a Grieving Community After Minneapolis Shooting

    MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Chris Finch’s voice cracked and faltered as the coach expressed on behalf of the Minnesota Timberwolves their heartbreak for the community’s collective fear and pain from the ongoing immigration crackdown, following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by a federal officer.

    Finch presents a straightforward, no-nonsense approach in his public statements and rarely reveals much emotion, but he was clearly moved by the situation in Minneapolis before his team hosted Golden State on Sunday. The game between the Timberwolves and Warriors was postponed by 24 hours, after Pretti was killed on Saturday.

    “I’m more than a resident. This is my home. I love living here. I love being a part of this community. I’ve been embraced from day one. People have been amazing. It’s sad to watch what is happening,” said Finch, who was hired by the Timberwolves five years ago. “On the human level, certainly as somebody who takes great pride in being here, I know a lot of our players feel the same. They all love being here, and it’s just hard to watch what we’re going through.”

    The Timberwolves held a moment of silence for Pretti prior to the national anthem, just as they did for Renee Good before their game on Jan. 8, the day after she was fatally shot by a federal officer. The Trump administration in December launched what the Department of Homeland Security declared the largest immigration enforcement operation in history and earlier this month announced a surge of more officers to push their force past 2,000.

    The NBA announced Saturday that the rescheduling decision was made to “prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community” after Pretti was killed during a confrontation in a commercial district less than 2 miles south of Target Center. Finch said on Sunday that the Timberwolves pushed for the postponement to respect the public grieving process.

    “Playing basketball just didn’t feel like the right thing to do,” Finch said, thanking the NBA and the Warriors for their support.

    Warriors coach Steve Kerr, long one of the league’s most outspoken coaches, was measured but clearly moved as he expressed his own sympathy.

    “This has always been a great stop on the NBA tour. I love the city of Minneapolis. People here are wonderful, and it’s very sad what’s happening. I feel for the city. There’s a pall that’s been cast over the city. You can feel it. A lot of people are suffering, and obviously a loss of life is the number one concern. Those families will never get their family members back,” Kerr said.

    Tens of thousands of people swarmed downtown Minneapolis on Friday in protest of the tactics and presence of immigration officers, a crowd the Warriors could see from their hotel as it moved toward Target Center. A smaller protest march took place downtown before the game Sunday.

    There were plenty of other voices being raised around the sports world on Sunday. Women’s basketball star Breanna Stewart held a sign with “abolish ICE” printed on it during introductions at her Unrivaled league game. Minnesota Frost fans during a PWHL game chanted “Ice out now!” The NBA Players Association issued a statement in support of the protests in Minnesota and urged its members to speak up.

    The perspectives in a polarized country vary wildly on what constitutes constitutionally protected protesting and what becomes violent political disruption, and Kerr seemed to sense that tension as he spoke before the game on Sunday.

    “People are so angry. There should be an appeal to our better angels to look after one another and to recognize what’s happening. We’re being divided by media for profit, by misinformation. There’s so much out there that is really difficult for all of us to sort of reconcile,” Kerr said. “And so in times like these you have to lean on values and who you are and who you want to be, either as an individual or a country.”

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  • Rick Pitino Savors Reaching 900 Victories as a College Head Coach in St. John’s Win Over Xavier

    CINCINNATI (AP) — Rick Pitino has rarely considered number of victories when it comes to milestones. For him, it has always been about championships.

    The Hall of Fame coach though did admit becoming the fourth Division I men’s basketball coach to reach 900 victories was one to savor.

    “My son it doesn’t matter,” said Pitino about the win coming against his son. “The great thing is I could spend time with him and the grand kids.”

    The 73-year-old Pitino is 900-316 overall in 38 seasons as a head coach in college. It began with six games as an interim at Hawaii in 1976.

    He is the only coach to win an NCAA title at two schools (Kentucky and Louisville) and the first to take three schools to the Final Four (Providence, Kentucky and Louisville).

    He’s also the only coach to direct six schools to the NCAA Tournament, including Boston University, Iona and St. John’s.

    Pitino also coached at Boston University, Providence, Kentucky, Louisville and Iona. He also has 10 years in the pros, including with the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, along with Greek team Panathinaikos.

    “But 900 means that I’ve had longevity. I spent 10 years in the pros. And so 900 with 10 years in the pros is really something I’m very thankful to all my players and assistant coaches for helping me get there,” he said.

    One of those assistants was Richard, who was on his dad’s staff for three seasons at Louisville.

    “I’m happy for him that he won 900. I think he’s the best coach to ever coach college basketball. He’d have a lot more if he had stayed at Kentucky,” Richard Pitino said. “When your dad is 73, you just want him to be happy and healthy. We all are reminded way too much at how short life is.

    “To see him doing great, being celebrated at St. John’s, that’s all I care about. It keeps him young. I hope he continues to coach. He’s a phenomenal coach but I’m really, really lucky to have him as a father.”

    The younger Pitino surprised his father by wearing a suit on the sidelines for the first time this season. Rick Pitino said it was a nice compliment and was appreciative because he knows his 43-year old son hates wearing suits.

    When asked where the suit came from, Rick Pitino smiled and said “It’s probably my suit.”

    It was the second straight game the Red Storm rallied from at least 15 down to win. Tuesday’s win against Seton Hall was at home though. Saturday’s victory came in front of a sold out and raucous crowd at Xavier.

    “It was a lot of fun. Definitely just the atmosphere and coach going up against his son. It was a tough win but a good win,” said forward Dillon Mitchell, who had 17 points and seven rebounds.

    St. John’s players donned T-shirts on the court and in the locker room marking the milestone. They also doused Pitino with water and Gatorade in the visitors’ locker room at Cintas Center.

    Pitino took off his trademark suit and was in St. John’s workout gear when he talked with reporters after drying off.

    “I’ve said this all along how enjoyable this team is, but tonight was the icing on the cake because a lot of teams would break down 12, down 10, and they never broke,” Pitino said.

    The NCAA recognizes Pitino with only 777 wins after stripping him of 123 because of infractions at Louisville. Bob Knight had 899 victories, but is credited with 902 by the NCAA because three losses were later ruled forfeits as punishment for program violations by Indiana opponents.

    Mike Krzyzewski leads the way with 1,202 wins, followed by Jim Boeheim (1,116) and Roy Williams (903).

    The elder Pitino has won four of five meetings against his son, who previously coached at Florida International, Minnesota and New Mexico.

    It is also the 20th time in 23 Division I matchups the father has defeated the son.

    “He didn’t say it, but we all know he really wanted it against his son and happy to pull it through,” said guard Dylan Darling, who hit the go-ahead basket.

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  • Hornets Post 119-115 Win Over Young Wizards, Whose Starting 5 Had an Average Age of 20.64 Years

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Brandon Miller scored 21 points as the Charlotte Hornets beat Washington 119-115 Saturday, sending the Wizards to their ninth straight loss.

    Miles Bridges and LaMelo Ball each scored 20 points, Kon Knueppel added 16 and Moussa Diabate 11 as the Hornets won consecutive games for the first time since January 3-5 against Chicago and Oklahoma City.

    Tre Johnson had career-highs of 26 points and six assists for the Wizards, who, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, fielded the youngest starting lineup, by average age, since the NBA began tracking starters in 1970-71. Washington’s starting five, at an average age of 20.64 years old, beat the previous youngest lineup of 20.74, fielded by Oklahoma City on April 10, 2021 against Philadelphia.

    Alex Sarr scored 24 points, reserve Justin Champagnie and Bub Carrington added 15 apiece, while Kyshawn George and Jamir Watkins each added 11 for the Eastern Conference-worst Wizards, who fell to 10-34. Will Riley made his first start for Washington and added seven points in 23 minutes. Champagnie added 11 rebounds.

    Washington’s losing streak is it’s second-longest of the season. The Wizards, who last won on January 6 against Orlando, had lost 14 in a row in a skid in October and November.

    Ahead by a point after the first quarter, Charlotte moved ahead to stay in the second, outscoring the Wizards 31-24 for a 66-58 lead at the break.

    Washington was slowed by 31% (9 for 29) shooting from 3-point range in the first half while the Hornets went 24 for 40 (60%) from the field, including 10 for 16 (63%) from distance, in the first two periods. The Hornets stretched that advantage to 93-81 after three periods.

    The start of the game was moved up six hours due to forecast of the winter storm moving across the country.

    Wizards: Host the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday in the opener of a five-game homestand.

    Hornets: At the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.

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  • Packers Offensive Tackle Rasheed Walker Arrested on Gun Possession Charge at LaGuardia Airport

    NEW YORK (AP) — Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker has been arrested after police say he presented a firearm for inspection without proper credentials at LaGuardia Airport.

    Port Authority police said Walker was arrested Friday morning after they responded to a request for a firearms check at LaGuardia’s Terminal C. Police said the 25-year-old had checked in at Delta and had presented a firearm for inspection without proper credentials.

    Arthur Aidala, the lawyer representing Walker, said his client voluntarily disclosed an unloaded, secured firearm upon his arrival at the airport. Aidala said Walker was arrested because his license wasn’t valid in New York.

    “We are confident the matter will eventually be dismissed,” Aidala said via email.

    The Packers’ season ended Jan. 10 with a 31-27 loss to the Chicago Bears in the wild-card round of the NFC playoffs.

    Walker has been Green Bay’s first-team left tackle for the last three seasons and has started 48 games since the Packers selected him out of Penn State in the seventh round of the 2022 draft. Walker just completed the final year of his contract and is set to become a free agent in the offseason. He has started each of Green Bay’s four playoff games over the last three seasons.

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  • Cheers! Stan Wawrinka Bids Farewell at Australian Open With Beers and Gratitude

    MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Stan Wawrinka said goodbye after his loss to Taylor Fritz and then grabbed two beers from a courtside ice box, cracked the cans with the Australian Open tournament director and saluted the crowd.

    “Cheers everybody!” the 40-year-old Wawrinka said after Saturday’s 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 third-round loss to No. 9 Fritz. “And thank you so much.”

    Wawrinka won the first of his three Grand Slam titles in Australia in 2014.

    With a 4 1/2-hour, five-set win over 21-year-old French qualifier Arthur Gea in the second round, Wawrinka became the first man 40 or older to reach the third round of a Grand Slam since Ken Rosewall at the 1978 Australian Open. His 49th five-set match at a major was also a record.

    “I’m not sure it’s the best statistic to have,” he said of 40-plus milestone, “but I will take it.”

    Wawrinka said before the start of the 2026 season that this would be his last on the professional circuit, but he added that it wasn’t just a farewell tour. He’s still putting on the work and still getting results.

    After Wawrinka’s last match at Melbourne Park, Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley joined him on court for a ceremony and a small tribute on the stadium screen at John Cain Arena.

    After the formalities, Wawrinka wanted a few final words.

    “Normally we talk on court after a final. Today is not a final, so I won’t make it too long,” he said. “Thank you for the wildcard invitation … to have one last chance to say goodbye to the people in Melbourne.

    “It was my last time as a tennis player here, unfortunately. I had so many emotions here the last 20 years. I’m sad to leave, but it’s been an amazing journey.”

    Then he added, more ab-lib, “Now I can enjoy. If you don’t mind, I’d like to share a beer with Craig.”

    Fritz advanced to a round of 16 match against No. 5 Lorenzo Musetti, who held off Tomas Machac 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 in a 4 1/2-hour marathon earlier Saturday on John Cain Arena. That match was stopped for about 10 minutes in the fifth set to close the roof when the stadium’s extreme heat policy was invoked.

    Fritz, the 2024 U.S. Open runner-up, enjoyed the indoor conditions, firing 30 aces and just one double-fault in four sets against Wawrinka.

    “It’s a really, really tough match obviously, the environment as well,” Fritz said of Wawrinka’s Australian finale. “I can’t blame anyone in the crowd for cheering for Stan here. It’s amazing what he’s out here doing.

    “I have so much respect for the passion and the drive that it takes to be doing what he’s doing this week.”

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  • Oklahoma’s Chavez Earns Dawn Staley’s Respect With 15 Points in OT to Stun No. 2 South Carolina

    NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Aaliyah Chavez could barely hit anything.

    Chavez’s overtime point total was a school record, and the clutch performance helped the Sooners match the highest-ranked opponent they have beaten in school history.

    Chavez scored three points in the first half on 1-for-7 shooting and had nine points going into the fourth quarter. She made just 4 of 14 field goals in regulation before making all five of her shots, including four 3-pointers, in overtime.

    Her overall performance earned South Carolina coach Dawn Staley’s respect.

    “She was great,” Staley said. “She ran her team, hit big shots, handled the ball. Everything that you want a point guard to do.”

    Chavez said even when she was missing shots, teammates Raegan Beers and Sahara Williams hyped her up.

    “My teammates kept on telling me to keep on shooting,” she said. “Sahara and Raegan looking and they were like, ‘That’s a great shot. I’ll take that shot a million times with you.’ So just knowing that they trust me on taking the shots that I was taking, it just brought my confidence up.”

    Chavez entered the game as Oklahoma’s leading scorer with 18.8 points per game, but she approached this game looking to create. She had seven assists in regulation.

    “You can see like, I wasn’t forcing my shots,” she said. “I was trying to make sure that it was the best play for Oklahoma.”

    Once overtime hit, Chavez was aggressive, but still didn’t force shots.

    “I thought Aaliyah, especially in that overtime, I thought she was just like, ’OK, let’s go. Not, ‘I gotta do anything. I need to make sure I’m doing this,’” Oklahoma coach Jennie Baranczyk said. “She got the ball where it needed to go, and she just played.”

    The victory snapped a three-game losing skid for Oklahoma, with losses to ranked opponents Ole Miss, Kentucky and LSU. Baranczyk said beating South Carolina was big, but the Sooners can’t celebrate for too long.

    “This isn’t the end of our road,” she said. “You know, this isn’t a Super Bowl win, you know, because if it is, then you’re not ready for the next one in this league. You’ve got to be ready for everyone.”

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  • Kansas Coach Bill Self Plans to Return Vs. Kansas State, and Peterson Is Questionable for the Game

    LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self intends to be on the sideline Saturday night when the No. 19 Jayhawks make the 2-hour trip down Interstate 70 to play Kansas State. He just isn’t sure whether he’ll have Darryn Peterson on the court.

    Peterson, who is widely considered a potential No. 1 NBA draft pick, had 16 points while playing 32 minutes in a 75-69 win over Colorado on Tuesday night. But he was less explosive after turning his ankle, and Self said Thursday that it turned out to be a sprain.

    “He’s got a pretty severe ankle sprain, but fortunately that’s all it is, a sprain,” Self said. “Hopefully he’ll be able to go and play (on Saturday night), but we’re not at a point where we’ll be able to make a decision on that yet.”

    It is merely the latest injury for the freshman guard. Peterson missed several games earlier this season with cramping issues.

    Meanwhile, the 63-year-old Self said he was feeling good after a brief trip to the hospital earlier this week because of what he called some “abnormal” chest pain. Self was given some fluids but was unable to accompany the Jayhawks on their trip to Colorado, where former Kansas and NBA star Jacque Vaughn coached them to victory.

    “The situation I had was very similar to what many people have. Mine got me pretty good for a short snippet of time and then was under control,” Self said. “That won’t have any impact at all moving forward in any way, shape or form.”

    Self has had a series of heart ailments, including one three years ago that kept him from coaching in the Big 12 and NCAA tourneys. He had two stents inserted to help treat blocked arteries in that case, then had two more stents inserted last July.

    Self said he watched the Colorado game on TV on Tuesday night and was back in the office the following day.

    “I know now what it means to be an ‘armchair quarterback,’ because I sat there and watched and I had all the answers,” Self said a wry grin. “I started thinking to myself, ‘Well, I have all the answers now,’ but those would be the same answers I would have if I was coaching, and not all those answers work, nor do people execute the way you think they should. So I saw what it means to be an armchair quarterback. I can agree with many fans when they are doing the same thing.”

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  • C.J. Stroud’s 4 Interceptions Dig a Hole the Texans’ Defense Can’t Get Out of in Loss to Patriots

    FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — One interception after another, C.J. Stroud dug Houston into a deeper hole.

    And this time the Texans’ defense couldn’t save them.

    A week after Stroud committed three turnovers in a wild-card victory over the Steelers, the Houston quarterback threw four interceptions in the first half on Sunday to hand New England a 28-16 victory and a spot in the AFC championship game.

    “Ball security is everything, especially the way our defense has played all year, and it’s something that I’ve done a pretty good job of up to this point,” Stroud said. “I think my whole team trusts me. They believe in me. Today just wasn’t my day, and I’m appreciative of my teammates having my back once again.”

    Houston turned the ball over a fifth time when running back Woody Marks — a hero of the wild-card win — fumbled on the doorstep of a potential touchdown while trailing 21-13 in the third quarter.

    “We’ve done a great job all year protecting the football and running the ball well. That’s been our formula,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “To come here when we needed it most, and we didn’t protect the ball — it’s tough to think that you’re going to win a game and you turn the ball over five times.”

    On a cold afternoon that mixed rain and wet snow, Houston’s top-ranked defense hassled Drake Maye all game, forcing four fumbles (recovering two) and sacking him five times. The MVP contender finished 16 for 27 for 179 yards, but he also threw for three touchdowns.

    “When the snowflakes stop, I think it’s a little easier to throw the football, got a little better grip,” Maye said. “I think C.J. probably would say the same thing. We both probably had some throws that were tough, it was tough to get a grip on it.”

    The Texans only had 12 giveaways during the regular season and had a plus-17 turnover differential that was second-best in the league. Stroud threw one interception and fumbled five times at Pittsburgh last week, losing two, but the defense also scored a pair of touchdowns in the 30-6 victory.

    “For us to come out in these past two games and have the amount of turnovers we’ve had, it’s not winning football,” Ryans said. “So we’ve got to find a way to not have that, clean it up and get it fixed.”

    That will be a job for the offseason, with Houston reaching the playoffs for a franchise-record third straight year but losing in the divisional round each time.

    “We’ve got to play better football when we get in this moment. For the past three years, we have not,” Ryans said. “It’s not a magical elixir that’s going to happen to get past the divisional round.”

    The Texans took a 10-7 lead in the second quarter despite an early interception that cost the them a potential field goal. After forcing New England to punt, Stroud’s next pass was picked off by Marcus Jones and returned for a touchdown.

    The 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year was also picked off on the next possession, just four plays later, and again coming out of the two-minute warning. In their last seven possessions of the first half, the Texans had four interceptions, two three-and-outs and one touchdown.

    “I think I’m a pretty self-confident person,” Stroud said. “I think when (the mistakes) started to pile up, I tried my best just to stay locked and realizing I’ve just got to be there for my teammates. … I’m just grateful my teammates were picking me up.”

    What might have been most damaging was Marks’ fumble at the Patriots 17 in a one-score game. After stripping the ball from Maye at the New England 33, Houston ran four plays before Marks — who ran for 112 yards and a touchdown last week — gave it right back.

    Though the Patriots only scored seven points off the Texans’ turnovers, the giveaways also twice took Houston out of position for a field goal and possibly more.

    Ryans said he never lost faith in his quarterback.

    In a sideline interview at halftime with his team trailing 21-10, the Texans coach said: “C.J. needs to understand: This team has his back. The first half is over. As bad as it looked, we still have a second half to go finish.”

    Afterward, Ryans said, “C.J. is our guy. I believed that he could come back out in the second half and flip it. I believed that he could play better, and he did that in the second half. He did play better.”

    Only a little bit better, though.

    After completing 10 of 24 passes for 124 yards and the four interceptions in the first half, Stroud finished 20 of 47 for 212 yards. More important, he led the Texans to 10 points in the first half and just a pair of field goals in the second.

    “We’re in this thing together from day one. It doesn’t change for me,” Ryans said. “When things don’t go your way, you have bad performances, it’s not a time to point fingers or say it’s on one person. … We stick together.”

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  • Zeynep Sönmez Rushes to Aid Ballkid During Australian Open Upset Win

    MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Zeynep Sönmez rushed to the aid of an ailing ballkid in an interruption to play during her first-round upset win over No. 11 Ekaterina Alexandrova on Sunday at the Australian Open.

    The Turkish qualifier was receiving serve in the ninth game of the second set when a ballkid wobbled, lost balance and fell backward near the umpire’s chair in sunny conditions at 1573 Arena.

    The ballkid stood up quickly but started wobbling again, and Sönmez immediately held up her hand to suspend play. She went to the courtside and put an arm around the ballkid’s waist and helped her toward some shade.

    Tournament officials moved quickly to help, but Sönmez had to lift the ballkid into a chair near the side of the arena. Medical staff took over to assess and treat the ballkid in the shade.

    The players waited until the ballkid and the medical staff had left the arena and, after a delay of about seven minutes, continued the match.

    Sönmez broke serve in that game but lost the set before rallying to clinch it 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. to advance to the second round in Australia for the first time.

    Her best performance in five previous Grand Slam events was a run to the third round at Wimbledon last year.

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