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Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo outlasted China's Xinyu Gao in the fourth-longest match of the Open Era on Thursday at the China Open in Beijing.
One of several players to overcome a first-set stumble in the first round, Sorribes Tormo completed her 6-7 (4), 7-5, 7-5 victory in four hours and 15 minutes. It was the longest match on the WTA Tour since the 2011 Australian Open.
It was the second four-hour match on the tour this month, following Laura Siegemund's 4-hour, 9-minute defeat of Xiyu Wang at the Thailand Open.
Sorribes Tormo, 27, is known for enduring grueling matches, having participated in four of the 13 longest slugfests of the Open Era: a win over Camila Osorio at Cleveland in 2022 (3:54), a win over Camila Giorgi at Rome in 2021 (3:51), and a loss to Beatriz Haddad Maia at the 2023 French Open (3:51).
Next up for Sorribes Tormo is No. 18 seed Madison Keys.
Ashlyn Krueger completed a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 comeback in just over two hours against Yafan Wang of China. Krueger converted all five break chances, including three in a row to open the deciding set.
Krueger also saved six of the 10 break points she faced to set up a second-round match with No. 29 seed Lulu Sun of New Zealand.
Also rallying to victory in similar fashion at the WTA 1000 event on Thursday were Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu, Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Denmark's Clara Tauson and Osorio.
Begu beat China's Ye-Xin Ma 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, Cocciaretto overcame Australia's Arina Rodionova 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, Tauson took down Britain's Harriet Dart 5-7, 6-4, 6 -1 and Osorio defeated Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Switzerland's Viktorija Golubic also went the distance for a 7-6 (5), 0-6, 6-3 defeat of China's Xiyu Wang.
Japan's Moyuka Uchijima was among the day's winners in straight sets, ousting China's Shi Han 6-3, 6-4. Russia's Kamilla Rakhimova defeated Australia's Kimberly Birrell 6-2, 6-4. Croatia's Jana Fett beat China's Meiling Wang 6-3, 6-4. Spain's Cristina Bucsa was a 6-3, 6-2 winner against China's Xinxin Yao. Nadia Podoroska of Argentina, Sijia Wei of China and Jaqueline Cristian of Romania also advanced.
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Minnesota Vikings make shocking release of popular defender as final roster cut deadline approaches
Steelers release savvy veteran wide receiver after disappointing preseason
The Pittsburgh Steelers had to trim their roster down to the final 53 players on Tuesday, which means general manager Omar Khan and the coaching staff had to make some difficult decisions. Some of the position groups in Pittsburgh were fairly clear cut, but others had questions. One of the murkier groups was wide receiver. One of the wide receivers who struggled to make a name for himself in Pittsburgh throughout the preseason and training camp was veteran Robert Woods. Pittsburgh signed Woods to a one-year deal in free agency, but he struggled to stand out. He was playing deep into preseason games as an established veteran, which typically is not a good sign. The team released him on Tuesday, but according to Ian Rapoport there is a chance the veteran could return to western Pennsylvania. Woods has accomplished a lot throughout his NFL career after being drafted in the second round in 2013. He is most known for his time with the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Rams, but he also suited up for the Tennessee Titans and the Houston Texans. He is struggling to extend his career, but he plans to play during the 2025 season. It sounds like Pittsburgh is open to him returning, but that is going to depend on how the rest of the wide receiver room shakes out. Woods was not expected to come into Pittsburgh and put up 1,000 yards, but it felt like he would be able to make some sort of impact. That was not the case, as he was outplayed by other wide receivers like Scotty Miller and Brandon Johnson. Wide receiver is a position that Pittsburgh could be interested in upgrading, and some players from the outside could be brought in prior to the season opener against the New York Jets. The Steelers have experimented with veteran wide receivers over the last two seasons in Allen Robinson II and Van Jefferson, and neither one of those players were able to do much. The Steelers seem to be learning from their mistakes, and a sign of that is cutting ties with Woods before finalizing the roster.
How Browns feel about Deshaun Watson amid unsettled quarterback situation
Deshaun Watson has become somewhat of a forgotten figure regarding the Cleveland Browns' unique quarterback situation that could involve the club having starter Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel and 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders on the roster for its Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. For an article published on Monday, Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer noted that Watson will miss at least the first four games of the 2025 season after he suffered a torn Achilles last October and then tore the Achilles again during his recovery. However, it sounds like the Browns haven't yet completely closed the door on Watson returning to the active roster before Week 18 wraps up. "He’s coming along well in his rehab from his re-torn Achilles repair and could be ready to go later in the season," Cabot wrote about Watson. "Whether or not the Browns will activate him remains to be seen, but they’ve been happy with how he’s attacked his rehab and how he’s helped the other QBs, especially Gabriel and Sanders." Watson has made just 19 regular-season starts with the Browns since he received a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract from the club in March 2022. He served an 11-game suspension related to allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions to open his first campaign with Cleveland. His 2023 season ended prematurely because of a shoulder issue. He then lost six of seven starts last season before he went down with the initial Achilles injury. It was suggested earlier this month that Watson could essentially force the Browns to move him to the 53-man roster if he's cleared to play this coming fall. Such a scenario theoretically would result in Cleveland having to part ways with a different signal-caller. While the previously mentioned Sanders is clearly fourth on Cleveland's current depth chart, Cabot wrote that the Browns like the rookie "a lot and will continue to develop him." Cabot added that "the Browns have always planned to keep four quarterbacks and will only pivot if someone makes them an offer they can’t refuse." Pickett presumably would become the odd man out regarding such a potential trade. Still, he first needs to fully recover from the hamstring injury he picked up on July 26 that kept him from playing in any preseason games. Meanwhile, Watson will continue his recovery behind the scenes after Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said earlier this year that Cleveland "took a big swing and miss with Deshaun." The Browns reportedly could escape Watson's deal next offseason.
Jets May Pursue 'Dream WR Trade Target' After Malachi Corley Release
The New York Jets desperately need to add wide receivers to their offense or quarterback Justin Fields is going to struggle in year one with the team. Beyond Garrett Wilson, there's nothing to be too excited about in New York's wide receiver room. In fact, it's hard to tell who the second option is. To make matters even worse, the Jets recently opted to cut ties with second-year wide receiver Malachi Corley. This decision further depletes their pass-catching room. Justin Fried of the Jet Press recently urged the Jets to trade for disgruntled Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. Meyers would be the dream addition for the Jets following Corley's release. Jakobi Meyers would be the dream addition for the Jets "Meyers spent the first four years of his NFL career in New England, where he developed into one of the more underrated wide receivers in football. He signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Raiders in 2023, essentially receiving the same deal the Jets gave to Allen Lazard that very offseason," Fried wrote. "While Lazard has fallen well short of expectations in New York, Meyers continued to overachieve in Vegas. The NC State product is fresh off a career year in 2024 in which he finished with 87 catches for 1,027 yards and four touchdowns. "Meyers was targeted a whopping 126 times in 2024 and wasn't credited with a single drop. His 2.3% drop rate ranks fourth-best among all NFL wide receivers since 2020, behind only DeAndre Hopkins, Tyler Boyd, and Amon-Ra St. Brown." Meyers recently requested a trade from the Raiders and the Jets could benefit from this decision in a huge way. Adding the talented wideout across from Wilson would open them both up for the future. It would provide Fields with a stable second option on offense rather than having to deal with the struggles that would come with the Jets' wide receiver room. In training camp, the Jets struggled with drops. Meyers has some of the best hands in football. Pair that with his talent, and the Jets have their dream wide receiver target sitting right in front of them.
Canucks Trade Search, Connor to Red Wings, & More NHL Rumors
In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the Vancouver Canucks may have backed away from Jack Roslovic, but they’re still looking for a center. Who might be on their radar? Meanwhile, did the Los Angeles Kings seriously look at trading Brandt Clarke? Finally, is Kyle Connor more likely to stay with the Winnipeg Jets or jump to the Detroit Red Wings? Canucks Still Want a Second-Line Center The Vancouver Canucks entered the offseason hoping to secure a second-line center, but that goal remains unmet. Trade activity across the league has been slow, and the Canucks have shown little interest in remaining free agents, including Jack Roslovic. Patrick Johnston of The Province notes: “It’s seeming more and more likely, given what NHL sources are saying and what we can see with our own eyes: making trades is proving very, very hard. And of the players remaining in free agency, there is little appetite from the Canucks brass to sign anyone.. the Canucks’ forward group is going to lean heavily on two less-than-proven commodities in Filip Chytil and Aatu Räty..” source – ‘Is the Canucks’ 2025-26 lineup actually already set?’ – Patrick Johnston – The Province – 08/22/2025 So far, their only additions are winger Evander Kane and defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph. The Canucks are reportedly intrigued by Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish should he hit the trade market, but competition for the 22-year-old would be fierce. Unless something changes during training camp or preseason, the Canucks will likely start the season with Elias Pettersson centering Brock Boeser and Jake DeBrusk on the first line, and Chytil between Kane and Conor Garland on the second. Did Kings Almost Brandt Trade Clarke? Michael Russo of The Athletic reported this week that the Los Angeles Kings gave serious consideration to trading Brandt Clarke. Russo noted on a recent episode of the DFO Rundown that there were points this offseason where it felt like they were going to consider moving Clarke. “I think Ken Holland wants to get his eyes on him before he makes such a major move like that,” said the scribe. Holland has been active this offseason, but many are questioning his moves. There’s a feeling that the Kings might be gearing up to take a giant swing, potentially for one of this summer’s big free agents. Holland has been linked to Connor McDavid (should he shake loose from Edmonton), but he wants to make a splash, even if it isn’t a McDavid-sized one. Clarke could be used as part of any trade package. Latest on Kyle Connor and the Jets NHL insider Frank Seravalli recently discussed the latest on McDavid’s contract during a Bleacher Report update, which led to discussions about the free agent who is being overshadowed — Kyle Connor. Seravalli believes there is a good chance the Jets will re-sign Connor, but also wonders if a team like the Detroit Red Wings might be a good fit. They certainly want to upgrade their offense, and Connor, a Michigan native, would get a nice offer to come back that way. The Jets already lost winger Nikolaj Ehlers this summer, and it would be a big loss if they lost Connor, too. As good as the Jets are, and despite signing goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and center Mark Scheifele to identical seven-year contract extensions, they still have trouble attracting free agents.
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