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Source: Edelman passes physical, off NFI list
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, who missed the first three-and-a-half weeks of training camp with a thumb injury, was removed from the non-football injury list, a source told ESPN's Field Yates.
Edelman participated in his first practice Monday, and immediately shoots to the top of the receiver depth chart. The Super Bowl LIII Most Valuable Player is quarterback Tom Brady's go-to target, especially in critical situations. In three playoff games last year, Edelman totaled 26 catches for 388 yards (14.9 average). Edelman's 115 career postseason catches is second in NFL history, behind Jerry Rice (151).
The Patriots had been thin at receiver in recent practices due to a string of injuries, but Edelman's return -- coupled with Josh Gordon's conditional reinstatement -- has altered the outlook. Gordon remains on the non-football injury list for now.
Before practice Monday, coach Bill Belichick was asked about the competition that has unfolded at receiver, and noted a group of receivers who had yet to practice -- a reference to Edelman, Gordon, Cameron Meredith (non-football injury list) and Demaryius Thomas (physically unable to perform list).
"There's still a lot of people we haven't seen actively on the field, so 'to be determined,' " he said.
Edelman is no longer part of that list for the Patriots, who host the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night in preseason action.
Gordon 'just waiting on the call' from Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon, who is nearly five weeks into a holdout over his contract, told ESPN on Monday he is training rigorously in California and is staying ready to play football.
Gordon wants to play but continues to wait for a resolution.
"Just waiting on the call," said the Pro Bowl back, who also has spent time preparing in Florida.
Gordon declined to discuss his contract situation and his holdout.
Both sides have remained millions apart in negotiations, according to a source. The top of the running back market begins at around $13 million per year, and the Chargers have been well short of that number, despite discussions about bridging the gap with incentives.
Gordon has told the Chargers through his representation that if he does not receive a new deal, he will sit out.
The Chargers held their first training camp practice on July 25, and Gordon has subjected himself to fines during his absence. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said he is "pulling for" Gordon but has to progress with the team's current offense.
Gordon's agent, Damarius Bilbo, told ESPN's Josina Anderson earlier this month that he requested the Chargers trade his client after the team remained at its initial offer of approximately $10 million per season. Gordon's fifth-year option is set to pay $5.605 million in 2019, and short of a new deal, Gordon has considered all options, including holding out until around midseason, in time to accrue an NFL season toward free agency, according to a source.
Gordon has made two Pro Bowls since the Chargers drafted him 15th overall in 2015, and his 28 rushing touchdowns over the past three years ties Dallas Cowboys back Ezekiel Elliott, who also is holding out. In 12 games last year, Gordon recorded 885 rushing yards on 175 carries (an average of 5.1 yards per carry) along with 14 total touchdowns (10 rushing) and 50 receptions for 490 yards.
Source: Brown files new grievance over helmet
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown has filed a new grievance against the NFL in an attempt to be able to wear the helmet he wants, a source tells ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The Atlanta Braves claimed outfielder Billy Hamilton off waivers from the Kansas City Royals, the team announced Monday.
The Braves' outfield has been hit hard by injuries, with Ender Inciarte (hamstring), Nick Markakis (wrist) and Austin Riley (knee) all on the injured list. Inciarte and Markakis are not expected back anytime soon.
Hamilton, 28, hit .211 with 12 doubles and 12 RBIs for the Reds this season, and his stolen base total dropped to 18. He swiped 56 bases in 2014 and increased his total by one in each of the next three seasons.
The switch-hitter signed with the Royals in December after spending the first six seasons of his major league career with Cincinnati, where he was a five-time Gold Glove finalist in center field. Hamilton has 295 career stolen bases, fifth-most of any active player.
To make room for Hamilton, the Braves optioned right-hander Bryse Wilson to Triple-A Gwinnett and recalled RHP Jacob Webb from the Stripers and placed him on the 60-day injured list with a right elbow impingement.
Hamilton had a $4.6 million salary on the last-place Reds. Because this was a waiver claim, the Braves must pick up the remainder of Hamilton's salary.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Twins' Cruz returns, will play through torn tendon
MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Twins slugger Nelson Cruz was reinstated from the injured list Monday after the minimum 10-day stay and will play through a ruptured tendon in his left wrist.
Cruz ruptured the tendon Aug. 8, and the Twins feared he would miss significant time. But the team later learned he could play with the injury, and he has told the team he is pain-free.
"We haven't really had a hint of a discussion related to discomfort, related to anything associated with his wrist," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "He's seemingly in great shape. He's ready to play. He's been adamant about that."
The 39-year-old Cruz is hitting .294 with 32 homers and 76 RBIs for AL Central-leading Minnesota.
The Twins optioned right-handed reliever Zack Littell to Triple-A Rochester to make room for Cruz on the roster.
US Open 2019: British number four Naiktha Bains loses in first round of qualifying
British number four Naiktha Bains has lost in the first round of qualifying for the US Open.
Bains, 21, was well beaten 6-3 6-1 by Slovakia's Jana Cepelova in New York as she tried to reach the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time.
The Briton struggled to get any power on her serve, leaving her open to breaks and the Slovak capitalised.
World number 237 Bains is a dual British and Australian citizen and changed her allegiance this year.
On Tuesday, former British number one Heather Watson will be in action against Georgia's Mariam Bolkvadze and James Ward will take on China's Zhe Li as they get their US Open qualifying campaign under way.
The tournament itself begins at Flushing Meadows on 26 August.
'I wanted to go a different way' - Evans splits with coach over 'differences'
Dan Evans says his surprise decision to split with coach David Felgate was because the pair started to see "a few things differently".
The British number two informed Felgate of his decision at the start of August, a few days after losing in the first round of the ATP event in Washington.
Evans enjoyed an excellent grass-court season, culminating in a third-round defeat to Joao Sousa at Wimbledon.
In February he reached his second ATP final in Delray Beach.
"I saw a few things different, I think, to the way he saw it," Evans told BBC Sport at the Winston-Salem Open.
"At the end of the day I'm on the court, and it's how I felt.
"It was amicable, no hard feelings. I sat down and said it was going to come to an end, and that was that.
"I wanted to go a different way and try something new. I've never had to do that before. It was not an easy conversation but it was better for me to say it there and then than carry on until the end of this trip, and waste this trip.
"I sort of felt that way as soon as I came back and we started again after Wimbledon. Maybe I lost my spark with him, but it just didn't feel right, and I thought it needed to change."
Evans and Felgate started working together after last year's Wimbledon. The British Davis Cup player was outside the top 300 at the time, as he fought his way back from a doping ban, but now stands at 58 in the world.
Evans says he wants to play more aggressively in future, and will try to come forward towards the net, a little more.
"I thought, over the grass, I was pretty defensive and not really putting my game out there. I felt it was time for a new start - to make that change, and to play that way," the 29 year old added.
The former British player Joshua Milton, who now coaches in San Diego, is assisting Evans in Winston-Salem this week. As the fifth seed, Evans was given a first-round bye and will play his second-round match on Tuesday.
Evans said he does not yet know who he will work with in future, but says Britain's Davis Cup captain Leon Smith has agreed to help out where he can during the US Open, which begins on Monday.
Tomokazu HARIMOTO defeated ZHAO Zihao (CHN) (11-6, 12-14, 11-5, 13-11, 13-15, 11-4) to get his hands on the men’s singles gold medal after CHEN Xingtong overcame HE Zhuojia (11-4, 7-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-4) in an all-Chinese women’s singles final.
The results wrapped up an exciting six days in eastern Europe, which produced a first ever international title for mixed doubles pair Mima ITO and Jun MIZUTANI (JPN).
Meanwhile, JEOUNG Youngsik and LEE Sangsu (KOR) sealed gold in the men’s doubles, as GU Yuting and MU Zi (CHN) were crowned women’s doubles champions.
HARIMOTO BACK ON TRACK?
The youngest ever winner of an ITTF World Tour Grand Finals last December in Incheon, Korea Republic, Tomokazu HARIMOTO had not won on the ITTF World Tour yet in 2019 as his world ranking fell from third to fifth.
Ever the determined competitor, the 16-year-old was a confident and consistent performer in Panagyurishte, dropping just five games en route to the men’s singles title, as he out-thought and out-fought his opponents, one by one.
Entering the event as top seed, and with so many of China’s star players absent, anything other than a gold medal would have been seen as a missed opportunity for Harimoto, who saw off Marcos FREITAS (POR) in straight games (11-8, 11-9, 11-4, 11-8) to set up a showdown with ZHAO Zihao.
Nobody had managed to deal with the Chinese 22-year-old’s electric speed from the qualification rounds up until the final, however Harimoto simply had too much for the world no.110, who had threatened to maintain his nation’s perfect streak in the men’s singles competition on the 2019 ITTF World Tour following impressive victories over higher-ranked opponents, Simon GAUZY (FRA), Darko JORGIC (SLO), Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER) and Quadri ARUNA (NGR).
Tomokazu Harimoto
MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR MIMA ITO?
Going into the final day, 2nd seed Mima Ito (JPN) would have fancied her chances of silverware as the highest ranked women’s player remaining. The 18-year-old was leading CHEN Xingtong 3-2 in their rollercoaster semi-final, before the Chinese 11th seed fought back to claim the most hard-fought of victories (6-11, 11-4, 11-7, 9-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7).
Awaiting her in the final was 20-year-old chopper HE Zhuojia (CHN), who had defeated compatriot WU Yang earlier in the day. The key moment of the final came in the third game when He fought back from 8-3 down to level at 10-10 but Chen staved off the comeback to take a confidence-boosting 2-1 lead in the match, and the 22-year-old pressed on to get her hands on her fourth career women’s singles title on the ITTF World Tour.
ITO & MIZUTANI – OLYMPIC FORMULA?
Bronze in Korea and silver in Australia, Mima ITO and Jun MIZUTANI always seemed destined to win mixed doubles gold in Bulgaria, as they made it third time lucky in only their third ever appearance as a pair in an international event.
The Japanese duo defeated MA Te and WU Yang in Saturday’s final (11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9) after a landslide semi-final victory over compatriots Tomokazu HARIMOTO and Kasumi ISHIKAWA the previous day (11-2, 11-3, 11-6). How important could that result be in the decision-making behind Japan’s mixed doubles partnership at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games?
KOREANS SEAL CONSECUTIVE GOLDS
JEOUNG Youngsik and LEE Sangsu (KOR) made it two men’s doubles titles in as many ITTF World Tour events. The pair followed up on victory at July’s Australian Open with gold in Bulgaria, where they fought back from behind to defeat Yukiya UDA and Kazuhiro YOSHIMURA (JPN) in the final (4-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-8). A proven formula on the men’s doubles circuit, this was their sixth success in total on the ITTF World Tour.
Meanwhile in the women’s doubles, unseeded pair GU Yuting and MU Zi (CHN) blew away their 5th-seeded opponents Miu HIRANO and Saki SHIBATA (JPN) in just three games (11-7, 11-6, 11-5).
“QUADRI BALBOA” LIGHTS UP BULGARIA!
Saturday night entertainment saw most sensational scenes play out in Panagyurishte, as 10th seed Quadri ARUNA (NGR) stunned 4th seed Jun MIZUTANI (JPN) to reach his first ITTF World Tour semi-final since 2017, also in Bulgaria!
Trailing 1-2 on games, Aruna went on to show the sort of fighting spirit that Rocky Balboa himself would have been proud of! The Nigerian saved two game points in game four before going on to recover from 4-9 down to win game five. Mizutani responded well to claim game six, forcing a decider: 9-6 down, the Japanese heavyweight refused to give up the fight and held two match point opportunities. However, Aruna showed nerves of steel, saving both points before going on to finish the job (8-11, 11-9, 6-11, 12-10, 11-9, 4-11, 13-11). This was an unforgettable night for Nigeria, for Africa and for the world of table tennis as a whole.
MOVING ON TO OLOMOUC!
The ninth event of the 2019 ITTF World Tour will see a number of star players battle it out for honours at the Czech Open in Olomouc.
Qualification rounds will take place between Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st August, before the main event between Thursday 22nd and Sunday 25th August.
Stay up to date on ITTF.com, watch live matches on itTV and be entertained on ITTF social: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube and Weibo.
BULGARIA OPEN: QUICK LINKS:
Ping Pong Diplomacy was on show on Sunday 18th August, as US and China players joined together for practice and doubles exhibition matches at Collins Court, UCLA, in Los Angeles. Not only were the two teams reinforcing their historical bond, but also rival Collegiate table tennis teams University of California (UCLA) and University of Southern California (USC) joined forces at the opposite end of the table. Unity through sport was the resounding message.
A handful of invited spectators from local clubs were able to bear witness to the very best table tennis players on the planet in practice, from table drills to multiball.
With Xu Xin’s finesse, Fan Zhendong’s power and the likes of female strongholds Ding Ning and Liu Shiwen showing the sort of skill that spectators are only used to watching on television, it was certainly a memorable event for those on the sidelines.
The teams received a gracious welcome by Assistant Vice President of UCLA Campus Life, Mike Deluca, and soon after a special speech was made by Chinese Consul General Zhang Ping.
Zhang Ping spoke of how the team had become heroes to the nation of China and had continued to do the country proud with its work ethic and determination to bring honour to the team and to China. He also reminded those there, of the great impact that table tennis has had on diplomacy between China and the USA, and how it can and will continue to play a role in bringing people together.
Three special doubles matches ensued with the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) President and USA Table Tennis (USATT) CEO taking opposite ends of the table. Liu Guoliang paired with Mike Deluca, while Virginia Sung joined Consul General Zhang Ping for a friendly match.
The following two matches saw UCLA and USC mixed doubles pairings take on the mixed teams from USA and China.
Xu Xin and Wu Yue were the first pair, Ding Ning and Victor Liu followed. It was a great occasion to see teams used to facing off at opposite ends of the table join together on the same side for once.
Overall those present enjoyed the rare opportunity to see Olympic gold medallists and World Champions training right before their eyes. The players were gracious to sign autographs for some fans at the end of the session and hit a few balls with the Consul General and guests.
For the guests, they left with smiles of satisfaction. For the athletes, they will return to the tables tonight to continue their intensive training and hard work.
Lucia Cordero setting new standards for Central America
Imposing from Central America, it was the same from North America; the United States was not be overshadowed. Jayden Zhou and Nicole Deng also departed the country’s capital city of San Salvador with three gold medals to their credit.
Unbeaten throughout
The top seed, following success against Linda Shu of the United States (11-5, 13-11, 11-5, 11-9) and El Salvador’s Keren Constanza, the no.3 seed (11-5, 11-4, 11-5, 11-5); Lucia Cordero beat colleague, Hidalynn Zapata, the no.2 seed (11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 11-3, 11-4) to seal the junior girls’ singles title, Hidalynn Zapata being the player with whom earlier in the week she had won the both the junior girls’ team and junior girls’ doubles titles.
A brave effort from Hidalynn Zapata who had been required to withstand responses from most worthy adversaries; at the quarter-final stage she had accounted for Chile’s Mariam Ruiz (11-9, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9, 11-3), before ending the progress of Nicole Deng (7-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-4, 11-3, 11-8), the surprise quarter-final winner in opposition to El Salvador’s Monica Mendoza, the no.4 seed (12-10, 7-11, 12-10, 11-7, 5-11, 11-8).
Outstanding performance
Defeat for Nicole Deng but a bronze medal was an outstanding performance by the player with no current world ranking, who on the concluding day of action won both the cadet girls’ singles and mini-cadet girls’ singles titles.
In the former, after ousting Sweden’s Hillevi Della Morte (11-2, 14-12, 11-8) and Chile’s Cristina Machado (11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5), she sealed the title at the expense of colleague Linda Shu (11-9, 11-9, 11-9), the player with whom on the second day of action she had won the cadet girls’ team title. In the latter, following success against Ecuador’s Maybellne Menendez (11-4, 11-8, 11-8), she overcame Chile’s Sofia Perez (11-7, 11-5, 11-3) to secure the top prize.
Jayden Zhou
Three titles for Lucia Cordero and Nicole Deng; it was no different from Jayden Zhou. Somewhat similar to Nicole Deng he started matters very much an outsider for honours.
Junior boys’ doubles success the previous day when partnering colleague Sid Naresh; the no.8 seed, following wins against Peru’s Juan Luna Nuñez (11-1, 11-2, 11-1) and Sweden’s Alve Sjevold, the top seed (13-11, 18-16, 11-5), Jayden Zhou accounted for colleague Ved Smeth, the no.3 seed (11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-3) to clinch the cadet boys’ singles title.
Success in the cadet age group, two hours later it was junior boys’ singles gold; the title gained at the final expense of Chile’s Matias Pedraza, the n.10 seed (11-7, 11-7, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7).
Impressive in the final, on the concluding day of action it had been impressive en route to the title decider. Jayden Zhou recorded a straight games win against Canada’s David Zhou, the no.5 seed (11-9, 11-9, 11-1, 11-4), prior to reserving his place in the final courtesy of success in opposition to Mexico’s Rogelio Castro, the no.15 seed (7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8) and a player very much in form. One round earlier Rogelio Castro had ousted Canada’s Terence Yeung, the top seed (7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-5, 12-10).
A semi-final finish for Rogelio Castro was a most worthy performance as was the runners up spot gained by Matias Pedraza. At the quarter-final stage he beat Kai Zarehbin of the United States, the no.2 seed (10-12, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6, 11-9, 14-12), prior to recording a semi-final success in opposition to Peru’s Juan Luna Nuñez (11-8, 11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 12-10).
More United States gold
Gold for the United States, it was the same colour in the mini-cadet boys’ singles event; Nandan Naresh, following success against the Dominican Republic’s Eduardo Darley (11-4, 11-5, 11-3) clinched the title at the final expense of Sweden’s Elias Sjögren (13-11, 11-1, 11-3, 11-2). In the counterpart semi-final, Elias Sjögren had accounted for colleague, Benjamin Flores Hallden (9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5).
Proceedings concluded in San Salvador, attention on the ITTF World Junior Circuit now turns to Varazdin, a golden series tournament, the 2019 Croatia Junior and Cadet Open commences on Wednesday 18th September.
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