World number three Jessica Pegula raced into the third round of the US Open on Wednesday, dominating on serve in a 6-3, 6-1 victory over compatriot Sofia Kenin. Pegula needed just 56 minutes to get past Kenin, the former Australian Open champion now ranked 110th, dropping just seven points on serve. “I was just trying to stay focused on what I needed to do,” said Pegula, who is among a trio of players who could supplant Aryna Sabalenka atop the world rankings in New York.

Pegula, who reached the US Open final in 2024, next meets another former finalist, Leylah Fernandez.

The Canadian breezed past Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4, 6-1.

Defending champions Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka highlighted the day-four action.

World number one Sabalenka, gunning for a rare US Open three-peat, takes on 160th-ranked Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko before second-ranked Alcaraz caps the night session against Portugal’s Jaime Faria.

Alcaraz won his seventh major title at the Australian Open in January but arrived in New York an unknown quantity after a wrist injury forced a four-month layoff that saw him miss Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

He dispelled doubts with a straight-set victory over Roman Safiullin and will look for further improvement against 72nd-ranked Faria.

Other seeded players chasing third-round berths on Wednesday included seventh-seeded former champion Daniil Medvedev, eighth-seeded American Ben Shelton and his 11th-seeded compatriot Frances Tiafoe.

Meanwhile, sixth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur was hoping to finally get his campaign underway in a first-round match against Italian Andrea Guerrieri that was postponed from Tuesday by rain.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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David Vandyke is feeling positive about Oregon Coast’s prospects at Ipswich on Wednesday, especially considering her past performances against horses like Pembrey and Chilly Girl.

While the latter two are highly fancied for the Group 2 Furious Stakes at Randwick this Saturday, Oregon Coast will be contesting the Racing and Sports Fillies and Mares Plate (1200m). Nevertheless, capitalising on established form lines, a strategy Vandyke used when purchasing her, could yield positive results in this midweek race.

Under previous trainers Brett and Georgie Cavanough, Oregon Coast debuted in the Group 3 Widden Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill, finishing sixth behind the unbeaten Chilly Girl on January 31.

In her subsequent outing, the filly secured second place at Eagle Farm, finishing 5½-lengths behind Pembrey a fortnight later.

The three-year-old was later purchased by Vandyke online for $100,000.

“One of my clients races her mother (She’s On Time) and she alerted me that this filly was up for sale,” Vandyke recalled. “I watched her two runs and it was a slashing run against Pembrey who has certainly come out and proved the form. There was a bloodstock agent selling it who I know so I rang him and he said ‘she’s fine’ so we bid on her and we were very happy to get her.”

“She’s been in work for five months so I’ve taken her along slowly and didn’t want to run her in races I didn’t think she could win. She drew badly last week so I scratched her but she has a good gate tomorrow (barrier three).”

The ride on Oregon Coast has been assigned to Ben Thompson, the current Queensland Jockey Of The Year.

“With her form, she should be very hard to beat in a maiden at Ipswich,” Vandyke concluded. Look up the latest Australian betting sites for odds on this promising filly.

“You need the right people around you, the right support and the right opportunities at the right time.

“That’s what these two projects are all about. LN4 Fusion is about building a race team that can compete with the best in junior motorsport, with great people and a great environment for drivers to develop.

“The LN4 Legacy Programme is about helping talented young drivers get opportunities they might not otherwise have.”

Norris’ programme will run teams in the Italian F4 Championship, FIA Formula Regional European Championship and FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2027.

The aim is also to compete in Formula 2 next year, but the application process for that has not yet been completed.

Norris will be co-owner of the project along with an investment group run by businessman Dan Richards, who has a background in technology, particularly in healthcare and data security.

The main headquarters of the programme will be in Veneto, Italy.

The UK arm, led by Dan Hazlewood, head of the Fusion Motorsport karting team, will be based in Cambridgeshire and run a programme in British F4.

The young driver programme will be run by Julian Rouse, who was formerly head of a similar programme for the Alpine F1 team.

Richards said: “What we have created is far more than simply the acquisition of a racing team.

“We have assembled a rare combination and secured the right sporting leadership in the industry: an established operation, a Formula 1 world champion, the most successful team principal in junior single-seater racing over the past two decades, world-class motorsport expertise, significant investment and a shared ambition to build a team capable of competing at the highest levels of the sport.”

Rosin said: “Having Lando on board adds a further dimension to this project. He has come through the junior single-seater ranks and understands its demands. His involvement will make a real difference to the team.”

Manchester United stepped up their interest in the Leicester City youngster in the final hours of the transfer window.

Manchester United had a ‘very big’ offer for Louis Page turned down by Leicester City in the final hours of the transfer window, Foxes manager Russell Martin has revealed. Speculation over the player’s future gathered pace throughout Tuesday afternoon.

United had been linked with an interest in the 18-year-old for the last few weeks, with Martin previously revealing that a first bid had been turned down. Page had started the previous two games for Leicester, impressing with his performances.

United stepped up their interest on deadline day, but a potential deal was complicated by Leicester being in League One action that night against Plymouth Argyle. Despite the speculation over his future, Page was named in the Foxes’ starting XI and provided an assist for the team’s opening goal in a 2-0 win.

Speaking after the match, Leicester boss Martin gave an insight into what had happened in the lead-up to the game.

“The owner was here today [and] we sat in the office and received a very big offer from Manchester United,” he said, via LeicestershireLive.

“Myself, Jon [Rudkin] (chief football officer), James [McCarron] (sporting director) and the owner, Khun Top, sat in [the office] and he said no. So whatever’s going on with the noise around the club and all that stuff, he was strong, and he wanted the player to stay and be part of us.

“It would have been so easy for him to sell Louis and take a lot of money. But he didn’t.

“It’s a brilliant thing for us. Louis, you can see the level of quality and potential he possesses is amazing.

“He’s really helped us since coming into the team. Him and Sammy [Braybrooke] have an unbelievable connection and we have to build around these young guys. I’m really grateful that he’s still here.”

It was reported that there was a possibility that any deal would see the midfielder return to Leicester on loan for the season. LeicestershireLive reports that while there is no clear indication of how much United’s final offer was, there is some suggestion that the total could have been as much as £23 million.

India To Host Inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 (Image: IANS)

India will host the inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy in 2027, with the six-team tournament relocated from its originally designated host Sri Lanka. The tournament is scheduled to take place from February 14 to 28, 2027, marking a significant addition to India’s calendar of major women’s cricket events.The competition will feature six teams and will be played in the T20I format, with a total of 16 matches. India, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka have qualified for the tournament based on the ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings.

Mumbai, Vadodara to host matches

The tournament will be played across two venues, the Cricket Club of India (CCI) in Mumbai and the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium. All six teams will compete in a round-robin league stage, with the top two sides advancing to the final.

Sri Lanka lost hosting rights over governance concerns

Sri Lanka had originally been awarded hosting rights for the tournament. However, the ICC Board subsequently approved the move to India following a host evaluation process. Sri Lanka Cricket remains under a government-appointed committee, which the ICC considers a violation of its regulations concerning government or political interference in the administration of cricket.India emerged as the successful bidder after competing proposals from Bangladesh and South Africa were considered.“The ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 marks an exciting new chapter for women’s cricket,” ICC Chairman Jay Shah said.“As the inaugural edition of the tournament, it will bring together the best teams in the world in an intense, high-quality competition, while creating even greater incentive for teams to continue rising through the rankings and competing for a place on the global stage,” he added.Jay Shah also highlighted the ICC’s plans to create a stronger rhythm for women’s international cricket through a regular calendar of major events.“With a marquee ICC women’s event now taking place every year, we have a significant opportunity to build greater momentum, provide more consistency and create a stronger rhythm for the women’s game, its players and its fans around the world,” he said.

Alexandra Eala, of the Philippines, reacts during her match against Mary Stoiana, of the United States, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

MANILA, Philippines — A big crowd descended on Louis Armstrong Stadium for Alex Eala’s US Open first-round match in New York City on Wednesday.

Loud cheers from fans carrying Philippine flags of all sizes and makeshift banners welcomed the Filipino tennis star at the second-biggest stadium in Flushing Meadows.

READ: Alex Eala’s many fans descend on US Open with PH flags and lots of love

With that kind of reception following Eala wherever she goes, the world No. 18 admits she has gotten used to the atmosphere, but that doesn’t mean she no longer feels some nerves.

“It was my first time playing on one of the main stadiums here at the US Open, and it was very loud. And especially when the roof is covered, so that’s something that adds to the atmosphere, but it’s also something you have to navigate,” Eala said.

“There were nerves, for sure. And I’m not really sure if I can pinpoint where they came from, if it’s from the noise or [it being] the first round of a Slam.”

Fans of Alexandra Eala, of the Philippines, spell out “GO ALEX” with letters before her match against Mary Stoiana, of the United States, in the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Eala said her goal was to “tune it out” when it was time to lock in, and that helped her cruise to a 6-1, 6-2 victory over home bet Mary Stoiana.

READ: Alex Eala brings gratitude, belief into US Open campaign

” I think with experience, my goal is to tune it out. I’ve had experience with big crowds, especially in the past year. And I think I’ve been navigating quite well within myself to keep the focus and focus on what I need to pay attention to and, you know, points A, B and C.

“And in the end, when you get into the groove, get into the rhythm, we play tennis and a match is a match, whether there are so many people or none. So I think once the players get into that groove, the effect of external factors lessens a little bit.”

Eala has now reached the second round of the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the season, for the second straight year and is looking to go deeper, armed with experience from a strong hard-court campaign in her first full year on the WTA Tour.

“Coming in as a seeded player, and having done pretty good, I would say [in] this swing, American swing, it brings a different vibe. Of course, you’re a little more confident, there are a little more expectations, but I think I handled it. I’ve been handling well,” she said.

Eala, though, remains grateful for the unprecedented reception she has been receiving, saying it “doesn’t get old.”

She battles Oleksandra Oliynykova in the second round on Thursday, Philippine time.

Tiger Woods will avoid jail after reaching a plea agreement in his Florida DUI case, but he will not be allowed to drive for five years.

Woods appeared in court on Wednesday and accepted a reduced charge of reckless driving. The original DUI charge was dropped, while the separate allegation that he refused to provide a urine sample was also reduced. The two five-year driving suspensions will run at the same time. Woods could face jail if he breaches the conditions of the agreement.

The 50-year-old arrived at the courthouse shortly after 8 a.m., accompanied by his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump.

The legal case arose from a March 27 crash in Florida. Woods’ vehicle struck a pickup truck and overturned. Neither Woods nor the driver of the other vehicle suffered injuries.

The arrest affidavit says Woods told police he had looked down at his phone and was adjusting the car radio immediately before the crash. He later failed a field sobriety test.

Police found no alcohol in his breath during a breathalyzer test. Woods, however, declined to provide a urine sample. According to the affidavit, he told officers he had taken “a few pills.” Two hydrocodone pills were subsequently found in his pocket. Officers described Woods as lethargic at the scene.

Woods had initially entered not-guilty pleas on March 31 and sought a jury trial. That same day, he announced that he was taking an unspecified break from public life to seek treatment. He was subsequently permitted to travel outside the United States and spent several weeks at a treatment facility in Switzerland.

Douglas Duncan, who represents Woods in the current case, was also his lawyer during a 2017 DUI case. Woods pleaded guilty to reckless driving in that case and completed a diversion programme that included probation and 50 hours of community service.

Since returning from treatment, Woods has largely stayed out of the public eye. He made a brief appearance at a PGA Tour press conference in June, where he announced a new schedule but did not answer questions.

More recently, Woods appeared in a video made for his former Stanford teammate Notah Begay, who was honoured with the Payne Stewart Award during the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

Tiger Woods is one of the most successful golfers in the history of the sport. He turned professional in 1996 and has won 15 major championships and 82 PGA Tour titles, tying Sam Snead for the Tour record.

Woods won the Masters at the age of 21 in 1997, becoming the tournament’s youngest champion at the time. He went on to win the Masters five times, the PGA Championship four times, the U.S. Open three times and The Open Championship three times.

He is also the only golfer to hold all four men’s major titles simultaneously in what became known as the “Tiger Slam”, winning the 2000 U.S. Open, 2000 Open Championship, 2000 PGA Championship and 2001 Masters.

Woods spent a record 683 weeks as world No. 1, a mark that underlines his dominance during the peak of his career.

His career has also been shaped by major injuries and lengthy periods away from competitive golf. His most recent PGA Tour victory came at the 2019 Zozo Championship.

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