Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty say staying “mindfully aggressive” helped them break the China Masters jinx and the triumph has provided a “big boost” ahead of the Asian Games where they will go “all guns blazing”.

It was third time lucky for the Indian duo as they produced a stirring comeback to beat China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu 11-21 21-13 21-17 and clinch the USD 1,250,000 China Masters Super 750 title here on Sunday on their third attempt.

It was their second title of the 2026 season and first at this event.

“Playing here is always good. We have always played (well) coming back from injury. In 2024 after Olympics we played here, we played semis. Then last year we played, we weren’t in a good shape. We played finals,” Satwik said.

“I think this also, after coming back from injury, this has been a tournament where it gave us a lot of confidence. This week has been the same story. Except the first round, all the games we have played three games.” Talking about the final, Satwik said: “Today, we kind of held the nerve. We didn’t make easy mistakes in the end. So that was a positive from today’s match. And we are just sticking to the game plan.” “We made a game plan before coming. We wanted to do that. If it works, then it’s good. If not, we’ll go back and work again. So I think that has worked today and really happy. We kind of broke the jinx and I think second title in 2026. Really happy.” The title comes just weeks ahead of their title defence at the Asian Games, which is scheduled to be held from September 19 in Japan.

Talking about the Asian Games, Chirag said: “It feels really special. Obviously, going into the Asian Games, winning a title definitely gives a huge boost that yes, what we are working for is in the right direction.

“We will go back home, push ourselves to the limit, train for the next 10 days and go all guns blazing at the Asian Games. We want to go out there and have some fun.” Asked whether they were not aggressive enough in the opening game, Chirag said the issue was their shot selection.

“In the first game, it wasn’t lacking but we were not playing the right strokes. We were playing a style which favoured them. And when we play a style which favours them, they come all guns blazing. You don’t really find any space to play against them because they are extremely fast and furious,” Chirag said.

“So in the second game when we started, we wanted to be aggressive, but mindfully aggressive. And that’s what he (coach) was telling.” Satwik, who opted for a flick serve and gained several points, said he sharpened his service and receive during his recovery from a recurring shoulder injury that has bothered him for most of the season.

“It’s very rare I get five points on my service. It’s always Chirag who takes the game. In quarterfinals when we played with Kim-Anders, I think that match gave confidence,” he said.

“Same scenario, 17-17, we are down. I was serving then. I was practising more on the services because I was injured. When I was injured also, I was doing a lot of services and catching it. So I think that has helped me in the last two tournaments. But I think it’s just a feeling, mental thing.

“You just need to catch something, serve and believe in yourself. There has been a lot of behind-the-scenes with the coach, training, the same thing. Because we know opponents will target me when I’m serving. So we have seen a lot of videos, people targeting me in the service. They want to challenge me. So I think I have been practising that. I think that has helped me.” It was a battle of nerve in the end game as Satwik and Chirag, after lagging for all the game, caught up at 16-16 before prevailing.

“In the third game, we were pretty much calm. Even Chirag was telling, ‘we are under control’. We didn’t panic much, actually. So we just served and played according to the schedule. That has helped us,” Satwik said.

Savi Davison and PLDT during a game against Creamline in the PVL Invitational Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — PLDT already saw its title defense shattered even before playing its final preliminary game in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference.

But not even the High Speed Hitters’ early elimination could douse Savi Davison’s competitive fire.

Davison posted her third 30-point game of the week-long conference with a new career-high 37 points on 35 kills and two blocks to power PLDT to a comeback win and pull the plug on Creamline’s bid to claim the last ticket to the final.

READ: PVL: PLDT denies Creamline, sends Nxled to first-ever finals

Savi Davison on a chance for a podium finish. #PVL2026 @inquirersports pic.twitter.com/MatbKnobNi

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) September 6, 2026

As a result, the High Speed Hitters arranged a battle for bronze against the Cool Smashers on Tuesday, serving as the curtain raiser to the championship game between Nxled and Thailand’s EST Cola.

“This is what we play for. I love the atmosphere when we play Creamline. I love to compete. I love being pushed,” said Davison, who was also stellar on the defensive end with 24 excellent receptions and 18 digs.

“I think in those situations we thrive. So having everyone have the right mindset going into this game meant a lot. And going into Tuesday,  it’s what we need as well.”

Nxled, Creamline and PLDT actually finished the elimination round tied at No. 2 with similar 3-2 records but the Chameleons advanced due to a superior tie-break score.

“Because they are looked at as the best team. They have the legacy of being a very hard team to beat, so when you go up against the best, we wanna be better,” said Davison. “ So I think in that sense, we pushed ourselves to, like, wanna prove to everyone that we can also contend as one of the top teams as well in the PVL.”

READ: PVL Invitational: Savi Davison sizzles to open PLDT title defense

“Although not this conference, we fell short, and it does leave a sour taste in our mouth. But I think, just coming out and proving to ourselves, most importantly, that we’re able to still compete after what happened. It’s a really good thing,” she added.

The reigning Invitational MVP relished their big win against fancied Creamline, which was led by Jaja Santiago-Minowa, who had 25 points, highlighted by nine kill blocks.

“She’s really strong. And it was really something that we talked about going into the game, we needed to take them out of the system as much as possible. Because if they have a good pass, like, she puts it away in seconds,” she said. “She’s really good.”

PLDT hopes to pull off an encore against Creamline on Tuesday at 4 p.m. for third place.

“It’s showing up during the games, but it’s also being consistent when we’re not pushed as hard as we want to be. And I think that’s when great teams kind of make their stand is, whoever your face, you play and perform,” Davison said. “I’m just glad that we were able to take this win. And it gives us a little bit of momentum going into the next game and then into all-Filipino.”

Alexander Zverev, of Germany, celebrates after defeating Quentin Halys, of France, in five sets in the the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, early Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK — Alexander Zverev wasn’t in the mood for much conversation.

With empty seats everywhere after he finished his US Open first-round match in the early morning hours, he took two questions from reporters on the court and quickly wrapped it up.

“I think everybody’s tired,” he said. “Everybody wants to go to sleep.”

READ: US Open: Presence of influencers, tennis etiquette become hot topics

The city that never sleeps is going a little overboard this year.

Players have long loved the electricity of night matches at the US Open, where tennis under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium is a hallmark of the American Grand Slam tournament, with fans staying late and bringing plenty of energy. But with the tournament this year already setting a record with three post-2 a.m. finishes over the first six days, plus two more going past 1 a.m., concerns are bubbling up about how much after midnight is too much on such a big stage.

A fans watch Ben Shelton, of the United States, plays against Denis Shapovalov, of Canada, in the fourth set during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, early Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

“I know they’re dealing with a lot of different aspects as far as broadcast and TV and making sure certain matches get done and are starting at a certain time for those reasons,” third-ranked women’s player Jessica Pegula said. ”But you have to wonder if it’s really the right thing for players to be finishing at 2 a.m., especially when it’s not — like, I’m not watching on TV. I’m sleeping. Some people stay, but there is a lot of people that need to go home.”

Wimbledon instituted an 11 p.m. curfew. The French Open schedules just one match a night. The U.S. Open is famous for going late, though this time maybe to an extreme.

READ: Alex Eala mania a reason why US Open ticket prices reach all-time high

On opening night, Venus Williams was subjected to the latest start in US Open history at 12:13 a.m., after it took 4 hours, 36 minutes for Novak Djokovic to get knocked out in the first round.

Much of the crowd stuck around to see what could wind up being the 46-year-old’s final Grand Slam singles match, a loss to Sofia Kenin, but the timing itself was a challenge.

“It’s not ideal,” Williams said. “I would have preferred something else, definitely. It wasn’t great for either of us, so I think we both tried our best. I just don’t know any other sport where you have to start that late. I definitely think there’s room for improvement there.”

Zverev’s first two matches ended at 1:55 and 2:15 a.m., making him the first top-seeded man to play back-to-back five-set matches to start a major in the Open era, which dates to 1968. Ben Shelton’s second-rounder that started Friday night went until 2:07 a.m. Saturday thanks to the Williams sisters’ doubles match lasting more than three hours.

READ: Alexander Zverev outlasts Lorenzo Sonego in wild US Open five-setter

Four of the latest 17 finishes in tournament history have occurred this year. The record is still 2:50 a.m. from when Carlos Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals in 2022 on the way to his first US Open title.

“Not easy,” Shelton said after defeating Denis Shapovalov in 3 hours, 22 minutes. “My first time experiencing playing this late.”

Shelton figured the earliest he’d get to sleep was 5 a.m.

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, who two years ago played what is now the fourth-latest women’s match, is not a fan of playing after midnight and the potentially lingering effects.

“When you finish late, the next day shifts a lot,” Sabalenka said. “Like, you still need to get your hours of sleep, so you start later. You just can really mess up your schedule.”

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Notre Dame tight end James Flanigan knew exactly how he wanted to celebrate scoring his first career touchdown in the stadium where his father and grandfather played.

Flanigan’s father and grandfather, both named Jim Flanigan, each played for the Green Bay Packers. After scoring on a 3-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter of No. 4 Notre Dame’s 41-13 victory over Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, Flanigan pumped his fist in the air just as his dad used to do during his own playing days.

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“I saw some clip of my dad, there’s like this highlight reel out there I’ve watched before,” Flanigan said. “I used to make fun of him for doing it, but now it’s kind of become my thing, I guess. It’s just super fun.”

Flanigan’s father also played at Notre Dame before launching a 10-year NFL career as a defensive tackle with the Chicago Bears (1994-2000), Packers (2001), San Francisco 49ers (2002) and Philadelphia Eagles (2003). He won the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2000.

Flanigan’s grandfather, who died last year at the age of 80, played linebacker for the Packers from 1967-70 and New Orleans Saints in 1971. His 1967 Packers team won Super Bowl II.

That made it particularly special for the sophomore tight end to return to his hometown and play Notre Dame’s season opener at a place where his family had so much history.

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He worked hard to keep his emotions in check.

“My plan for it worked,” Flanigan said. “It was in pregame warmups, go out on the field and soak it all in. If I see family, say ‘Hi,’ and wave. And then, once we run out of the tunnel after warmups, it’s all business from there.”

Flanigan played four games for Notre Dame last year and didn’t have any catches, but he figures to have a bigger role this year. He scored the Irish’s first touchdown of the season by catching a CJ Carr pass around the line of scrimmage and getting into the left corner of the end zone.

Then he paid tribute to his dad.

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“The boys were pumped about that,” Carr said. “Really cool to see him come home and end up having a touchdown.”

He became just the latest Flanigan to make a name for himself at one of football’s grandest cathedrals.

“There’s three generations of Flanigans who have been on that field and made some plays,” Flanigan said. “That’s really special.”

___

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Ask around. Various people will have various opinions for about the Vikings’ breakout candidate. Allow me to insert a new name into the mix.

Last year, LG1 Donovan Jackson had a solid season. He did so even as a rookie newcomer who had spent his past college season playing left tackle instead of his more natural home of left guard. So, too, did he offer sturdy football despite working through his own injury. Might he have a large jump in his near future? I’ll argue that he does.

The Vikings’ Breakout Candidate: LG1 Donovan Jackson

Before moving on too quickly, consider the coalition of factors that worked against Jackson.

The kid was playing in his debut NFL season after a long college run that led to winning the CFB National Championship. In a truncated offseason, he got chosen at No. 24 overall to become a Minnesota Viking. He then worked through injury and saw many of his teammates work through injury, as well. The player to his left (Christian Darrisaw) and player to his right (Ryan Kelly) both missed a lot of time.

Worse yet, the quarterback play has shaky at best. Blocking for a passer who is struggling is much more difficult than somebody who is thriving. Moreover, the lack of a run game can also make life difficult for a blocker. The large lads like to fire out of their stance every so often rather than needing to constantly be on their heels in pass pro.

And one more thing: OL coach Chris Kuper got shown the door following the season. Doing so evidently came due to being displeased with how the offensive lineman were playing.

Despite all of these factors, Donovan Jackson played reasonably well He wasn’t Steve Hutchinson out there but he was an NFL starter.

— READ MORE: Roster Grind Continues for Vikings —
— READ MORE: 3 Quick Vikings News Updates —

In the PFF rankings, Jackson found himself listed at 45th among the 81 under consideration. Where he showed the most promise was in pass protection, an area of the game where he pulled down a 65.7 grade that led to being listed at 26th overall.

His report card shows 2 sacks allowed, 5 QB hits allowed, and 26 pressures. There were then 4 penalties.

Generally speaking, football rewards players who combine talent with a work ethic. Likewise, the game tends to smile on those who are rugged, durable, and willing to battle. Donovan Jackson qualifies.

Not often does a guard get scooped up in the 1st. In opting for the Ohio State alumnus, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah put the ball straight down the fairway. Jackson is already a good player who appears ready to see growth arrive due to better health, confidence in the scheme, and coaching.

The left guard is listed as being 6’4″ and weighing 323 pounds. Seeing him form a gruesome twosome along the left side with Darrisaw wouldn’t be much of a surprise. Those two are capable of putting a dent into the line of scrimmage on a regular basis.

Jackson is 23.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.