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Maria Sharapova and the Bryan brothers are elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame

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Maria Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam singles champion known for plenty of on-court grit and off-court attention, and Bob and Mike Bryan, twins who won a record 16 major titles in men’s doubles together, are first-ballot selections for the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The Newport, Rhode Island-based Hall announced the Class of 2025 results Thursday.

Sharapova won at least one championship at each of her sport’s four most prestigious events, making her one of 10 women in tennis history to complete a career Grand Slam, and was the first Russian woman to reach No. 1 in the WTA singles rankings. She retired in 2020 at age 32 after career that included 15 years in the spotlight, a 15-month doping ban and multiple operations on her troublesome right shoulder.

The Bryan brothers also compiled a career Grand Slam and spent 438 weeks at No. 1 in the ATP doubles rankings. They won a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics and helped the United States win the 2007 Davis Cup title; Bob is currently the captain of the American team that will go to Malaga, Spain, for next month’s finals to compete for the country’s first triumph in that competition since then.

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AP tennis:

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LPGA Tour rookie Mao Saigo of Japan takes 1st-round lead at Malaysian tournament

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — LPGA Tour rookie Mao Saigo birdied six of her first nine holes on Thursday for a 9-under 63 and a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Maybank Championship.

Haeran Ryu of South Korea was a stroke behind while two others were tied for third, two strokes behind the Japanese player at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

“I made a lot of middle-length putts so that’s why I played so well,” Saigo said. “There is so much strong up and down play required, so it’s very difficult.”

Defending champion Celine Boutier has been one of the hottest players on the Asian swing, with back-to-back top-10 finishes at Shanghai (tied for ninth) two weeks ago and in South Korea (2nd) last week. She shot 67 on Thursday and was tied for 11th.

Boutier’s win last year was anything but routine in the tournament’s first year. Boutier and Jeeno Thitikul tied for first place at 21-under par, then played a nine-hole playoff which the French player won. The playoff tied for the second-longest in LPGA Tour history.

Brooke Henderson, of Smiths Falls, Ont., shot 69 Thursday. Hannah Green, who earned her third victory of 2024 and sixth of her career last week in South Korea, had a 71. Lilia Vu shot 74.

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AP golf:

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Moore leads by one shot at Zozo Championship after opening with 7-under 63

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INZAI CITY, Japan (AP) — Taylor Moore shot a 7-under 63 to lead by one shot after the first round of the Zozo Championship, the only PGA Tour event in Japan, on Thursday.

Max Greyserman, Nico Echavarria and Eric Cole were a shot behind after rounds of 64 at the Narashino Country Club.

Two players from Taiwan — C.T. Pan and Kevin Yu — were two back after 65s.

Nick Taylor, of Abbotsford, B.C., shot 68 and is tied for 22nd place.

Fellow Canadians Ben Silverman, of Thornhill, Ont., and Adam Svensson, of Surrey, B.C., posted scores of 69 and 72, respectively.

Moore eagled the 562-yard 18th — his ninth hole of the round — when he chipped in from just more than 100 feet (30 meters) out.

“I had plenty of green to work with,” Moore said. “I hit a nice chip and it went in.”

Moore and Echavarria each have one victory on the PGA Tour. Greyserman and Cole are looking for their first.

Greyserman is playing a tournament for the first time in two months. He finished second in two of his last four tournaments, then put the clubs down for a break.

“I haven’t really played, practiced that much, to be honest,” he said. “I mean, when you hit as many shots as all the guys out here have in their whole life, it doesn’t really leave you.”

Cole lost a playoff last year in the Honda Classic as he looks for his first victory.

It was a so-so day for some of the better-known players in the no-cut field of 72.

Local favorite and 2021 Masters champions Hideki Matsyama shot a 1-over 71 and was far off the pace.

Defending champion Collin Morikawa opened with a 69, and Xander Schauffele, the PGA Championship and British Open winner, stumbled to a 3-over 73. He had company there with fellow American Max Homa.

Schauffele took an eight on the par-4 ninth when his tee shot landed behind a tree.

“I should have just taken an unplayable, but I was an idiot and tried to hit it,” he said. “Then I was stubborn and then tried to hit it again, then finally took an unplayable.”

Schauffele was asked if there was a lesson to be learned.

“Having false confidence helps at times, and in those spots it really doesn’t,” he said. “So I’ll definitely try to assess it a little bit better next time and really think if I can get it out or not.”

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AP golf:

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Saskatchewan Party, NDP make last-minute pitches for support with election days away

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The leaders of Saskatchewan’s two major political parties are continuing to rally voters’ support with just a few days left until Monday’s provincial election.

NDP Leader Carla Beck is set to have a busy day on the road, with campaign stops in Prince Albert, Yorkton and Fort Qu’Appelle.

Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe is scheduled to speak to supporters in Moose Jaw.

Moe and Beck spent much of Wednesday attacking each other’s records.

Saskatchewan residents have until the end of Saturday to cast an early ballot.

Both the NDP and Saskatchewan Party have urged people to vote early.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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