Coco Gauff defeats Jelena Ostapenko to reach her first US Open semifinals

World No. 6 Coco Gauff defeated Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets on Tuesday with a 6-0 6-2 victory in the 2023 U.S. Open quarterfinals, advancing the 19-year-old to the semifinals for the first time. ESPN Stats & Info tweeted that Gauff is the first American teenager to reach the U.S. Open semifinals since Serena Williams did so in 2001.

Gauff said in her on-court interview after the win: “I’m so happy. Last year I lost in the quarterfinals. I’m happy and ready to get back to work on the next one.”  She added: “Honestly, I didn’t feel comfortable at all during the match – even on the match points. I know the game [Ostapenko] plays. She has the ability to come back no matter the scoreline, so I was just trying to get every point, put every ball in. It’s really tough against her because you can’t really be aggressive, so I was trying my best to be aggressive when I could, and most of the time I was just trying to get the ball deep. She’s a tough player and she had a great tournament.”

Gauff is seeking her first Grand Slam title; she reached the quarterfinals at the French Open before losing to No. 1 seed Iga Świątek in straight sets.  Her previous best finish at the U.S. Open was a quarterfinal appearance last year, before falling in straight sets to Caroline Garcia.

Gauff is also chasing a doubles title with partner Jessica Pegula. They will take on Su-Wei Hsieh and Wang Xinyu in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. The last player to win a singles and doubles title in the same year was Serena Williams in 1999 at the age of 18.

Gauff will face either Sorana Cîrstea, or this year’s French Open runner-up Karolína Muchová, in the next round.

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Spain women’s soccer coach fired amid fallout of president kissing player at World Cup

Spain’s women’s soccer coach Jorge Vilda has been fired amid the fallout over the unwanted kiss on the lips that soccer chief Luis Rubiales gave a player at the Women’s World Cup final.  The firing was announced by Pedro Rocha, who is serving as interim president amid Luis Rubiales’ hiatus. The move comes as part of a shake-up in Spanish soccer ever since Rubiales, the president of the country’s soccer federation (RFEF), forcibly kissed forward Jennifer Hermoso on August 20th.

Rubiales apologized for his actions, describing the kiss as “mutual”; however, Hermoso denied his claims. Rubiales was given a 90-day suspension by FIFA while disciplinary proceedings are underway. In a statement, Rocha issued an apology and criticized Rubiales for “totally unacceptable behavior … The damage caused to Spanish football, Spanish sport, Spanish society and to the set of values of soccer and sport has been enormous. The [federation] wants to transmit, to the whole of society and to the whole of football world, its greatest regret for what happened, which has tarnished our team, our football and our society.”

Vilda had been the women’s national team coach since 2015. RFEF said in a statement regarding Villa’s firing that aid he was “key to the notable growth of women’s football and leaves Spain as world champions and second in the FIFA rankings,” adding that  “RFEF appreciates his work at the head of the national team and his responsibilities as the maximum sporting figure of the women’s national teams, as well as the successes reaped during his term, crowned with the recent achievement of the World Cup.” Vilda was praised for his “impeccable personal and sporting conduct” and as a “key part of the notable growth of women’s football in Spain,” describing him as “a promoter of the values of respect and sportsmanship in football.” Vilda, who previously coached Spain’s under-17 and under-19 women’s teams, led La Roja to a first Women’s World Cup title last month with a 1-0 victory against England in the final.

The federation described the move as “one of the first measures of restructuring announced by (interim) President Pedro Rocha.” RFEF also announced Vilda would be replaced by his deputy, Montse Tomé, making her the first woman in charge of the women’s national team. Her debut match will come on September 22 against Sweden.

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Zac Brown Band previews new live album with cover of “Bohemian Rhapsody”

Zac Brown Band‘s upcoming live album, ‘From the Road, Vol. 1: Covers’ will feature renditions of songs made famous by other artists, which ZBB have performed live in concert over the course of their 20-year long career.

In anticipation of the album, ZBB released the first track from the compilation, their rendition of Queen‘s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The band’s take on the classic hit was recorded during their 2015 set at SSE Arena in London. Brown says in a statement: “‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is one of the craziest song arrangements, Freddie Mercury was a mad genius. It took us about a year of working on it off and on to come up with a version that sounds like it. To pull that song off live is a testament to the ninjas in my band. It’s one of my favorite covers to do live, and getting to play it at Wembley was a huge moment for us.”

The full track list and release date for From the Road, Vol. 1: Covers have not yet been revealed, but some of their recent set lists have included covers of “Adore You” by Harry Styles, Alabama’s “Mountain Music,” and Radiohead’s “Creep.”

Zac Brown Band’s headlining From the Fire Tour is still going strong, and will stop at select U.S. cities, including Tampa, Baltimore, and Denver, before wrapping up in early November. Dates and additional ticketing information can be found on the band’s official website.

Listen to Zac Brown Band’s live version of “Bohemian Rhapsody” – here.

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Brian Kelley shares his new song “Dirt Cheap”

Brian Kelley has shared his latest release, “Dirt Cheap,” written by Seth Ennis, Wyatt McCubbin, and Andy Sheridan.

Said Kelley of the song: “The moment I heard ‘Dirt Cheap’ I knew I had to record it. It reminded me of some of my favorite Country songs growing up that really pull at your heartstrings. As much as I love the beach, I love the country too. This song matches and meets me where I’m at in life currently. I’m working hard, so in love with my wife Brittney, and always keeping my eyes peeled for the perfect ‘Dirt Cheap’ property of our own. I am so thankful this song landed in my world, and I hope it resonates with those who hear it just like it did with me.”

“Dirt Cheap” arrives in anticipation of Kelley’s next full-length solo album, the follow-up to Kelley’s 2021 solo album Sunshine State Of Mind. His current single, “See You Next Summer” is currently climbing the charts, and Kelly shared of that song: “When I first heard it, I was smiling the whole way through. I’ve lived this song. It was striking chords all over my body, I felt it in my soul.”

Take a listen to ‘Dirt Cheap’ via lyric video on YouTube.

Brian Kelley Yearns for Small-Town Simplicity In New Song ‘Dirt Cheap’

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Meg Ryan makes a return to rom-com with ‘What Happens Later’

Bleecker Street debuted the first trailer for the romantic-comedy What Happens Later, featuring Meg Ryan and David Duchovny. Ryan co-wrote and directed What Happens Later, her first film since directing and starring in the 2015 movie Ithaca.

What Happens Later is based on Steven Dietz’s play ‘Shooting Star.’  In the film, Willa (Ryan) and Bill (Duchovny) are a former couple who unexpectedly reunite after getting snowed in at a regional airport overnight.  An official synopsis reads: “Indefinitely delayed, Willa, a magical thinker, and Bill, a catastrophic one, find themselves just as attracted to and annoyed by one another as they did decades earlier. But as they unpack the riddle of their mutual past and compare their lives to the dreams they once shared, they begin to wonder if their reunion is mere coincidence, or something more enchanted.”

What Happens Later was made to recapture the “cheeky magic of Ryan’s rom-coms of the 90s,” according to the synopsis. Ryan told Entertainment Weekly that rom-coms “really work when the two characters are somehow opposites and yet have a rhythm of intellect and humor and dialogue and banter that sort of indicates their compatibility,” and added: “it’s just been really fun to see David embrace this guy who I don’t think is anything really like David. Whereas the Willa thing I can really relate to. To see him dive into every single scene in the fullest way, he’s funny, and he’s smart, and he’s dear, and irresistible.”

What Happens Later is in theaters Oct. 13.  Take a look at the trailer – here.

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Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner divorcing after four years of marriage

Joe Jonas has filed for divorce from Sophie Turner after four years of marriage. Legal documents obtained by People claim “the marriage between the parties is irretrievably broken.” Rumors began swirling over the weekend about an impending divorce between the couple after TMZ reported that Jonas allegedly hired divorce attorneys.

Jonas, 34, filed divorce papers on Sept. 5 in Miami Dade County, Fla., according to online records. The documents ask for “shared parental responsibility” between himself and Sophie, 27, and said a “parenting plan should be established” for their children. Jonas also asked the court to uphold their prenuptial agreement from April 2019.

The couple first met in 2016, with Sophie sharing with Harper’s Bazaar UK in 2019: “We had a lot of mutual friends, and they’d been trying to introduce us for a long time. We were following each other on Instagram and he direct-messaged me one fine day, out of the blue.” Jonas and Turner were engaged in 2017 after a year together, and officially married in Las Vegas in 2019 at A Little White Wedding Chapel. One month later, Jonas and Turner held their official ceremony and celebration at Le Château de Tourreau in Sarrians, France.

The couple share two children: Willa, 3, and a 14-month old daughter whose name hasn’t been revealed publicly, but was listed as “D.J.” in Jonas’s court documents.

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5 killed, 3 injured in crash on I-85 in Atlanta on Labor Day

An Atlanta crash early Monday on the SR 316 westbound ramp to Interstate 85 southbound killed five people, with three people injured. The deaths were just 5 of 17 reported in Georgia on Labor Day, according to Georgia’s Department of Public Safety.

According to a news release from Gwinnett County police, the accident occurred just before 4 a.m. local time in Gwinnett County, with 911 calls reporting a vehicle going “over the wall of the raised ramp, falling onto the Interstate 85 southbound Collector-Distributor to Pleasant Hill Rd.” County fire personnel identified five people dead at the scene, while three others were taken to local hospitals. The ramp from Highway 316 West to I-85 South was closed for several hours on Monday before reopening.  Gwinnett police officials posted on Facebook: “The main I85 SB travel lanes are clear and reopened. The C-D from both I85 SB and SR316 WB remain closed and will be closed for an extended period of time while the Gwinnett County Police Accident Investigation Unit handles the investigation.” Investigators are still trying to determine what led to the collision, police said in the news release.

Witnesses are encouraged to call (678-442-5653) or email (pdaccidentinvestigationunit@gwinnettcounty.com) GCPD Investigators with any information.

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President Biden takes aim at Donald Trump in Labor Day speech

President Joe Biden took several jabs at former President Donald Trump in a Labor Day speech Monday, taking aim at his real estate mogul reputation. Biden never mentioned Trump by name; but audience members booed when he referred to “the last guy.” Said Biden: “When the last guy was here, we were shipping jobs to China. Now we’re bringing jobs home from China. When the last guy was here, your pensions were at risk. We helped save millions of pensions with your help. When the last guy was here, he looked at the world from Park Avenue. I look at it from Scranton, Pennsylvania, I look at it from Claymont, Delaware.”

While addressing union workers before a parade in Philadelphia, Biden said: “The guy who held this job before me was just one of two presidents in history … who left office with fewer jobs in America than when he got elected to office. By the way, you know who the other one was? Herbert Hoover. Isn’t that kind of coincidental?” Biden later touted his infrastructure deal, saying: “Guess what? The great real estate builder, the last guy, he didn’t build a damn thing. Under my predecessor, infrastructure week became a punchline. On my watch, infrastructure has been a decade and it’s a headline.”

Biden continued to list achievements of his first term, and said: “All I hear from my friends on the other side is what they say is wrong with America. They keep telling us America’s failing. They’re wrong. I’ve got news for them: America has the strongest economy in the world right now, today.”

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung defended the former president’s record: “President Trump produced a booming economic recovery, and record low unemployment for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans and women. Joe Biden is the destroyer of America’s jobs and continues to fuel runaway inflation with reckless big government spending. President Trump’s vision for America’s economic revival is lower taxes, bigger paychecks and more jobs for American workers.”

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Two-time Pro Bowl TE Kyle Rudolph retires from NFL after 12 seasons

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Kyle Rudolph is retiring from the NFL after 12 seasons played. Rudolph also spent nine games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, but will make his retirement official as a member of the Minnesota Vikings, the team in which he spent the majority of his career with. Outside of his ten years with the Vikings, the two-time Pro Bowl tight end spent one season with the New York Giants, and his last season with the Buccaneers.

Rudolph tallied 4,773 receiving yards and punched home 50 touchdowns on 482 catches throughout his career. As a rookie, he caught 26 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns; in 2012, Rudolph made his first Pro Bowl after a year where he caught a career-high nine touchdown passes, which was tied for the most in the NFC among tight ends. He missed a total of 15 games in 2013 and 2014, but came back in 2016 to have the best season of his career, catching 83 passes for 840 yards and seven touchdowns. He had a second Pro Bowl season in 2017, finishing the season with eight touchdown catches, which was the eighth most in the NFL. In Week 18 of the 2022 season with Tampa Bay, Rudolph caught what would end up being the final touchdown catch of his career, and the final touchdown pass of Tom Brady’s career.

Rudolph told NBC Sports that he would be retiring, and shared his future plans: “I played for so long and earned a veteran status. Now I’m a rookie getting as many reps as I can in the media world. This off-season is about, ‘Where do I fit in?’ The NBC job doing games on Peacock is cool. And talking about the storylines of the day in the NFL on Sunday nights will be cool, too.” Rudolph will be calling Big 10 games for NBC Sports this fall, and will also be hosting a weekly radio show for Fox Sports.

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L.A. Dodgers’ Julio Urías arrested on felony domestic violence charges

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urías has been arrested and charged with felony domestic violence charges. Urias, 27, was booked late Sunday and released Monday morning on $50,000 bond.  Further details of the incident have not been made available.

The Dodgers released a statement saying: “We are aware of an incident involving Julio Urías. While we attempt to learn all the facts, he will not be traveling with the team. The organization has no further comment at this time.”

This is the second time Urías has had a domestic violence-related arrest. In May 2019, he was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence after allegedly shoving a woman he was with at a Los Angeles shopping mall. No charges were filed, and the woman later told investigators she fell in a parking lot during an argument. Urías still served a 20-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.

Urías has spent his eight-year MLB career with the Dodgers, helping they win the World Series title in 2020 and winning the National League ERA Title in 2022 after posting a 17-7 record, 2.16 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 166 strikeouts in 175 innings across 31 starts.  This year, Urías holds an 11-8 record, 4.60 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 117 strikeouts in 117.1 innings across 21 starts. He last pitched Sept. 1, in a loss to the Atlanta Braves.

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