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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The signs are all around downtown Indianapolis now: NBA All-Star weekend finally has arrived. Posters of the All-Star players cover Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts and host to All-Star Saturday Night, and Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the Pacers and WNBA's Indiana Fever and site of Sunday's All-Star Game. There's even a larger-than-life graphic of Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton on the towering 33-story glass facade at the JW Marriott hotel. “When we had to shift the All-Star Game off of 2021, we were trying to figure out when it would work out and we landed on 2024,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in October. “But that three years, I think, has really turned out to benefit us.”Now, the Pacers appear ready to shine under the spotlight of a second All-Star weekend.

Persons: Larry Bird, Rick Fuson, Kareem Abdul, Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Ralph Sampson, Bird, Michael Jordan, Isiah Thomas, Gainbridge, Tyrese Haliburton, Heck, Adam Silver, Herb Simon, “ We’re, ”, Steve Simon, Herb's Organizations: INDIANAPOLIS, New, Indianapolis, Indiana Pacers, Hoosier, Indy, NBA, CFP, Lucas Oil, Indianapolis Colts, Pacers, WNBA's Indiana, JW Locations: Indianapolis, Atlanta, Indiana, skywalks, Haliburton

☆ Billie Jean King: Players ‘are exhausted,’ says tennis great as she urges the sport’s authorities to work together
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

It meant many of the sport’s top players opted not to play the latter – an end-of-year tournament dubbed the World Cup of tennis. Aryna Sabalenka waits during a rain delay at this year's WTA Finals. Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesSimon responded with a letter of his own during the WTA Finals, outlining to players how the organisation was handling the issues raised. But there looks to be no magic solution to the array of problems facing women’s tennis at the moment. “But I think about men’s and women’s tennis, I don’t just think about women’s tennis.

Persons: Issues, Sabalenka, Storm Hunter, Jessica Pegula, Billie Jean King, –, Poland’s Iga, “, ” Sabalenka, Clive Brunskill, Marketa Vondrousova, ” Vondrousova, we’ve, Steve Simon, Martina Navratilova, ”, ” Navratilova, Simon Organizations: CNN, Tennis Association, WTA, International Tennis Federation, Tennis, BJK, Amazon Prime Locations: Cancún, Mexico, Seville, Spain

☆ Iga Świątek regains world No. 1 ranking after thrashing Jessica Pegula to win WTA Finals title
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Iga Świątek brushed aside Jessica Pegula to win the WTA Finals on Monday and return to the top of the world rankings. The win means Świątek replaces Aryna Sabalenka as the world No. “Coming back to world number one, it’s a dream come true, for sure,” Swiatek told reporters after winning her first WTA Finals title. So I’m really happy.”Since her last-16 defeat at the US Open, Świątek has won 12 out of the 13 matches she’s played, picking up titles at the China Open and now Cancún. It capped off a controversial WTA Finals, with players unhappy with the organisation of the event, run by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

Persons: Jessica Pegula, Sabalenka, ” Swiatek, “, I’m, Świątek, she’s, “ We’ve, Matthew Stockman, ”, Pegula, Martina Navratilova, Steve Simon, Simon, ” Świątek Organizations: CNN, WTA, China, Getty, Women’s Tennis Association, Tennis, Amazon, Sports Locations: Cancún, Mexico

In the Minnesota case, the plaintiffs are asking the state’s highest court to declare that Trump is disqualified and direct the secretary of state to keep him off the ballot for the state’s March 5 primary. But as awful as the melee was, and as disturbing as the rioters’ actions were, it was not a war upon the United States,” they wrote in an earlier filing. The Minnesota Supreme Court justices have scheduled just over an hour for oral arguments Thursday. The Minnesota case was filed by Free Speech For People, while the Colorado case came from another long-established group with significant legal resources, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. In Colorado, ballot challenges first go to a judge for a hearing and then can be appealed to the state Supreme Court.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden's, “, Trump, They’ve, Biden's, Trump’s, ”, ″, don’t, —, Joan Growe, Paul Anderson, Steve Simon, Simon, ___ Riccardi Organizations: PAUL, Trump, U.S . Capitol, U.S, Supreme, United States, Capitol, Republican Party of Minnesota Locations: Minnesota, Colorado, United States, The Minnesota, Washington . In Colorado, Denver

CANCUN, Mexico (AP) — Iga Swiatek says she and other women's tennis players are more united than in the past as they seek changes on the WTA Tour, including improvements to prioritize the athletes' well-being. “We are not happy with some things,” Swiatek, a three-time Grand Slam champion who was ranked No. Some players recently outlined various concerns in a letter to WTA CEO Steve Simon and during two meetings with tour leadership. Political Cartoons View All 1230 ImagesAmong the topics, Simon wrote, is late-night matches — a growing source of frustration for players. “I really feel like we — me and the other players, like, Ons (Jabeur), Coco ... and also some players that didn’t qualify for the finals — we’re really, really united, and we think the same way,” Swiatek said.

Persons: Iga Swiatek, ”, Coco Gauff, Steve Simon, Simon, The Associated Press —, “, Coco, we’re, ” Swiatek, Gauff, Swiatek, Sabalenka, ” That's, Marketa Vondrousova Organizations: WTA, U.S, The Associated Press, WTA Board, ” Wimbledon Locations: CANCUN, Mexico, Poland, Cancun

☆ Women’s tennis returns to China after Peng Shuai boycott
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) kicked off its first tournament in China in more than three years Monday, ending its boycott over the uncertain fate of tennis star Peng Shuai. Peng, a three-time Olympian and grand slam doubles champion, later denied having made the sexual assault claim. But despite the lack of such an investigation, Simon announced this April that the suspension, which he called a “principled stand,” would come to an end by September. The WTA had already pulled its tournaments in China in 2020 due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. Cornet had posted an Instagram story saying her season would only resume later in October, the newspaper said.

Persons: Peng Shuai, Peng, Zhang Gaoli, –, Zhang, Steve Simon, ”, Simon, ” Peng “, Alize Cornet, Cornet, ” Cornet Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Tennis Association, United, Communist, WTA, Guangzhou, Olympic, Beijing Winter Games, Human Rights Watch, Reuters Locations: China, Hong Kong, United Nations, Beijing, Ningbo

A four-year absence of elite women’s tennis in China is set to end with the Women's Tennis Association holding seven tournaments in the next six weeks as part of the tour's Asian swing. Political Cartoons View All 1163 ImagesIn doubles, Peng won major championships at Wimbledon in 2013 and the French Open in 2014. She won 23 WTA titles in doubles and two in singles and represented China at three Summer Olympics. The China Open, a WTA and ATP 1000 event, follows from Sept. 28 and will see 2023 U.S. Open finalist, Aryna Sabalenka, debut as the new world No. In October, the tour moves to the WTA 500 Zhengzhou Open and WTA 250 Hong Kong with both tournaments starting Oct. 9.

Persons: Peng Shuai’s, Peng, Zhang Gaoli, Steve Simon, “ We’ve, ”, There’s, Alize Cornet, ” Cornet, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Naomi Osaka, Sabalenka, — Organizations: Women's Tennis Association, WTA, Wimbledon, U.S, China Locations: China, Guangzhou, Ningbo, Hong Kong, Jiangxi, Asia, Zhuhai

☆ Trump faces another 14th Amendment candidacy challenge, this time in Minnesota
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The new Minnesota lawsuit was filed in state court by Free Speech For People, one week after another group initiated a similar challenge in Colorado. The Republican primary in Minnesota is on March 5, which is Super Tuesday. The new lawsuit seeks to block Trump’s name from the primary ballot as well as the general election if he wins the nomination. Last year, the bipartisan House committee that investigated the January 6 attack recommended that Trump be barred from holding future office under the 14th Amendment. Since then, Trump has been indicted on separate federal and state charges stemming from his schemes to overturn the 2020 election.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, “ Donald J, Steve Simon, ” Simon, disqualifying Trump, “, hasn’t, ” Ron Fein, ”, ” Trump, Steven Cheung Organizations: CNN, Trump, GOP, Democratic, Iraq, Republican, Republicans, House Locations: Minnesota, Colorado, insurrectionists, United States, North Carolina , Arizona, Georgia, New Mexico

☆ WTA Finals to be held in Cancun
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Tennis - WTA Tour Finals - Panamerican Tennis Center, Guadalajara, Mexico - November 17, 2021 The WTA Finals Martina Navratilova Trophy is seen after Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova won their final doubles match against Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei and Belgium's Elise Mertens Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreSept 7 (Reuters) - The 2023 edition of the WTA Finals will be held in Cancun, Mexico from Oct. 29-Nov. 5 under a one-year agreement, the women's tennis body announced on Thursday, ending speculation that this year's event could be held in Saudi Arabia. "This edition of the WTA Finals will provide a fantastic experience for players and fans alike, offer a fitting finale for the 2023 WTA Tour, and enable us to continue building a strong future for women's tennis," said Steve Simon, WTA Chairman and CEO. After the men's ATP Tour announced last month that the Next Gen Finals would be held in Jeddah from 2023 to 2027, social media had been awash with rumours that the WTA Finals could also be headed to Saudi Arabia. The WTA Finals will end two days before the beginning of the Billie Jean King Cup finals in Seville. "The WTA weighed a number of competitive bids through a thorough process, in close consultation with the WTA Players’ Council," the WTA said on Thursday.

Persons: Martina Navratilova, Krejcikova, Katerina Siniakova, Taiwan's Hsieh Su, Belgium's Elise Mertens, Steve Simon, Simon, Chris Evert, Peng Shuai, Billie Jean King, Iga Swiatek, Aadi Nair, Toby Davis Organizations: Tennis Center, WTA, ATP, ESPN, Billie Jean King Cup, WTA Players ’, Thomson Locations: Guadalajara, Mexico, Czech, Cancun, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, Saudi, Tunisian, Shenzhen, China, Fort Worth , United States, Los Angeles, Madrid, Doha, Istanbul, Singapore, Seville, Bengaluru

☆ Jabeur says now or never for Saudi Arabia to invest in the sport
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Arabia has pumped huge amounts of money into soccer, Formula One and boxing in recent years while the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit recently ended its two-year dispute with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour by announcing a merger. I hope in Saudi they'll not just invest with the ATP, I hope with the WTA (too)," Jabeur said after beating Magdalena Frech 6-3 6-3 in her Wimbledon opener. Critics have accused Saudi Arabia of using the PIF to engage in "sportwashing" amid criticism of its human rights record. "I believe in Saudi they're doing great giving women more rights," 2022 Wimbledon runner-up Jabeur added. Men's world number one Carlos Alcaraz said he would have no doubts about competing in Saudi Arabia, while seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe said tennis should not seek Saudi investment.

Persons: LIV, Steve Simon, Andrea Gaudenzi, Jabeur, Magdalena Frech, Critics, Saudi they're, It's, Carlos Alcaraz, John McEnroe, Andy Murray, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Toby Davis Organizations: PGA, WTA, men's ATP, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Wimbledon, Saudi, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Saudi they'll, Bengaluru

☆ WTA chief says 'big issues' going to Saudi Arabia, but ruling nothing out
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

But Simon points to the success of WTA tournaments in Qatar and says Saudi Arabia has made 'huge strides'. "In February I went to Saudi Arabia to see it for myself. There are still tons of issues in Saudi Arabia but the advancement for women's rights and where they are coming from is transformational right now. Simon would not speculate on what kind of tournaments could potentially be held in Saudi Arabia, if at all. Simon said had no concerns about the safety of lesbian players competing in Saudi Arabia, but conceded it was a sensitive issue.

Persons: Steve Simon, They're, Simon, Andrea Gaudenzi, they've, Billie Jean King, Daniil Medvedev, Stan Wawrinka, Carlos Alcaraz, LIV, Martyn Herman, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Women's Tennis, WTA, ATP, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, American trailblazer, PGA, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, Gulf, London, Saudi, Qatar

☆ Women’s Tennis Suddenly Has a Big(ish) Three
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Matthew Futterman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

And yet something has been happening with this group lately in the rivalry-starved women’s game — something that could all come together in a glorious rumble during the next two weeks at the French Open. The first of the three to play at Roland Garros, Sabalenka, started her tournament with a win over Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine in a match tinged with wartime bitterness. Ever since Ashleigh Barty of Australia retired while atop the rankings in March 2022 at age 25, Swiatek, Rybakina and Sabalenka have been hogging nearly all of the most prestigious trophies. Swiatek has been among the most outspoken critics of Russia’s invasion, helping to raise millions of dollars to support relief efforts in Ukraine. Rybakina and Sabalenka hail from the two countries perpetrating the war, as Kostyuk reminded everyone Sunday.

☆ Sky's Storti named CEO of WTA's new commercial entity
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 3 (Reuters) - Sky broadcast executive Marina Storti has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of WTA Ventures, the new commercial entity of the governing body of women's tennis. Storti, who most recently ran Sky's sport, cinema and entertainment streaming platform NOW after becoming its managing director in April 2019, is expected to begin her new role in August and will also be on the WTA Ventures board. WTA Chief Executive Steve Simon said the appointment would help drive the new entity forward. "Her ambition, passion and commitment positions her perfectly to help guide WTA Ventures in this next innovative era of the WTA," he added. Private equity fund CVC Capital Partners became the WTA's commercial partner in March with a minor stake in the governing body.

☆ Ukraine's Svitolina criticises 'useless' WTA amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, April 4 (Reuters) - Ukrainian players do not get enough support from women's tennis governing body WTA amid Russia's invasion of their country, Elina Svitolina said on Tuesday. "The WTA should have done more, much more, on many issues. Asked what her reaction would be if they would be allowed to take part in next year's Olympics in Paris, Svitolina said: "I don't think about it. It's up to the Olympic Committee and the Ukrainian Committee to think about it and do their job! (This story has been corrected to fix Svitolina's ranking in paragraph 3)Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Angus MacSwanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Women's Tennis Association partners with CVC to advance commercial growth of women's tennis
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( John Lynch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Women's Tennis Association has partnered with CVC Capital Partners in an effort to advance the commercial growth of the sport. Founded by Billie Jean King in 1973, the WTA is the principal organizing body of women's professional tennis. The ambition is to materially grow women's tennis — its profile, value, and prize money — for the benefit of the players, tournaments, and its fans. "I'm inspired to be a part of the evolution of women's tennis and building out the next 50 years of the WTA." "This is exactly what women's tennis needs and I'm excited for what's to come," Jessica Pegula, WTA world No.

☆ Big city restaurants and bars are missing office workers' spending on Mondays and Fridays
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Commuters arrive into the Oculus station and mall in Manhattan on November 17, 2022 in New York City. According to data collected from June to November, the per-person reduction in spending in New York City was $4,661, followed by $4,200 in Los Angeles and $4,051 in Washington, D.C. In-person work days declined the most, 37%, in Washington, compared with pre-pandemic levels, followed by Atlanta at 34.9% and Phoenix at 34.1%. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found in a study that increased remote work results in a reduction in foot traffic for urban centers. There was a reduction in remote work in January to about 27% from 29%, though he predicts remote work levels will not drop below 25% in the near future.

In the 13 races in six battleground states where an election denier was on the ballot for governor, secretary of state or attorney general, 12 lost, according to the latest NBC News projections. Arizona — along with Michigan and Alabama — was one of three states where election deniers advanced to be the GOP nominees for governor, secretary of state and attorney general. In Pennsylvania, meanwhile, Republican Doug Mastriano — who was one of the most high-profile election deniers — lost the race for governor to Democrat Josh Shapiro. “But voters sent a very clear message that Americans deeply care about democracy and don’t want extremists running our nation’s elections.”The defeats of election deniers spanned well beyond swing states. All 14 races where election deniers won were in states that voted to elect Trump in both 2016 and 2020.

In Arizona Senate, Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly is ahead of Republican Blake Masters by 115,000 votes with 80% in. On Dobbs, the national exit poll showed 27% of voters picking abortion as their No. And remember that our final NBC News poll found Trump as one of the most unpopular political figures we measured, especially compared with President Biden. In each state, those Democratic secretaries of state nominees were running against Republicans who cast doubt on the 2020 election result. Two of those five feature Democrat vs. Democrat contests, thanks to the state’s Top 2 primary, so those will stay in the Democratic column.

“We cannot move on from the 2020 election,” he said at a debate in April during the GOP primary. Marchant has said he would not have certified the 2020 results in the state, which Biden won. Republican Tudor Dixon — who has said the 2020 election was stolen — is running for governor against Democratic incumbent Gretchen Whitmer. Matthew DePerno, who is running for attorney general against Democratic incumbent Dana Nessel, has also repeatedly espoused debunked conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 election results in Michigan. DePerno has also argued that any Michigan resident should have the right to demand a vote audit of the state’s election results.

☆ WTA launches program in bid to increase female coaches
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 4 (Reuters) - The WTA has launched a program to aid the progress of female coaches into professional tennis and promote "career pathways for women." None of the current top 10 players in the women's rankings employ the services of a female coach. The WTA's program, which was announced on Thursday, aims to promote professional and grassroots coaching as a viable career choice for athletes and coaches. "The Coach Inclusion Program is an important step towards diversifying and broadening our coaching pool," said Steve Simon, WTA Chairman and CEO. The WTA added that the coaching program is open to applicants based in the United States.

Illinois Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who is retiring this cycle after voting to impeach former President Donald Trump, is endorsing a slate of high-profile Democrats (and a few Republicans) in key midterm races. Kinzinger is also backing Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski and independent Senate candidate Evan McMullin in Utah, House Republican hopeful Larry Lazor in Connecticut and a state House candidate in Minnesota. Shapiro, Hobbs, Fontes, Benson and Murkowski are all running against Republican nominees backed by the former president and who have all at least questioned the legitimacy of President Joe Biden’s election. While not backed by Trump, Nevada Republican secretary of state nominee Jim Marchant and Minnesota Republican secretary of state nominee Kim Crockett have also cast doubt on the 2020 election. While Lee subsequently voted to certify the 2020 election, opponents have used those texts to argue he lent a hand to those who sought to discredit the election.

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