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Noskova, Rybakina and Zheng Nominated to Play in Billie Jean King Cup Finals

Czech Republic's Linda Noskova reacts after winning against Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova during their women's singles final tennis match on the thirteenth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 11, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)
Czech Republic's Linda Noskova reacts after winning against Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova during their women's singles final tennis match on the thirteenth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 11, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)
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Noskova, Rybakina and Zheng Nominated to Play in Billie Jean King Cup Finals

Czech Republic's Linda Noskova reacts after winning against Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova during their women's singles final tennis match on the thirteenth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 11, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)
Czech Republic's Linda Noskova reacts after winning against Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova during their women's singles final tennis match on the thirteenth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 11, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)

Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen highlight the lineup of players nominated Friday to compete in the Billie Jean King Cup finals.

Jasmine Paolini and doubles partner Sara Errani are back to lead two-time defending champion Italy in the competition, which features eight teams and will be held Sept. 22-27 in Shenzhen, China, The Associated Press reported.

Noskova will be joined by Karolina Muchova, the woman she beat in the Wimbledon final, plus top-ranked doubles player Katerina Siniakova, on a strong Czech Republic team.

Rybakina leads Kazakhstan and Zheng, who won gold at the 2024 Paris Games, leads host China.

Marta Kostyuk and Elina Svitolina lead Ukraine.

Matchups feature two singles matches and a deciding doubles if necessary.

Nations can make up to four changes to their squads until the day before the finals.

TEAM NOMINATIONS:

Belgium: Hanne Vandewinkel, Jeline Vandromme, Greet Minnen, Magali Kempen; Wim Fissette (captain).

China: Zhang Shuai, Wang Xiyu, Zheng Qinwen, Guo Hanyu, Jiang Xinyu; Zheng Jie (captain).

Czech Republic: Karolina Muchova, Linda Noskova, Marie Bouzkova, Katerina Siniakova; Barbora Strycova (captain).

Britain: Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart, Mika Stojsavljevic, Jodie Burrage; Anne Keothavong (captain)

Italy: Jasmine Paolini, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Lucia Bronzetti, Tyra Caterina Grant, Sara Errani; Tathiana Garbin (captain).

Kazakhstan: Elena Rybakina, Yulia Putintseva, Sonja Zhiyenbayeva, Zhibek Kulambayeva, Anna Danilina; Yuriy Schukin (captain).

Spain: Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Kaitlin Quevedo, Marina Bassols Ribera, Sara Sorribes Tormo; Carla Suarez Navarro (captain).

Ukraine: Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk, Oleksandra Oliynykova, Dayana Yastremska, Lyudmyla Kichenok; Illya Marchenko (captain).

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Al Ahli Defeats Auckland FC 1-0, Advances to African-Asian-Pacific Cup Final

Al Ahli defeated Auckland FC 1-0 on Wednesday evening in the first round of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2026. (SPA)
Al Ahli defeated Auckland FC 1-0 on Wednesday evening in the first round of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2026. (SPA)
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Al Ahli Defeats Auckland FC 1-0, Advances to African-Asian-Pacific Cup Final

Al Ahli defeated Auckland FC 1-0 on Wednesday evening in the first round of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2026. (SPA)
Al Ahli defeated Auckland FC 1-0 on Wednesday evening in the first round of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2026. (SPA)

Al Ahli defeated Auckland FC 1-0 on Wednesday evening in the first round of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2026, held at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah before a crowd of more than 46,000 fans.

The only goal came in the 63rd minute, scored by Saleh Abu Al-Shamat, the Saudi Press Agency said on Thursday.

With this victory, Al Ahli advanced to the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup final, where they will face African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, the South African side, on September 19.

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Williams Sisters Granted US Open Doubles Wildcard

Serena Williams, left, and Venus Williams, right, both of the United States, wave to the crowd at the end of a women's doubles match against Marta Kostyuk, of Ukraine, and Peyton Stearns, also of the United States, at the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Mason, Ohio. (AP)
Serena Williams, left, and Venus Williams, right, both of the United States, wave to the crowd at the end of a women's doubles match against Marta Kostyuk, of Ukraine, and Peyton Stearns, also of the United States, at the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Mason, Ohio. (AP)
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Williams Sisters Granted US Open Doubles Wildcard

Serena Williams, left, and Venus Williams, right, both of the United States, wave to the crowd at the end of a women's doubles match against Marta Kostyuk, of Ukraine, and Peyton Stearns, also of the United States, at the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Mason, Ohio. (AP)
Serena Williams, left, and Venus Williams, right, both of the United States, wave to the crowd at the end of a women's doubles match against Marta Kostyuk, of Ukraine, and Peyton Stearns, also of the United States, at the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Mason, Ohio. (AP)

Venus and Serena Williams are slated to compete in women's doubles at the 2026 US Open after being granted a wildcard, tournament officials announced Wednesday.

The announcement by the US Tennis Association follows Serena Williams' dramatic return to Arthur Ashe stadium Tuesday when she and mixed double partner Carlos Alcaraz of Spain won their first match before losing in the quarterfinals.

Venus Williams had earlier been granted a USTA wildcard to compete in women's singles, an event Serena Williams is not participating in.

The sisters together have combined for 14 women's doubles Grand Slam titles, including two US Opens. They have also won three gold medals together at Olympics in women's doubles.

The sisters last competed together in New York in 2022 when they lost their opening match to the Czech team of Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova.

They dropped their opening match at the Cincinnati Open earlier this month.

The pair had been entered in Wimbledon earlier this summer, but withdrew after Serena suffered an injury in an opening round singles loss.

Sports

English Soccer Star Raheem Sterling Charged with Dangerous Driving after Highway Collision

Raheem Sterling (Reuters)
Raheem Sterling (Reuters)
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English Soccer Star Raheem Sterling Charged with Dangerous Driving after Highway Collision

Raheem Sterling (Reuters)
Raheem Sterling (Reuters)

Former England forward Raheem Sterling has been charged with three offenses including dangerous driving after being involved in a collision on a highway, police said Wednesday.

The charges relate to an incident on May 28 when a Lamborghini was involved in a “single-vehicle collision” on the M3 in southern England, the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary said in a statement provided to The Associated Press.

The 31-year-old Sterling is accused of dangerous driving, possession of nitrous oxide — also known as laughing gas — for wrongful inhalation and failing to provide a sample for suspected alcohol or substance use, said the police force, which added that no other vehicles were involved in the collision and no injuries were reported.

Sterling is due to appear at a magistrates’ court on Sept. 15 for a hearing.

Sterling is currently without a club. He has played for a number of England's top teams — Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal — and was at Dutch club Feyenoord on a short-term deal last season.