Andy Murray reacts during his match against Grigor Dimitrov on Wednesday. (AFP-Yonhap)LONDON (AP) ― The silence at Centre Court made abundantly clear that Andy Murray’s time as Wimbledon champion was coming to a close.Out of sorts from the start of his quarterfinal against up-and-coming Grigor Dimitrov on Wednesday, Murray ― who in 2013 ended Britain’s 77-year wait for one of its own to win the men’s title at the All England Club ― sailed an awkward backhand slice long to fall behind by a set an

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin hits an RBI double in the fifth inning on Wednesday. ( USA Today-Yonhap)LOS ANGELES (AP) ― The Cleveland Indians had plenty to talk about on the flight home at the end of a 4-4 road trip.There were back-to-back losses in one-hit shutouts, and a rare 7-2-4 triple play that required two video replays to confirm. There was also the three-run eighth inning they had against Brian Wilson on Wednesday, which Mike Aviles capped with a two-run single en route to a

Teenage shortstop Park Hyo-joon and his parents (Yonhap)South Korean teenage shortstop Park Hyo-joon has signed with the New York Yankees.Park Dong-hoon, father of the 18-year-old player, said on Thursday the shortstop signed for $1.16 million and the Major League Baseball club also agreed to provide an interpreter and a trainer.The infielder with Yatap High School in Seongnam, just east of Seoul, becomes the second South Korean to join the Yankees organization after the retired pitcher Park Cha

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― A European presence in the World Cup semifinals is assured as Germany and France meet at the Maracana on Friday, looking to shrug off stumbling wins in the second round that exposed frailties in both teams.Contesting a quarterfinal for the ninth straight World Cup, the Germans will start as slight favorites because of their vast experience in major tournaments but with doubts surrounding a slow, porous defense that was breached repeatedly in the 2-1 extra-time victory over

Soccer governing body rejects Hong’s resignation offer

FORTALEZA, Brazil (AP) ― Neymar is tired of all this talk about the pressure of playing the World Cup at home. He guarantees Brazil is emotionally ready for the challenge.Just two days before Brazil plays Colombia in the quarterfinals, Neymar downplayed concerns about the team’s emotional state and said “all players are prepared.”The hosts showed their nerves when Brazil narrowly avoided elimination in a difficult match against Chile in the second round ― many of them crying after a penalty shoo

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― The World Cup still has Lionel Messi. Tim Howard is heading home despite a heroic display of goalkeeping.A moment of Messi inspiration helped lift an unconvincing Argentina to a 1-0 win over Switzerland after extra time in the Round of 16 on Tuesday, creating the goal scored by Angel Di Maria in the 118th minute.Howard’s stunning shot-stopping performance could not stop the Americans falling to a 2-1 extra-time loss against favored Belgium that had a pulsating finale.The ve

BETHESDA, Maryland (AP) ― Tiger Woods back on the golf course is a big deal.There was never any doubt, except for one sarcastic scribe who was walking toward the first tee at Congressional and noticed a sparse gallery for Woods’ first appearance in three months. “Tiger really packs them in.”This was before realizing a few moments later that Woods was starting his round on No. 10.Fans stood side-by-side down the entire left side of the 221-yard hole and three-deep around the green at 8 a.m. Thurs

LONDON (AP) ― Rafael Nadal ran out of comebacks at Wimbledon, losing to a brash, big-serving, between-the-legs-hitting 19-year-old kid who might just be a future star.Maria Sharapova, somehow, seemed on the verge of a turnaround despite a flurry of unforced errors, saving six match points before finally succumbing on the seventh with ― what else? ― a missed shot.And in the most striking sight of a memorable day of departures by past Wimbledon champions, Serena Williams couldn’t get the ball over

TERESOPOLIS, Brazil (AP) ― Luiz Felipe Scolari is contemplating adding another central defender to Brazil’s lineup against Colombia in the World Cup quarterfinals on Friday, going back to the formation that earned his team the 2002 title.The Brazil coach has to make at least one change because midfielder Luiz Gustavo is suspended, and says he has a couple of options to replace him.“I have two options, either playing the same way we have been playing, just adding another player in the same sector

Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates his goal on Tuesday. (AFP-Yonhap)SALVADOR, Brazil (AP) ― Romelu Lukaku had a point to prove at the World Cup. After Belgium missed countless chances during the 90 minutes of regulation time in the match against the U.S. on Tuesday, the striker came off the bench and soon set up the opening goal for Kevin De Bruyne.As the U.S. pressed for an equalizer, De Bruyne swiftly returned the favor to Lukaku, who made it 2-0. Despite scoring key goals in cup qualifying, L