ILLNESS FORCES MADISON KEYS TO MISS WTA FINALS SHOWDOWN
Madison Keys has withdrawn from the WTA Finals due to a viral illness. She is replaced in the draw by alternate Ekaterina Alexandrova for her final round-robin match against Elena Rybakina.
Madison Keys Withdraws From WTA Finals - Photo Credit: IMAGO/Imagn Images
Due to a viral illness, Madison Keys has withdrawn from her match against Elena Rybakina in the WTA Finals on November 5. Ekaterina Alexandrova has been added to the draw in her place.
After losing to Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova in round-robin play this week in Riyadh, the Australian Open champion had no chance of making it to the semi-finals on November 7.
Keys refused to shake her opponent's hand after her Nov. 3 match against Anisimova, a sign that she was feeling ill and did not want to spread the infection.
"I am quite disappointed that I am not feeling well and that I have to leave the event. Making it this far is a tremendous accomplishment, and I am proud of myself for having a successful year. In a statement, Keys stated, "I want to be back next year."
In Riyadh, Alexandrova is the second alternative. Due to her inability to compete on November 5, Mirra Andreeva, the first alternate, who is currently competing in the doubles at this year's WTA Finals, decided not to sign up.
Along with her partner Diana Shnaider, Andreeva will play doubles on November 6. Given that Jasmine Paolini is no longer in the running for a semi-final spot and is also feeling under the weather, Andreeva may be called up as an alternate to take her place in the singles competition.
The third and last round-robin matches in the Serena Williams Group are scheduled for November 5; Rybakina will play Alexandrova, while Swiatek will play Anisimova.
As the group winner, Rybakina has already guaranteed her spot in the semi-finals, and Swiatek and Anisimova will compete for the other ticket to the final four.
UFC ICON ARRESTED SIXTH TIME AFTER MONTHS OF CONTROVERSIAL ABUSE CASES
UFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn was arrested in Hawaii for alleged assault, his sixth arrest in 2025. His mother has filed concerns about his mental health, citing Capgras delusional syndrome.
UFC Legend B.J. Penn Arrested in Hawaii - Credit: AP
After being accused of assaulting a 45-year-old man, B.J. Penn, a two-division champion and UFC Hall of Famer, was arrested in Hilo, Hawaii. According to reports, the event happened early on Tuesday morning at a house on Kanoa Street. Penn is accused by officials of repeatedly striking and kicking the man.
The next morning, Penn was taken into custody by the police without any opposition. He was freed on $1,000 bail after being charged with third-degree assault. December 2nd is when he is expected to appear in court again.
For Penn, 2025 has been a challenging year. He has been arrested six times this year. Alleged assaults against his mother and restraining order violations are among the prior instances.
Penn's mother, Lorraine Shin, expressed grave worries about her son's mental health in a court document:
"I think that my son has Capgras delusional condition." A mental illness where a person believes that a parent, spouse, friend, or other close relative has been replaced with a replica. He thinks I am a fraudster who murdered his family to seize their property.
Penn has posted numerous videos and statements online over the past two years asserting that politicians, family members, and even other boxers, like as Brendan Schaub, are masked entities with malevolent intent. He even hinted that he might be wearing a mask himself at times.
In October, a judge ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation. The completion of this assessment has not been made public, though.
It is hoped by onlookers that professional assistance will take place before the issue gets worse.
Penn's achievements inside the cage are still noteworthy in spite of his personal and legal difficulties. He had 32 fights during his 18-year MMA career, which began in 2001 and ended in 2019, most of them in the UFC. As a two-division champion, Penn gained notoriety and is considered by many to be one of the most significant boxers in the sport.
JUSTICE SERVED’ — MICHAEL JORDAN WINS BIG AGAINST NASCAR
A judge ruled in favour of Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing in its antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, denying the racing body a summary judgment and allowing the case to proceed to trial on December 1.
Jordan Outplays NASCAR Legally - COURTESY/PHOTO
As his antitrust case against NASCAR moves closer to a trial, Michael Jordan won another judicial battle against the racing organisation on Tuesday.
Judge Kenneth Bell rejected NASCAR's claim that its teams could compete in other series while acknowledging its dominance over its own sport on Tuesday, ruling in favour of Jordan's 23XI Racing, which he co-owns with Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports regarding the market definition of "premier stock-car racing." NASCAR's petition for a summary judgment in the case was also turned down by Bell.
Dr Daniel Rascher, a professor of sports economics at the University of San Francisco, testified in support of the plaintiffs' claim that "NASCAR's Cup Series is currently the only buyer." According to Rascher, "elite stock car racing" is not a suitable substitute for NASCAR because it is distinct from other forms of auto racing like Formula 1 and IndyCar.
Jordan's lawyer, Jeffrey Epstein, released a statement on Tuesday saying, "We are very delighted with the Court's judgment today, deciding in our favour." Finding that NASCAR possesses monopoly power in a properly defined market, it not only rejects NASCAR's motion for summary judgment but also grants our partial petition for summary judgment.
As a result, the trial can now concentrate on determining whether NASCAR has abused its authority to hurt teams and maintained it through anticompetitive behaviour. We are focused on getting a decision that benefits all of the teams, partners, drivers, and fans, and we are ready to make our case to the jury.
NASCAR's counterclaim that its racing teams illegally colluded against it during talks on new charter agreements was also refuted by Bell.
The sale and purchase of elite stock car racing services cannot be considered a separate relevant market based solely on the side that is complaining, Bell noted in his ruling. "To put it simply, NASCAR took a calculated move by launching its counterclaim and now has to deal with the fallout."
In October 2024, Jordan's team and Front Row Racing filed a lawsuit against NASCAR, accusing the family-run racing organisation from France of being "monopolistic bullies." The plaintiffs claim that because NASCAR's charter system binds teams to its suppliers, racetracks, and series, it reduces competition. (Several of the racetracks where the series races, including Talladega Superspeedway and Daytona International Speedway, are owned by the France family.)
Bell and other owners are among the parties who have urged the two sides to settle. However, Jordan has stated in the past that he is okay with the matter going to trial on December 1. The entire charter structure might be overturned if NASCAR loses in court. Since 23XI Racing and Front Row will be competing without a charter the following season, which entails much lower prize money, they will probably go out of business if they lose.
NASCAR is "doing our hardest" to resolve the complaint, according to NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps, who made that statement a week ago.
According to a statement released by the racing organisation on Tuesday, "NASCAR has done nothing anticompetitive in establishing the sport from the ground up since 1948." "Although we accept the Court's ruling, we think it has legal flaws, and if needed, we will address it at trial and in the Fourth Circuit. In spite of 23XI and Front Row's attempts to argue that the charter system is anticompetitive in and of itself, NASCAR will continue to support the system.