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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Monday / October 7.
  • FedNEW YORK — While his arch-rival Rafael Nadal is missing yet another Grand Slam tournament with an injury, Roger Federer is playing in his 60th straight Major and continues to look like a man who could win one for the 18th time.

    Federer, the 33-year-old father of four, overcame a slow start and a rain delay of almost two hours to dispatch Marcel Granollers, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the fourth round of the U.S. Open, a tournament he has won five times but not since 2008.

    In the fourth round, No. 2 Federer will face No. 17 Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain, a man he has never met before.

    Federer’s draw looks favorable for him to reach the final, especially after No. 4 David Ferrer — his potential semifinal opponent — was ousted Sunday by No. 26 Gilles Simon in four sets.

    Glynn Watson, a 5-foot-11 point guard out of Westchester (IL) St. Joseph, committed to Nebraska Sunday.

    “I have committed to play at University Of Nebraska,” he Tweeted.

    Watson, who has drawn comparisons to T.J. Ford, is ranked No. 67 in the Class of 2015 by Rivals. He chose Nebraska over Purdue, Creighton and others.

    Nebraska contacted Watson throughout the recruiting process, making a strategic offer in late April. After an improbable run to the 2014 NCAA Tournament, coach Tim Miles helped legitimize the program by landing Watson.

    WozniackiNEW YORK — Caroline Wozniacki stunned 2006 U.S. Open champion Maria Sharapova in three sets on Sunday for maybe the biggest victory of her career.

    Wozniacki, the No. 10 seed and former world No. 1, remains alive for her first Grand Slam singles title and will meet No. 13 Sara Errani in the quarterfinals.

    “I honestly think this could be the biggest win of her life,” CBS analyst Mary Carillo said on air after Wozniacki downed Sharapova, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 in 2 hours, 37 mintes.

    “Yeah, definitely it ranks up there,” said Wozniacki, who reached the semifinals here in 2010  and ’11 (as the No. 1 seed) but hadn’t advanced past the third round since. “Maria obviously is a tough competitor. She’s won here before. She won the French Open this year. You know, it was a really good win for me. Beating her here at the US Open, you know, it’s a tough task. I’m really happy to be through and have another chance to play in the next round.

    Malik NewmanMalik Newman, the top point guard in the Class of 2015, is in no rush to make a college decision.

    “Just knowing Malik, from now until the time the season is over, [college coaches are] really just going to be wasting their time,” David Sanders, Newman’s coach at Jackson (MS) Calloway, told Ben Roberts of the Herald Leader. “Because he’s not going to think about recruiting. He’ll listen to what they have to say and enjoy his visits, but as far as making his decision — he is not thinking about it. That’s the farthest thing from his mind right now.”

    One source close to the recruitment said they expect Newman’s decision to come down to Kansas, Kentucky, UConn and N.C. State, but Mississippi State is also expected to be in the mix.

    The 6-foot-4 Newman, who recently played in the Under Armour Elite 24 game and won a gold medal with the USA U17 team at the World Championship in Dubai, will host in-home visits next month and has already hosted UConn coach Kevin Ollie.

    Jaylen Brown, the No. 1 player in the Class of 2015 according to Scout.com, will take official visits to Kansas Oct. 10 for “Late Night in the Phog” and to Kentucky Oct. 17 for “Big Blue Madness,” Desmond Eastmond of the Worldwide Renegades told SNY.tv.

    “The only two visits he has set are Kansas and Kentucky,” Eastmond said.

    The 6-foot-6 Marietta (GA) Wheeler small forward is also considering UCLA, which he visited recently, and Georgia and Georgia Tech, which he has visited multiple times, among others.

    As for Kansas, Brown recently told Scout.com that he wants to learn more about head coach Bill Self, with assistant Norm Roberts also a strong presence.

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