TURIN, Italy — This is what they have been waiting for. Some really good tennis players have congregated here in northern Italy for the ATP Tour Finals, the most exclusive men’s tournament in the sport. Only the best eight players available receive an invitation. Novak Djokovic, the greatest player of his era, and maybe any…

LEXINGTON, Ky. — This began with a threat. Not a thinly veiled threat. No. This was about as direct as it gets. Mark Pope, all 6 feet and 10 inches of him, stood tall, pushing his shoulders back. Considering his size, his shaved head, and his background — a decade spent banging around the paint…

Japanese forward Kazuyoshi Miura plans to extend his professional soccer career into his 40th season. Miura, 57 plays for Atletico Suzuka in the Japan Football League (JFL) — the fourth tier of Japanese football — on loan from second-division side Yokohama FC. When he made his debut for Suzuka in July, he became the oldest…

The Chicago Bears’ midseason offensive regression has raised concerns over Caleb Williams’ long-term viability as a franchise quarterback. It’s important to be measured with this assessment, especially for Bears fans who have seen this movie a few times before. First, it’s fair to be critical of Williams’ recent flaws. Second, it’s also fair to point…

Welcome back to the Monday Tennis Briefing, where The Athletic will explain the stories behind the stories from the past week on court. This week, the first Riyadh edition of the WTA Tour Finals concluded in Saudi Arabia, with Coco Gauff defeating Zheng Qinwen in the final. Throughout the week, the players and WTA chief executive…

The questions flew toward Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus like poison-tipped arrows after the previously 2-7 New England Patriots embarrassed his team 19-3 at Soldier Field in Week 10. “How do you defend your work as head coach when it looks this bad?” one reporter asked. If that wasn’t pointed enough, try this one: “Ultimately,…

Ask anyone within NFL Draft circles and they’ll be quick to tell you that this year’s class of quarterbacks is underwhelming compared to last year’s. Last year’s class produced five top-10 NFL Draft picks, including the first three selections. A sixth quarterback, Bo Nix, went No. 12. Entering the season, many in those circles and…

SAN FRANCISCO — The pinnacle act that defines Klay Thompson’s Bay Area legend, which will be celebrated Tuesday night at the San Francisco palace his dynasty contributions helped build, came on the final night in Oracle Arena across the water in Oakland. For three quarters, he was the best player on the floor in Game…

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mike McGlinchey turned around, spotted his rookie quarterback and let out a guttural yell. Bo Nix had just found Courtland Sutton for a third-down conversion late in the fourth quarter, putting the Denver Broncos in position to slay the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. McGlinchey, the veteran right tackle, pumped his fist…