The U.S. Open is in full swing — and everyone seems to be speaking about Taylor Fritz.

On Sept. 3, the American 26-year-old tennis participant superior to a Grand Slam quarterfinal after defeating Germany’s Alexander Zverev. It’s the primary time since 2006, that the US will likely be represented within the finals of the lads’s singles match. He’ll face fellow American participant Frances Tiafoe within the semifinal on Sept. 6.

You would possibly say tennis is in Taylor’s DNA. The athlete, who stands 6 toes, 5 inches, is a second technology tennis nice.

His mother, Kathy Might Fritz, performed professionally earlier than retiring at 24, whereas dad Man Fritz is a professional participant turned coach.

“I really feel like I all the time had the concept it was cool to do what your mother and father did, so I performed tennis. And I preferred tennis, however to be trustworthy, I went by intervals after I was youthful the place I hated it and didn’t need to play as a result of I loved different sports activities rather more,” Taylor instructed Haute Dwelling final 12 months. “There was by no means stress from my mother and father to play, so I simply tried every little thing till I hit an age (15) the place I needed to decide and choose one.”

“When it got here right down to it, I used to be the very best at tennis of all of the sports activities I performed, so I made a decision to go all in,” he added. 

Right here’s every little thing you’ll want to learn about Taylor Fritz’s mother and father, Kathy Might Fritz and Man Fritz. 

Kathy Might Fritz

Kathy Might Fritz, 68, achieved a singles rating of World No. 10 in 1977, in response to the WTA. 

“So, I’m watching @Taylor_Fritz97 remembering taking part in his mother, Kathy Might in our period,” 18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert wrote on X final 12 months. “She was an amazing competitor… like mom, like son.”

Kathy, whose household based Macy’s department shops, grew up in Beverly Hills, and went professional at 18. Throughout an interview with New York Journal, she stated she retired at 24, as a result of life on tour was lonely. 

Even together with her tennis background, she by no means aspired to educate her son. 

“My mother sort of took a step again, however she’s gone to tournaments with me and it’s labored out nice. She helped me make a whole lot of essential selections, particularly early on as a result of she’d been by it herself … she’s there for the practices, she’s there for the matches — in any other case she sort of leaves me to do my very own factor,” Taylor instructed Tennis.com in 2021.

Kathy was briefly married to Australian Open champion Brian Trainer. In 1981, she and firefighter Donn Paben tied the knot. Earlier than their cut up, Kathy and Paben welcomed two sons. Kathy and Man, who are actually divorced, raised Taylor within the prosperous neighborhood of Rancho Santa Fe in San Diego.  

Man Fritz

The previous professional tennis participant coached Taylor to win the 2015 junior U.S. Open title, and in 2015, he was named the Crew USA Developmental Coach of the Yr by the USTA. 

Taylor and Man Fritz have since ended their skilled relationship. 

Whereas chatting with New York Journal, Taylor described his father as a “fairly arduous critic on my tennis recreation.”

“That’s one thing I want might have been totally different, as a result of I’m the kind of participant that builds off confidence and telling me all the best issues I’m doing and never somebody telling me all of the improper issues,” Taylor defined. 

Taylor’s tennis coaching started he was simply 2 years previous. Throughout a dialogue with the Desert Solar, Man stated he would have Taylor stroll on a stability board as a toddler. He additionally arrange a house fitness center and saved his son on a clear, plant-rich weight-reduction plan.

“I did every little thing I probably might to make him a champion,” Man instructed newspaper in 2023. “From the minute he was born, I can’t even inform you each little factor I did.”

This morning, 35 Steam gamers, myself included, began up Harmony and determined to play a number of video games of Rivalry, a aggressive mode in Harmony that dishes out probably the most XP accessible. After ready for 5 minutes (I am queuing with PS gamers, too), I lastly obtained right into a match, should you can name it that. 

Inside a few seconds, the primary spherical was over because the enemy crew flung themselves into the ocean just under the spawn level, killing them immediately. No, this is not some bizarre glitch, or only a group of notably unhappy gamers. Earlier than Sony takes Harmony offline in a few days, gamers are attempting to get as a lot XP as attainable, and one of the best ways to do that is by killing themselves in Rivalry. 

The enemy crew continued to off themselves for every of the 4 rounds, which means my crew received with no elims, no harm, and no therapeutic finished in any respect. By the tip of it, I obtained 15,000 XP for profitable and managed to degree up after only one recreation. It is really a reasonably good concept. You get tons of XP and should spend not more than a few minutes in-game—the queue occasions are literally longer than the matches. 

However not all my matches had been as clean-cut as my first one. As an alternative of leaping off a close-by cliff, the enemy crew within the second Rivalry match I performed selected dying by firing squad. At first, I assumed we had been going to play an precise recreation, so we secured the target, however after ready for a few minutes, everybody in my crew realised that nobody was coming for us. So we went to search for the enemy, and positive sufficient, they had been standing nonetheless of their spawn level, the place we rapidly completed them off. Within the subsequent rounds, my teammates and I ran straight to the enemy spawn to kill all of them as an alternative of messing round with the target. 

Not everybody has given up, although. I did have a few video games wherein at the very least a number of individuals really tried to take issues significantly. Whereas some stayed nonetheless and others ran to the closest map edge, one or two opponents put up a very good struggle, however even nonetheless, matches had been over simply as rapidly as they started. 

 In a single Rivalry match wherein my complete crew went AFK, I did attempt to struggle again, however I solely managed to take out a most of two individuals per spherical, which clearly wasn’t sufficient to safe the win. I additionally obtained the vibe from my fellow teammates that I used to be drawing issues out too lengthy and obstructing their get-rich-quick hack. Even nonetheless, a loss granted me one other 15,000 XP, and inside 5 video games, I managed to climb three ranges.  

However not everybody has been profitable with this new technique. “I have been doing this shit for an hour and solely went from Degree 44 to 45, I’m NOT getting this Platinum, bro,” one participant says on Twitter. Other than simply attempting to benefit from Harmony in its previous few days, some gamers are attempting to quickly degree up in an try and platinum the sport. 

Leveling your account to 100 means you’ve got basically accomplished the sport, and PS gamers will get a platinum trophy for all their onerous work. Proper now, it is an ultra-rare trophy, which simply 0.1% of gamers have managed to earn. The trophy identify can be “Dwelling Legend,” which some have identified as being fairly becoming: “Ironic how that is probably the most becoming trophy identify for the one particular person on the earth who Platinum’d Harmony,” one participant says on Twitter. 

Nevertheless it’s not all concerning the platinum trophy. One other good motive to degree up your account is to get all of the free cosmetics and gadgets that include it. Harmony is filled with actually cool customisable choices. Among the hero skins, just like the Freegunner outfits, look nice. There are weapon charms and skins, however my favorite customisable merchandise might be the enterprise card. 

That is like your run-of-the-mill identify card, however as an alternative of getting to choose totally different backgrounds, you possibly can fully change it up. There are totally different icons, backgrounds, and facet bars, which implies you can also make a card that appears distinctive. Then you definately additionally get to choose a motto like “Unhealthy for you, good for enterprise” or “Tighten these buns, let’s get it finished” in addition to deciding what two stats you wish to show alongside it on the cardboard. I presently have my elims and harm dealt, however you possibly can put what number of 6+ kill streaks you’ve got had, headshots, and way more.

Proper now, you may get all of those customized gadgets totally free—all of them simply unlock with playtime. But when Harmony does handle to make a comeback, there is a first rate likelihood it’s going to accomplish that by turning into a free-to-play recreation, which additionally means these customisable gadgets could be locked behind a paywall.

So, if in case you have a number of hours free and wish to be part of within the last-ditch effort to climb to degree 100, seize some cool skins, or simply have a enjoyable time watching gamers hurl themselves off the facet of the map, then you will have a pair extra days to take action.

Again in 2010, all the celebs aligned for Katy Perry as she launched Teenage Dream. All six of the album’s singles have been era-defining hits, and when she expanded the album two years later, these deluxe singles have been hits, too. It’s been years since Perry final occupied such a dominating house in pop, however together with her upcoming album 143, she recruited her Teenage Dream collaborators — together with Dr. Luke — in hopes of constructing magic as soon as once more. Throughout an look on Name Her Daddy, the singer responded to a query about her determination to work with Luke through the use of a non-answer about motherhood and girls empowerment.

“I perceive that it began a whole lot of conversations, and he was one among many collaborators that I collaborated with. However the actuality is, it comes from me,” Perry stated. “The reality is, I wrote these songs from my expertise of my entire life going via this metamorphosis, and he was one of many folks to assist facilitate all that. One of many writers, one of many producers. I’m talking from my very own expertise.”

The producer and songwriter has spent the previous couple of years working his manner again into pop’s good graces whereas embroiled in a defamation lawsuit with Kesha. Luke countersued the musician after she filed a go well with in opposition to him in 2014, alleging sexual, bodily, and emotional abuse. The lawsuit was settled in June 2023.

Perry added: “Once I discuss ‘Lady’s World,’ I discuss feeling so empowered now, as a mom, as a girl, giving beginning, creating life, creating one other set of organs. A mind! A coronary heart! I created a complete ass coronary heart! And I did it, and I’m nonetheless doing it. I’m nonetheless a matriarch and feeling actually grounded in that, that’s the place I’m talking from. So I created all of this with a number of completely different collaborators, those that I’ve collaborated with from the previous, from ‘Teenage Dream’ period. All of that.”

Name Her Daddy host Alex Cooper didn’t press the subject additional, as a substitute asking Perry about how she has developed as an artist since final working with this specific crew of collaborators. The singer has additionally dodged inquiries from followers each on-line and in individual when criticized for reconnecting with Luke.

In June, Rolling Stone confirmed that Perry labored with Luke in addition to Teenage Dream collaborators Max Martin and Stargate on her seventh studio album. “Katy knew precisely the album she needed to make and put collectively the workforce to make it occur,” a Capitol Data supply stated on the time.

Luke was absent from the credit of the singer’s final two albums, 2017’s Witness and 2020’s Smile. The 143 lead single “Girls’s World” arrived to criticism that it leaned into outdated popular culture feminism and a model of pop maximalism that the style has moved on from. It marked their first collaboration since 2013.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Followers and Columbus Blue Jackets gamers gathered for an emotional candlelight vigil outdoors the group’s enviornment Wednesday evening to bear in mind Johnny Gaudreau and brother Matthew, who died final week after they have been struck by a suspected drunken driver whereas using bicycles of their house state of New Jersey.

The gang of of roughly 1,000 outdoors Nationwide Enviornment was inspired at 7:49 p.m. to gentle their candles. For the subsequent 13:21 — for Johnny’s jersey No. 13 and Matthew’s No. 21 — they stood in silent remembrance watching a close-by video display screen as a slideshow performed of the brothers from childhood, by means of their teenage years and into school hockey, the professionals, marriages, baptisms and lives stuffed with pleasure and love.

Flanked by a memorial 20 toes deep and 40 toes vast of jerseys, candles, balloons, stuffed animals, Gatorade bottles and signage, gamers together with captain Boone Jenner, defenseman Erik Gudbranson and ahead Cole Sillinger shared recollections and inspirations they gained from realizing Johnny Gaudreau.

Gudbranson had identified Gaudreau the longest, courting to their time as teammates with the Calgary Flames. He made the gang chuckle sharing tales of Gaudreau barely making it on time to each group assembly and the way he might be out of the locker room in his go well with earlier than Gudbranson had gotten out of his skates.

“A little bit factor I did with John is I’d choose him up and provides him a bear hug, and I wouldn’t put him down till he informed me he cherished me,” Gudbranson informed the gang. “He wouldn’t inform me for a very long time. I do know up right here it was as a result of he loved the hug. We simply miss him a lot.”

When the timer completed counting up and candle wax and tears commingled on the bricks outdoors the world, chants started: “Johnny Hockey, Johnny Hockey, Johnny Hockey.”

At 8:08, the gamers moved again contained in the constructing as one. An identical vigil came about Calgary, the place Johnny Gaudreau performed for almost a decade.

Earlier within the day in Columbus, gamers and normal supervisor Don Waddell tried to make sense of the mindless tragedy.

“Whereas there’s an enormous gap in our lineup, there’s a good greater one in our hearts,” Waddell stated, acknowledging questions stay about how the group will transfer ahead. “Our speedy focus is on supporting the Gaudreau household and supporting one another as we proceed to grieve the lack of Johnny and Matthew.”

Waddell stated the group will look to their leaders. Jenner, who has been captain since 2021, stated the Blue Jackets should persevere and help one another as a collective unit.

“As a group, we’re going to get by means of this collectively,” Jenner stated. “We’re going to grieve, cry, be weak and help one another each step of the best way, however we are going to persevere as a result of I do know that’s what Johnny would’ve wished.”

Gudbranson stated that whereas he has struggled to search out constant connections with many teammates, Gaudreau’s distinctive approach of driving him loopy introduced them collectively.

“You’ll proceed to encourage me to be similar to you,” Gudbranson stated.

Gaudreau turned down extra money from the New Jersey Devils to signal a $68.25 million, seven-year contract with the Blue Jackets in 2022.

Defensemen Zach Werenski highlighted Gaudreau’s determination to maneuver and embrace the town of Columbus.

“You introduced a lot pleasure and pleasure to this metropolis,” Werenski stated. “I’ve by no means fairly seen something prefer it.”

The Gaudreau brothers have been biking on a street in Oldmans Township on Thursday evening when a person driving an SUV in the identical course tried to move two different automobiles and struck them from behind at about 8 p.m., in keeping with New Jersey State Police. They have been pronounced lifeless on the scene.

Police stated the driving force, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins, was suspected of being drunk and charged with two counts of demise by auto, together with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motorcar.

Gudbranson ended his assertion with a message to individuals contemplating driving whereas drunk.

“If you concentrate on driving after a number of beers or a enjoyable evening, please, please, please don’t,” Gudbranson stated. “Discover a approach house.”

On the annual NHLPA rookie showcase outdoors Washington, union government director Marty Walsh stated the tragic state of affairs was having wide-ranging results round hockey.

“The deaths of Johnny and his brother are impacting loads of gamers within the league as a complete and clearly is impacting their alma mater, Boston Faculty, and the individuals in Boston,” Walsh stated. “The tributes are stunning to see. We’ve simply obtained to proceed to help the household one of the best we will.”

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AP Hockey Author Stephen Whyno in Arlington, Virginia, contributed to this report.

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AP NHL:

Daniel Craig has formally jumped into the Oscar race.

The James Bond actor, 56, on Tuesday introduced his new movie “Queer” to the 2024 Venice Movie Pageant, and in line with The Hollywood Reporter, it acquired a 9 minute standing ovation at its premiere. Directed by Luca Guadagnino (“Name Me By Your Title”), the film takes place in Mexico Metropolis and stars Craig as American expat William Lee.

“His encounter with Eugene Allerton, a younger scholar new to the town, exhibits him, for the primary time, that it may be lastly attainable to ascertain an intimate reference to someone,” in line with the Venice synopsis. Drew Starkey stars as Eugene within the film, which is predicated on the William S. Burroughs novel.

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In line with IndieWire’s Ryan Lattanzio, “Queer” options the “most express homosexual intercourse scenes I can bear in mind in any mainstream film,” whereas Vulture’s Nate Jones studies they’re “notably extra express” than these in “Brokeback Mountain” and “Name Me by Your Title.”

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Throughout a press convention in Venice, the primary query pertained to what it was wish to movie the intercourse scenes. A journalist famous that they’re “like nothing we have ever seen earlier than in a mainstream film,” not simply because they’re express however due to the “happiness” on show.

“There’s nothing intimate about filming a intercourse scene on a film set,” Craig quipped. “There is a room full of individuals watching you. We simply wished to make it as touching and as actual and as pure as we probably may.”

Daniel Craigon why he nearly give up Bond earlier than ‘No Time to Die’

Craig added that his co-star, Starkey, is a “fantastic, incredible, lovely actor to work with, and we type of had amusing. We tried to make it enjoyable.” He additionally recalled rehearsing dance choreography with the actor months earlier than filming began and famous, “Dancing with somebody is a good icebreaker.”

Starkey additionally mentioned that he and Craig each felt open to “strive new issues” on the film.

George and Amal Clooneystroll purple carpet with Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon

“If you’re rolling round on the ground with somebody on the second day of understanding one another, I believe that is a great way to get to know somebody,” he joked.

Guadagnino, in the meantime, recalled being moved by the “profound connection” between the 2 characters described within the e book and the “romanticism of the concept of the journey, and the journey with somebody you need and love.” “Queer” is the director’s second film of the 12 months after the tennis drama “Challengers.”

Craig has already been incomes Oscar buzz for the function, with some pundits predicting he will probably be nominated for greatest actor on the 2025 Academy Awards. He departed the function of James Bond in 2021’s “No Time to Die,” and “Queer” is his first film function since 2018 that is not a part of the James Bond or “Knives Out” franchises.

At one level throughout the Venice press convention, one journalist requested whether or not there may ever “be a homosexual James Bond,” prompting laughter and main Guadagnino to say, “Guys, let’s be adults within the room for a second.” Craig ignored this a part of the query however mentioned he took the function in “Queer” with a purpose to work with Guadagnino and since “if I wasn’t within the film and I noticed this film, I might need to be in it.”

Travis Kelce’s representatives have cleared up any confusion over what seemed to be a public relations technique for the NFL star ought to he break up with singer Taylor Swift.

Full Scope PR is a Los Angeles-based agency that represents the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish, together with different celebrities together with Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter and RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Sasha Colby.

It denied the existence of such a technique, telling the U.Okay. publication Each day Mail—which first revealed images from social media of the alleged plan—that the paperwork was “fully false and fabricated and weren’t created, issued or approved by this company.”

The outlet claimed the images got here from a Reddit submit which is now believed to have been deleted.

“Now we have engaged our authorized workforce to provoke proceedings in opposition to the people or entities accountable for the illegal and injurious forgery of paperwork,” stated a Full Scope PR consultant.

The corporate’s denial got here after a Each day Mail report confirmed images of the alleged PR technique that includes the Full Scope PR emblem.

Newsweek contacted Swift’s representatives by e mail for remark and spoke to Kelce’s representatives by cellphone.

Pictures posted by the Each day Mail confirmed paperwork that was labeled, “complete media plan for Travis Kelce’s public relations following breakup with Taylor Swift.” It additionally learn that the deliberate date of the breakout announcement would occur on September 28.

The paperwork included a template for the assertion that learn: “Instance: Travis and Taylor have determined to half methods after cautious consideration. They each worth and respect one another’s private lives and respect your respect for privateness throughout this time.

“They’re each dedicated to their careers and private development. They continue to be pals and need one another one of the best.”

Kelce and Swift went public with their relationship in September 2023 when she attended one among his video games with the Chiefs.

Kelce has beforehand described the “Dangerous Blood” singer as “hilarious” and “a genius” and stated they’re appropriate in some ways.

“Clearly, I’ve by no means dated anybody with that form of aura about them… I’ve by no means handled it,” Kelce informed The Wall Avenue Journal in November 2023. “However, on the identical time, I am not operating away from any of it… The scrutiny she will get, how a lot she has a magnifying glass on her, each single day, paparazzi exterior her home, exterior each restaurant she goes to, after each flight she will get off, and he or she’s simply residing, having fun with life. When she acts like that I higher not be the one performing all unusual.”

Replace 09/04/2024, 11:24 a.m. ET. This text was up to date to mirror that the social media submit seems to have been deleted, and the headline was up to date.