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• Djokovic makes dominant start to Olympic gold medal bid

  Novak Djokovic began his latest Olympic gold medal bid with a statement victory over Australia's Matthew Ebden at Roland-Garros.

  The 24-time major winner took just 53 minutes to wrap up a comprehensive 6-0 6-1 rout on Court Philippe-Chatrier, to set up a potential second-round clash with Rafael Nadal.

  Djokovic won bronze on his Olympic debut in 2008, but missed out on a medal after finishing fourth in 2012 and 2020, while he was beaten in round one in Rio by eventual silver medallist Juan Martin del Potro eight years ago.

  However, there was no danger of a repeat of the latter this time around. The Serb took just 24 minutes to wrap up a dominant first set, in which he bageled his helpless opponent.

  Ebden remained in positive spirits despite his ordeal. At one stage, he offered his racquet to the crowd, who gave him a wonderful reception when he won his first game of the contest at the 11th attempt.

  Nevertheless, it only briefly delayed the inevitable, with Djokovic cruising to the finish line.

  Data Debrief: Dominant Djokovic soars into second round

  There was no messing around from the 24-time major winner on Saturday, as he was done and dusted in just under an hour at Roland-Garros.

  He converted six of his nine break-point opportunities, while winning 14 of 19 net points (74%).

  The identity of his second-round opponent is still to be decided, but we could well see a blockbuster clash with Nadal.

   

• MLB: Red-hot Mets lose Senga but beat reeling Braves

  J. D. Martinez highlighted a seven-run third with a grand slam and Kodai Senga won his season debut before leaving with an injury as the New York Mets remained red hot with an 8-4 win over the struggling Atlanta Braves on Friday night. 

  Senga allowed two runs – both on Adam Duvall’s second-inning home run – and two hits over 5 1/3 innings with one walk and nine strikeouts after spending the first four months of the season on the injured list with a right shoulder strain.

  He left in the sixth when he strained his left calf after throwing 73 pitches. Senga will have an MRI on Saturday.

  New York won its fifth straight and moved past the Braves for the NL’s top wild card. The Mets (55-48) are a season-high seven games over .500 following their 11th win in 14 games.

  The Mets reached Charlie Morton for seven runs in the third.

  After Tyrone Taylor reached on an error by third baseman Austin Riley, Francisco Lindor was hit by a pitch and Brandon Nimmo walked. Martinez then belted his ninth career grand slam to give the Mets a 4-2 lead. Morton retired Pete Alonso, but Jeff McNeil doubled and Vientos followed with his 14th home run. One out later, Francisco Alvarez homered to make it 7-2.

  Duvall hit his second home run of the game in the ninth and Marcell Ozuna added his 29th, but the Braves lost their season-high sixth straight. That is their longest slide since another six-game skid from Sept. 25-30, 2017.

  Profar’s blasts power streaking Padres

  Jurickson Profar hit his second two-run homer to snap a ninth-inning tie and the San Diego Padres won their sixth straight, 6-4 over the Baltimore Orioles.

  Profar took struggling Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel deep in the ninth to score Luis Campusano, who singled with one out.

  Kimbrel blew saves in two of his previous three appearances and has allowed eight runs in his last 3 2/3 innings.

  Profar hit his first two-run shot of the game off Grayson Rodriguez in the sixth to erase a 2-0 deficit.

  San Diego had 13 hits and used eight pitchers one day after Dylan Cease threw a no-hitter at Washington.

  Anthony Santander and Jordan Westburg homered for the first-place Orioles, who have lost four of five and nine of 13.

  Red Sox rally, overcome Judge’s long home run

  Masataka Yoshida capped a three-run eighth with a two-run single and the Boston Red Sox overcame Aaron Judge’s major league-leading 36th home run in a come-from-behind 9-7 win over the reeling New York Yankees.

  Judge’s three-run blast in the seventh gave the Yankees a 6-4 lead and was measured at 470 feet. It landed in a small section of stands above a back wall and below a videoboard.

  Austin Wells followed with a solo shot to make it 7-4.

  The Red Sox got two runs back in the bottom half on Ceddanne Rafaela’s two-run homer off Luke Weaver that went over the Green Monster and out of Fenway Park.

  Weaver allowed Rob Refsnyder’s third hit of the game to lead off the eighth and walked Connor Wong.

  Clay Holmes relieved with one out and allowed Wilyer Abreu’s tying double before Yoshida singled home two runs.

  The Yankees have lost five of six and are 10-23 since a 50-22 start.

• Mariners reportedly acquire Arozarena from Rays

  Randy Arozarena is on the move,

  The Seattle Mariners are reportedly acquiring Arozarena in a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.

  As part of the trade, which was reported late Thursday by multiple sources, the Mariners are sending the Rays outfielder Aidan Smith, right-hander Brody Hopkins and a player to be named later.

  Arozarena was named to his first All-Star team last year, but is struggling a bit this season.

  He is batting a career-low .213, but does have 15 home runs, 19 doubles and 16 stolen bases in 99 games.

  His .717 OPS, however, is higher than any of Seattle's everyday players.

   

  The Mariners are in need of a jolt with their offence suddenly struggling.

  After leading the AL West by 10 games on June 18, Seattle has lost 20 of 29 and now trails the Houston Astros by one game for the division lead.

  The offence has been the biggest culprit for the recent slide, as the Mariners have plated exactly one run in each of their last three games and have scored two or fewer in seven of their last eight.

  Seattle is also in need of another outfielder with star centre fielder Julio Rodríguez sidelined until August with a high-ankle sprain sustained Sunday.