Ferrari and Charles Leclerc have history on their side as they aim to continue their recent run of form and eat into Red Bull and Max Verstappen's leads at the top of Formula One championships at the French Grand Prix.
The Scuderia have won the last two races, Carlos Sainz claiming a maiden F1 win at Silverstone before Leclerc ended a seven-race drought with victory in Austria.
Despite those successes, Red Bull still hold a 56-point lead in the constructors' championship, while Verstappen is 38 points ahead of Leclerc.
Verstappen's lead would be less emphatic had Sainz not suffered an engine failure in the closing stages at the Red Bull Ring last time out, denying Ferrari a well-deserved one-two.
The spectre of reliability concerns looms for Ferrari heading into the race at Circuit Paul Ricard, which will host the 12th grand prix of a season in which they have had six DNFs.
Yet Ferrari have enjoyed a lot of success in France. They have the most poles and wins at the French Grand Prix (both 17), though only two of those triumphs have come at Le Castellet.
Red Bull had claimed six straight wins prior to the recent Ferrari riposte and will have their sights set on strengthening their grip on both championships with a repeat of last year's double podium, when Verstappen prevailed and Sergio Perez finished third.
With Paul Ricard a circuit defined in part by long straights, Red Bull should again be strong in France, but it is also a circuit that should suit a Mercedes team on a run of four consecutive podiums.
Mercedes have rarely been close to Red Bull or Ferrari in a disappointing season. However, with its smooth surface and high-speed corners, Paul Ricard could allow the Silver Arrows a repeat of their performance at Silverstone, when Lewis Hamilton appeared set to challenge for victory until a safety car left him to settle for third.
Should he upset the odds to prevail in the south of France, Hamilton will add more history to his glittering CV.
CAN MERCEDES END WAIT?
Mercedes' dominance has come to an abrupt end in 2022 and they are in the rare position of still not having a win after 11 grands prix.
Paul Ricard likely represents one of their best chances to end their wait. If it is Hamilton who triumphs, he would move on to 99 career points at the French Grand Prix, surpassing the record of 98 set by Michael Schumacher.
More significantly, Hamilton would also break Schumacher's record for the most consecutive seasons with at least one race win. Victory for Hamilton would make it 16 seasons in a row for the Briton, Schumacher produced a grand prix success in 15 successive seasons between 1992 and 2006.
OCON EYES HOME JOY
Alpine's Esteban Ocon is enjoying an excellent season. He has 52 points to his name at the halfway point, having collected 74 across 22 races last season.
One place he has yet to taste success is at his home race. A first-lap collision with compatriot Pierre Gasly ended his hopes when the French Grand Prix returned in 2018. Last season, he finished a disappointing 14th.
Should he get himself in the top 10 this time around, he would become the first French driver to earn points in the French Grand Prix with a French team (Alpine) and a French engine (Renault) since Erik Comas in 1992 for Ligier team (Renault engine – two points finishing fifth).
With the race reportedly under threat for 2023, this could be Ocon's last chance for some time to score home points.
Henrik Stenson has been stripped of the captaincy of Europe's Ryder Cup team ahead of his reportedly imminent switch to LIV Golf.
Stenson was appointed as Padraig Harrington's successor for the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome back in March.
However, having said to have been swayed by a lucrative offer from the controversial Saudi-backed breakaway tour, Stenson will now not lead Europe in their bid to regain the cup.
The 2016 Open champion was reported to have held talks with Ryder Cup Europe on Tuesday.
Yet those discussions did not conclude positively, with a statement from Ryder Cup Europe reading: "Ryder Cup Europe today confirms that Henrik Stenson's tenure as Captain of Team Europe for the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy from September 25 – October 1, 2023, has been brought to an end with immediate effect.
"In light of decisions made by Henrik in relation to his personal circumstances, it has become clear that he will not be able to fulfil certain contractual obligations to Ryder Cup Europe that he had committed to prior to his announcement as Captain on Tuesday March 15, 2022, and it is therefore not possible for him to continue in the role of Captain.
"Confirmation of the new 2023 European Ryder Cup Captain will be made in due course. Ryder Cup Europe will be making no further comment on any aspect of the process until that time."
LIV Golf will reveal the identities of another three players who have signed up "in the next few days".
Cameron Smith did not rule out making the move to LIV Golf after winning his first major with a sensational final round at The Open on Sunday.
Lewis Hamilton will step aside for the first practice session at the French Grand Prix this week to give Nyck de Vries his opportunity for Mercedes.
The Silver Arrows have confirmed that Dutchman De Vries will get his opportunity to get behind the wheel of the W13 at the Circuit Paul Ricard on Friday.
It is a mandatory Formula One ruling that rookie drivers get two practice sessions per season.
Mercedes tweeted on Friday: "This weekend @nyckdevries will be taking the wheel of W13 for FP1.
"Lewis has chosen this weekend to fulfil the first of two young driver sessions required by all teams this season. George [Russell] has selected one later in the year."
Hamilton secured three consecutive third-placed finishes before the mid-season break.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is hopeful the team can make further strides ahead of round 12 in France.
He said: "Third and fourth in Austria was a satisfying result for the whole team, particularly given the position we were in on Friday evening.
"The team worked miracles to have two complete race cars ready for the Sprint and Grand Prix. Twenty-seven points on Sunday were a good reward for that effort.
"We scored three podiums in the first seven races, and we have now achieved four in the last four. I'm pleased with the momentum we are building, and it reflects the mammoth effort of the team.
"Our understanding of the W13 is growing with every lap and it's encouraging to see that reflected in our development and results.
"While we were quicker in Austria, we still weren't quick enough to challenge at the front. We need to keep chasing those final few tenths and bringing new developments to the cars, including this weekend in France.
"Paul Ricard is a very different track and challenge. It has smooth tarmac and a wide range of corner types, along with long straights. The aim will be to make further inroads on the gap to the front and hopefully be back on the podium.
"Nyck is replacing Lewis in first practice this weekend, as part of the allocated sessions for young drivers this year. So, we're looking forward to seeing how he gets on."
LIV Golf will reveal the identities of another three players who have signed up to the breakaway series "in the next few days".
Cameron Smith did not rule out making the move to LIV Golf after winning his first major with a sensational final round at The Open on Sunday.
The Australian snapped at a reporter at St Andrews when asked if he could defect to LIV, saying: "I just won the British Open and you're asking about that? I think that's not that good."
When asked again, he said: "I don't know, mate. My team around me worries about all that stuff. I'm here to win golf tournaments."
Henrik Stenson is expected to join the Saudi-backed series, a decision that is set to see the Swede be stripped of his role as Europe's Ryder Cup captain.
Hideki Matsuyama, Adam Scott, Marc Leishman and Bubba Watson have also been linked with switches to LIV Golf.
Paul Casey will make his debut in the LIV Golf Invitational Bedminster, an event staged from July 29-31 at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster.
Andrew Wiggins became an NBA champion and All-Star in the 2021-22 season, but he has revealed he regrets getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
The 27-year-old small forward took his game to a new level last season, helping the Golden State Warriors win the NBA title.
Wiggins averaged 17.2 points with a career-best three-point percentage of 39.3 per cent along with 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in the 2021-22 season. He was a key contributor during the playoffs too, averaging 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists.
But the 2014 NBA Draft top pick reflected on his prolonged decision to get vaccinated on the eve of the season. The situation threatened to evolve similarly to Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving, who saw his season sidetracked.
"I still wish I didn't get [vaccinated], to be honest with you," Wiggins told FanSided.
"I did it, and I was an All-Star this year and champion, so that was the good part, just not missing out on the year, the best year of my career.
"But for my body, I just don't like putting all that stuff in my body, so I didn't like that and I didn't like that it wasn't my choice. I didn't like that it was either get this or don't play."
Despite the American League's (AL) 3-2 win in the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, Clayton Kershaw relished pitching the opening inning, conceding it "meant a lot" to him.
After nine All-Star selections and six appearances, the three-time National League (NL) Cy Young Award winner visibly savoured the moment as he approached the mound.
After the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series in 2020, Kershaw had effectively achieved everything could as a pitcher in baseball today, but had never started in an All-Star Game.
Achieving it in front of his home fans at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, the usually measured 34-year-old could not hide his excitement.
"It was actually a lot of fun today to be out there, and the crowd was awesome," Kershaw said after his opening inning. "I can’t say enough good things about Dodger fans, people in LA in general, just how much these last few days, how much they wanted me to do this. It meant a lot to me.
"I tried to take a minute at the beginning to take it all in and look around, which I usually never do. Being here at Dodger Stadium, a place where I’ve been now for 15 years, and to get to do something like this with the best in the world, is really fun.
"And it was also really personal for me and my family, everybody. I’m excited it’s over."
Leading off for the AL, Shohei Ohtani was able to claim a single off Kershaw's first pitch, but the Dodgers' starter caught him trying to steal second, before striking out Aaron Judge.
Paul Goldschmidt gave the NL a 2-0 lead in the opening frame after Mookie Betts drove Ronald Acuna Jr. in, crushing a solo home run up the middle off Shane McClanahan.
The AL team were able to claim the lead with a three-run fourth via Giancarlo Stanton's two-run shot, before Byron Buxton followed up with a solo homer of his own.
Coming in to pinch hit in what could be his final at-bat in an All-Star game, Albert Pujols sent a ball deep into left-field off Paul Blackburn in the bottom of the fourth, but Andrew Benintendi eventually made the catch with the crowd at Dodgers Stadium seemingly willing his hit over the wall.
The AL bullpen started to take over proceedings after Alek Manoah came onto the mound, keeping the NL without a hit between the second and fifth innings.
Emmanuel Clase spectacularly closed for the AL's ninth consecutive win in what was a dominant pitching display.
The Los Angeles County district attorney has confirmed Charlotte Hornets free agent Miles Bridges will face three felony domestic violence charges.
Bridges was arrested last month by the Los Angeles Police Department after being accused of assaulting his girlfriend in front of their two children. He has been charged on one felony county of injuring a child's parent and two felony counts of child abuse.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said: "Domestic violence creates physical, mental and emotional trauma that has a lasting impact on survivors.
"Children who witness family violence are especially vulnerable and the impact on them is immeasurable.
"Mr. Bridges will be held accountable for his actions and our Bureau of Victim Services will support the survivors through this difficult process."
The Hornets forward, who was released on $130,000 bond, is scheduled to be arraigned in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old was the leading scorer for the Hornets last season and is set to become a restricted free agent on Thursday. Bridges averaged career highs of 20.4 points and 7.0 rebounds last season.
The Atlanta Falcons signed Eddie Goldman in early July to provide depth on the defensive line, but he is stepping away from the game before ever stepping foot on the field with his new team.
Goldman informed the Falcons on Tuesday that he is retiring from the NFL.
The announcement came less than two weeks after the 28-year-old signed a $1.12million, one-year deal with Atlanta on July 6.
A second-round pick by the Chicago Bears in 2015, Goldman spent his entire seven-year career with Chicago, which included opting out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns.
He returned in 2021, playing in 14 games while totalling 22 tackles.
Over his career, Goldman appeared in 81 games with 73 starts, compiling 175 tackles with 13 sacks and two fumble recoveries.
Goldman had one year remaining on a four-year contract worth $42million before the Bears decided to release him on March 14.
The New Jersey Devils are set to begin with competition for the starting goaltender position when training camp opens in a few months.
Vitek Vanecek agreed on Tuesday to terms on a $10.2million, three-year contract with the Devils, a deal that will give him a salary just slightly less than incumbent starter MacKenzie Blackwood.
New Jersey acquired Vanecek from the Washinton Capitals at the NHL draft to provide some depth after the team used a franchise-record seven goalies last season.
"There's an opportunity for me, you know, to play lots of games, and I'm really happy for it," Vanecek said. “And then I will battle with Mackenzie, you know, and that's, that's what I need."
The 25-year-old Blackwood, who is going into the final year of his contract, made a team-high 24 starts in 2021-22, but also missed nearly three months due to a heel injury.
The 26-year-old Vanecek started 38 games for the Capitals last season, going 20-12-6 with a 2.67 GAA and .908 save percentage.
Blackwood, meanwhile, went 9-10-4 with a 3.39 GAA and .892 save percentage last season after going 46-41-12 with a 2.83 GAA and .911 save percentage in his first three seasons with New Jersey.
"We feel really good about, again for another summer, adding depth to our goaltending and watching Mackenzie and Vitek challenge each other and push each other," Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said at the draft. "You have to have depth. You saw teams in the playoffs lost depth and ended up losing a series."
The Devils missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year last season and have just one playoff appearance since the 2012-13 season.
Anett Kontaveit and Barbora Krejcikova both breezed through at the Hamburg European Open, while Yulia Putintseva eased into the Palermo Ladies Open second round.
Top seed Kontaveit overcame world number 61 Irina Bara in straight sets in her first-round clash and third favourite Krejcikova followed suit in her second-round match against Poland's Magdalena Frech.
Kontaveit will meet Sweden's Rebecca Peterson in the next round as she looks to set up a quarter-final meeting in Germany with eighth seed Andrea Petkovic, who defeated Misaki Doi 6-4 6-3 on Tuesday.
There was no such luck for ninth seed Elena Gabriela Ruse, though, after she lost 6-0 6-4 to last week's Budapest Grand Prix winner Bernarda Pera.
Swiss Joanne Zuger will next be the next challenge for Pera as she aims to reach a quarter-final clash against Katerina Siniakova, who triumphed 6-1 6-1 over Brazil's Laura Pigossi.
Putintseva is ranked as the second favourite in Italy and progressed with ease from her first-round clash against world number 147 Jaimee Fourlis, winning 6-3 6-1.
Seventh seed Anna Bondar had little difficulty beating Clara Burel 6-4 6-4, though Caroline Garcia and Nuria Parrizas Diaz faced more difficult tasks in their respective openers.
France's Garcia, the fifth favourite in Palermo, responded to a first-set scare to defeat compatriot Chloe Paquet, while eighth seed Parrizas Diaz also lost her opening set before downing Asia Muhammad.
Carlos Alcaraz was made to come from a set down but finally overcame Nicola Kuhn in the first round of the Hamburg European Open.
The highly rated Spanish teenager eventually downed the German wildcard 3-6 6-1 7-6 (7-3).
Kuhn, ranked 259 in the world, was aggressive early on against Alcaraz, and was rewarded with the first set.
But the 19-year-old – playing as top seed in an ATP Tour event for the first time – rallied to ease through the second set, before being made to work much harder to clinch the win on a tie-break.
Alcaraz will now play Filip Krajinovic in the second round after the Serbian also won in a third-set tie-break against Sebastian Baez 6-1 4-6 7-6 (8-6).
Three seeded players crashed out on Tuesday in straight sets, with third favourite Diego Schwartzman losing against Emil Ruusuvuori 7-5 6-4, sixth seed Nikoloz Basilashvili beaten by Aslan Karatsev 6-4 6-0, and eighth seed Holger Rune going down 7-6 (10-8) 7-5 to Tallon Griekspoor.
Fourth seed Pablo Carreno Busta eased through against Luca Nardi 6-2 6-1, while there were also wins for Fabio Fognini, who sealed his 400th career victory, as well as Daniel Elahi Galan, Borna Coric and Francisco Cerundolo.
At the Swiss Open in Gstaad, sixth seed Cristian Garin lost 6-3 6-4 to Yannick Hanfmann and seventh favourite Hugo Gaston fell to Dominic Thiem despite winning the first set, losing 1-6 6-1 7-6 (9-7).
Elsewhere, Frenchman Richard Gasquet beat Roberto Carballes Baena 7-5 6-4, while his compatriot Benoit Paire retired hurt when a set and a break down against Elias Ymer.
A tight game between Swiss pair Dominic Stricker and Marc-Andrea Huesler saw the former prevail 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-2) 6-4, and an all-Spanish affair was similarly close as Jaume Munar defeated Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-3 3-6 7-5.
There were also wins for qualifiers Juan Pablo Varillas and Nicolas Jarry against Lorenzo Sonego and Thiago Monteiro respectively.
The Jamaica Olympic Association issued a statement on Tuesday congratulating the national senior women’s and under-19 men’s teams on their silver medals at the recently concluded Rugby Americas North tournament held at the UWI Mona Bowl.
The women's senior team narrowly missed out on first place losing to USA South 14-17 in the final while the men's under-19 team suffered a 10-56 loss to the same opponents.
“The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) congratulates our member, the Jamaica Rugby Football Union, and its players for historic and silver medal performances in the recently concluded 2022 RAN Senior Women’s 12s and Men’s Under-19 tournament at the University of the West Indies,” said JOA President Christopher Samuda in the statement.
The statement continued: “Rugby in the local Olympic movement is quickly becoming a flagship sport and the JOA will continue to invest in our Reggae Crocs who are demonstrating that the nation's talent is deep and our prowess multi-faceted.”
“The JOA will always invest in giving reality to the ambitions and aspirations of our youth in sport. The sport of rugby is tough and gruelling and our men and women continue to put their health on the line for a nation. The JOA remains extremely grateful to our national players for their valour and salute them for their admirable display of patriotism.”
The Jamaica Lacrosse Association (JLA) continues to create milestones and recently, its national team became the first team to qualify for the 2023 World Championships which will be held in San Diego, California.
In securing this achievement, the Jamaican sport ambassadors scored victories over Columbia 7 - 2 and the US Virgin Islands 5 - 4 and now stand a real chance of topping the table in the competition currently underway in Medellin, Colombia.
In commending JLA President, Calbert Hutchinson and the team, Jamaica Olympic Association President Christopher Samuda stated that "our member association continues to personify merit in sport and is inspiring its players to go beyond the call of duty in the national colors which is the essence of patriotism and a compelling attribute which all sportsmen and women should have."
The sport of Lacrosse locally is quickly gaining ascendancy which mirrors its growing popularity globally and is providing many opportunities for our youth engaged in competitive sport.
"A primary focus of the JOA is to broaden the options in sport for our youth and create as many opportunities for them to excel on the field of play in self-actualising while motivating them to earn a value-based education that will be their pension after sport. Lacrosse is raising the bar impressively and is taking ownership and passing the shuttle and not the buck'" Secretary General/CEO, Ryan Foster said.
The sport was contested at the Summer Olympics Games in 1904 and 1908 and played as an exhibition sport in 1928, 1932 and 1948 and the JOA supports the growing advocacy to have the sport make a long-awaited re-appearance in 2028 in Los Angeles.
"The calls for the sport's rebirth in Los Angeles are resonating and fittingly so after being absent for almost a century. If the echoes of history don't compel it, then the voices of the present will" President Samuda said.
The Jamaica Basketball Showcase scheduled for July 28-30 at the University of Technology in Kingston will see the game back on Jamaican courts for the first time in two years.
Six teams, comprising the best of the island’s network with invitees from the USA and the Bahamas will battle for the trophy and cash prizes. The teams taking part are Caribbean Basketball Academy, Phase 1, Chesta Warriors, Hummingbird, Lignum Vitae and Blue Mahoe.
The showcase will be hosted by the Sports Innovators Group (SIG) whose CEO Paul Campbell said at the media launch at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Tuesday that “this is an exciting time for us and we are elated to be among the first to have basketball back on court since the pandemic.”
“The Jamaica Basketball Showcase focuses on our talent. Helping to identify, project and create the footage that is so important for our youngsters so when the scouts and coaches overseas require footage, we can easily provide it to them,” Campbell added.
President of the Jamaica Basketball Association Paulton Gordon said “we want to have these activities right across the island in a setting that is looking good and can be captured on camera and showcased. Steps are being taken. Let’s all, as a family, come together and improve basketball in this country.”
Some of the players taking part in the showcase are national representative and Pennwood High School stand-out Anthony Whyte, Caribbean Basketball Academy student and 2019 MVP from Camperdown, Matthew McGowan and outstanding Ardenne High School player DeAndre Forbes.
“It feels good to be able to get back on the court and hopefully this will ignite basketball in the country,” said Forbes.
The showcase is sponsored by companies including Courts Ready Cash, Express Fitness, KFC, Mailpac Group, Grace Kennedy (Western Union) and A. Peart Advisory Services.
The tournament tips off on Thursday, July 28 at 10:00am.
Hugo Houle dedicated victory on stage 16 of the Tour de France to his late brother as Jonas Vingegaard kept a tight hold on the yellow jersey.
Canadian Houle lost brother Pierrik in December 2012 when he died in a hit-and-run crash while jogging in Sainte-Perpetue, Quebec.
Almost 10 years later, Houle pointed to the sky as he crossed the line alone after the 178.5-kilometre ride from Carcassonne to Foix, earning his first Grand Tour stage win.
"This one is for my brother, man," said an emotional Houle, moments later.
The riders were put to the test over the climbs of Port de Lers and Mur de Peguere in the second half of Tuesday's stage, as the race reached the Pyrenees after a rest day.
The three days in the mountains only get tougher from here, and Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar will be duking it out in the push for the peaks before they look to clinch victory in Paris on Sunday. Geraint Thomas remains third, with the top three starting the day precisely as they began it.
Pogacar and Vingegaard were playing cat and mouse on Port de Lers, with the man in yellow refusing to let his nearest rival make up any ground in the general classification, practically setting up camp on his back wheel.
Far away in the distance, Houle (Israel-Premier Tech) was almost riding a separate race, with France's Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) taking second place, over a minute down the road, and Houle's fellow Canadian and team-mate Michael Woods in third.
Matteo Jorgensen came off on a corner late on as his grip gave way, costing the American valuable seconds that pushed him out of contention to win the stage, eventually coming home fourth.
Brotherly love as Houle savours long-awaited win
Houle was close to tears as he took in the magnitude of his victory.
He said: "I never win a race, so I guess it's the right place to win my first race.
"When I attacked, it was basically to set the table for Michael Woods. When I saw they let me go, Mike made a gap, I just went full gas. At the end, I hung on. I was suffering so bad in the steep climbs.
"I made it, and it means a lot to me. I had one dream: to win the stage for my brother who died when I turned professional, and today that one is for him. I've worked for 10, 12 years, and today I got my win for him, so it's incredible. I'm just so happy."
STAGE RESULTS
1. Hugo Houle (Israel-Premier Tech) 4:23:47
2. Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) +1:10
3. Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech) +1:10
4. Matteo Jorgensen (Movistar) +1:12
5. Michael Storer (Groupama-FDJ) +1:25
CLASSIFICATION STANDINGS
General Classification
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) 64:28:09
2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) +2:22
3. Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) +2:43
Points Classification
1. Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) 399
2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) 182
3. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 176
King of the Mountains
1. Simon Geschke (Cofidis) 58
2. Louis Meintjes (Intermarche–Wanty–Gobert Materiaux) 39
3. Neilson Powless (EF Education–Easypost) 37
Daria Kasatkina revealed she is in a gay relationship as Russia's leading star on the WTA Tour attacked homophobic attitudes in her homeland, and called for the war in Ukraine to end.
In an emotional interview with documentary maker Vitya Kravchenko, Kasatkina, who lives in Barcelona, teared up at the prospect of potentially being unable to return to Russia after being so candid.
The recent French Open semi-finalist has won four WTA titles in her career, including trophy runs at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow and the St Petersburg Open.
She has spoken about matters of sexuality in the past, and when asked whether she has a girlfriend, Kasatkina said in the new documentary: "Yes."
On her social media accounts, Kasatkina confirmed she and Olympic figure skater Natalia Zabiiako, who she described as "my cutie pie", are a couple.
She knows LGBT matters are taboo in Russia, saying: "So many subjects are taboo in Russia, some of them more important than ours, it's no surprise.
"This notion of someone wanting to be gay or becoming one, so ridiculous I think. There's nothing easier in this world than being straight.
"Seriously, if there is a choice, nobody would choose being gay. Why make your life harder, especially in Russia? What's the point?"
Asked whether she would be able to hold hands with her girlfriend in Russia, Kasatkina said: "Never."
Assessing the process of coming out, the 25-year-old said: "It's up to you how to do it and how much to tell. Living in peace with yourself is the only thing that matters, and f*** everyone else."
Few Russian sports stars have spoken out against the invasion of Ukraine, but Kasatkina made it clear that she feels strongly the war must stop.
Asked what she wanted most of all, Kasatkina said: "For the war to end. There hasn't been a single day since February 24 that I haven't read some news myself. Or haven't thought of it. [I want] for the day to just pass by without it.
"What people go through there, people that have relatives in Ukraine, especially when you start talking about Russia, Belgorod, here we go again. I can't imagine what they're going through, it's a full-blown nightmare.
"If only we could do something to stop that, even tiny percentage to stop. Not to change people's minds or something, only stop. Without a thought, I'd do anything, but unfortunately that's impossible and I think you understand it. We can't affect it. We can't change events that unfold. You feel powerless."
When she was asked by Kravchenko whether she was afraid she might not be allowed back to Russia because of her criticism, Kasatkina said: "Yes, I have thought about it."
She broke down in tears at that point.
Kasatkina has found support for coming out, with former doubles star Pam Shriver among those thanking her. She was also praised by Russian women's national team footballer Nadya Karpova, who has spoken about her own lesbian life and has also been a critic of the war.
Karpova posted on Instagram: "You are beautiful! I'm proud."
Kasatkina thanked Karpova in the YouTube documentary, saying: "Not only did Nadya help herself by coming clean and getting this burden off her chest, but she helped others.
"I believe it's important the influential people from sports, or any other sphere really, speaks about it. It helps."
Deandre Ayton called it "a blessing" to return to the Phoenix Suns on his new four-year, $133million contract extension.
Ayton, 23, averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game this past regular season, making it four consecutive seasons he has tallied at least 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per contest since entering the league in the 2018 NBA Draft.
The former first overall pick finished fourth in the NBA in field goal percentage (63.4 per cent), while also demonstrating he has the defensive versatility to close playoff games – a rare trait for a modern centre in the era of 'small-ball'.
Instead of paying their top pick his max contract a year early to take the pressure off – as the Dallas Mavericks did with Ayton's draft classmate Luka Doncic – the Suns decided against that route, forcing their seven-foot youngster to prove himself again a season after helping the franchise to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1993.
After waiting to see what price Ayton would command on the open market, the Suns did not hesitate to match the Indiana Pacers' max offer sheet, as it was one year and $42m less than the Suns could have offered as the team that drafted him.
Speaking to ESPN in his first interview since making his extension with Phoenix official, Ayton said while he is grateful, the process has opened his eyes to the business side of the NBA.
"This is a blessing," he said. "This contract not only has generational impact for my family, but also with the way we are able to work in the Phoenix community and home in the Bahamas.
"I've come to understand that this is a business. So, I was more anxious to know the end of the result so I could focus, move on and just get back to work. The shift in free agency brought a lot of uncertainty through the whole process.
"I got to give a lot of respect to the Pacers organisation – they were aggressive from the start and showing a lot of love – and we agreed to a max offer sheet. The Suns matched, now, I'm back in Phoenix as a Sun.
"I'm happy the process is over. I can put all this behind me and focus on chasing a championship this upcoming season with my brothers."
Suns general manager James Jones told ESPN that the plan was always to bring Ayton back, although he called the decision to play things out through restricted free agency "negotiations", without going into it any further.
"We wanted Deandre here," he said. "He's vital to what we do, at the core of everything that we do.
"Throughout this whole process it was, it rang true. We wanted to keep him here, and the moment we can come to an agreement, we would.
"So, waiting 24 hours, 48 hours [to match the Pacers' offer], that wasn't something we needed to do because going into it, we knew this is where he wanted to be and where we wanted him to be.
"If there's any doubt from anyone that we wanted him, I think that the matching did that. It was urgent for us. It was important. It was critical for us. So, we just wanted to make sure that we handled our business quickly."
Phoenix head coach Monty Williams also said he was ecstatic to have his starting center back, despite an incident in the Suns' Game 7 elimination against the Golden State Warriors where Ayton allegedly refused to re-enter the game during the blowout loss, which Williams called an "internal" matter at the time.
"James [Jones] and myself, we talk a lot and he'll let me know what's going on with the contract and ask for my opinion," Williams said.
"I try to stay out of persuading him when it comes to him making decisions, but we knew any offer that he got, we were going to match.
"I'm happy for Deandre just because I know this is what he wanted. He wants to be in that class of players that's regarded in this way. From that standpoint, I think as a competitor, that's what you want. When you see a guy working for that, that part is pretty cool."
In his first comments about the Game 7 situation, Ayton said any issues are now "in the past" and that his relationship with Williams is "calm".
When Williams was asked about the situation, he simply described it as "a bad day".
"I didn't feel like I had to say anything. I was just doing my job," he said. "We had a bad day, but we had an unbelievable season.
"Unfortunately, in sports and even in society, we focus on the one bad thing. It hurt like crazy, and it still hurts. It was embarrassing to play that way, but as the dust settles and I look at the season from a holistic perspective, I look at all the good stuff that happened."
Los Angeles Angels All-Star Mike Trout revealed Monday that he will serve as the United States team captain for next year’s World Baseball Classic.
Trout made the announcement during a media conference at Dodgers Stadium for Tuesday’s All-Star Game, in which the three-time American League MVP will be unable to participate after suffering a ribcage injury that has been causing spasms in his upper back.
The future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer has been mostly healthy this season and is tied for third in the AL with 24 home runs and fourth in OPS (.967) while recording 51 RBIs and a .270 average in 79 games.
His production has dropped off as of late, however, as he’s hit .200 with a .697 OPS in 18 games since June 20. Trout has struck out 25 times in 65 at-bats over that stretch.
Trout chose not to compete in the most recent World Baseball Classic in 2017, citing personal reasons. The tournament was scheduled to be played in 2021 but wound up cancelled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I’m looking forward to playing for our country," Trout said. "It’s going to be awesome to have ‘USA’ across my chest. It really means a lot to me. It’s going to be fun."
The 31-year-old center fielder missed the Angels’ final four games prior to the All-Star break with the injury and was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday, retroactive to July 12. Trout said he’s hopeful of being back in the lineup when first eligible, which would be the Angels’ visit to Atlanta on Saturday in their second game following the stoppage.
"It’s just one of the things that’s got to get right before I start swinging," Trout said. "It is frustrating for sure. I can’t really pinpoint what caused it, it just started to bother me."
Trout was elected to a 10th career All-Star Game – and ninth straight as a starter – but will miss the contest for a second straight year due to injury. He sat out the 2021 edition due to a strained right calf that limited him to a career-low 36 games last season.
The man at the centre of the the biggest potential trade story of the season, Juan Soto, gave another display of his value on Monday as he won the MLB Home Run Derby.
Soto, 23, recently rejected a 15-year, $440million extension with the Washington Nationals, sparking rumours that the franchise would instead try to cash-in on him for what is expected to be one of the greatest trade hauls in league history.
He went second in all three of his matchups, meaning he never had a chance to bat out his full time and put up a monstrous score, but he chased down his target relatively comfortably all three times.
He defeated Cleveland Guardians star Jose Ramirez 18-17 in the first round, setting up a surprise matchup with future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer Albert Pujols after the legend shocked top seed Kyle Schwarber 20-19 in a swing-off after tying 13-13 in regulation.
Pujols could not repeat the heroics in the second round, getting eliminated 16-15 as Soto booked his place in the final.
On the other side of the bracket, Seattle Mariners rookie Julio Rodriguez would steal the show, crushing the highest total of the day with 32 home runs as the very first batter of the event, eliminating Corey Seager.
Rodriguez then showed up the reigning back-to-back champion, Pete Alonso, with a score of 31-23, storming into the final opposite Soto.
Ultimately, Rodriguez ran out of juice, only putting up 18 in the decider, which Soto was able to chase down with 30 seconds to spare to claim the crown. Soto also finished with the longest home run of the day at 482 feet.
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