Carlos Alcaraz "repeated the dream" after securing back-to-back Wimbledon titles by overcoming Novak Djokovic.
Alcaraz was in dominant form from the off on Sunday and, despite a late wobble, clinched his fourth major title in straight sets.
The Spaniard did have to settle his nerves in the final set, having squandered three championship points on his own serve.
But having found his rhythm again in the tiebreak, Alcaraz played two exceptional drop shots to set the stage for a loose return from Djokovic to round off a 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-4) win.
"It's a dream for me, winning this trophy," Alcaraz said.
"I did an interview when I was 11 or 12, saying my dream is to win Wimbledon. I've repeated my dream. I want to keep going, but it's a great feeling to play on this beautiful court, win this beautiful trophy. It's the most beautiful tournament, court and trophy.
"Djokovic is an unbelievable fighter, I knew he would have his chances again. I tried to win it on my serve. I couldn't, but I tried to stay calm, stay positive and play my best tennis in the tiebreak. I found the solutions."
The 21-year-old has become the youngest player in the Open Era to triumph at the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season.
"Just fighting, believing, it's a huge tournament for me and a huge achievement for me to be part of those players who have won Roland-Garros and Wimbledon in the same year," said Alcaraz.
"[They are] huge champions. I don't consider myself as much of a champion yet as them, but I'll keep on going, keep on building my path."
Djokovic made a miraculous recovery from knee surgery to feature at SW19, where he reached the final for the 10th time in his career, a tally bettered only by Roger Federer (12).
"Some words for Novak and his team," Alcaraz added as he addressed the seven-time Wimbledon champion.
"It's been a really difficult few weeks for you, unbelievable work to play this tournament after the surgery. I have huge respect for you and your team."
Carlos Alcaraz turned on the style as he defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets to retain his Wimbledon title.
In a repeat of last year's final, Alcaraz prevailed 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-4) on Sunday to become the youngest player in the Open Era to triumph at the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season.
Alcaraz started as he meant to go on, breaking Djokovic in the very first game to immediately put the seven-time champion on the back foot.
Another break followed in game five, as the Spaniard truly took control, wrapping up the opening set in just 41 minutes and offering up only one break point, which he clawed back anyway, en route.
It was a similar story in set two - Alcaraz crisply putting himself a break up and playing some immaculate shots as he made even lighter work of making it 2-0.
Djokovic fended off four break points to go 2-1 up in the third set and had a fantastic chance of pulling a break of his own back in game six, until Alcaraz hit back with some venomous serves to claim a crucial hold before then setting himself up for apparent glory.
Yet a remarkable wobble saw Alcaraz squander three championship points on serve, and Djokovic needed no second invitation to edge himself ahead, with a tiebreak required.
A bad miss on a forehand pass compounded Alcaraz's frustration, yet the 21-year-old recovered and, with two exquisite drop shots, teed up his fourth championship point.
And this time, there was to be no mistake, a loose return into the net from Djokovic marking a resounding success for tennis' bona fide superstar.
Changing of the guard
For the vast majority of this final, Alcaraz dazzled on Centre Court. Djokovic, in his 10th Wimbledon final, simply could not cope during the opening two sets.
Indeed, even in the third, Alcaraz had the match in his hands until that incredible slip-up. But he recovered, and even if he does not top the ATP rankings, there can be no doubting Alcaraz will always be the man to beat.
At 21 years and 70 days, Alcaraz is the third-youngest player in the Open Era to win the men's singles title at Wimbledon in back-to-back editions, after Boris Becker (18y 227d, 1985-86) and Bjorn Borg (21y 26d, 1976-77).
Only Rod Laver (19) has registered more wins from his first 20 matches at the All England Club than Alcaraz (18/20) during the Open Era, who is the youngest player to win all his first six seasonal matches against top-five ranked players since the ATP Rankings were published in 1973.
It is now four grand slam titles for Alcaraz, who will be hoping his victory set the tone for a great sporting day for Spain, with their national football team in action against England in the Euro 2024 final later in the day.
No joy for Novak
At 37, time is running out for Djokovic as he looks to match Roger Federer's haul of eight Wimbledon titles.
For a fleeting moment in that final set, Alcaraz's stumble looked like it might open the door for the Serbian great, but as it was, Djokovic will have to come back and have another shot at that Federer record next year.
Djokovic is also still one away from overtaking Margaret Court for the player with the outright most major titles in history, while he has also been made to wait for his 99th ATP Tour-level title (only Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) have more in men's singles during the Open Era).
He is the only player to reach 10 men's singles finals at three of the four majors, but the day belonged to Alcaraz, who is just the second player in the Open Era to win his first four singles finals at grand slams, after Federer.
The European leg of Extreme E Season 4 kickstarted in spectacular fashion at the Hydro X Prix in Scotland on July 13-14. The dramatic Round Three saw impressive performances, with Jamaica’s Fraser McConnell and his teammate Laia Sainz driving the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team (ASXE) to a commendable second place finish.
McConnell was elated with their performance, sharing, “We managed to get second, amazing to be on the podium, so happy with the result, for the team, they worked so hard. The car was amazing. We had the pace in the final with the fastest lap to try and do something. Laia did an amazing job, incredible start and I’m so proud of her.”
Sainz echoed McConnell’s sentiments, adding, “I think we can be really happy. Usually, the starts I’m not so good but today I think we did a good job for us, so happy tomorrow (Sunday). Let’s go.”
In Heat 2, Timmy Hansen of Andretti Altawkilat led into turn one, closely followed by ASXE, NEOM McLaren XE, and RXR. RXR faced a setback after a spin and a dropped flag penalty, allowing NEOM McLaren XE to overtake ASXE for second place. However, a 10-second penalty for NEOM McLaren XE's Cristina Gutiérrez after a dropped Waypoint flag allowed ASXE to regain their position.
Catie Munnings of Andretti Altawkilat held on to claim victory in Heat 2.
In Heat 1 SUN Minimeal’s Timo Scheider made contact with E.ON Next Veloce’s Taylor while vying for the lead, resulting in an early 10-second penalty for SUN Minimeal. Despite leading at the Switch Zone, SUN Minimeal faced further challenges, including a puncture that sent Legacy M.C.'s Gray Leadbetter to the back of the pack.
A fierce battle between E.ON Next Veloce’s Kevin Hansen and JBXE’s Andreas Bakkerud saw contact and subsequent spins, but Hansen eventually secured the overtake. SUN Minimeal’s Klara Andersson finished first but suffered a dramatic roll at the finish line and a time penalty, promoting E.ON Next Veloce to the top spot in the heat.
The Jamaica Basketball Association's annual KFC Basketball Star Search Camp is set to tip off on Monday, July 15, at the GC Foster College in St. Catherine. The event, which begins at 11 a.m., will gather the top 120 youth basketball players from across the island, aged 12 to 20, providing them with a unique opportunity to hone their skills, interact with mentors, and prepare for potential scholarship opportunities.
This highly anticipated camp is known for its comprehensive approach to player development. Participants will benefit from the expertise of both overseas and local coaches who will guide them through various drills and competitions. The camp's itinerary includes general fitness tests, skills assessments, special drill stations, a 3-point shooting contest, and both 3x3 and full-court team competitions.
Beyond the court, the camp places a strong emphasis on holistic development. Campers will engage in life skills sessions, receive nutrition tips, learn about anti-doping guidelines, and partake in cultural presentations. This multifaceted approach aims to prepare young athletes not only for the demands of basketball but also for the broader challenges they may face in life.
One of the highlights of the camp is the presence of overseas coaches and scouts, who will be on hand to offer scholarships and provide valuable insights into the criteria and requirements necessary to maintain these offers. This exposure is crucial for young players aspiring to continue their education and basketball careers in North America.
The KFC Basketball Star Search Camp has a rich history of over 20 years, during which it has been instrumental in the development of numerous young Jamaican basketball talents. Many of these players have successfully transitioned into high schools, junior colleges, and universities in North America, thanks in part to the foundation laid by this camp.
This year's camp is supported by several notable sponsors, including KFC, The Bob Marley Foundation, Gatorade, and the Sports Development Foundation. Their contributions ensure the continued success and impact of the camp, fostering the next generation of Jamaican basketball stars.
As the camp kicks off on Monday, the excitement and anticipation are palpable. With a blend of skill development, mentorship, and holistic growth opportunities, the KFC Basketball Star Search Camp promises to be a transformative experience for all participants.
Gio Urshela hit a walk-off two-run homer in the 10th inning to cap a wild comeback in the Detroit Tigers’ 11-9 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.
The Tigers trailed 9-4 entering the bottom of the ninth but scored five runs to force extra innings.
Wenceel Perez and Justyn-Henry Malloy opened the inning with singles, and both scored on Matt Vierling’s double. Evan Phillips relieved and got the next two outs, but Carson Kelly hit an RBI single, and Colt Keith tied it with a two-run homer.
After Will Vest got Freddie Freeman to hit into a bases-loaded double play to end the top of the 10th, Perez bunted automatic runner Ryan Vilade to third to start the bottom half before Urshela homered off Yohan Ramirez.
Shohei Ohtani hit his 200th career homer and tripled for the Dodgers, giving him 233 total bases – the eighth-highest total before the All-Star break since the game was first played in 1933.
The Dodgers have lost five of six while the Tigers have won seven of nine.
Judge, Soto hit back-to-back homers in Yankees’ win
Juan Soto homered in the fifth inning and Aaron Judge followed with his major league-leading 34th to lead the New York Yankees to a 6-1 victory over the punchless Baltimore Orioles.
The Yankees won their second straight and became the first AL East team since April 2023 to win a series against the Orioles. Baltimore had been 16-0-6 in its last 22 series within the division.
New York had been winless in eight series, losing seven, since taking three of four at Kansas City from June 10-13.
Judge’s 34 home runs are the most by a Yankees player before the All-Star break. Rogers Maris hit 33 during his record-setting 61-homer year in 1961, which was matched by Judge when he set an AL record with 62 two years ago.
Austin Wells hit a three-run homer to cap a four-run first and Luis Gil took over from there, allowing a run and five hits in six innings.
The Orioles matched a season high with their fifth straight loss, scoring only four runs in that span.
Reds rookie Hinds hits two more homers
Rookie Rece Hinds belted two more long home runs and the Cincinnati Reds outslugged the Miami Marlins, 10-6.
Since making his major league debut on Monday, the 23-year-old Hinds is 11 for 22 with five homers and nine extra-base hits in six games.
Only one of his home runs was short of 400 feet – a 397-foot grand slam on Friday night.
He blasted a 430-foot solo shot into the upper deck in left field leading off the third inning, and then with the Reds holding a 7-6 lead in the sixth, he blasted a 454-foot shot to make it 9-6.
Elly De La Cruz and Jeimer Candelario hit back-to-back homers in the third, and Spencer Steer and Santiago Espinal also went deep for the Reds, who have won five of six against the two worst teams in the NL.
Jake Burger had four hits, including a homer, and four RBIs for Miami, which has lost five straight and 10 of 12.
Alphonso Davies' failed Panenka attempt proved decisive as Uruguay edged out Canada in the Copa America third-place playoff on penalties, following a 2-2 draw in Charlotte.
Luis Suarez's stoppage-time equaliser sent the contest the distance, after goals from Ismael Kone and Jonathan David had cancelled out Rodrigo Bentancur's earlier strike at the Bank of University Stadium.
Sergio Rochet then gave Uruguay the advantage in the shootout when he denied Kone's tame penalty, meaning Davies had to score with Canada's fifth spot-kick.
However, the Bayern Munich clipped his effort against the crossbar, with La Celeste subsequently snatching third place from under the tournament debutants' noses.
Uruguay took the lead after just eight minutes when Sebastian Caceres diverted a corner to the feet of Bentancur who, on the turn, brilliantly lashed into the roof of the net.
Maximiliano Araujo was denied by Dayne St. Clair from a tight angle before Canada equalised from a corner of their own in the 22nd minute, when Kone beat Rochet with a delightful acrobatic flick.
La Celeste thought they had retaken the lead within a minute when Facundo Pellestri drilled home. However, the offside was raised against Darwin Nunez, who was deemed to be interfering with play during the build-up.
The Canucks then went close to completing the turnaround before half-time with Tani Oluwaseyi nodding wide while Nahitan Nandez – back from suspension – cleared Jonathan Osorio's header off the line.
Oluwaseyi had another opportunity on the hour mark but, this time, was thwarted by Rochet after latching onto a neat throughball.
At the other end, Derek Cornelius came to Canada's rescue with a superb last-ditch sliding challenge to deny Suarez an almost certain tap-in, while blocking Brian Rodriguez's attempt soon after.
Davies drilled just wide, and Federico Valverde clipped the top of the crossbar before David edged Canada in front 10 minutes from time, reacting quickest to scramble the ball home after Rochet could only parry Kone's fierce drive.
However, there was to be a late twist when, in the second minute of stoppage time, Suarez turned in Jose Gimenez's cross to force a penalty shootout.
Rochet kept out Kone from 12 yards and, with Uruguay scoring all four of their penalties, La Celeste could celebrate after Davies' Panenka attempt came back off the crossbar.
Uruguay spot on as they secure bronze medal
Uruguay have lifted the Copa America trophy on a record-equalling 15 occasions (level with Argentina), but they now have greater experience of contesting the third-place playoff (16 times).
La Celeste boasted a decent strike rate of nine wins from their 15 previous such matches, but they had lost three of the last four.
A fourth defeat in five appeared to be on the cards when David completed Canada's turnaround in the 80th minute.
However, Suarez had other ideas with his last-gasp equaliser setting up a penalty shootout where, just like against Brazil in the quarter-finals, Uruguay scored four times from the spot.
With Rochet saving from Kone and Davies hitting the crossbar, La Celeste sealed third place and matched their second-best Copa America performance during the 21st century (also finishing third in 2004, while lifting the trophy seven years later).
Debutants Canada pay the penalty
Marsch's side had the opportunity to match the second-best performance of a Copa America debutant from outside the CONMEBOL by securing third place (like Honduras in 2001).
The Canucks were also boosted by the fact Uruguay were winless in their three previous Copa America knockout games against CONCACAF opposition.
Canada demonstrated brilliant character to come from behind, and were just moments away from bowing out with the bronze medal, before Suarez denied them.
But after defeating Venezuela on penalties in the quarter-finals, there was to be no joy from the spot this time around. Nevertheless, they can hold their heads high and have positive momentum to build on ahead of co-hosting the 2026 World Cup.
Having taken heart from his performance at the British Grand Prix, Barbadian Formula 2 driver Zane Maloney is even more upbeat about the prospects for the remainder of the season.
Though he failed to secure a win, Maloney registered two podium finishes for his Rodin Motorsport team at the Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire, England. Those two second-place performances in the sprint and feature races, propelled Maloney back up the standings in third position on 101 points.
The 20-year-old is now 32 points behind Frenchman Isack Hadjar of Compos Racing, and 16 points adrift Estonia’s Paul Aron of Hitech Pulse-Eight, who occupies second position.
“To come away from the weekend with two P2s though, you can never complain. The only thing better is obviously Bahrain, but other than that, it’s the best weekend I’ve had in Formula 2, and I’m really happy about it,” Maloney said in an interview on the F2 website.
Still, Maloney believes the results could have been more positive had certain things gone their way.
“We struggled a bit in the sprint, but we know why looking back on it. Some things on my side, and some things that were out of our control, so we were confident going into the feature race even if it was wet.
Maloney in action (Photo: Formula Motorsport Limited).
“The feature was great. I think it was one of the best races I’ve done in a long time. Got a good start, made up three places up at turn 3, braking very late up the inside. We had great pace on the softs and the hards (tyres),” Maloney reasoned.
He continued: “I was having to push really hard to try and make the moves. I made a move on one of the Invictas I think, and then it was all about having a good pitstop.
“The team did a great stop, but unfortunately, I almost had a small crash in the pit lane, and I think that cost us the win. But after that, I had to push really hard to keep [Prema Racing driver] Ollie [Bearman of Great Britain] behind, killed the tyres a bit too much and struggled a bit at the end.”
With his next assignment being the July 19-21 Hungarian Grand Prix, Maloney believes his Rodin team are now well-placed to challenge for the Championship.
“I’ve never felt we were really out of the game to be honest. We’ve had one round that we struggled with pace in general, which was the [previous] round [in Speilberg, Austria], so to bounce back from that was amazing from the team,” Maloney declared.
“But for seven of eight rounds, we’ve been up there, on the pace and on the money, so I’m confident about the weekends to come, we just need to be focused on executing each session as well as possible. Still, somethings to improve from my side, but that’s the thing in general as a racing driver, but I think we’re back in the fight,” he added.
After Hungary, the championship will move to Belgium for July 26-28 action, followed by Italy for action from July 30 to August 1. The Azerbaijan meeting follows on September 13-15, with the November 29 to December 1 Qatar meeting, and Abu Dhabi action from December 6-8 to bring down the curtains on the season.
Novak Djokovic knows "history is on the line" as he prepares to face Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final for the second year running.
The Serb can move clear of Margaret Court and become the most decorated player in Grand Slam history with a 25th title, while matching Roger Federer's record of eight men's singles crowns at SW19.
Djokovic will appear in his 10th Wimbledon final on Sunday, aiming to avenge his defeat by Alcaraz in a five-set thriller on Centre Court 12 months ago.
The 37-year-old acknowledges there will be huge expectations on his shoulders when he steps out for a sixth consecutive championship match at the All England Club, but he will attempt to use it as "fuel" for success.
"Obviously, I'm aware that Roger holds eight Wimbledon [titles]. I hold seven," he said. "History is on the line. Also, the 25th potential Grand Slam.
"Of course, it serves as a great motivation, but at the same time, it's also a lot of pressure and expectation.
"Any Grand Slam that I play, there's always history now on the line. I will try to use that as a fuel to play my best tennis.
"Every time I step out on the court now, even though I'm 37 and competing with 21-year-olds, I still expect myself to win most of the matches, and people expect me to win 99% of the matches that I play.
"I always have to come out on the court and perform my best in order to still be at a level with Carlos, Jannik [Sinner], Sascha [Zverev], Daniil [Medvedev], or any of those guys."
Incredibly, Djokovic has endured a silverware-free season up to this point, while he withdrew from last month's French Open at the quarter-final stage to undergo knee surgery.
However, the 24-time major champion highlighted 2018 as a previous example of a successful campaign that had started slowly.
Indeed, he recovered from an elbow operation earlier in the year - along with fourth-round and quarter-final exits from the Australian Open and French Open respectively - to win Wimbledon and the US Open.
"This year hasn't been that successful for me," he added. "It's probably the weakest results in the first six months I've had in many years.
"That's okay. I had to adapt and accept that, and also really try to find a way out from the injury that I had and regroup.
"At Wimbledon, historically, there have been seasons where I maybe wasn't playing at a desired level, but then I would win a Wimbledon title and then things would change.
"Wimbledon just extracts the best of me and motivates me to always show up and perform the best I can."
Novak Djokovic knows "history is on the line" as he prepares to face Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final for the second year running.
The Serb can move clear of Margaret Court and become the most decorated player in Grand Slam history with a 25th title, while matching Roger Federer's record of eight men's singles crowns at SW19.
Djokovic will appear in his 10th Wimbledon final on Sunday, aiming to avenge his defeat by Alcaraz in a five-set thriller on Centre Court 12 months ago.
The 37-year-old acknowledges there will be huge expectations on his shoulders when he steps out for a sixth consecutive championship match at the All England Club, but he will attempt to use it as "fuel" for success.
"Obviously, I'm aware that Roger holds eight Wimbledon [titles]. I hold seven," he said. "History is on the line. Also, the 25th potential Grand Slam.
"Of course, it serves as a great motivation, but at the same time, it's also a lot of pressure and expectation.
"Any Grand Slam that I play, there's always history now on the line. I will try to use that as a fuel to play my best tennis.
"Every time I step out on the court now, even though I'm 37 and competing with 21-year-olds, I still expect myself to win most of the matches, and people expect me to win 99% of the matches that I play.
"I always have to come out on the court and perform my best in order to still be at a level with Carlos, Jannik [Sinner], Sascha [Zverev], Daniil [Medvedev], or any of those guys."
Incredibly, Djokovic has endured a silverware-free season up to this point, while he withdrew from last month's French Open at the quarter-final stage to undergo knee surgery.
However, the 24-time major champion highlighted 2018 as a previous example of a successful campaign that had started slowly.
Indeed, he recovered from an elbow operation earlier in the year - along with fourth-round and quarter-final exits from the Australian Open and French Open respectively - to win Wimbledon and the US Open.
"This year hasn't been that successful for me," he added. "It's probably the weakest results in the first six months I've had in many years.
"That's okay. I had to adapt and accept that, and also really try to find a way out from the injury that I had and regroup.
"At Wimbledon, historically, there have been seasons where I maybe wasn't playing at a desired level, but then I would win a Wimbledon title and then things would change.
"Wimbledon just extracts the best of me and motivates me to always show up and perform the best I can."
Conor Murray celebrated an "incredible" victory over South Africa after Ciaran Frawley's heroics sealed a 25-24 victory over the Springboks.
Reigning world champions South Africa lost to Ireland on home soil for just the second time as Frawley knocked over a drop-goal with the final kick of Saturday's Test in Durban.
It capped a stunning comeback for Ireland, who trailed 16-6 at half-time.
Remarkably for such a high-scoring encounter, there was only one try, with Murray going over for Ireland, while Handre Pollard converted eight penalties for South Africa.
The day belonged to Frawley, though, as he nailed two drop-goals to condemn South Africa to a first defeat at Kings Park since 2016, ensuring the two-Test series was drawn.
"Incredible," Murray told Sky Sports. "Just to come here, in the world champions' backyard and we knew it would be tough and it was last week and it was again today.
"South Africa don't lose easy and they find a way. It's so frustrating at times to play against. We believed in ourselves, coming into South Africa's backyard is always going to be a big challenge and I think we can be proud.
"Last week hurt, it was a tough defeat and to turn up this week, we knew we were getting a break at the end of the week and the boys turned up and committed to this week."
Frawley was equally as delighted.
"It's mental," he said. "This place is a fortress and it's so loud. The game was back and forth but the boys dug in deep. We were in our own half and managed to get up, we're delighted."
South Africa have lost just their second Test match in the space of 14, with the Springboks seeing a six-match winning run come to a close.
Their only other loss during that run came against Ireland at last year's World Cup.
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi told Sky Sports that his team were always up against it despite taking that big lead.
"In the first half the intensity and the physicality they [Ireland] were in charge of that definitely and we were just playing catch-up," he said.
"We weren't as intense as we were last week and they were dominating us and that was the big change from last week."
The victory saw Andy Farrell celebrate his 50th Test in charge of Ireland in style.
Farrell is only the fourth Irish men's coach to hit the half-century milestone, after Declan Kidney (53), Joe Schmidt (76) and Eddie O'Sullivan (78). He has won 40, with his win rate being the highest of any Ireland coach to have taken charge of at least three Tests.
Barbora Krejcikova said winning Wimbledon marks the best day of her life as she celebrated an unexpected triumph.
The Czech earned her maiden title at All England Club with a hard-fought 6-2 2-6 6-4 victory over Jasmine Paolini in Saturday's final.
It brought up Krejcikova's second grand slam title, after the 2021 French Open, making her the seventh player to win their first women's singles finals at both tournaments.
Having pulled off three major shocks to get to the final, knocking out Danielle Collins, Jelena Ostapenko, and Elena Rybakina, Krejcikova appeared stunned when she finally got her hands on the trophy.
"I don't have any words right now, it's just unbelievable. It's definitely the best day of my tennis career and also the best day of my life," Krejcikova said.
"It's super difficult to explain what I'm feeling right now. I would like to congratulate Jasmine and her team. She had a great two weeks, it was a great final, and we were fighting for every point.
"I think nobody believes that I got to the final and nobody believes that I won Wimbledon. I still can't believe it.
"I didn't really have a good beginning to the season. It's unbelievable I'm stood here now, and I've won Wimbledon. I have no idea [how it happened]."
Following her win over Rybakina in the semi-final, Krejcikova paid tribute to Jana Novotna, who passed away in 2017 from ovarian cancer at the age of 49.
She first met the 1998 Wimbledon winner 10 years ago, and has now emulated her former mentor's achievements.
"I think that day, knocking on her door, it changed my life," an emotional Krejcikova added. "Because in that period when I finished the juniors, I didn’t know what to do – should I continue playing pro or go into education?
"She was the one who told me I had the potential, and I should definitely turn pro. Before she passed away, she told me I can win a slam.
"I achieved that in Paris in 2021 – it was an unbelievable moment for me, and I never really dreamed I would win the same trophy as Jana did in 1998."
Diego Schwartzman hopes player conditions across the ATP and WTA Tours can improve after pledging his allegiance to the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), co-founded by Novak Djokovic.
Schwartzman also revealed that Vasek Pospisil was eager to add his name to the star-studded executive committee, which includes Hubert Hurkacz and Ons Jabeur.
Speaking to Stats Perform, Schwartzman said: "Well, it took a long time for me to decide and go in. Vasek was trying hard to have me there. Also, ATP always, when they have this selection of the ATP council and the players council, they always try to have me in there.
"My English has been improving over the last few years, so it was good for them to have this kind of combination of a Latin voice, who is English speaking and a strong voice."
Whether it is the mandatory tour events, the short off-season period or the late nights at grand slams, tennis top stars have long called for improved conditions off the court to allow for better quality on it.
Schwartzman, who achieved a career-high world ranking of eight in 2020, admits to having his own battles with the ATP, which led to an alignment with the PTPA.
"I always have strong thoughts, I’m always fighting with the ATP, with the tour managers, with everyone and trying to get better conditions for the players. So, I think that was why I joined PTPA a few months ago," he added.
Since turning professional in 2010, Schwartzman has seen the highs and lows of the sport across his 14-year stint on the Tour.
The Argentine remains competitive with the elite and will no doubt hope to add to the four ATP titles already to his name.
Off the court, he has high hopes that by having 24-time grand slam champion Djokovic at the helm of the PTPA, change across the ATP and WTA Tours is not far away.
Schwartzman said of Djokovic: "He started pushing hard in 2020, 2019. Without the PTPA at that time, pushing for the players, under COVID-19 conditions, it was very hard for us to play the tournaments, with many different conditions, depending on all the different countries and it was tough for us and he had at that time his voice and he was pushing to help the players.
"Then Vasek joined him, and to have this combination between the number one and the guy who has his own voice, and Vasek helping other ranking players, so in the end they are growing very fast.
"I think also with the women now, many different girls have joined PTPA, strong names, and I think that’s very important. As many names as we have, we also have Novak as a main voice. I think that’s very important.
"It was very difficult for tennis to reach because it’s an individual sport, it's always difficult to think as a collective, a group of players because we come from different situations, different countries and it the end Djokovic helps a lot to make us feel like we have a strong voice."
Jasmine Paolini insists she will try to keep smiling despite falling to her second consecutive grand slam final defeat against Barbora Krejcikova at Wimbledon.
Paolini was beaten in the final of the French Open by Iga Swiatek last month and suffered a familiar fate on Centre Court.
The Italian rallied in the second set to take the game to a decider, but Krejcikova was able to find the edge in the seventh game to secure her second major crown.
Paolini's two showpiece match defeats saw her become the sixth woman to lose at both the Roland Garros and All England Club in the same calendar year.
Paolini shared a warm embrace at the net with Krejcikova, who became the seventh different winner in the last seven Wimbledon finals.
The world number seven was gracious in defeat, thanking her team and finally for what she described as a "crazy" two-month period.
"To see this stadium full is a dream come true. Barbora, you played unbelievable. You play such beautiful tennis. Congrats to you and your team," Paolini said.
"The last two months have been crazy for me. I want to thank my team, my family. They always support me and I wouldn't be here without them.
"The crowd have been amazing. I received a lot of support. Just incredible to feel the love from them. I enjoy it so much.
"Today I am a little bit sad. I try to keep smiling because I have to remember today is still a good day. I made the final of Wimbledon.
"I remember as a kid watching the final and cheering for Federer, I have to say. It's been a beautiful two weeks and I want to thank everyone who made it possible."
Barbora Krejcikova has won her first Wimbledon title after going the distance against Jasmine Paolini in the final on Saturday.
After a scare in the second set, the Czech rallied in a tight decider to win 6-2 2-6 6-4 in just under two hours on Centre Court.
Krejcikova could not have hoped for a better start as she asserted her dominance with a vital break in the first game.
Though Paolini successfully defended two break points during her next serve, she struggled to match her opponent's intensity as Krejcikova raced to a 5-1 advantage.
Paolini came out on a mission in the second set, though, with the Italian reeling off three games in a row.
A second break for Paolini forced the decider, and it was not until the seventh game of that set that Krejcikova found the edge.
A gripping final game swung one way and then the other, Paolini clawing back two championship points either side seeing a break attempt of her own reeled in by Krejcikova.
Yet it was a case of third time lucky when Paolini went long, handing Krejcikova her second major crown.
Krejcikova shines in the spotlight
Krejcikova said before the final that she wanted to enjoy her time in the spotlight after making complaints last year that other names on the WTA Tour were being given more focus.
She had won just three singles matches in five months coming into Wimbledon, but firmly put that form behind her.
On her way to the title, she pulled off three big shocks, knocking out Danielle Collins, Jelena Ostapenko, and Elena Rybakina.
Krejcikova's triumph on Saturday means she has won 13 main draw matches at the All England Club, level with her career-best at the Australian Open (13).
And, following her French Open win three years ago, Krejcikova is just the first Czech player in the Open Era to secure the Women's Singles grand slam titles at different events.
So close, but so far
It has been quite the year for Paolini, who reached her first-ever grand slam final at the French Open last month, only to lose to Iga Swiatek.
And one has become two with this dream run at SW19.
Before this year, she had never won a match at All England Club, exiting in the first round in her previous three appearances. In fact, she had not won a Tour-level match on grass until June, when she reached the semi-finals of Eastbourne.
She went on to win six more at Wimbledon, but could not maintain that momentum in the final.
Paolini has now joined an unwanted list as the sixth woman to lose both the French Open and Wimbledon finals in the same calendar year, after Evonne Goolagong (1972), Chris Evert (1973 and 1984), Olga Morozova (1974), Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (1995 and 1996) and Venus Williams (2002).
Another stellar shooting exhibition from Jamaica’s Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard assisted West Coast Fever to another clinical performance in the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) League, as they toppled Melbourne Mavericks 76-57 in front of a record-breaking crowd of 11,841 at RAC Arena, in Perth, on Saturday.
While the 19-goal victory didn’t push the Fevers to the top of the standing as they had hoped, it did ensure they ended the regular season on a high heading into the finals. They provisionally sit second on the standings on 44 points, same as leaders Melbourne Vixens, who were 62-52 winners over Queensland Firebirds.
However, reigning champions Adelaide Thunderbirds (40 points), could overtake both to finish regular season as minor premiers, with a win over Sunshine Coast Lightning on Sunday.
Still, Fowler-Nembhard, who shot 69 from 69, including a solitary Supershot worth two goals, and her team have much to celebrate as they have regained some semblance of rhythm when it matters most. Alice Teague-Neeld (five goals from six attempts) and another Jamaican Shanice Beckford (two goals from three attempts) supported the top-rated shooter.
Meanwhile, another Jamaican Shimona Jok led the Mavericks with 30 goals from 34 attempts, with support from Eleanor Cardwell (21 goals from 24 attempts) and Gabrielle Sinclair (six goals from eight attempts), but it was not enough for them to make the finals in their inaugural SSN season.
Both teams started the game strongly, with the Jamaican shooters as Fowler-Nembhard and Jok exchanging goal-for-goal at opposite ends of the court. However, Fever gradually asserted some authority on the contest and opened up a five-goal lead to end the first quarter at 20-15.
The second quarter was a stark contrast to the first as both teams struggled to maintain possession due to some unforced errors, before the Mavericks regained their composure and scored a few unanswered goals to reduce the deficit.
That shift in momentum forced Fever’s Head coach Dan Ryan to move Sunday Aryang into goal defence, while Jess Anstiss took the wing defence bib, and Kelsey Browne entered the game in centre. Those changes had immediate impact, as Aryang picked up a rebound off a missed effort from Jok.
From there, Fever ensured they remained on top at 34-30 at the half-time interval, though they were outscored 14-15 in what was a strong second quarter for the Mavericks.
Like they did in the first, the two teams traded goals for most of the third quarter until Aryang picked up an incredible intercept for the Fever. That, along with a few missed efforts on the Mavericks’ part, allowed Fever to widen the gap to a 13-goal lead at 56-43 heading into the final quarter.
In chase of a 24-goal winning margin to secure top spot, the Fever threw it all on the line in the final quarter, as they applied consistent pressure to the Mavericks, who never really had a response, but did well enough to deny the host a wider margin of victory.
Warren Gatland remains optimistic his young Wales side can turn into a "really good team" despite their series defeat to Australia.
Wales' losing streak extended to nine matches on Saturday as Filipo Daugunu scored two tries to secure a 36-28 triumph for the Wallabies in Melbourne.
Gatland's men were punished early on as their opponents raced into a 17-0 lead but showed grit and determination to get back into the contest before the break.
However, Wales' mistakes proved costly as Daugunu sealed the win with 12 minutes remaining, leaving the Dragons without victory in Melbourne since 1969.
Head coach Gatland believes his young side will be able to turn their losing streak around if they cut out those key mistakes.
"We worked so hard for our points today and we're showing a little bit of inexperience in terms of how we've gifted them points," Gatland told Sky Sports.
"It's frustrating but I can't question how hard the boys work. We need to be honest with ourselves in terms of how we allowed them some soft tries.
"When you look at the tries they've [Australia] scored, it's a bounce of a ball or something's happened, so that's disappointing. First half, I felt the guys kept trying, we scored a couple of nice tries and gave ourselves a chance to win the game.
"We've got a group of young men who have been excellent, and they've just got to learn from those experiences and be more accurate in big moments.
"I'm telling you, this is going to be a really good team. They're working incredibly hard and there's a good buzz within this group. We just probably need to be a little bit more streetwise.
"I think they'll learn a lot from this tour and they've got the autumn to look forward to and then the Six Nations."
Wales will now prepare for their upcoming Test fixture with Fiji in November, with the pressure mounting on Gatland following a poor run of results.
Filipo Daugunu's two tries ensured Australia edged a thrilling encounter with Wales 36-28 to extend Warren Gatland's side's losing streak to nine matches.
Daugunu secured the triumph 12 minutes from time in Melbourne as Wales were punished for making several costly errors.
A bright Wales start was punctuated when Daugunu opened the scoring, capping off a slick Australia move that started on their own line.
The Wallabies raced into a 17-point lead through Jake Gordon's score, but Wales got themselves back into contention via a driving maul as Dewi Lake bundled over.
Noah Lolesio converted a penalty shortly after for the hosts, but Wales would take advantage of Lukhan Salakaia-Loto's sin bin when Lake doubled his tally.
Liam Williams reduced the deficit to two points shortly after the break, only for Australia to regain control through Allan Alaalatoa's first try in 69 Tests.
Daugunu's second of the game late on put Australia further ahead, but Rio Dyer found a way over following the restart to set up a nervy finish at AAMI Park.
However, it proved to be too big of a mountain to climb, with Wales now preparing for their next Test against Fiji in Cardiff in November, and the pressure is on Gatland.
Data Debrief: Wales' woeful run rolls on
Wales' defeat in Melbourne was their ninth in a row, with their last victory a group-stage win over Georgia at the 2023 World Cup. It is the Dragons' worst run since 2003 under Steve Hansen.
The Dragons also have a dismal record Down Under. They have not beaten the Wallabies in Australia since 1969.
England captain Jamie George says his side have "no ceiling" to their potential after another narrow defeat to New Zealand on Saturday.
Steve Borthwick's men were undone by a late fightback as the All Blacks triumphed 24-17 at Eden Park, following up a close 16-15 victory for the hosts in the first Test.
It could have been a different story, however, as England crossed for a third try that would have set up a conversion to draw 24-24 before a lengthy TMO review saw them penalised for obstruction in a maul.
George insists England must take all of the positives from their 2-0 series defeat, having threatened a first win in New Zealand since 2003.
"We're a significantly better team than when we started and there are hugely exciting times ahead for this England team," George told Sky Sports.
"We'll welcome New Zealand back to Twickenham in November and we look forward to that, but I don't think there is a ceiling in this team.
"You look at the age demographic, hugely talented guys who are desperate to learn, and it's an absolute pleasure to be a part of."
England scored through Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Tommy Freeman tries, both via Marcus Smith kick passes.
Fly-half Smith, aged just 25, represents one of the more experience heads in the side as England attempt to build for the future.
"If you look at guys like Fin Baxter and Ollie Sleightholme winning their first caps against the All Blacks, they'll never forget it and I thought they built on it nicely," Smith said.
"We've got a lot of young lads – I'm feeling old at the minute! But I think we are building to something.
"The belief we have as a group is growing, and on another day we get a result here or last week."
England next face Australia at home in November when head coach Borthwick hopes to continue the improvements.
"I think they'll be rightly proud of their efforts. The team is progressing," Borthwick said after the defeat.
"Clearly we've got work to do to get to where we want to be, but we're making steps forward."
England narrowly missed out on inflicting New Zealand's first defeat at Eden Park in 30 years as the All Blacks came from behind to win 24-17 on Saturday.
The victory was secured by Damian McKenzie's penalty five minutes from the end, with New Zealand also sealing the 2-0 Test series win.
Mark Tele'a was the star for the All Blacks as he scored a try in both halves, pouncing on an England mistake for his first.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso responded just moments later, after latching onto Marcus Smith's cross-field kick, with the latter then setting Tommy Freeman up in the same way to see England take a one-point lead into half-time.
They then opened up a four-point gap with a penalty, but New Zealand found their fight, with Beaumont Barrett wonderfully bursting in behind to set Tele'a up for his second.
England were denied the chance to cross for a late try, which could have set up a 24-24 draw with the conversion, but a television match official referral saw them penalised inches from the line.
"In the second half we were not as accurate as we wanted to be, we gave away a few too many penalties and gave them easy points and territory," Maro Itoje told Sky Sports after the game.
"When you are playing a good team, you cannot really do that. We gave their backfield opportunities to run it back at us. Beauden Barrett and the rest are good players, so we don't want to give them opportunities, but we live and we learn.
"It is tough, but I think we showed some improvements in the way we play the game, but at the end of the day it just wasn't good enough today.
"We are at the start of the journey, we are a young team, and we can only get better for these experiences."
Data Debrief: All Blacks hot streak stays alive
New Zealand are now unbeaten across their last 49 Test matches at Eden Park (W47 D2), with their last loss in the city of Auckland coming against France in 1994.
Meanwhile, England have won just two of their last nine Test matches away from home (L7, excluding neutral venues) after winning three in a row previously. However, each of their last four losses outside of England have come by margins of fewer than 10 points.
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