Puerto Rico finished tops at the recently-concluded 36th Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championship (CAJGC), as they won five of the six age-group trophies on offer at the Caymanas Golf Club.
The other trophy went to The Bahamas, while the Vittoria (Izzy) Marley award for sportsmanship went to Stefaniya Mosyagina of the Dominican Republic.
Host country Jamaica (108 points) was second in two categories and third in one to eventually close the championship in fourth place behind Puerto Rico (154), Dominican Republic (131), and the Bahamas (120).
Anissa Robinson of The Bahamas, who scored 249, won the Girls’ 11-13 category for the John Fitzgerald Harewood trophy, while Isabella Ramdeen (255) of Trinidad & Tobago was second, while Jamaica’s Alessandra Coe (262) was third.
Michael Avila of Puerto Rico Boys notched 230 points to win the Boys’ 11-13 category for the Bob Slatter trophy. He finished ahead of Alejandro Balbuena (241) of the Dominican Republic, who tied for second with Bayoan Ortiz of Puerto Rico. Jamaica’s Shasa Redlefsen (243) was just two strokes back in fourth place after taking the lead at the end of the first day. The other Jamaican player, Jacob Schnoor (296), was 11th overall.
The top three in the Girls’ 15 and Under category for the Kenneth Francis trophy were Amelia Santiago (243) of Puerto Rico, Madison Carrol (247) of The Bahamas, and Shania Reyes (247) of the Dominican Republic. Jamaica did not have a competitor in the category.
Mattea Issa receives her runner-up award from Kallan Sooknoor of the Trinidad and Tobago.
For the Boys’ 15 and under group for the Arturo Pellerano trophy, Tomas Rodriguez (220) of Puerto Rico was first, ahead of second place players Fernando Leduc (227) of Puerto Rico and Arman Newman (227) of Bermuda. Jamaica’s two representatives, Kemari Morris (268) and Jamal Stewart (269), were 14th and 15th, respectively.
The Girls’ 18 and Under category for the Peter Hale trophy went to Camila Negroni (235), who led from the first round. Jamaica’s Mattea Issa (239) finished second after she had been the joint leader with Negroni at the end of the second round. The Dominican Republic’s Stefaniya Mosyagina (245) was third.
Issa was also pleased with her performance, though she thought that she could have played better overall.
“It was a very special event to me. This is the venue where I played my first-ever CAJGC back when I was 11 years old, and to be here when I am 17 still competing and still loving the game really means a lot to me. That’s what I have to look at because although I did not play my best this week—II am pretty disappointed in myself—at least there’s some positives to take away.”
Puerto Rico also grabbed the James Moss Solomon trophy for the Boys’ 18 and under, with Evan Pena recording a six under par 210. Jamaica’s Ryan Lue (223) and Rodrigo Huerto of the Dominican Republic were tied for second.
Lue was the only Jamaican to post an under par score when he shot five under par 67 to top the leaderboard for the first round. That was also the lowest individual score of the championship.
Ryan Lue accepts his award from Dr. Carey Wallace, CEO of TEF
Lue said that he was “very happy to compete” on home soil.
“All my friends are here, family, so to play in front of them, it’s just an honour,” he added.
The other local golfers in the category who completed the championship were Aman Dhiman (232 for fifth), Trey Williams (242 for ninth), and Jerone Thomas (256 for 17th).
Jamaica’s Coach Jonathan Newnham thought that his team played well, especially given that the tournament delay due to the passing of Hurricane Beryl meant some key players were no longer available.
“It was a good week. Unfortunately, with the date changes thanks to Hurricane Beryl, we weren’t able to field a full team, so that reduced our chances of winning the category overall, but we had some good individual performances, and I am very proud of the team,” he explained.
Jodi Munn-Barrow, president of the Jamaica Golf Association, said she was proud of the Jamaicans’ effort despite Puerto Rico’s dominance.
“In the end, we are happy that we were able to host a successful tournament,” she noted.
Carlos Alcaraz admitted he played "the worst match of his career" as he suffered a shock defeat to Gael Monfils in the Cincinnati Open on Friday.
The Spaniard started well, racing through the first set before rain delayed proceedings with the second set level at 6-6.
When play resumed 24 hours later, Monfils picked up where he left off, winning the tie-break and the final set, to book a place in the last 16 at Alcaraz's expense.
After struggling to find his footing, Alcaraz says he found it hard to adapt while playing on Centre Court.
"It was really, really tough for me. I felt like it was the worst match that I've ever played in my career. Couldn't play, honestly," Alcaraz said.
"I've been practising really well here in this tournament. The previous days, I was feeling great, hitting the ball clear, you know, moving well.
"Probably I felt like it was another sport playing on the Centre Court [than] on the other courts. The balls were faster on the Centre Court bounced much, much, more than other courts.
"I don't know how I felt like this way, but, honestly, I couldn't control myself. I couldn't be better. So, this match it was impossible to win, and that's all."
Alcaraz's frustration was clear to see as he smashed his racquet on the court four times midway through the third set.
"I felt sometimes that I wanted to break the racquet," Alcaraz added. "It never happened before, because I could control myself in those situations, in those feelings, and most of the time I could control myself, and it could go better in the matches or in the situation that I've been feeling before.
"[This time] I couldn't control myself because, as I said, I was feeling that I was not playing any kind of tennis. So, it was really frustrating for me.
"There is some point that I want to leave the court. I don't want to be on the court anymore.
"So, it was really hurtful moment for me, and that's it. I think some players or a lot of players during their careers and during some certain moments, they can't control themselves, and it was one of those moments for me."
Alcaraz will be chasing his third grand slam title of the year at the US Open, which starts on August 26 in New York.
Malcolm Marx scored two tries in the second half to lead South Africa to a 30-12 victory over Australia in rainy Perth.
After a tight first half, the Springboks asserted their dominance to make it two wins from two in the Rugby Championship ahead of their meeting with New Zealand next week.
Noah Lolesio's penalty gave Australia the early lead, but they could not hold onto it for long as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu equalised moments before Aphelele Fassi latched onto a long kick to touch down the first try.
Lolesio slotted in two more kicks only to miss another on the stroke of half-time that would have given the Wallabies the lead.
They were punished for it after the break as Marco van Staden and Malcolm Marx twice touched down to maintain South Africa's perfect start.
Though it was a marked improvement for the Wallabies from their opening-day performance in Brisbane, Joe Schmidt still has work to do to get them ready for Argentina next weekend.
Data Debrief: Springboks extend Australian run
South Africa have now won each of their last three Test matches against the Wallabies in Australia. The last time they recorded a longer such winning run was a four-match span from July 1971 to July 1993.
Though Australia have suffered back-to-back defeats, they showed more of a fight. Last week, it took them 75 minutes to score, compared to just three this time around.
New Zealand exacted revenge on Argentina following their shock defeat to the Pumas last week, winning 42-10 on Saturday to extend their unbeaten run at Eden Park to 50 tests.
The All Blacks responded in ruthless fashion, scoring six tries as Scott Robertson's side now await world champions South Africa in Johannesburg next week.
New Zealand got off to the perfect start when Damian McKenzie latched on to Jordie Barrett's chip for the first try in the sixth minute, with captain Ardie Savea adding a second 11 minutes later.
Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan and Beauden Barrett all crossed to give the All Blacks a 35-3 lead at half-time in challenging conditions at the Auckland fortress.
Jordan notched his second try of the encounter shortly after the restart, but Argentina were able to halt the constant New Zealand pressure for much of the second half.
The Pumas would score their first and only try eight minutes from time, with Juan Cruz Mallia going over to take some of the shine off an otherwise dominant display.
Fly-half McKenzie converted all six All Blacks tries, with New Zealand captain Savea happy with his side's response to the defeat in Wellington seven days ago.
"Very happy to get the win and respond the way we did," said Savea.
"We're the All Blacks, we've got to bring that every week and not rely on a loss to get that response from us."
Data Debrief: 50 not out at Eden Park
The All Blacks responded in some style to their 38-30 defeat against Argentina last week, getting their Rugby Championship title defence back on track.
New Zealand's emphatic triumph saw them extend their unbeaten run at Auckland's Eden Park to 50 matches, last losing in 1994 against France.
Aaron Civale pitched six stellar innings and Willy Adames hit a three-run homer in the first inning as the Milwaukee Brewers ended the Cleveland Guardians’ five-game winning streak with a 5-3 victory in a matchup of division leaders on Friday night.
Civale, who began his career with Cleveland in 2019, gave up four hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
After going 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in his first five appearances with Milwaukee, he’s 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA over his last two starts.
The Brewers jumped on Gavin Williams for three runs in the first.
Ty Black reached on a fielder’s choice with one out and William Conteras walked before Adames sent a 431-foot drive over the wall in right-center.
It was Adames’ franchise record 10th three-run homer – the most in the majors this season.
Jose Ramirez and David Fry homered in the eighth to draw the Guardians within 5-3, but Joel Payamps retired the side in order in the ninth for his sixth save with regular closer Devin Williams unavailable.
Lowly White Sox end Astros’ win streak
Luis Robert Jr. had two home runs among his four hits and drove in four runs as the major league-worst Chicago White Sox snapped the Houston Astros’ eight-game winning streak with a 5-4 victory.
Robert hit a two-run homer in the third and added a solo shot in the fifth as the White Sox built a 4-1 lead. It’s the seventh career two-homer game for Robert and his first since March 30 against Detroit.
Jake Meyers and Jon Singleton homered for the Astros, who struck out a season-high 16 times in their first loss since Aug. 5.
The White Sox (30-93) are 3-5 in their last eight games following 21 consecutive losses.
Garrett Crochet allowed one run on four hits over four innings with nine strikeouts. Chad Kuhl gave up Singleton’s homer in the ninth but fanned Jose Altuve for his first save of the season.
Witt continues surge as Royals win
Bobby Witt Jr. homered, doubled and singled to raise his major league-leading average to .352 and Michael Lorenzen pitched into the sixth inning to lift the Kansas City Royals to a 7-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
Witt hit a four-seam fastball from Nick Martinez 430 feet into the upper deck for his 25th homer in the fourth inning. He doubled and scored on a fielder’s choice in the sixth and had an infield single in the seventh.
The Reds intentionally walked him with two outs in the ninth, just before he scored on Vinnie Pasquantino's 18th homer.
Witt is batting .422 (27 for 64) with seven homers and 19 RBIs in his last 16 games. He became the third Royals player to hit 25 homers and steal 25 bases in consecutive seasons.
Lorenzen, acquired by the Royals from Texas on July 29, allowed a run and two hits in 5 2/3 innings and left after 83 pitches.
Salvador Perez, Adam Frazier and Freddie Fermin also drove in runs for Kansas City, helping snap Cincinnati's four-game win streak.
Aryna Sabalenka has reached the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals for the fourth time after rallying to a straight-sets victory over Elina Svitolina.
The Belarusian took just 79 minutes to seal the victory, seeing off her opponent 7-5 6-2 on Friday.
Sabalenka made a quick start, earning a break in the first game, but was pushed all the way in the opening set, as Svitolina fought back to tie them level at 5-5.
Another break then set the number three seed up to take the set before she asserted her dominance by winning the final four games in a row to advance to the last eight.
She will face Liudmila Samsonova as she attempts to reach the semi-finals of the tournament for the third straight year.
Data Debrief: Four is the magic number
Only Jelena Jankovic (seven), Simona Halep (six) and Serena Williams (five) have made more quarter-finals than Sabalenka (four) in Cincinnati in the Open Era.
The 26-year-old now boasts 22 career WTA 1000 quarter-finals, tied for most among active players with Karolina Pliskova.
Throughout Friday's match, Sabalenka saved four of the five break points she faced in the match while going 4-for-4 on her own break points against Svitolina's serve.
The Jamaica Table Tennis Association (JTTA) is sounding the alarm for financial support as it strives to restore the sport to its former glory. Spearheaded by JTTA President Ingrid Graham, the association is seeking additional sponsorship to sustain its vital initiatives, particularly the recently concluded summer camp aimed at nurturing the next generation of Jamaican table tennis talent.
In collaboration with Skills Unlimited Table Tennis Academy (SUTTA), Taylor Hall, and Chancellor Hall, the JTTA hosted a summer camp from July 15 to August 14 at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Mona. This camp, which brought together both junior and senior athletes for intensive training, has been hailed as a success. However, despite the camp's achievements, financial challenges loom large, threatening the future of this critical program.
Graham emphasized the urgent need for additional funding, noting that while the camp was a paid program, more than half of the over 30 participants were unable to contribute financially. This shortfall has placed a significant burden on the JTTA, jeopardizing the sustainability of the camp and other similar initiatives.
This year's camp received backing from several organizations and individuals, including Taylor Hall, Chancellor Hall, JTTA, SUTTA, the Sports Development Foundation Jamaica, Western Sports, Optical Solutions International Limited, Graham International Consulting and Research INC, past players, and the families of junior athletes. Their contributions ranged from providing meals and tokens for participants to offering free use of facilities.
Jide Lewis, the father of national players Gianna and Tsenaye Lewis, underscored the camp's importance in laying a firm foundation for Jamaica's future athletes. He emphasized the need for more sponsors to ensure that the athletes receive adequate training at home before competing overseas, adding that he intends to send his children back next year.
Despite the support garnered this year, Graham highlighted the need for additional sponsorship to ensure the camp's continuity and growth. The JTTA hopes to make the summer camp an annual event, with even more participants in the coming years.
Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shock defeat at the Cincinnati Open as Gael Monfils came from a set down to prevail from a rain-delayed encounter.
Monfils was 3-1 up in a second-set tie-break before rain stopped play on Thursday, but returned 24 hours later to win 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.
Once play resumed on Friday, Monfils continued where he left off but squandered three set points before eventually taking the tie this distance.
Last year's runner-up Alcaraz struggled in the opening exchanges, with his French opponent finding a decisive break in the third game as Monfils took control of proceedings in Ohio.
And Monfils' experience ultimately told, as the 37-year-old held out for the remainder of his service games to set up a meeting with Holger Rune in the last 16, condemning Alcaraz to a shock exit.
World number one Jannik Sinner, meanwhile, had no need to take to the court on his 23rd birthday, as he was handed a walkover following Jordan Thompson's withdrawal.
Data Debrief: The old head prevails
Monfils is the oldest player to defeat an opponent ranked in the ATP top-three since Jimmy Connors defeated Michael Stich in Memphis in 1992.
The world number 46 starred on serve, firing 15 aces throughout the contest compared to Alcaraz's seven, while also clawing back six of the seven break points he faced.
Iga Swiatek continued her preparations for the US Open in style as she cruised to a straight-sets victory over Marta Kostyuk at the Cincinnati Open.
The Pole needed just 69 minutes to advance to the quarter-finals of the competition, earning a 6-2 6-2 victory after rain delayed the start of play in Ohio.
Swiatek started the encounter as it meant to go on, earning a break point in the third game which proved decisive as she made her mark on proceedings early on.
Despite the best efforts of the Ukrainian, the world number one strolled to within a set of victory after winning 73% of her first-serve points.
Kostyuk simply had no reply to her Polish opponents' dominant service game, finding herself 3-0 down in double quick time in the second.
Swiatek would drop just six points in the final three games, concluding the encounter with a love game to set up a tie against the winner of Mirra Andreeva and Jasmine Paolini on Saturday.
Data Debrief: Swiatek replicates winning streak
Since Swiatek’s debut on Tour in 2019, only two players have won 14+ consecutive WTA-1000 main draw matches, those being the Pole herself in 2022 (23, Doha - Toronto) and again this year (14, current streak).
Only Agnieszka Radwanska (14, between 2012 and 2013) has made more WTA-1000 quarter-finals in consecutive seasons than the Pole in 2023-2024 (13) since the format’s introduction in 2009.
The Adelaide Thunderbirds have secured a powerhouse for their 2025 campaign, re-signing four-time national premiership winner Romelda Aiken-George for a second season in pink. The Jamaican superstar, renowned for her towering presence under the post, will return to the Suncorp Super Netball League as one of the most formidable goal shooters in the game.
Aiken-George, entering her 16th season in the national league, delivered an extraordinary performance in 2024. She racked up a staggering 736 Nissan Net Points, netted 517 goals, and pulled down 69 rebounds. Her impact was undeniable, culminating in a Player of the Match performance during the Grand Final, where she amassed 57.5 NNP, 42 goals, and 10 rebounds to lead the Thunderbirds to victory.
Her debut in Round 1 against the Queensland Firebirds was nothing short of spectacular, scoring 48 goals and officially becoming Thunderbird #108. With 230 games to her name, Aiken-George's experience and skill set make her an irreplaceable asset for the Thunderbirds' attack end.
Thunderbirds General Manager of High Performance, Jace Bode, expressed his excitement about Aiken-George's return. "Romelda was a dominant target for us under the post in 2024 and once again showed why she is one of the best shooters the sport has ever seen," Bode remarked. "Her competitiveness on court and ability to take ball in the air and convert to goal was second to none. She added invaluable experience to our attack line and built strong connections with the players around her. We look forward to welcoming her back in 2025."
Aiken-George's re-signing is more than just a continuation of her journey; it's a statement of intent from the Thunderbirds. With her at the helm of their attack, the team is poised to defend their title and continue their reign as the league's top team.
Fans can expect nothing less than brilliance from Aiken-George as she dons the pink once more, ready to lead the Thunderbirds to further glory in 2025.
New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo says the competition to be starting quarterback "isn't over" after Drake Maye's impressive performance against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Maye impressed in their 14-13 preseason loss on Thursday, playing four series as he finished 6-of-11 for 47 yards with a four-yard rushing touchdown.
So far, he has mainly been used as the backup option behind Jacoby Brissett during the Patriots' training camp.
The coach praised Maye's performance, though admitted the offense are yet to find their rhythm ahead of the new season.
"Stepping up into pressure, I thought he did a better job overall with using his legs and really extending plays," Mayo said on Friday.
"[The quarterbacks] have to maintain their composure and get the call to the huddle and get those guys out the huddle and be ready to go. [Maye]'s always been like that in my mind.
"I think the entire offense definitely needs to play and continue to jell, and that's what we're going to do."
The Patriots signed Brissett to a one-year contract in March, and immediately named him as a starter, with his experience proving invaluable.
He has struggled to hit his stride in preseason so far though, finishing 3-of-7 for 17 yards in three series on Thursday, including a costly end zone interception.
With only one preseason game still to play, against the Washington Commanders on August 25, Mayo plans to use both quarterbacks, giving them a chance to stake their claim on the position.
"We have three more days of training camp practices, and it's our job as coaches to evaluate, and the competition isn't over," Mayo added.
"They have to show not only themselves and the coaches [but] also their teammates.
"For me, we always talk about competition, and that's at all spots. Even if Drake beats out Jacoby, he earned that role.
"We don't really take that into consideration when he's ready to go. If he's better than Jacoby, then he'll play, and he'll start."
P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy is pleased to announce the inaugural JamRockerz Basketball Classic which is scheduled to start at 9:30 this morning and run until Sunday, August 18, at the Montego Bay Community College.
The tournament will feature elite teams, including the #1 club program in the USA, Team Takeover from Maryland, DC, Hardwood Kings from Brampton, Onario, Canada, and P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy International which comprises P.H.A.S.E.1 members from the United States and Canada. Jamaica will be represented in this six-team pool play event by P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy Kingston JA, P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy Montego Bay JA, and P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy Trelawny, JA
This highly anticipated youth basketball tournament is poised to become a premier season-ending event for top youth club teams from around the world, providing a unique blend of high-level competition and cultural experience in Jamaica’s prime tourist district.
The event comes on the heels of a historic international travel season for P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy, which saw the club secure its first U17 Championship in Miami, FL, and a U19 tournament championship in Atlanta, GA. The JamRockerz Basketball Classic aims to build on this success and continue the momentum by offering a thrilling weekend of basketball and cultural exchange.
"Competitions like the JamRockerz Basketball Classic are vital to the growth and development of basketball in Jamaica," said Wayne Dawkins, global director and coach for P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy. "With the incredible support of our partners, we’re confident that this event will put Jamaica on the map as a global destination for competitive youth basketball.
Dave Black, the Jamaican director and coach for P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy, added, "We’ve worked hard to connect with some of the best youth clubs from around the world, and we’re excited to showcase the talents of this inaugural group here in Montego Bay."
The JamRockerz Basketball Classic is made possible through the support of several key partners, including Jamaica's Tourism Enhancement Fund, which recognizes the tournament’s potential to boost local tourism by drawing international visitors to Montego Bay. NBA Houston Rockets pro player Tari Eason who will be in attendance to motivate the young athletes and present special gifts to the participants. Additionally, the event is supported by Kingston Marley, grandson of the legendary Bob Marley, and founder of the Children for Change charity. Kingston, who began his charity work at just 9 years old, now at 16, plays alongside his peers as a member of P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy Jamaica.
Tickets for the JamRockerz Basketball Classic will be available at the door, priced at $500 for local students and $1,000 for local adults.
Dak Prescott has revealed talks over a new contract with the Dallas Cowboys are "going well", though he is in no rush to get a deal sorted before the new season.
Prescott is set to enter the final season of the four-year, $160m contract he penned in 2021 and will make $29m in 2024.
With no agreement reached on a new deal for the 31-year-old quarterback, rumours about his future have abounded this offseason. If no agreement is struck, he will hit free agency in 2025 and cost Dallas $40m against the salary cap.
The Cowboys are also yet to tie down star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who has held out on returning to practice for three weeks, totalling over $1m in fines as he seeks a new deal.
Prescott, though, is confident his own future will be resolved, though he has not put a timeframe on negotiations.
"I'm not putting that much thought into hoping it gets done now, hoping it gets done in a couple of weeks, during the season or whenever it happens," Prescott said on Thursday.
"I just know conversations are on the right way. I enjoy being a Cowboy 1,000%, I enjoy living in Dallas, I enjoy everything about it.
"But this is a business. Conversations are going well, but I'm thankful to be where I am right now and that's here."
Prescott's 410 completions and passer rating of 105.9 in 2023 were career-best figures, while he also played all 17 regular-season games for the first time since being drafted in the fourth round in 2016.
Prescott has managed to stay largely injury-free since an ankle issue limited him to just five outings in 2020, and he puts his availability down to thorough work away from the field.
"It's something that I do each and every day, making sure I'm staying focused on it. Not trying to miss anything," Prescott said of his fitness regimen.
"If anything, it's just going to be maybe a rest here and there. No long-term [issues], especially with the schedule we're on.
"When I put the cleats down and I'm done. I want it to be on my terms and not because my body said that's not enough."
The New York Knicks will visit the Boston Celtics for the first game of the 2024-25 NBA season on October 22 after the schedule for the new campaign was confirmed.
The Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks 4-1 in the NBA Finals to win their first championship since 2008 last season, their 18th crown taking them clear of the Los Angeles Lakers at the top of the all-time charts.
They will open the defence of their title against rivals New York, who finished second to Boston in the Eastern Conference in 2023-24.
The Knicks were plagued by injuries throughout the 2023-24 postseason and were beaten by the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals, but they have moved to strengthen during the offseason by adding Mikal Bridges in a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets.
That game will form part of an opening-night double header, preceding the Minnesota Timberwolves' clash with the Los Angeles Lakers, as LeBron James enters his record-equalling 22nd NBA season.
The following day will feature Paul George's Philadelphia 76ers debut as they take on the Milwaukee Bucks, while the Los Angeles Clippers will welcome the Phoenix Suns to inaugurate their new home arena, the Intuit Dome.
Other standout fixtures for the season include Klay Thompson's reunion with the Golden State Warriors following his move to Dallas, which is set for November 12.
His Mavs debut could come against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, with the two Texas teams set to face off on October 24.
The 2024-25 All-Star Weekend will be staged in San Francisco from February 14 to February 16, with the regular season set to wrap up on April 13.
The Rugby Championship returned with a bang last weekend.
World champions South Africa stated their intent from the very start, dishing out a 33-7 thrashing to end Australia's unbeaten run under Joe Schmidt.
Meanwhile, New Zealand's crown could be under threat after they suffered an opening day slip-up as Argentina pounced, upsetting the All Blacks with a 38-30 victory.
Australia and New Zealand have a chance to right those wrongs on matchday two, while South Africa and Argentina will be looking to pull clear at the top of the table.
Here, we run through the best Opta stats ahead of this weekend's action, picking out the players to watch in each contest.
NEW ZEALAND V ARGENTINA
New Zealand's defence of their Rugby Championship title did not get off to the desired start as they let their half-time lead slip to lose to Argentina in Wellington last weekend, ending head coach Scott Robertson's perfect start.
However, they will be stepping out in Auckland this time around, a happy hunting ground for them as they are undefeated across their last 51 Test matches there (49 wins, two draws), scoring an average of 36.7 points per game across that span. Their last defeat in the city was a 20-23 loss against France in July 1994.
New Zealand also won their only previous meeting with Argentina at Eden Park, cruising to a 33-10 victory in the 2011 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.
They bring plenty of physicality too, having made 11 offloads in the first round, the most of any team; the All Blacks have logged more than 10 offloads in their last two matches in the competition after doing so only once across their previous nine games in the tournament beforehand.
Argentina, meanwhile, won their Rugby Championship opener for the first time, having lost it in their previous 11 appearances.
And, after coming from behind to win that game, they look to have a new lease of life under Felipe Contepomi as they aim to get back-to-back wins over New Zealand for the first time.
Indeed, Los Pumas have won each of their last two Test matches against tier one opposition (38-30 v New Zealand and 33-25 v France) - the last time they recorded a longer winning run in such fixtures was a three-match span at the 2007 Rugby World Cup (v France, Ireland and Scotland).
Argentina made 183 tackles in round one of the Rugby Championship, the most of any team; it is the third time they have logged 180+ in a match in the tournament since the beginning of 2021 – Australia (twice) are the only other team to have done so more than once in that time.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
New Zealand – Ethan Blackadder
Despite being on the wrong end of the scoreline, Blackadder managed to catch the eye as he completed 20 tackles in round one of the Rugby Championship, the most of any player.
In fact, it was the joint-most he has made in a Test match for the All Blacks (also 20 v Ireland in November 2021).
Argentina – Matteo Carreras
While Agustin Creevy stole the headlines during Argentina's win last weekend, Matteo Carreras' involvement was equally important.
He has scored three tries in his last two Test matches, including one try against New Zealand last time out, as many as he scored in his eight Tests prior to that run combined (three).
AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa started as they mean to go on with their statement win over Australia last weekend, and they have now won their last three Test matches against the Wallabies by an average margin of 24.3 points.
The last time the Springboks recorded a longer winning run against the Wallabies was a seven-match span from August 1969 to August 1971.
Indeed, South Africa have won each of their last two Test matches against their opponents in Australia, conceding no more than eight points on the day in either of those two wins.
South Africa's form anywhere away from home is impressive enough. They have won each of their last six Test matches outside their country, with three of those six victories coming by a single-point margin on the day. The last time the Springboks recorded a longer winning run outside the country was a nine-match span from August to November in 2007.
Rassie Erasmus' side completely dominated as they gained 547 metres on matchday one of the Rugby Championship, 149 metres more than the team with the second most (Argentina – 398); only once across their last 22 matches in the competition prior have the Springboks gained more in a game (698 v Australia in July 2023).
Schmidt's hopes of a strong start to the tournament quickly evaporated in Brisbane, but a move to Perth could be a good boost for their confidence, with Australia only losing one of their last nine Test matches in the city (winning seven, drawing one).
Australia won 20 line-outs (inc. two steals) in round one of the Rugby Championship, the most of any team; only once across their last 40 Test matches prior to that game had the Wallabies logged as many (20, inc. four steals v Fiji in September 2023). If they can make those count, they could give themselves a chance.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Australia – Harry Wilson
While Australia's attacking play left much to be desired, Harry Wilson provided them with a driving force as he crossed the gainline on 10 carries on matchday one, the second most of any player (Ardie Savea, 12).
He also won seven line-outs, the most of any player in the opening round of the tournament.
South Africa – Kurt-Lee Arendse
Kurt-Lee Arendse continued his impressive run of form with two tries against Australia last time out, meaning he has now scored four tries in his last four Test matches.
He has scored five tries in his two career appearances against the Wallabies, scoring a hat-trick against them last year in addition to last week's brace.
Rookie Weston Wilson became the ninth player in franchise history to hit for the cycle and Alec Bohm and Nick Castellanos hit back-to-back homers in the first inning to power the Philadelphia Phillies to a 13-3 drubbing of the Washington Nationals on Thursday night.
Wilson tripled and singled in the fourth, homered in the seventh and then doubled to right in the eighth, with Alex Call failing on a diving attempt.
Wilson had the 10th cycle in Phillies history - Chuck Klein did it twice - and he was the first home player to accomplish the feat at Citizens Bank Park since David Bell in 2004.
Wilson had just 16 at-bats and 22 plate appearances last season, officially making him the first rookie in Phillies history to hit for the cycle.
Philadelphia jumped on Mitchell Parker for four first-inning runs, with Bohm hitting a three-run shot and Castellanos following with 16th of the season.
Trea Turner had three hits and two RBIs and Johan Rojas drove in three runs for the Phillies, who collected 17 hits in their second straight win following a four-game skid.
Zack Wheeler allowed two runs and three hits over six innings for his 12th win, one off the National League lead.
Keibert Ruiz hit a pair of homers as Washington dropped to 1-6 this season against Philadelphia.
Baez lifts Tigers to sweep
Javier Baez hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning and the Detroit Tigers allowed one hit and rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners to complete a three-game sweep.
Detroit trailed 1-0 in the eighth after Seattle got seven two-hit innings from Bryce Miller, but Yimi Garcia walked Parker Meadows, who stole second. After Zack McKinstry popped out and Akil Baddoo grounded out, Andres Munoz relieved and hung a 2-1 slider that Baez lined over the fence in left field.
Munoz hadn’t allowed a hit in a franchise-record 12 consecutive outings.
The Mariners scored four runs in the three-game series and dropped three games behind AL West-leading Houston.
Kenta Maeda pitched one-hit ball over 5 1/3 innings, Shelby Miller earned the win with 1 1/3 innings before Jason Foley worked the ninth for his 16th save to preserve Detroit’s fourth straight win.
Brewers rally past Dodgers for split
Jackson Chourio and Wiliam Contreras homered in the first inning and scored again in an eighth-inning comeback as the Milwaukee Brewers rallied for a 6-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in a matchup of division leaders.
Milwaukee trailed 4-3 in the eighth before loading the bases on Chourio’s double, a walk to Garrett Mitchell and William Contreras’ infield single.
Willie Adames singled home Chourio to tie it and Tyler Black’s grounder sent Mitchell home. Contreras scored an insurance run from third when Rhys Hoskins grounded out with a batted ball that hit pitcher Daniel Hudson’s leg.
Devin Williams earned his third save in as many opportunities and ended the game by striking out Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani. That save came one day after Williams preserved a 5-4 victory by retiring Ohtani, Betts and Freddie Freeman in order.
After falling behind 3-0 in the first inning, the Dodgers rallied to take a 4-3 lead when Kike Hernández greeted Elvis Peguero with a tiebreaking two-out single in the sixth inning.
Jamaica is setting its sights on reclaiming the top spot in Caribbean table tennis over the next decade, with the recent launch of a summer camp aimed at nurturing the next generation of talent. The Jamaica Table Tennis Association (JTTA), in collaboration with Skills Unlimited Table Tennis Academy (SUTTA) and Taylor and Chancellor Halls at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, hosted the inaugural SUTTA/Taylor Hall/Chancellor Hall Table Tennis Summer Camp from July 15 to August 14 at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. This camp marks the first step in what is intended to be a series of initiatives aimed at re-establishing Jamaica’s dominance in the sport regionally.
The camp, which targeted both junior and senior athletes, was designed to enhance the skills of Jamaica's table tennis players, providing them with the training necessary to compete at the highest levels regionally. Dale Parham, Director of the Program, president of SUTTA, and head coach, expressed his hope that the camp would become an annual event, setting the foundation for sustained development in the sport.
Kingston College's table tennis coach, Colin McNeish, who also played a key role in the program, emphasized the importance of year-round preparation. He believes that with consistent training and dedication, Jamaican players have a strong chance of reclaiming the top spot in Caribbean table tennis within the next decade.
The camp featured several of Jamaica’s top under-19 national players, including Jayden Ebanks, Tsenaye Lewis, Gianna Lewis as well as Navaeh Scott and Kira Scott. Also in attendance were Karecia Peterkin, Gmarco Smith, Kayon Denton, Azizi Johnson, and Ajani Spencer. Under-11 champions Malone and Shacoil Bird, also participated, gaining valuable experience and exposure.
JTTA President Ingrid Graham praised SUTTA for launching the summer program, highlighting the significant improvement in both national players and novice participants. She noted that many young players had been lacking sufficient play time, making the camp an excellent initiative to address this gap. Graham also expressed gratitude to Taylor Hall and Chancellor Hall for providing the venue, which allowed the camp to avoid rental costs.
Coach Dale Parham, Carl Chang of Western Sports and JTTA President Ingrid Graham
Athol Hamilton, Taylor Hall's Student Services and Development Manager, echoed the importance of the camp, stating that supporting it was an easy decision given Taylor Hall’s strong investment in sports. Hamilton also indicated that efforts are being made to make the facilities available throughout the academic year to ensure ongoing training.
National players Gianna and Tsenaye Lewis shared their enthusiasm for the camp, underscoring the importance of consistent practice in honing their skills. Both sisters expressed a desire for the camp to become a permanent fixture on the calendar, citing its significant benefits for their development as players.
Carl Chang of Western Sports, who attended the camp's closing tournament, underscored the camp’s role in reviving table tennis in Jamaica. Although Western Sports is not the title sponsor, they have provided support for junior-level players, further contributing to the growth of the sport.
The summer camp also served as a crucial preparatory phase for the players ahead of the Jamaica Table Tennis Association National Senior & Junior Championships, scheduled to take place from September 6-8 at the National Indoor Sports Complex.
The success of the camp was made possible through the support of Taylor Hall, Chancellor Hall, JTTA, SUTTA, the Sports Development Foundation Jamaica, Western Sports, Optical Solutions International Limited, and Graham International Consulting and Research INC. These partnerships reflect a collective commitment to ensuring that Jamaica once again becomes a dominant force in Caribbean table tennis.
Yulia Putintseva produced an impressive upset, knocking defending champion Coco Gauff out of the Cincinnati Open in the second round.
The 29-year-old rallied over three sets to hold off Gauff's comeback with a 6-4 2-6 6-4 win in just under two hours.
Putintseva immediately set the tone by breaking the American's serve twice in the opening three games, and though Gauff pulled back to level things at 4-4, the Kazakh got another vital break to take the first set.
The world number two came out on a mission in the second though, piecing together a three-game winning streak as she managed to force a decider.
And it looked like Gauff had found her stride when she took a 4-2 lead, but Putintseva won the last four games in a row to turn the tide and set up a meeting with Paula Badosa in the next round.
Data Debrief: Gauff falls short again
After a disappointing Olympic debut, Gauff made an early exit from the Canadian Open, and she has been relegated to another early exit here.
She was looking to become just the second player to win consecutive titles here, but instead, she struggled once again, making nine double faults against a flawless opponent.
Meanwhile, Putintseva is playing her first tournament since Wimbledon, where she knocked out Iga Swiatek en route to the fourth round. Before this year, she had never progressed past the first round in Cincinnati.
Now, she is only the fourth player in the past four decades ranked outside the WTA's top 20 to claim wins over the top two on multiple surfaces in a season.
Alexander Zverev claimed his 50th tour-level win of the season with a straight-sets victory over Karen Khachanov in the Cincinnati Open on Thursday.
The German took just 76 minutes to ease into the next round, earning a 6-3 6-2 win while coping with a second-set rain delay.
Zverev fought back from break point in the third game to set him up for a vital break in the sixth as he took the first set.
And he raced into a 3-0 lead in the second against a spirited Khachanov, who just could not find any answers to his aggressive approach as the world number four hit 16 winners compared to the Russian's nine.
He will now play either Max Purcell or Pablo Carrena-Busta for a place in the quarter-final.
Data Debrief: Fifty up for Zverev
It is an impressive landmark for Zverev to hit, but he is also the first to register 50 wins at ATP events in 2024.
It is the fifth time the 27-year-old has won 50+ matches in a single season, and he is just the second German to do so during the Open Era, after Boris Becker.
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