Young basketball players across Jamaica are set to score big this summer, thanks to a continued sponsorship from quick service restaurant giant, KFC Jamaica. The company has reaffirmed its commitment to local basketball with a substantial $4.5 million investment in the 2024 Jumpball Basketball Programme and the Jamaica Basketball Association (JaBA) Star Search Basketball & Life Skills Camp. These pivotal sporting initiatives aim to nurture the next generation of basketball talent in Jamaica, benefiting over 400 young male and female players, ages 8 to 18.
Marketing Manager for Restaurants of Jamaica, Andrei Roper, expressed KFC’s enthusiasm for supporting these initiatives. “Jamaica’s youth have always excelled at sports, particularly basketball. Over the years, we have witnessed the tremendous growth and impact of local basketball programmes such as Jumpball and Star Search on our young players, and we remain committed to consistently extending our support. We are excited to be a part of projects that are as dedicated to youth development as we are at KFC. We value our long-standing partnership with these programmes and appreciate their efforts in supporting youth education and basketball futures. Ensuring their continued growth is a priority for us.”
Through this partnership, KFC will encourage young athletes to take full advantage of the expertise provided by some of the best coaches available, creating opportunities to secure their basketball and educational futures. This includes scholarships to study and play overseas and even the chance to play basketball professionally at the highest level.
This year, KFC has contributed support packages amounting to $2 million in cash and $1 million in meal sponsorship to the JaBA Star Search Basketball & Life Skills Camp, which will be hosted from July 14 to 19 at the GC Foster College in St. Catherine. KFC’s cash support will assist in accommodation expenses for players and local and visiting coaches, transportation, training equipment, speaker and presenter incentives, and other costs for the 120 campers.
“We welcome the continued support of KFC because without them, we could not deliver such an amazing opportunity to our campers. Through this partnership, we will continue to position our young players for the opportunity to grow and excel beyond borders. In the past, hundreds of our players have received scholarships for university and high schools overseas and we just want to continue doing that,” said President of the JaBA, Paulton Gordon.
Jamaica’s longest-running basketball programme, the Jumpball Basketball Camp, has also benefited from a donation of $500,000 in cash and $1 million in meal support from KFC. The camp kicks off in Kingston with the corporate area camp running from July 8 to 11. In keeping with its tradition, the camp will move to other parishes including St. Elizabeth, St. Mary, Manchester, St. Ann, and St. James from July 26 to August 31.
Jumpball Senior Coach, Rohan Robinson, shared, “We are grateful to KFC for extending support to our program for yet another execution. We aim to make summer memorable for young athletes and we could not do it without the help of KFC.”
KFC remains committed to nurturing the talents and aspirations of young Jamaicans, ensuring a brighter future through sports and education. This continued support not only provides young athletes with the resources they need to excel but also inspires them to strive for greatness, both on and off the court.
As the camps gear up to start, the excitement among young basketball enthusiasts is palpable. With the backing of KFC, these budding athletes are poised to make significant strides in their sporting journeys, bringing pride and success to Jamaica’s basketball community.
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In a significant boost to Jamaica's youth sports development, real estate giant Century 21 has announced its sponsorship of promising young triathlete Samir Azan. The 13-year-old athlete is set to compete in the Carifta Triathlon & Aquathlon Championships in Barbados on August 17-18, 2024, marking his second appearance at this event.
Samir, who first represented Jamaica in the 2022 Carifta Aquathlon in Bermuda, has been making waves in the triathlon community with his exceptional performances. His upcoming challenge will see him competing in a grueling event comprising a 400m open-water swim, a 10k bike ride, and a 2.5k run. Despite his young age, Samir has shown remarkable dedication and skill, positioning him as a standout competitor in the 13-15 age group.
The sponsorship from Century 21 is a testament to the company's commitment to nurturing young talent and supporting sports development in Jamaica. Collet Kirkcaldy, General Manager of Century 21, expressed the company's enthusiasm for backing such a promising athlete.
"We are absolutely thrilled to support and sponsor Samir Azan in his journey to the Carifta Triathlon & Aquathlon Championships in Barbados. At Century 21, we believe in nurturing potential and providing opportunities for young talents to shine on the international stage. We look forward to seeing Samir achieve great success and inspire others with his dedication and passion,” Kirkcaldy said.
This partnership is not just a financial boost for Samir but also a morale booster for the entire Jamaican triathlon community. Natasha Cameron, Coach and Secretary General of the Jamaica Triathlon Association, highlighted the significance of the sponsorship.
“We want to thank Century 21 for coming on board to sponsor one of our athletes. It is not a traditional sport, so getting a sponsor is a big thing for us. We are looking for great things from Samir. He is a dedicated athlete, and we are really hoping to bring home a medal,” Cameron stated.
As the Carifta Championships approach, all eyes will be on Samir Azan. His training regimen has been intense, focusing on enhancing his endurance, speed, and technique across all three disciplines. The young athlete's journey is a source of inspiration for many aspiring triathletes in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.
The Carifta Championships have long been a breeding ground for young athletic talent, offering a platform for athletes to showcase their skills and gain invaluable international experience. For Samir, the event represents not just a competition but a stepping stone towards greater achievements in his sporting career.
Century 21's involvement goes beyond just sponsorship; it signifies a broader commitment to community and youth development. By supporting athletes like Samir, the company hopes to inspire a new generation of sports enthusiasts and foster a culture of excellence and dedication.
As Samir gears up for the Carifta Championships, the support from Century 21 and the wider Jamaican community will undoubtedly fuel his drive for success. With his talent and determination, coupled with the backing of a committed sponsor, Samir Azan is poised to make a significant impact in Barbados and continue his ascent in the world of triathlon.
The entire nation will be cheering for Samir as he takes on this challenging event, with hopes high for a podium finish. His journey serves as a reminder of the incredible potential that lies within Jamaica's young athletes and the importance of providing them with the opportunities and support they need to succeed.
Novak Djokovic will play Carlos Alcaraz in the 2024 Wimbledon final following a straight-set triumph over Lorenzo Musetti on Centre Court.
Djokovic set up a repeat of the tournament's showpiece a year ago, reaching his 10th SW19 final after emerging a 6-4 7-6 (2-7) 6-4 victor against the Italian.
The encounter started with incredible intensity, with both players trading blows in an attempt to gain the early advantage.
However, Djokovic would get the decisive break point in the sixth game, only for Musetti to break back soon after, but the Serbian was able to hold to take the first set.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion was made to work for his two-set advantage, with his Italian opponent holding onto hopes of completing an unlikely win.
Musetti produced arguably the shot of the afternoon, striking a stunning backhand to end a 15-shot rally which brought applauds from Djokovic.
But it proved to be in vain as Djokovic showcased his class in the tie break, edging closer to a 97th triumph in SW19.
The Serbian's victory was confirmed after two hours and 48 minutes worth of action, but could have finished a lot sooner as he squanderd three match points in the final set.
Musetti had the chance to break back to keep the game alive but sent his forehand into the top of the net, with Djokovic making no mistake at the fourth time of asking.
The world number two will be hopeful of rectifying his defeat to Alcaraz 12 months ago, with another exciting match in store following their five-set thriller that saw the Spaniard claim his maiden Wimbledon crown.
Data Debrief: Djokovic's Wimbledon love story continues
Djokovic claimed his 97th career men's singles triumph at Wimbledon, surpassing Roland-Garros (96) for the outright most he has recorded at a single ATP-level event.
He surpassed Chris Evert (96) to go out on his own in fourth place on the all-time list for the most SW19 singles victories among men and women.
Only Serena Williams (98), Roger Federer (105) and Martina Navratilova (120) have won more.
The Serbian reached his sixth consecutive men's singles final at Wimbledon, matching Bjorn Borg (six, 1976-81). Only Roger Federer (seven, 2003-09) has made more finals in consecutive editions of the event in the Open Era.
Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes has been chosen as the National League's starting pitcher for Major League Baseball's upcoming All-Star game, the first rookie in nearly 30 years to receive the honour.
Arizona Diamondbacks skipper Torey Lovullo, who will manage the NL team for Tuesday's Midsummer Classic, made the announcement Friday in an interview with SiriusXM MLB Network Radio.
The No. 1 overall pick in last year's MLB draft, Skenes has immediately established himself as one of the sport's premier pitchers and bright young stars. The 22-year-old has gone 6-0 with a 1.90 earned run average through his first 11 major league starts while striking out 89 batters in 66 1/3 innings.
Skenes' most impressive peformance occurred Thursday, when he did not allow a hit over seven innings and struck out 11 Milwaukee Brewers to lead the Pirates to a 1-0 victory over the NL Central leaders.
"A few really, really good candidates dropped off due to injury or the fact they were pitching on Sunday,” Lovullo told MLB Network Radio. “The answer just became more and more clear. And then certainly what Paul did (Thursday), really, really hammered down the thought that he should be the guy.”
Skenes will be only the fifth rookie pitcher to start an All-Star Game and first since the Los Angeles Dodgers' Hideo Nomo in 1995. Dave Stenhouse (1962), Mark Fidrych (1976) and Fernando Valenzuela (1981) have also accomplished the feat as rookies.
The former Louisiana State University star's 11 career MLB appearances will be the fewest for a starting pitcher in All-Star Game history, breaking the record of 13 set by Fidrych and Nomo.
Skenes will be the first Pirates pitcher to start an All-Star Game since Jerry Reuss in 1975.
The 94th MLB All-Star Game will take place Tuesday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas at the home of the 2023 World Series champion Texas Rangers.
Carlos Alcaraz is confident that Sunday will be a good day for the people of Spain as he prepares to defend his Wimbledon crown.
Alcaraz became just the second Spaniard after Rafael Nadal to reach multiple singles finals at Wimbledon following his 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 6-4 6-4 win on Centre Court.
The 21-year-old's match against either Novak Djokovic will take place hours before Spain face England in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin.
"I feel like I am not new anymore. I know how I feel before the final I have been in this position before - I will try to do the things that I didn't do last year and be better," Alcaraz told Annabel Croft in his post-match interview.
"I will also try the things that went well - it will be a good day for Spanish people as well!"
The world number three went on to jokingly reference the European Championship final, saying: "I didn't say Spain was going to win."
But Alcaraz's quest for a fourth grand slam title was anything but straightforward, coming from a set down to edge a classic against Medvedev.
In a game that saw nine break points converted (Alcaraz six, Medvedev three), Alcaraz acknowledged the difficulties he faced in SW19.
"I tried to play long rallies and tried to play to the net as much as I can. I tried to not play his game," Alcaraz said.
"There were a few points that were really long rallies, but I tried to put my own game [on the match]. It was difficult to break the wall!
"Different conditions, but happy with my performance today. He was dominating the match and playing great tennis with his serves. It was difficult for me and he tried to pull out all the shots."
Carlos Alcaraz will have the chance to defend his Wimbledon title after coming from behind to beat Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals on Friday.
The 21-year-old endured another shaky start, but in the end, was too good for the Russian as he won 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 6-4 6-4 in just under three hours on Centre Court.
Both players got multiple breaks in the first set as momentum ebbed and flowed, though Medvedev looked to be running away with it as he raced into a 5-2 lead.
Alcaraz rallied to force a tie-break, though the Russian took advantage of another slip in concentration as he dropped only one point.
The defending champion, who made a slow start to his quarter-final as well, soon hit his stride and, with the help of an early break, easily held out to win the second.
It was much the same story in the third set as Alcaraz caused more problems with his aggressive serve, not allowing Medvedev back in after edging in front.
The world number five showed some of his early fight in the final set, trading breaks with Alcaraz, but after unsuccessfully defending a break point, he could not maintain his momentum, leaving an opening for the Spaniard to get the win.
He will face either seven-time champion Novak Djokovic or Lorenzo Musetti for the title on Sunday.
Data Debrief: Back-to-back finals for Alcaraz
Despite not playing at his best for the majority of Wimbledon, Alcaraz once again showed what he was made of.
He is into his fourth final in 14 grand slam main draws, and should he win on Sunday, he could become the youngest player in the Open era to win the men's singles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in a calendar year.
Since the ATP rankings were first published in 1973, Alcaraz has become the youngest player to achieve top-five wins on grass, clay and hard court in consecutive seasons (2023 and 2024).
Indeed, he is just the third player under 22 to win his first five matches of the season against top five opponents, after Bjorn Borg (1977-78) and Rafael Nadal (2006-07).
England full-back George Furbank has been ruled out of their second Test against New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday.
Leicester's Freddie Steward will replace him in the starting XV, featuring for the first time since the Six Nations game against Wales in February.
Furbank was one of the standout performers last weekend, though he could not help England over the line as they were narrowly beaten 16-15 in Dunedin.
However, he suffered a back spasm on Friday and has been declared unavailable for the match.
"From our perspective as a team, nothing really changes," flanker Sam Underhill told BBC Sport.
"Their styles are different, but their skillsets are also very similar. They are both very good at running the ball, both very good in the air and both have good kicking games.
"As a team, we have to trust ourselves to react well to it."
England have failed to beat New Zealand in their own backyard since 2003, while the All Blacks are currently unbeaten in their last 48 matches at Eden Park, a run going back to 1994.
Rory McIlroy was surprised by Keegan Bradley's appointment as the USA captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup, saying there is no way a player-captain role can work effectively.
The PGA of America confirmed Bradley's appointment on Monday after Tiger Woods decided against leading the team at Bethpage Black golf course in New York.
Bradley just missed out on the team for last year's 16.5-11.5 loss to Europe in Rome but was expected to be in contention for a place at the USA's home tournament, prompting several players to express surprise at his appointment.
While McIlroy believes Bradley's experience of the course will benefit the USA, he is unsure what to make of the appointment.
"It's a surprise for everyone. But he knows Bethpage very well. He went to university in the area. He's obviously very passionate about the Ryder Cup," McIlroy said.
"It's certainly a departure from what the US have done over the last few years, and time will tell if that's a good thing or not."
Asked if serving as a player and captain at the same time can ever work, McIlroy revealed he has rejected the chance to take on such a role for the 2027 event, which takes place in County Limerick, Ireland.
"Absolutely not," McIlroy said. "I've contemplated it for Adare but there's too much work that goes into it. I've seen what Luke [Donald] went through, preparing for Rome.
"There's no way you can be as good a captain as you need to be and be a playing captain as well. If you want to be the best captain you can be, you can't play.
"If you want to be the best player, you can't captain. So it's one or the other, especially with how big the Ryder Cup has become and how many things you have to do in the lead-up.
"Keegan is the 19th-ranked in the world so he has a great chance of making the team. If he does, I think he's going to have to give that captaincy role to one of the vice-captains."
Europe will look to win the Ryder Cup on American soil for the first time since 2012 next year, with the event starting on September 25.
Paul Skenes was masterful again, throwing seven no-hit innings with 11 strikeouts as the Pittsburgh Pirates held on for a 1-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.
Skenes threw 99 pitches in his 11th major league start and walked one while lowering his ERA to 1.90.
Skenes, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft, has surrendered two runs or fewer in nine of his starts and has struck out 89 in 66 1/3 innings.
The combined no-hit bid ended when Jake Bauers opened the eighth with a single off Colin Holderman. The Brewers loaded the bases with two outs in the inning, but Holderman escaped the jam by striking out William Contreras.
Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth for his fourth save, finishing a two-hitter.
Aaron Civale was the tough-luck loser for Milwaukee, as he pitched six-hit ball into the seventh inning.
Pittsburgh scored the game’s lone run in the seventh. Ke’Bryan Hayes reached on a leadoff single, but he was erased when Jack Suwinski hit into a fielder’s choice.
Yasmani Grandal then doubled into the gap in right-center and Suwinski scored from first with a headfirst slide.
The Brewers lost for the fifth time in seven games, while the Pirates have won three of four.
Here are all 11 strikeouts by Paul Sꓘenes in case you missed it.
Play of the Day presented by @STIHLUSA pic.twitter.com/inUgh4YsN7
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 11, 2024
Phillies finish sweep of Dodgers
Aaron Nola pitched six strong innings and was backed by three home runs as the major league-leading Philadelphia Phillies completed a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 5-1 victory.
Nola became the majors’ fourth 11-game winner after allowing four hits with two walks and nine strikeouts.
Matt Strahm, Jeff Hoffman and Jose Alvarado each pitched one inning to finish the five-hitter.
Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Brandon Marsh hit solo homers for the Phillies, who swept the Dodgers for the first time since 2011 – and first at home since 2008.
Philadelphia led every inning of the series except the first one on Tuesday, which ended with both teams scoreless.
Turner’s shot in the first inning off Anthony Banda opened the scoring, and he added an infield single in the fourth.
In the 21 games since he returned to the lineup following a 38-game stint on the injured list with a left hamstring strain, Turner is batting .356 with 11 multi-hit games.
Gavin Lux homered for the Dodgers, who have scored seven runs during a four-game skid.
Astros win 9th straight home game
Six different players drove in a run and the Houston Astros won their ninth straight at home, 6-3 over the Miami Marlins to complete a three-game sweep.
Jake Meyers doubled home a run, Jeremy Pena had a run-scoring single and Jon Singleton and Joey Loperfido added sacrifice flies to help the Astros win their ninth in 12 games.
Jake Bloss allowed two runs and four hits over four innings in his second major league start, while Tayler Scott got the final two outs of the sixth for the win.
Josh Hader struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 17th save.
Bryan De La Cruz and Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit solo homers for the National League-worst Marlins, who have lost eight of 10.
Barbora Krejcikova paid an emotional tribute to Jana Novotna following her semi-final victory against Elena Rybakina at Wimbledon.
Krejcikova came from a set down to emerge victorious, beating the 2022 Wimbledon champion 3-6 6-3 6-4 in a remarkable turnaround on Centre Court.
The world number 31 became the seventh Czech-born woman to reach a women's singles final at Wimbledon in the Open Era, following in the footsteps of her former coach.
Novotna, who won the competition in 1998 when she defeated France's Nathalie Tauziat, passed away in 2017 from ovarian cancer at the age of 49.
The pair first met when Krejcikova was 18 years old, with the 28-year-old reduced to tears as she dedicated the win to her former friend in her post-match interview.
"I just miss her very much, I miss her so much," Krejcikova said after reaching her first Wimbledon women's singles final.
"Definitely I remember thinking about Jana a lot. I have so many beautiful memories and when I step on the court here, I am fighting for every ball, and I am sure that is what she would want me to do.
"She was telling me a lot of stories about her journey here and how she was trying to win Wimbledon. I was so far away when we had this talk.
"Now I am here and I am in a final!
"I remember thinking about her a lot. I have so many beautiful memories and when I step on the court I fight for every single ball as that is what she would want me to do."
Krejcikova will face Jasmine Paolini in Saturday's final in what will be the first women's singles final at a grand slam during the Open Era where two opponents have previously met in a grand slam qualifier.
The Czech won in straight sets in the aforementioned clash at the Australian Open in 2018 and is expecting a tough encounter against the world number seven.
"A big fight. I know that she is a huge fighter and she showed today, but it will be the same from me. We are playing great tennis and it will be a great match on Saturday."
Donna Vekic revealed she was in "so much pain" in her record-breaking Wimbledon semi-final defeat to Jasmine Paolini, explaining her tears in the third set of a marathon match.
Vekic let slip a first-set lead to lose 2-6 6-4 7-6 (10-8) on Centre Court and miss out on a major final debut.
It appeared emotions had got the better of the first-time semi-finalist as victory slipped away despite a further early break in the decider, eventually losing after two hours and 51 minutes.
This was the longest women's singles semi in Wimbledon history, and Vekic insisted her tears were provoked by the punishment her body took in the epic encounter.
"I thought I was going to die in the third set," Vekic said in her post-match news conference. "I had so much pain in my arm, in my leg.
"It was not easy out there, but I will recover.
"I was more crying because I had so much pain, I didn't know how I could keep playing. My team tells me I can be proud of myself.
"It's tough right now. It's really tough to be positive right now. It was so close."
Paolini will now play Barbora Krejcikova in Saturday's final, her second grand slam title match after losing to perennial French Open champion Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros in June.
"Two grand slam finals in a row was crazy to believe, I think, no?" Paolini said. "I'm also surprised how at the moment, until now in this moment, I'm living this.
"I feel maybe Saturday I will be so nervous, I don't know, but I feel also relaxed. I'm the same person. I'm doing the same things. I'm surprised a little bit how I'm managing this.
"I don't want to say more, because maybe Saturday I'm going to be shaking. I'm surprising myself to live this with with really relaxing mood."
Barbora Krejcikova came from a set down to stun Elena Rybakina to reach the Wimbledon final where she will face Jasmine Paolini on Saturday.
Krejcikova extended her unbeaten record against the Kazakh world number four to three matches, emerging a 3-6 6-3 6-4 victor on Centre Court.
The opening two games saw Rybakina assert her dominance, securing a break point early on as she racked up a four-game lead without reply.
Krejcikova would get her first game on the board soon after and would find a break of her own in the eighth game, but her slow start was punished as Rybakina saw out the first set, serving five aces along the way.
Krejcikova found her rhythm, but she made hard work of sealing the second set after serving two double faults in the ninth game, opening the door for her opponent. However, she was able to get the job done to take the game to a decider.
Krejcikova and Rybakina exchanged a number of long rallies in the third set, but it would be the world number 31 who would get the decisive break point.
The seventh game saw Rybakina lead with a service hold to love, but Krejcikova then put three games together on the spin to edge closer to victory.
There was to be no comeback for the 2022 Wimbledon champion, as Krejcikova completed the turnaround on serve as Rybakina sent a forehand long to confirm her remarkable triumph.
"Unbelievable. "It is very tough to explain, but a lot of joy and a lot of emotions. Also there is a lot of relief and I am super proud," Krejcikova said in her post-match interview.
"I am so proud about my game and my fighting spirit today.
"I was trying to fight for every single ball, during the second set I was getting my momentum and when I broke her I started to be in the zone and I didn't want to leave the zone."
Data Debrief: Krejcikova ends wait for grand slam final appearance
It has been a long time coming for Krejcikova, who reached her first grand slam final since Roland-Garros in 2021.
The Czech is the player with the most women’s singles grand slam main draw appearances between their first two Major finals (13, Roland-Garros 2021 and Wimbledon 2024), since Karolina Pliskova (18 between the US 2016 and then Wimbledon 2021).
Her meeting with Paolini on Saturday will be the first women's singles final at a grand slam during the Open Era, where the two opponents previously met in a grand slam qualifier, doing so at the Australian Open 2018.
Jasmine Paolini outlasted Donna Vekic to win the longest women's semi-final in Wimbledon history, reaching her second grand slam final in just over a month.
Paolini, who was runner-up to Iga Swiatek at the French Open in June, was pushed all the way and had to come through a third-set tie-break, eventually triumphing 2-6 6-4 7-6 (10-8) on Centre Court.
The seventh seed will now face either Elena Rybakina or Barbora Krejcikova in Saturday's final.
An opening game featuring four deuces and a squandered break point for Vekic set the tone as she started confidently, and Paolini was unable to force a single break point in the opening set while conceding six.
The stakes were huge for unseeded Vekic, who was competing in her first grand slam semi-final having exited in the first round of 20 majors, but she found breaks in the fifth and seventh games to go ahead.
A second set featuring a number of long rallies and back-and-forth games saw Paolini fight her way back into the contest, smashing a forehand winner on set point before roaring to the vocal crowd.
Vekic broke early in the decider as she threatened to overpower Paolini, but an eye-catching forehand helped the Italian stave off another break and she clinched one of her own in the eighth game, a Vekic double fault helping her on the way.
The Croatian saved match point at 5-4 and then missed a potentially match-changing break point at 5-5, breaking down in tears and appearing to struggle physically at the change of ends.
Paolini missed another match point at 6-5, Vekic firing a forehand winner down the line to cap a breathtaking rally before closing out the game to ensure a tie-break was required.
The Italian was not about to waste a third opportunity to clinch the win, though, with Vekic sending a forehand wide to finally bring the curtain down on a historic two-hour, 51-minute battle.
"I was trying to think about what to do point by point because it was really difficult, you know there is no place better than here to fight for every ball and every point," Paolini said in her post-match interview.
"I really enjoy playing in front of you guys. For a tennis player this is the best place to play a match like this and thank you for cheering for me!"
Data Debrief: Double delight for Paolini
Paolini fell short of French Open glory when she could not match clay-court specialist Swiatek at Roland Garros last month, but she has joined an exclusive list by making the finals of both major tournaments in the same year.
This century, the only other women to achieve that feat are Justine Henin (2006), Venus Williams (2002) and Serena Williams (2002, 2015 and 2016).
She is also the first Italian woman in the Open Era to reach the Wimbledon final, to make finals at any two slams, and to make finals on all three surfaces in a single WTA campaign.
Kyle Schwarber hit another leadoff home run and All-Star Matt Strahm struck out Shohei Ohtani in a key spot as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 for their major league-leading 60th win on Wednesday night.
The Phillies have won the first two games of this three-game series between division leaders. At 60-32, only the 1976 team (88 games) reached the 60-win mark faster in a season in franchise history.
Philadelphia won without All-Star slugger Bryce Harper, who sat out with a bruised left hand after he returned for Tureday’s10-1 win following a nine-game absence. Harper was hurt at an unspecified point, through he clearly grabbed his hand and hunched over in pain on a second-inning chopper by Miguel Rojas.
Strahm entered with one out in the seventh and the Phillies holding a 4-2 lead. With runners at the corners, he struck out Ohtani and retired Teoscar Hernandez on a fly out to escape the jam.
The Dodgers scored a run in the eighth on Rojas’ RBI single, but Jeff Hoffman tossed a scoreless ninth for his ninth save.
Schwarber’s homer off Gavin Stone was his 39th career leadoff homer and 18th overall this season.
Valdez pitches Astros past Marlins
Framber Valdez struck out a season-high 10 over seven stellar innings and rookie Joey Loperfido homered and tripled to propel the Houston Astros to their eighth straight home win, 9-1 over the Miami Marlins.
Valdez allowed six hits – all singles – and walked one to win his third straight decision.
Loperfido hit a two-run homer to highlight a four-run second off Bryan Hoeing and had his first career triple in the fourth.
Yainer Diaz had three hits and three RBIs for the Astros (48-44), who have won eight of 11 to match a season high at four games over .500.
Perez’s home runs help Royals sweep
Salvador Perez homered in both games and MJ Melendez hit a solo shot in the nightcap as the Kansas City Royals beat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-5 for a sweep of their day-night doubleheader.
Garrett Hampson had two-run double to back a strong start by Alec Marsh in the Royals’ 6-4 victory in the early game.
Kyle Isbel homered in the second game and James McArthur pitched the ninth for his second save of the day and 17th of the season.
Kansas City notched its 50th and 51st wins of the season after it totaled just 56 victories all last season.
Nolan Arenado, Alec Burleson and Paul Goldschmidt homered in the opener for the Cardinals, while Lars Nootbaar went deep in the nightcap. St. Louis entered the day having won four of five.
Novak Djokovic will take on Lorenzo Musetti for a place in the Wimbledon final, after the Italian overcame Taylor Fritz on Wednesday.
Seven-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic received a walkover for his quarter-final tie after Alex De Minaur withdrew due to a hip injury.
And the Serbian will be fancied to reach his 10th final at the All England Club, though 25th seed Musetti, who was the runner-up at Queen's before Wimbledon began, will be out to cause an upset.
Musetti joined compatriot Jasmine Paolini in reaching the last four, as he prevailed 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 3-6 6-1 over 13th seed Fritz.
"I probably have no words. It's tough to speak but I'll try my best," said the 22-year-old after reaching his first major semi-final.
"We were joking about trying to play on the big stage at Wimbledon. I've never tried Court One and Centre Court. I played a fantastic match because Taylor was in great shape."
Data Debrief: In good company
Musetti has become the only the fifth player in the Open Era to reach at least three ATP-level semi-finals in a single season before turning 23, after Paul Connors (1974), Vitas Gerulaitis (1977), John McEnroe (1980) and Pat Cash (1987).
After reaching the Stuttgart and Queen's semi-finals, Musetti is the first Italian in the Open Era to reach three or more ATP event semi-finals on grass in a calendar year.
Rory McIlroy is hoping to learn from his near-miss at the U.S. Open as he looks to get his season back on track following that agonising day at Pinehurst.
McIlroy capitulated late on in the last round at U.S. Open last month, allowing Bryson DeChambeau to capitalise and clinch the title.
It has been a decade since McIlroy won the last of his four majors, but the Northern Irishman will hope to end that run at The Open next week.
First, McIlroy will defend his title at the Scottish Open, and speaking to the press ahead of that tournament, he said he will "learn a lot" from that U.S. Open heartbreak.
"I look back on that day, just like I look back on some of my toughest moments in my career," McIlroy said.
"I'll learn a lot from it and I'll hopefully put that to good use.
"It's something that's been a bit of a theme throughout my career. I've been able to take those tough moments and turn them into great things not very long after that.
"I think the way I've described Pinehurst on Sunday was like it was a great day until it wasn't.
"I did things on that Sunday that I haven't been able to do in the last couple years.
"Yeah, it was a tough day. It was a tough few days after that, obviously.
"But I think as you get further away from it happening, you start to see the positives and you start to see all the good things that you did throughout the week."
McIlroy took a short break away from the game after the U.S. Open, but he is now raring to go.
"I had some good chats with people close to me," he said.
"As you start to think about not just Sunday at Pinehurst but the whole way throughout the week, there was a couple of things that I noticed I wanted to try to work on coming into here and obviously next week at Troon.
"They were hard but at the same time, as each day went by, it became easier to focus on the positives and then to think about the future instead of what had just happened."
Elena Rybakina will go up against Barbora Krejcikova in the last four at Wimbledon after a convincing defeat of Elina Svitolina.
Rybakina was broken in the first game of Wednesday's quarter-final, but responded emphatically to overcome her Ukrainian opponent 6-3 6-2.
The world number four, the highest-ranked player left in the women's draw, needed just 61 minutes to complete an emphatic win.
Rybakina is now the player to have reached the joint-most WTA-level semi-finals this season, with seven, which matches Iga Swiatek's total.
Speaking after her victory, Rybakina is wary of being labelled the favourite.
She said: "Of course I have such amazing memories from 2022 and I'm just enjoying every time I step on the court, especially when I play well. It's just really amazing.
"I don't like [to be the favourite] to be honest.
"Of course, I want to go to the end, but [I'm taking it] match by match and I'm happy with the way I'm going and looking forward to the next one."
Her next match will come against 2021 French Open champion Krejcikova, who sent world number 14 Jelena Ostapenko packing.
Krejcikova triumphed 6-4 7-6 (7-4), coming out on top in a thrilling second-set tie-break, to reach the semi-finals at Wimbledon for the first time in her career.
"It's an unbelievable moment that I'm experiencing right now in my tennis career," said the Czech, who won only three Tour-level matches between February and June.
Data Debrief: Home away from home
Only Monica Seles (Australian Open 21/21 and French Open 20/21), Margaret Court (US Open 20/21, French Open 20/21 and Australian Open 20/21) and Chris Evert (RG 20/21) have won more from their first 21 matches at a single major than Rybakina at Wimbledon (19/21) during the Open Era.
Krejcikova, meanwhile, has become the player with the most singles grand slam main draw appearances between their first two major semi-finals (13) since Sloane Stephens (16 between the 2013 Australian Open and the US Open in 2017).
Novak Djokovic is through to the last four at Wimbledon after his quarter-final opponent Alex De Minaur was forced to withdraw from the tournament ahead of their match on Wednesday with a hip injury.
Seven-time Wimbledon winner Djokovic had been due to face ninth seed De Minaur on Centre Court.
But the Australian will be unable to play, meaning second seed Djokovic progresses to the semi-finals where he will take on either Lorenzo Musetti or Taylor Fritz.
Daniil Medvedev and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz will contest the other semi on Friday.
De Minaur had beaten Arthur Fils in four sets to book his last-eight clash with Djokovic, producing a strong tournament after also reaching the quarters at the French Open.
But that Fils win also saw him sustain an injury problem which the 25-year-old has been unable to recover from in time.
"Obviously not an announcement I wanted to make by any means," read a statement from De Minaur.
"I am devastated to pull out due to a hip injury, a little tear of the fibre cartilage that kind of is at the end of or connects to the adductor.
"I felt a loud crack during the last three points of my match against Fils and got a scan [on Tuesday] and it confirmed that this was the injury and with a high risk of making it worse if I was to step on court."
The development means the match between Musetti and Fritz on Court One is the only men's singles contest that will take place on Wednesday.
Jannik Sinner explained he was combatting dizziness and illness as he fell to an epic five-set defeat against Daniil Medvedev in the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
Top seed Sinner, who was forced to take a medical timeout midway through the third set, rallied brilliantly from that issue in the fourth to force a decider in a four-hour tussle on Centre Court.
However, the Italian ran out of steam in the fifth set, with Medvedev going on to clinch a 6-7 (7-9) 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 6-3 victory.
"Already in the morning I didn't feel great and had some problems," Sinner said after the match when he was asked about his struggles.
"Then with the fatigue, it was tough.
"I went off the court actually. I didn't want to go off. The physio told me better to take some time because he watched me, and I didn't seem in shape to play. I was struggling physically.
"It was not an easy moment. I tried to fight with what I had.
"I was not feeling great. I didn't vomit. But took some time because I was dizzy quite a lot. Yeah, actually off court I had a little bit the toughest time maybe.
"I retired a lot two years ago. I don't want to retire if it's only a little bit of illness or sick or whatever."
Sinner stressed he did not want to detract from Medvedev’s victory and had been determined to see the match through to the end.
"Nothing to take away from Daniil – he played very smart, good tennis," added the Italian.
"I was still in shape to play somehow. The fifth set I felt a little bit better again. The energy level was a bit up.
"But the energy level was not consistent. It was up and down. Like this, it's also not easy to handle the situations on the court.
"It happens. I was never thinking about retiring. You don't want to retire in a quarter-final of a grand slam."
Sinner has made the last eight or better at each of the last three Wimbledon appearances, but is yet to reach the final.
Medvedev, meanwhile, will take on defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semis on Friday, having now matched his best career run at the All England Club.
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