Atlantic Industrial Electric Supply Company Limited, the company owned by former national Table Tennis champion Peter Moo-Young, has signed on to help three members of Jamaica’s team to the Caribbean Mini and Pre-Cadet Table Tennis Championships set for July 1-7 in the Dominican Republic.
The three members, brothers Anthony, Malone and Shacoil Bird, were left with very little resources after an unfortunate and tragic house fire in February.
“We had reached out to Mr. Moo-Young about sponsorship of three of the youngsters. The fire earlier this year left them lacking with certain resources so we reached out to Mr. Moo-Young to see if he could assist in any way to help us send these three players off to the Dominican Republic for the upcoming Pre and Mini Cadet Championships,” JTTA President Ingrid Graham told Sportsmax.tv in an interview earlier this week.
Moo-Young happily obliged, providing background on how he first heard about the three brothers and how this sponsorship came together.
“About a year or so ago, Dale (Parham) alerted me that he had identified three youngsters that happen to be brothers who are uniquely talented and invited them to come to my club to play. I saw the kids and I will confirm, they are exceptionally talented for their ages,” he said.
“In keeping track of their progress, I was told that they had a tragic fire a few months ago and it hurt my heart because we wanted them to keep playing. So, I was pleased to hear that they continued to play,” Moo-Young added.
Atlantic Industrial Electric is going into this with their partners, KIC Ventures, an American company involved in the medical field.
“We will jointly underwrite the cost of the three brothers to go to the tournament,” Moo-Young said.
Founder of KIC, Dr. Kingsley Chin, also commented on the decision to help out.
“The only reason I’m able to do what I do today is because, when I was young, I got the opportunity to play sport. This is what I love about these boys; they faced obstacles and they kept going, they never stopped. You never know the future of somebody but if they show they have an interest in being good at something it’s like a plant, you water it and the fruits will bear,” he said.
“Exceptional,” was how National Coach Dale Parham described the talent of the youngsters.
“They’ve been playing for about two or three years now and they have shown dedication to the sport. I can tell you that these guys play probably about 4-5 hours everyday and that is something that is unheard of based on our situation now here in Jamaica,”
“When you have youngsters like this with that kind of drive and passion for the sport, I think it’s only fitting that we try to support them as best as possible,”
Students at Whitfield Town Primary and Junior High School, the brothers recently emerged victorious at the JTTTA/ OSIL/SDF Prep and Primary School Rally at the Excelsior High School on June 24.
Jamaica’s team is scheduled to leave the island on Saturday for the championships.
Taylor Fritz became the first man to win three titles at the Eastbourne International on Saturday as he defeated Max Purcell 6-4 6-3 in the final.
Fritz did not drop a single set en route to his eighth ATP title, only losing four points behind his first serve in the showpiece match.
He served brilliantly and was aggressive in reaching the net throughout the title match, earning a decisive break at 5-4 in the opening set.
He then won 12 straight points to seize control of the second set, ultimately needing just 71 minutes to reclaim the crown he previously won in 2019 and 2022.
Data Debrief: Fritz America's best again
Having triumphed at Delray Beach back in February, Fritz has now won multiple ATP titles within a third straight calendar year.
His victory also ensures he will move up to 12th in next week's world rankings, overtaking Tommy Paul to become American number one once more.
Adelaide Thunderbirds extended their unbeaten run with another dazzling performance as they romped to a 73-58 win over Melbourne Vixens in a lopsided Round 12 top-of-the-ladder clash at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, on Saturday.
Thunderbirds attacking charge was again led by Romelda Aiken-George, who scored 47 goals from 53 attempts, as Georgie Horjus and Lucy Austin chipped in with 12 goals and nine goals from 11 and 10 attempts respectively. Lauren Frew had a perfect five goals from five attempts.
Meanwhile, Sophie Garbin had 29 goals from 31 attempts for the Vixens, with Kiera Austin (27 goals from 27 attempts) and Lily Graham with a single two-point Supershot, contributing the others.
Both teams produced a clinical display in the early exchanges as they demonstrated why they are the two best teams in the competition. The Vixens were first to slip up, with suffocating defensive pressure from the Thunderbirds forcing the visitors into a few errors.
Still, the contest remained evenly poised at 15-15 at the end of the first quarter.
However, the Thunderbirds found an extra spark in the second quarter and briskly raced to a seven-goal lead early, courtesy of some impressive defending by Jamaican Latanya Wilson, who robbed a few Vixens possession, which the shooters capitalised on.
The Vixens tried to trim the margin in the Power Five, but Matilda Garrett and another Jamaican standout Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, forced the Vixens to work overtime in the goal circle to find space and shoot. That coupled with a bit of magic from Aiken-George, ensured Thunderbirds remained seven goals ahead at 32-25 at halftime.
Melbourne Mavericks in action against Sunshine Coast Lightning.
The Vixens were more settled to begin the third quarter, as the Thunderbirds found it harder to move the ball into their attacking third. Despite Vixens hard-fought battle to close the gap from 10 goals down during the Power Five, Thunderbirds remained eight goals up at 51-43 heading into the final quarter, which was a mere formality.
This, as the Thunderbirds went from strength-to-strength in that final quarter and outplayed the Vixens in all departments to power to a commanding 25-goal win, with Sterling-Humphrey named as the match MVP.
Elsewhere, another Jamaican Shimona Jok scored 42 goals from 43 attempts to assist Melbourne Mavericks to a 72-71 win over Sunshine Coast Lightning in a nail-biting encounter in Hobart.
Along with Jok, Mavericks had clinical performances from Gabrielle Sinclair, who scored a couple of two-point Supershots in her five goals from three attempts, while Eleanor Cardwell had four Supershots in her 25 goals from 22 attempts.
Cara Koenen (39 goals from 42 attempts), Steph Fretwell (26 goals from 26 attempts) and Reilley Batcheldor (six goals from six attempts) also showed good knick for the Lightning in a losing cause.
With both teams desperate to sit in that elusive top four spot as the road to finals closes in, every play and decision was critical throughout the thrilling contest.
But, it was the Mavericks, who held their nerves best and took a massive stride closer to breaking through that top four, as they now sit level with Lightning on the ladder on 20 points apiece.
Daria Kasatkina beat Leylah Fernandez 6-3 6-4 to win her seventh WTA title, and her first on grass, at the Eastbourne International.
The world number 14, who finished as runner-up to Madison Keys last year, had conquered Emma Raducanu and Jasmine Paolini en route to her fourth final of 2024.
She broke the 2021 US Open runner-up in the very first game and wrapped up the opener with another break in the ninth game, having held off some fierce pressure on her own serve.
Another swift break in the second set had seemingly set up more of the same, but Fernandez fought back from 3-0 down to go 4-3 up. However, the Canadian failed to hold serve again from then on as Kasatkina assumed control, wrapping up her victory in just under two hours.
Elsewhere on Saturday, 20-year-old Diana Shnaider won her second title of 2024 at the Bad Homburg Open, edging out Donna Vekic 6-3 2-6 6-3 in the final.
The Russian's efficiency told in a back-and-forth contest as she converted four of her six break points, becoming the youngest player on the WTA Tour to capture multiple titles this season.
Data Debrief: Kasatkina heads to SW19 in form
Kasatkina is now 6-1 on grass this year and possesses a fine 33-17 record on the surface throughout her career.
Having made the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in 2018, she will be targeting another deep run this year, seeded 14th and drawn to face Zhang Shuai in the first round.
Red Bull enjoyed a strong start to their home grand prix as Max Verstappen clinched victory in the sprint race on Saturday.
No driver has won more the Austrian Grand Prix on more occasions than Verstappen (four), and the reigning Formula One world champion looks well placed to push on for a fifth victory after holding off McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Norris, who is second behind Verstappen in the drivers' championship, battled hard in the early laps before dropping off the pace and eventually finishing behind team-mate Piastri, while Mercedes' George Russell came in fifth.
Verstappen's win saw him move 71 points clear of Norris in the drivers' standings ahead of qualifying for Sunday's main event.
The Dutchman briefly relinquished the lead to Norris on lap five at Spielberg, but expertly regained it a turn later.
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz finished fifth, with Lewis Hamilton rounding out the top six.
Data Debrief: Verstappen the king of the sprint
This marked the 15th sprint race since its introduction in F1. No driver has more wins (10), more pole positions (eight), more fastest laps (eight), more podiums (14) and more points (97) than Verstappen in the format.
The Red Bull driver is right at home in Austria, where he has achieved the most podium finishes (six) and the most fastest laps (four), and has the chance to single-handedly take the most pole positions at the event (four) should he top qualifying.
Top 10
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
3. Lando Norris (McLaren)
4. George Russell (Mercedes)
5. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
6. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
7. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
8. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
9. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
10. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
Jeff McNeil hit a three-run homer and Pete Alonso and Tyrone Taylor added solo shots to lead the surging New York Mets to a 7-2 win over the Houston Astros, who had their seven-game winning streak snapped on Friday night.
The Mets (40-39) have won four straight and 12 of 14 to move over .500 for the first time since May 2. They are 18-6 since May 30 – the day after players held a team meeting following a 10-3 loss to the Dodgers.
New York scored four runs in the sixth off Ronel Blanco to snap a 2-2 tie.
Alonso hit a home run with one out before Francisco Alvarez doubled. One out later, Mark Vientos reached on an error by third baseman Alex Bregman and McNeil followed with his fourth home run.
McNeil had been 12 for 83 (.145) since his previous homer against Cleveland on May 22. He finished 3 for 4 in his first three-hit game since May 7.
Jose Altuve homered and Yordan Alvarez had three hits for the Astros (40-41), who went 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position and left a season-high 14 runners on base.
Houston failed to move over .500 for the first time this season.
Chourio’s slam lifts hot Brewers
Jackson Chourio became the youngest player in franchise history to hit a grand slam and the Milwaukee Brewers won their fifth straight, 4-2 over the Chicago Cubs.
The Brewers loaded the bases in the fourth against Jameson Taillon on a walk, catcher’s interference and Rhys Hoskins’ single off Taillon’s glove. Chourio then connected on a 1-2 sweeper for his ninth home run and second in two games.
It was the second straight game that Milwaukee went deep with the bases loaded after Jake Bauers’ slam on Wednesday against Texas.
At 20 years and 109 days, Chourio is the youngest player in the majors with a grand slam since Jose Reyes at 20 years and four days on June 15, 2003, for the New York Mets.
The Brewers have won six straight at home and are 16-3 in their last 19 there.
Wisely’s walk-off homer lifts Giants
Brett Wisely belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the San Francisco Giants a 5-3 victory, snapping the Los Angeles Dodgers’ four-game winning streak.
After the Dodgers tied the game in the top half of the ninth on Jason Heyward’s sacrifice fly, Luis Matos opened the bottom half with a walk against Blake Treinen. Wisely then drilled a 1-2 pitch over the wall in right field for his third home run.
Shohei Ohtani went 1 for 3 with a walk, ending his franchise-record 10-game streak with at least one RBI.
The Giants took a 3-2 lead in the sixth on Matt Chapman’s two-run homer after Matos’ blast an inning earlier drew San Francisco within 2-1.
The New Orleans Pelicans are acquiring star guard Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks for forward Larry Nance Jr, guard Dyson Daniels and two first-round picks, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday.
The move comes two days after the Hawks selected French prospect Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft on Wednesday.
According to sources, the picks the Pelicans are sending Atlanta are a 2025 first round pick via the Lakers and a 2027 first round pick, which is the least favorable between Milwaukee and New Orleans.
Murray, 27, spent two seasons with the Hawks after he was acquired from San Antonio in July 2022 for three first-round picks. He averaged 21.5 points across 152 games with Atlanta, but the team struggled to a 77-87 record and failed to make the playoffs this past season with a 36-46 mark.
Murray – a 2022 NBA All-Star - averaged a career-high 22.5 points last season to go with 5.3 rebounds and 6.4 assists. He shot 45.9 percent from the field and made a career-high 201 3-pointers.
He joins a loaded Pelicans team that went 49-33 last season and already has Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum.
Atlanta gets multiple first round picks in the deal along with a young player (Daniels) and a veteran role player (Nance Jr.).
Daniels was the eighth overall pick in 2022 and averaged 5.8 points and 3.9 rebounds last season. Nance is a nine-year veteran that averaged 5.7 points and 5 rebounds in 61 games last season for New Orleans.
Novak Djokovic was in a celebratory mood after passing his first Wimbledon test "pain-free" following a warm-up encounter with Daniil Medvedev.
The Serbian star withdrew midway through the French Open just three weeks ago after damaging the medial meniscus in his right knee.
Djokovic subsequently underwent knee surgery for the troublesome issue, though his recovery to compete at the grass-court major remained in doubt.
Yet the 37-year-old has once again defied the odds to feature at the All England Club.
"I can tell you I enjoyed myself really, really much," Djokovic said after playing against Medvedev in Friday's practice match.
"I can tell you that pain-free tennis is the best tennis. I was pain-free and I'm really glad. It was a great test obviously against one of the best players in the world.
"I've played a couple of practice sets but I really wanted to test myself. The test was very successful so I'm obviously really glad. It's been an intense three weeks after surgery, spending a lot of hours rehabbing.
"I kind of always wanted to give myself a chance to be in London. I think my surgeon is here. He's the MVP for sure in the last three weeks. I'm trying to take it day by day and see how far it goes."
The seven-time Wimbledon champion will face debutant Vit Kopriva in the first round of the upcoming major.
Djokovic will hope to go one better in the 2024 edition after losing in the showpiece to Carlos Alcaraz last year, his fifth straight Wimbledon tournament when making the final.
Centre Court was treated to a five-match thriller in that showdown with Alcaraz, and Medvedev suggested that may be the struggle for Djokovic with his knee issue.
"He seems to be fine," said world number five Medvedev. "You never know what he feels inside of him.
"It's a five-set match on grass [at Wimbledon], which is never easy for the knee, so I don't know how it's going to go during the matches.
"But he seemed to be moving well, even if I got him off guard a little bit."
Taylor Fritz remains on course to complete a hat-trick of titles at Eastbourne, with a straight-sets victory over Aleksandar Vukic sending him through to the final.
The American, who lifted the trophy here in 2019 and 2013, prevailed 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-4) with five of the six sets he has played this week going to tie-breaks.
Nevertheless, the top seed is now one win away from landing his first ATP title of the season.
"[Being a former champion] has been helping me all week," he said. "I love playing here. The tournament is extra special to me because this is where I got my first title. Hopefully, I'll be back tomorrow to get number three."
Standing in his way is Max Purcell, who will contest his maiden ATP tour-level final after ending the hopes of home favourite Billy Harris.
The Australian has enjoyed a timely upturn in form this week, having arrived at Eastbourne off the back of four successive defeats.
Purcell was taken the distance by the British wildcard, but eventually came through 6-4 4-6 6-4.
Data Debrief: History beckons for Fritz
The joint-most successful player in the history of the ATP 250 event, Fritz is one victory away from surpassing Feliciano Lopez (also two titles) on the roll of honour.
The American has only dropped eight points on first serve across his three matches this week.
Meanwhile, his opponent is set to march into uncharted territory on Saturday, having come good when it mattered in the deciding set - winning 16 of his 20 points on first serve.
Though the Philadelphia Phillies currently hold a comfortable lead atop the National League East, they'll have to make do without two of their most important hitters for at least some period of time.
The Phillies placed first baseman Bryce Harper and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber on the 10-day injured list Friday, one day after both were hurt in the team's 7-4 loss to the Miami Marlins.
Harper, named to his eighth career All-Star Game as the NL's leading vote-getter prior to Thursday's contest, strained his left hamstring while running out a ground ball for the final out of the game.
Schwarber, the 2022 NL home run champion, exited in the eighth inning after straining his left groin while making a throw from the outfield to first base.
Both players are undergoing additional testing, though Phillies manager Rob Thomson told reporters Friday the team believes the two sluggers may be out for only 10-to-14 days and each has a chance to return before the All-Star break, which begins July 15.
Harper, the NL MVP in 2015 and 2021, is in the midst of another outstanding season. The 31-year-old currently ranks third in the NL with 20 home runs and fourth in runs batted in (58) to go along with a .303 batting average in 76 games. He extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a run-scoring double in the first inning of Thursday's loss.
Schwarber, whose 110 home runs since the start of 2022 trails only New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge for the most in the majors, is hitting .250 with 17 homers, 49 runs batted in and an NL-leading 59 walks in 79 games.
The two-time All-Star was making only his third start in the outfield this season in Thursday's game.
Kody Clemens is expected to fill in for Harper at first base after being activated from the injured list Friday. The son of legendary pitcher Roger Clemens batted .256 with three home runs and 10 RBIs over 17 games before landing on the IL with back spasms earlier this month.
The Phillies own MLB's best record this season at 53-28 despite injuries to other key members of the lineup. Shortstop Trea Turner missed more than six weeks with a strained hamstring before returning on June 17, while catcher J.T. Realmuto is currently sidelined after undergoing knee surgery earlier this month.
Max Verstappen edged out Lando Norris to take pole position for the sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix on Saturday.
Verstappen, who claimed his eighth sprint pole for Red Bull, topped all three segments of qualifying, but was pushed all the way by Norris in the decisive session.
However, Norris finished 0.093 seconds behind the Dutchman, with Oscar Piastri coming in third for McClaren.
Mercedes' George Russell finished in fourth with Ferrari's Carlos Sainz just behind. Lewis Hamilton will start Saturday's sprint sixth on the grid.
Charles Leclerc failed to get around to the line in time before starting his flying lap and will therefore start 10th.
It was another disappointing afternoon for Verstappen's team-mate Sergio Perez, who was seventh and a huge 1.322s slower than the Dutchman, with the Alpine pairing of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly set to start in eighth and ninth.
“It is great to be first here in front of basically my home fans, my home Grand Prix. It has been a good day so far," Verstappen said at Red Bull's home track, where he holds a record four F1 wins.
"It has been nice to drive the car. Immediately it was well-balanced.
"Of course you make some small changes before spring qualifying and everything has been working really well."
Verstappen's victory came after team principal Christian Horner was questioned on the Dutchman's future with the team following rumours of a potential move to Mercedes, who Hamilton will leave next season.
The three-time world champion has insisted this week that he is happy at Red Bull and is already focusing on next year's car.
"It only reaffirms everything that we already know," Horner responded. "Max is an important part of our team. He’s had all of his victories and podiums in Red Bull Racing cars, his three World Championships so far."
With eight points available for the sprint race winner, Verstappen will look to increase his lead at the top of the drivers' championship, having pulled 69 clear of Norris following his victory at the Spanish Grand Prix last week.
He has seven race wins already this season, and has come out on top in three of the last four despite huge pressure from Norris.
"Max has been absolutely outstanding," Horner said when quizzed on whether this is the best version of Verstappen that we have witnessed in F1. “I think what you’re seeing is a driver that just continues to evolve and continues to develop.
"I think that you’re seeing drives at the calibre that the greats in the sport were capable of delivering – the Ayrton Sennas and the Jim Clarks. You’ve only got to look through the generations.
"What we’re seeing with Max are those key moments, the big moments are what defines any outstanding sportsman or sportswoman, and that’s what he’s delivering."
Jannik Sinner is set to start Wimbledon with a slight advantage over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the race to be crowned 2024 winner.
That is the view of former Wimbledon runner-up Mark Philippoussis, who says the two young stars deserve to be seen as clear frontrunners, particularly with doubts over Novak Djokovic's fitness.
Sinner is the world number one and earned his first grand slam title at the Australian Open this year, while Alcaraz comes into the tournament on a high after claiming his third major at the French Open.
Alcaraz's grand slam titles have come on three different surfaces, but Philippoussis – who lost the 2003 final at Wimbledon to Roger Federer – feels Sinner, who will start his campaign against Yannick Hanfmann, still deserves to start as the marginal favourite.
With the Italian being top seed, following on from Alcaraz having that status last year, this is the first time players aged under 23 have held the top seed in consecutive editions of the men’s singles at Wimbledon since Lleyton Hewitt (2003) and Federer (2004).
"In my eyes, Sinner is the favourite," Philippoussis said to Stats Perform at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic at the Hurlingham Club.
"I'm not going to say he is a clear favourite, but he definitely is the favourite. And then I'd say Alcaraz.
"For me, there's a question mark around Djokovic. I'm very surprised to see him here. Apparently he's supposed to be playing a match [on Friday], which is a great idea for him. I think he is definitely going to get a gauge of where he is physically.
"But Sinner and then Alcaraz, like I said, they are the favourites."
With eight-time Wimbledon champion Federer retired and Djokovic now 37 as the likes of Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray near the end of their careers, Philippoussis is relieved to see tennis in safe hands with Sinner and Alcaraz, whose rivalry looks likely to dominate the sport for the rest of the decade.
The Australian added: "You have got Alcaraz and Sinner and we are lucky to have them.
"They are incredible for the game, not just because they are the champions they are at such a young age and what they bring to the table as far as their professionalism, but it is also the ambassadors they are for the sport.
"I see the way they are around kids, around fans – they are incredible. They give their time. They make sure they wait around after practice no matter how tired they are. They literally sign as many as they can, if not everyone.
"They are incredible ambassadors for the game. We were worried, especially with Federer and Nadal, Federer gone, Nadal almost there. Who's going to be taking over?
"But I think we are in very, very good hands and they are amazing to have for the game and I'm excited.
"Dominating is a tough thing, there are going to be other guys stepping up as well, but they are the ones who will be spearheading the game in years to come."
Alcaraz, who was drawn against Mark Lajal in round one, could become the youngest player in the Open Era to win at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in a calendar year, but there is always the prospect of a surprise at Wimbledon.
Asked for some of the threats to upset the leading players and go all the way at Wimbledon, Philippoussis named Grigor Dimitrov and Matteo Berrettini.
Dimitrov reached the last eight at the French Open this month – his first major quarter-final since 2021 – while Berrettini recently made the Stuttgart Open final, three years on from reaching the Wimbledon final, which he lost in four sets to Djokovic.
"Dark horses for me, I'm going to say Dimitrov," added Philippoussis, with the Bulgarian 10th seed set to take on Dusan Lajovic in the first round.
"He has been impressing me. He is hitting the ball as well as I have seen for a very long time.
"His hands and his slice backhand, the way he chips the ball back and moves on the grass and his volleys, he is definitely someone that I wouldn't want to see in my part of the draw.
"And I'm going to also say Berrettini. He lost just over a week ago in the last grass court tournament before Halle in the finals.
"He is healthy now and he has got a huge game. He lost in the finals at Wimbledon years ago and he is a dark horse as well."
Among players with 10 or more matches on grass since 2020, Berrettini (84.8%) is one of only three to hold a match win percentage above 80, with the other two being last year's finalists Djokovic (95.2%) and Alcaraz (85%).
The Toronto Raptors agreed to a deal to keep guard Immanuel Quickley on a five-year, $175million contract, multiple media outlets reported Friday.
No new contracts can become official until after the league’s transaction moratorium ends on July 6.
Quickley was traded alongside RJ Barrett ahead of last season’s deadline in the deal that sent OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks.
Quickley, 25, served as the Knicks’ sixth man, but he immediately assumed a starting role for Toronto after the trade and averaged 18.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.8 assists in 38 starts with the Raptors.
The news of Quickley’s long-term deal came just days after multiple media outlets reported that Scottie Barnes agreed to a maximum rookie extension with the Raptors for five years and $225million.
With Barnes, Quickley and Barrett all signed at least through 2027, the Raptors are hopeful they have a young core to build around in upcoming seasons.
Drafted out of Kentucky in 2020, Quickley has averaged 13.7 points and 3.5 assists in 291 career games and shot a career-best 39.5 percent from 3-point range last season.
Leylah Fernandez will play Daria Kasatkina in the women's singles final at Eastbourne following an enthralling afternoon of action.
In the first game of the day, Canadian Fernandez edged a three-set thriller 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 against Madison Keys to be the first to book her place in Saturday's final.
Having taken the first set, Keys would fight back to take the game to a decider. Despite serving three aces, Fernandez would capitalise after earning an early break point to see out the triumph.
Later that afternoon, Kasatkina would reach her fourth final this year as she came through in another three-set encounter 6-3, 5-7, 3-6 against Jasmine Paolini.
The Italian secured an early break in the third game and would cruise to a first set win, only for Kasatkina to roar back in the second as the pair traded blows throughout.
But an error-strewn final set from Paolini was punished by the Russian, with the Italian threatening a comeback but was unable to recover as she sent a ball long to confirm Kasatkina's place in back-to-back finals at Eastbourne.
Data Debrief: Eastbourne set for intriguing final
Fernandez's victory over Keys was her first against the American, with their only previous meeting back in 2021 at Roland-Garros. The Canadian also ended the contest having won 70% of her first serve points.
Kasatkina won her third game against Paolini, having lost in consecutive games against the Italian. The world number 14 finished was made to work for the victory however, saving 10 of the 14 break points she faced.
Top seed Jannik Sinner will begin his Wimbledon campaign against Yannick Hanfmann, while defending champion Carlos Alcaraz will face Mark Lajal in the first round.
Seven-time winner Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, has been drawn to face qualifier Vit Kopriva in the first round, having appeared to confirm his participation at the year's third grand slam after recovering from knee surgery.
Djokovic initially said he would only play in SW19 if he felt he had a realistic chance of winning the title after withdrawing from the French Open, but on Thursday he gave reporters a thumbs up when asked if he would participate.
The Serbian is the second seed in the men's draw, putting him on the opposite side of the bracket to both Sinner and Alcaraz – who beat him in last year's final.
Two-time champion Andy Murray, meanwhile, will face Czech Tomas Machac first if he is fit to play after undergoing surgery on a back cyst last weekend.
The 37-year-old, who is expected to retire at the end of 2024, has said he will wait until the last minute before making a decision on his participation.
The Scot could make his 16th appearance in the men's singles draw at SW19, surpassing Jeremy Bates for the outright most by any British player in the Open Era.
Murray is on the same side of the bracket as Djokovic, with fourth seed Alexander Zverev also a potential opponent for the Serbian down the line. The French Open runner-up faces Roberto Carballes Baena in his first match.
In the women's draw, world number one Iga Swiatek will begin her hunt for a first Wimbledon crown against American Sofia Kenin, with 2018 champion Angelique Kerber a potential third-round opponent for the Pole after she received a wild card.
Kerber is one of four former grand slam champions to receive a wild card into the women's draw, alongside Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka and Caroline Wozniacki.
Raducanu will start her campaign against 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova after missing last year's tournament through injury. Osaka will begin against France's Diane Parry while Wozniacki faces Alycia Parks.
Coco Gauff, seeded second, will take on Caroline Dolehide in an all-American first-round matchup, while world number three Aryna Sabalenka faces another American in Emina Bektas.
Bryce Harper limped off the field with a hamstring injury after making the final out of the Philadelphia Phillies’ 7-4 loss to the Miami Marlins on Thursday night.
Harper reached for his left hamstring after crossing first base and hobbled toward the dugout after grounding out to second.
“I felt my lower hammy, just a little bit. We’re going to get an image tomorrow and see what that looks like,” Harper said. “See how I feel tomorrow and go from there.”
Earlier in the day, the slugger was selected by fans to start at first base for the National League in the July 16 All-Star Game at Texas.
The Phillies also lost slugger Kyle Schwarber, who exited in the ninth after experiencing left groin tightness. Schwarber, normally a designated hitter, started in left field – just his third game in the field all season.
Jake Burger hit a go-ahead solo homer for Miami in the eighth after Bryan De La Cruz tied the score at 3 with a three-run double in the seventh.
Burger added an RBI single in the ninth to close the scoring.
Orioles slug 4 homers in rout of Rangers
Heston Kjerstad hit one of the Orioles’ four home runs and drove in three to back Corbin Burnes’ stellar start to lead Baltimore to an 11-2 rout of the Texas Rangers in the teams’ first matchup since last season’s American League Division Series.
Cedric Mullins, Colton Cowser and Adley Rutschman also went deep for the homer-happy Orioles, who have won two straight following a season-high five-game skid.
Baltimore leads the majors with 136 home runs with a franchise-record 57 coming in June. Only the Atlanta Braves (61 in 20023) and the Yankees (58 in 2022) have hit more in June in major league history.
Burnes scattered nine hits over seven innings and allowed one run in his 13th quality start this season. He joined teammate Grayson Rodriguez as nine-game winners.
The four-game series is a rematch of the 2023 ALDS, in which the Rangers pulled off a three-game sweep.
Jon Gray was tagged for eight runs and nine hits in five innings.
Adolis Garcia homered for the Rangers (37-44), who lost their fourth straight overall and seventh in a row on the road.
Springer’s blasts propel Blue Jays
George Springer hit a pair of three-run homers and Jose Berrios pitched seven strong innings to lift the Toronto Blue Jays to a 9-2 win over the struggling New York Yankees.
Springer entered batting just .196 with six home runs, two of which he hit on the first two days of the season. But the veteran outfielder drilled a 391-foot drive into the second deck in Toronto’s five-run first inning against Carlos Rodon, then added a 434-foot shot to center in the second to make it 8-0.
Springer’s second homer was the 250th of his career and gave him 22 multihomer games.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. added a solo homer as Toronto won its second straight following a seven-game skid.
The Yankees opened June with five consecutive wins, capping an eight-game streak, but are 7-12 since, including a season-worst four straight losses.
Berrios allowed two runs on two hits with three walks and fanned a season-best eight.
Andy Murray is pushing to feature at Wimbledon, where he will play alongside his brother Jamie in the doubles should he be fit.
The All England Club confirmed on Thursday that 37-year-old Murray, who is hoping to feature at Wimbledon for what seems likely to be the final time in his illustrious career, had received a wildcard to team up with his younger sibling in the men's doubles.
Murray had a procedure on a back injury last weekend, but is now back in training.
The former world number one and two-time Wimbledon champion said he will wait as long as possible to make a decision on his participation in the singles event.
"I'm going to wait until the last minute to see if I'm going to be able to play and I've earned that right to do that," he said.
"This is not clear-cut where I am 100% going to be ready to play or there is a 0% chance that I can play. That is the situation.
"I would say it's probably more likely that I'm not able to play singles right now.
"Maybe it's my ego getting in the way but I feel that I deserve the opportunity to give it until the very last moment to make that decision.
"It's complicated, and it's made more complicated because I want to play at Wimbledon one more time.
"I want to have that opportunity to play [in] the tournament."
Murray is planning to retire later this year, as is another modern great, Rafael Nadal, who will skip Wimbledon in order to focus on preparing for the Olympics, where he will team up with Carlos Alcaraz to represent Spain.
Novak Djokovic has been nursing an injury, but should be fit to feature at the British grand slam.
The time has come for guard Bronny James, son of four-time NBA champion LeBron James, to begin his professional career.
The 19-year-old prospect won't have to look far for mentorship.
James was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the No. 55 overall pick in the NBA Draft on Thursday, ushering in the next chapter of the years-long saga between the USC prospect and his future Hall of Fame father.
James has become a somewhat controversial prospect because his family ties appear to have as much influence over his NBA future as his on-court production.
The elder James said in January 2023 that it was a goal of his to play in the NBA with his son.
“I need to be on the floor with my boy,” he told ESPN. “I got to be on the floor with Bronny.”
In more recent interviews, James loosened his stance and opted for a more supportive and open-minded approach.
“Whatever his journey, however his journey lays out, he’s going to do what’s best for him,” LeBron said last May. “We’re going to support him in whatever he decides to do. So just because that’s my aspiration or my goal doesn’t mean it’s his. And I’m absolutely OK with that.”
Bronny’s NBA prospects became hazy on July 24, 2023, when he went into cardiac arrest during an offseason workout with the Trojans.
James was treated for a congenital heart defect in Los Angeles and New Jersey before being cleared to make his collegiate debut last December.
James, who was listed as 6-foot-4 at USC but measured 6-foot-1 ½ in socks at the NBA’s scouting combine, had an inconsistent freshman season with the 15-18 Trojans.
James averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 25 games while shooting 36.6 percent from the field and 26.7 percent from 3-point range.
Despite lacklustre shooting numbers in college, James displayed a confident shooting stroke during combine workouts, and his 40.5-inch vertical leap illustrated some impressive explosiveness.
As a small guard with an inconsistent shooting touch, James’ contributions early in his career will mainly be on the defensive end of the floor. Throughout his season at USC, James showed the athleticism, toughness and intelligence to project as a good defender at the next level.
James has good length for his size, with a wingspan over 6-foot-7, and he carries plenty of muscle on his 210-pound frame – two features that should help him on the defensive end immediately.
“Size is really the only issue for him on defence,” an NBA general manager told The Ringer in April. “If he was actually 6-foot-4 or even a bit bigger, he’d have really excellent potential.”
The NBA community appears understandably torn on James’ future.
On one hand, small guards who struggle to shoot rarely get chances at the next level, and it’s even rarer that they make an impact. Without James’ strong family ties, he likely would have been advised to return to college to show improvement as a sophomore.
James is not without upside, however, and he has shown rare explosiveness and defensive prowess that give some scouts hope he can be a long-time NBA contributor.
Emma Raducanu crashed out at Eastbourne in straight sets against Daria Kasatkina as her attention quickly turns to Wimbledon next week.
The former US Open champion was outclassed by her opponent, with the Russian cruising to a 6-2, 6-2 triumph to progress to the semi-finals of the competition.
Having started brightly, Raducanu would drop an early break point in the fourth game, allowing Kasatkina to race into a commanding lead before seeing out the first set.
The Brit would again start slow as Kasatkina found another early break, and despite Raducanu's best efforts, was unable to mount a comeback.
Kasatkina would end the match with a strong serve, with Radacanu sending the ball long to confirm the win for the Russian, who will play Jasmine Paolini in the next round.
Data Debrief: Raducanu second-best at Eastbourne
Radacanu was outclassed by the world number 14 throughout but can take confidence from her two impressive wins over Jessica Pegula and Sloane Stephens.
For Kasatkina, she reached her second consecutive semi-final at Eastbourne, impressing on centre court as she won 68% of her first serve points against Raducanu.
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