Djokovic puts Alcaraz ‘slightly ahead’ of Sinner in Sunday’s Wimbledon final
After his 3-6, 3-6, 4-6 loss to Sinner, Novak Djokovic put the final perspective and picked the two-time defending champion Alcaraz as the slight favorite for Sunday’s final. Reaching his fourth successive major final and a first at Wimbledon, Sinner became the first man since the Big 4 – Roger Federer, Djokovic, Nadal, and Andy Murray – to mark a final appearance at all four Grand Slams. While Alcaraz has remained unbeaten on Centre Court since 2023, the Spaniard has yet to reach the final in the Australian Open. While Djokovic kept Alcaraz a rung higher than his semi-final nemesis, he also offered the hard-hitting Sinner his chances. “Well, I think I will give a slight edge to Carlos as a favourite because of the two titles he’s won here and the way he’s playing and the confidence he has right now,” the 24-time Grand Slam winner said after his semi-final defeat. “But it’s just a slight advantage ’cause Jannik is hitting the ball extremely well. I think it’s going to be, again, a very close matchup like we had in Paris, yeah.” Sinner is coming off a harrowing defeat to Alcaraz in the French Open last month, losing a golden opportunity after having himself at championship point. The Italian said the Roland-Garros blip is not playing in his mind as he sets himself up for another Alcaraz test. “I’m thrilled to share once again the court with Carlos. It’s going to be difficult, I know that. But I’m looking forward to it, no? I always try to put myself in this kind of situation that I really love. Sundays are very special at every tournament. “But this is a question I cannot answer because I think it’s something that you feel before the match, and also during the match. I can give you answers later. But no, it’s a different match. I’m looking forward to it.” Five-time Slam winner Alcaraz similarly downplayed his edge over the world No. 1. “I’m pretty sure he’s going to take a lot of things from the French Open final, that he’s going to be better. He’s going to be better physically, and he’s going to be better mentally. He’s going to be prepared on Sunday to give his 100%. I’m not thinking or I have an advantage mentally Sunday because of that match,” said Alcaraz.
Messi’s brace helps Inter secure victory and the record of consecutive 15-match winning streak!
Lionel Messi extended his record scoring streak in Major League Soccer with two more goals in a 2-1 victory for host Inter Miami over Nashville SC on Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Messi’s brace helped Inter Miami (11-3-5, 38 points) snap a club-record of unbeaten streak of 15 matches across all competitions for Nashville (12-5-5, 41 points), which lost for the first time since April 19 at Seattle. Messi scored two or more goals for the fifth consecutive time in an MLS match — a league record. Inter Miami improved to 4-0-1 in its last five matches with Nashville while also winning its fifth consecutive MLS match overall. Miami has won three in a row since Paris Saint.-Germain eliminated it in the round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup on June 29. Messi capitalised on a major mistake by Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis to score the eventual decisive goal in the 62nd minute on Saturday. Willis chested a ball and tried to clear it out of his zone, but kicked it right in Messi’s direction. Messi intercepted it with his left foot, then worked the ball around Willis and fired it home to put Miami ahead for good. The goal came 13 minutes after Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar tied the game at 1 with a perfectly timed header off a pinpoint cross from distance by Andy Najar. It was Mukhtar’s 10th goal of the season. Patrick Yazbek also had an assist. Messi’s first goal came in the 17th minute on another spectacular free-kick goal. Messi fired a ball precisely through a gap in the wall set up by Nashville’s defenders, and it found the mark just out of the reach of a diving Willis. Messi’s 16 goals are tied for the most in the league with Nashville’s Sam Surridge, who was kept off the scoresheet on Saturday. Messi has 23 goal contributions in MLS games this season and has 22 goals across all competitions.
Southee mocks Gill after Crawley gets into a heated exchange with India
It was a dramatic end to day three of the third Test with opener Zak Crawley using the delaying tactic to ensure England only played one over before stumps. Still, the Indians, led by Shubman Gill, were hardly amused. Speaking after close of play, England bowling consultant Tim Southee and India opener K. L. Rahul said the heated exchange between the Indian fielders and the home team openers formed the essence of a hard-fought day in Test cricket. Speedster Jasprit Bumrah clapped in sarcasm as Crawley seemingly faked pain in his hand after defending the ball from the middle of the bat. “It’s good and always exciting to see both sides animated towards the end. Not sure what they were complaining about when Gill was lying down getting a massage in the middle of the day yesterday. It’s obviously part of the game, near the end of the day, it’s an exciting way to finish the day,” Southee said. Asked about Crawley in jest, South said, “Yeah, he (Crawley) will be assessed overnight. I hope he’ll be alright to carry on tomorrow.” Rahul said Crawley’s tactic was understandable considering he is an opener himself. “What happened at the end is just part of the game now. I understand from an opening batter’s point of view. I know exactly what was going on, and everyone knows exactly what was going on. But an opening batter will understand completely what happened in the last five minutes,” he said. Gill, too, was fired up, and his raw emotions reflected on the audio from the stump mic. “I have seen him fired up, but obviously we wanted to bowl two overs. There were six minutes left. Obviously, two overs is a no-brainer that any team will bowl two overs with six minutes to go.
