Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic, Ben Shelton and 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva reach the quarterfinals
LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic has overcame an uncharacteristically unsteady start to avoid what would have been his earliest exit at Wimbledon since 2016. Djokovic took the last five games and 14 of the final 15 points to come through for a 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over 11th-seeded Alex de Minaur in the fourth round Monday. Djokovic’s bid for an eighth Wimbledon title and 25th Grand Slam trophy will continue against No. 22 Flavio Cobolli. No. 10 Ben Shelton, 18-year-old Mirra Andreev and Belinda Bencic also won their fourth-round matches on Monday, when Roger Federer sat in the Royal Box at Centre Court.
Wimbledon blames human error for a mistake by the tech that replaced officials. Here’s what happened
LONDON (AP) — The All England Club is blaming human error for a glaring mistake by the electronic system that replaced human line judges this year at Wimbledon. The CEO of the club, Sally Bolton, says the ball-tracking technology was inadvertently deactivated by someone for three points at Centre Court during Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova’s three-set victory over Sonay Kartal in the fourth round Sunday. On one, a shot by Kartal clearly landed past the baseline but wasn’t called out by the automated setup because it had been shut off. Bolton declined to say who made the mistake or how, exactly, it occurred or whether that person would face any consequences or be re-trained.
Powell joining Heat, Collins to Clippers, Love and Anderson to Utah in 3-team trade, AP source says
MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Heat are acquiring Norman Powell, John Collins is going to the Los Angeles Clippers and Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson are headed to the Utah Jazz as parts of a three-team trade, a person with knowledge of the agreement said Monday. Also in the deal: at least one second-round draft pick, going from the Clippers to Utah, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade has not gotten the required approval from the NBA.
Spain’s 6-2 win over Belgium puts it on brink of Euro 2025 quarterfinals
THUN, Switzerland (AP) — World Cup champion Spain is closing in on the quarterfinals of the Women’s European Championship after another statement victory. It routed Belgium 6-2 in Thun. It is the first time Spain has won back-to-back matches at the Euros. Belgium briefly equalized twice but Spain’s relentless attack secured the win. Alexia Putellas scored twice. Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí was brought on at halftime. She was hospitalized for viral meningitis shortly before the tournament.
Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber will skip Home Run Derby the night before All-Star Game
New York Mets slugger and two-time winner Pete Alonso joined Philadelphia designated hitter Kyle Schwarber in electing to skip the Home Run Derby. The derby will be held next Monday, the night before the All-Star Game, at Truist Park in Atlanta. Both told reporters of their decision Sunday. The hitters so far who have committed to the event are Nationals outfielder James Wood, Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. and Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. Alonso was named a National League reserve for the All-Star Game in a season where he’s hit 20 homers. Alonso won the Home Run Derby in 2019 and 2021. It wasn’t held in 2020.
Less than year from the World Cup, US player pool becomes a game of ‘Survivor’
Having expanded his player pool during a CONCACAF Gold Cup that ended with a 2-1 loss to Mexico in Sunday’s final, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino has eight friendlies left from September through March to evaluate players to pick for the World Cup. Following a CONCACAF Nations League flop with his A team in March, Pochettino had largely a B squad for the Gold Cup. His overall player pool appears weak at goalkeeper and central defender, has little proven depth at outside back and no clear choice at striker.
NASCAR’s first in-season tournament adds some drama to the Cup Series finish in Chicago
CHICAGO (AP) — NASCAR’s first in-season tournament hasn’t made much of an impression on its drivers so far. Ty Gibbs said Sunday he didn’t know who his second-round opponent was until after the Cup Series race. That might be about to change. Gibbs is one of eight drivers still in the mix for the $1 million prize that goes to the winner of the five-race, bracket-style competition. While Shane van Gisbergen was closing out his Cup victory in Chicago this weekend, some of the most compelling action on the downtown street course was connected to the inaugural In-Season Challenge.
Book Review: Christine Brennan’s ‘On Her Game’ explores the Caitlin Clark Effect on the WNBA
USA Today reporter Christine Brennan jumped aboard the Caitlin Clark bandwagon early and spent a big chunk of her rookie season covering games, asking questions post-game, and landing interviews with everyone but the title heroine. Her unauthorized biography, “On Her Game,” delves into the at times “frosty reception” Clark received in the WNBA, writes AP reviewer Rob Merrill. She looks at race and possible jealousy over the player’s eight-year $28 million Nike shoe deal. But Merrill warns fans looking for tidbits about Clark that are not already part of the record will need to look elsewhere. “On Her Game” publishes Tuesday.
Little green man becomes little green woman with soccer ball for Euro 2025 in Switzerland
BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — Law-abiding pedestrians wait for the green woman kicking a soccer ball before they cross the road during the Women’s European Championship. Authorities in the Swiss city of Basel have installed 12 of the altered pedestrian crossing lights at locations frequented by soccer fans while the country hosts the nearly month-long tournament. Some are located near the soccer stadium, others near the train station. Nicole Ryf-Stocker, spokesperson for Basel’s transport department, says. “They will stay until the end of the Women’s Euro – maybe even a few days longer.”
Tour de France: Belgian rider Merlier wins third stage, Pogačar finishes safely
DUNKERQUE, France (AP) — Belgian rider Tim Merlier has won the third stage of the Tour de France in a photo finish and Mathieu Van der Poel has kept the yellow jersey. Defending champion Tadej Pogačar and two-time winner Jonas Vingegaard have finished safely in the main pack. When the sprinters turned for home into a strong headwind, several crashed near the line at top speeds of 65 kph (40 mph). Merlier just got ahead of Italian Jonathan Milan as they lunged to the line. German rider Phil Bauhaus was third.
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