Sports
Alexander Blockx latest youngster to knock off high seed in Madrid
Jul 27, 2025; Toronto, ON, Canada; Alexander Blockx (BEL) hits a ball to Duje Ajdukovic (not pictured) in qualifying play at Sobeys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images Alexander Blockx of Belgium was the latest player to secure his first career top-10 victory when he upset Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (3), 6-3 on Monday in the third round of the Madrid Open.
Blockx, 21, reached the Round of 16 for the second straight ATP Masters 1000 event after first doing so at the Monte Carlo Masters.
His first career match against Auger-Aliassime, ranked fifth in the world, was by far the biggest achievement of his young career.
“In the first set, I was just trying to find my game,” Blockx said. “On my service games it went pretty smoothly, (as it did) on his service games. I had a couple of chances. But in the second set, it was one of my best levels I have played here.”
Blockx shone on his service games, winning 35 of 42 first-serve points (83.3%) and 50 of his 66 service points in all (75.8%) while firing five aces.
“I was serving amazing from the beginning of the match,” Blockx said. “I had so much confidence. I didn’t even think about panicking or losing my serve. I was playing well in the rallies, too, so I knew even if I missed a few serves, I could play the rallies.”
Blockx is the latest in a strong young contingent to earn his first top-10 victory during this tournament, after Spanish teen Rafael Jodar knocked off Australian Alex de Minaur and Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic defeated Ben Shelton in earlier rounds.
No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany had to fend off a late stand from France’s Terence Atmane to win 6-3, 7-6 (2). Atmane trailed 5-2 in the second set but saved two match points en route to forcing the tiebreaker, where Zverev ultimately seized control.
A two-time Madrid champion (2018, 2021), Zverev has now reached the Round of 16 in all nine of his starts at the tournament.
Zverev’s next opponent will be Czech up-and-comer Jakub Mensik, the 23rd seed, who took down Russian 13th seed Karen Khachanov 6-4, 7-6 (11). Khachanov saved two match points during the tiebreaker but Mensik staved off four of Khachanov’s set-point opportunities before getting the job done.
No. 7 seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia eased past Norwegian qualifier Nicolai Budkov Kjaer 6-3, 6-2 in 69 minutes, while No. 10 Flavio Cobolli of Italy won by the same scoreline over Paraguayan qualifier Adolfo Daniel Vallejo. Medvedev and Cobolli will meet in the fourth round.
Tour veteran Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece was pleased with his performance in a 6-4, 6-2 win over Spanish qualifier Daniel Merida in 68 minutes.
“I really love the game when I get to discover tennis in such ways. Just hitting winners, missing a few times, but overall trying to take the most out of it. Seeing good rotation of my ball and seeing I can actually press and create some big shots, these are the types of moments that make me really enjoy the game,” Tsitsipas said.
His next opponent will be No. 12 Casper Ruud of Norway, who beat No. 20 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain 6-3, 6-1.
No. 16 Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina sailed past No. 18 Luciano Darderi of Italy 6-2, 6-3, and will take on Blockx in the Round of 16.
–Field Level Media
Sports
WWE reaches deal with The CW to broadcast NXT premium live events
Jan 28, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque aka Triple H speaks during a press conference after the WWE Royal Rumble at the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images The WWE announced on Tuesday that it has reached a deal with The CW to broadcast all NXT premium live events exclusively on network going forward.
That deal is set to begin with The Great American Bash this summer and will include the next 20 PLEs over the next several years, airing them simultaneously live across the country.
This will bring the entirety of the television programming for NXT, which “showcases WWE’s hottest up-and-coming Superstars,” to The CW. The network already broadcasts the weekly NXT show on Tuesdays.
“WWE NXT has energized our Tuesday nights by consistently delivering a loyal and passionate fanbase to The CW every week,” Brad Schwartz, president of The CW, said in a statement. “Adding WWE NXT Premium Live Events to our schedule is a natural fit, providing one broadcast destination for audiences to watch all their favorite Superstars, storylines and championship matches.”
NXT, which began airing weekly in 2012, is less than two years into a five-year deal it signed with CW in October 2024 to broadcast its weekly programming.
“The CW has played an integral role in raising the profile of our up-and-coming Superstars, and we are excited to bring NXT Premium Live Events to broadcast television for the first time ever,” Shawn Michaels, WWE senior vice president of talent development creative, said in a statement.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Bucs exercise 5th-year option on DT Calijah Kancey
NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive Calijah Kancey The Buccaneers exercised the fifth-year option for defensive tackle Calijah Kancey on Monday, ensuring he remains in Tampa through the 2027 season.
The option reportedly gives Kancey $14.475 million in guaranteed money for the 2027 campaign.
Kancey went on injured reserve on Sept. 17 with a torn pectoral muscle that required what was reported at the time to be season-ending surgery, though he returned for the final game of the season.
The 25-year-old has been hampered by injuries since entering the league in 2023. He missed three of the first four games of his rookie season with a calf injury and was sidelined again by a calf injury to start the 2024 season, though he returned to finish that season with 7.5 sacks in the final 12 games.
The 2023 first-round draft pick (19th overall) has recorded 11.5 sacks, 30 quarterback hits, 55 tackles, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble in 29 career games (28 starts).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Cowboys signing WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Dec 21, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) catches a pass during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling is signing a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys, NFL Network reported Monday.
Further terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Valdes-Scantling had 14 catches for 120 yards and a touchdown last season in 10 regular-season games with the San Francisco 49ers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He will be competing for playing time with CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin, Jonathan Mingo and Anthony Smith.
Valdes-Scantling, 31, has 219 receptions for 3,686 yards in 116 career games (69 starts) for the Green Bay Packers (2018-21), Kansas City Chiefs (2022-23), Buffalo Bills (2024), New Orleans Saints (2024), 49ers (2025) and Steelers (2025).
The Packers selected him in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
–Field Level Media
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