Sports
Alexander Zverev through to 4th round at Wimbledon
Germany’s Alexander Zverev in action against the United States’ Marcos Giron at Wimbledon on July 4, 2026. Alexander Zverev is showing no hangover effects after capturing his first-ever Grand Slam event.
The French Open champion, who has typically struggled on the grass at Wimbledon, reached the fourth round with a convincing 6-2, 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory over Marcos Giron on Saturday.
The German served brilliantly, smashing 17 aces to only three double-faults and won 54-of-70 first-serve points.
After a routine first set, neither player flinched in the second, leading to a tie-breaker. Zverev sprinted to a 6-2 lead in the breaker, but Giron held off three consecutive set points before succumbing on the second seed’s forehand volley winner.
“He (Giron) is somebody who plays fantastic on grass and he shows it every time he steps out on the surface,” Zverev said. “He has won tour-level events on the surface, I knew that I had to be a hundred per cent ready from the first point onwards and I am very happy to be through in straight sets.”
Zverev has never been past the fourth round in London. To do so, he will have to take out No. 13 Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic, who edged Spain’s Jaume Munar, 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
Lehecka blasted 52 winners in the four-set win and staved off six of Munar’s eight break point opportunities.
Zverev is 1-1 versus Lehecka, but the two have not played since 2023.
In the other quarter of the bracket, fifth-seeded Alex de Minaur outlasted Zachary Svajda, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 and No. 9 Flavio Cobolli of Italy rallied to knock off Russia’s Karen Khachanov, 0-6, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-2.
The Australian took advantage of Svajda’s second serve, winning 35-of-50 points and converting eight break point chances. He also was efficient at the net, winning 22-of-27 while moving forward in the two-hour, 40-minute match.
“I feel great. I’m happy to get through the first week. This is the first goal of the tournament, obviously,” De Minaur said. “It’s getting down to crunch time, I guess. I’m happy with the way I have been playing. The body is feeling great. I thought today was probably the best I moved around the court.”
Cobolli, the French Open runner-up to Zverev, won only nine points in the first set. But after splitting a pair of tie-breakers, he flipped the early script, recording 22 winners and only 10 unforced errors.
de Minaur has won both matches against Cobolli, but the two hard-hitting baseliners have not played since 2024.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Oilers sign D Shakir Mukhamadullin to 2-year extension
Mar 6, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin (85) warms up before the game against the St. Louis Blues at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images The Edmonton Oilers signed newly acquired defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin to a two-year, $3.5 million contract extension, his agents confirmed Saturday.
The 24-year-old restricted free agent joined the Oilers along with defenseman Zachary Sharp in a trade Wednesday that sent veteran blueliner Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks.
Mukhamadullin recorded a career-high 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 50 games with the Sharks in 2025-26. He has 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 83 games since making his NHL debut with San Jose in January 2024.
The New Jersey Devils drafted Russia’s Mukhamadullin in the first round (20th overall) in 2020 and traded him to the Sharks in February 2023.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Paige Bueckers on a scoring binge as Wings visit Tempo
Jul 2, 2026; Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) reacts after her basket and foul by the Connecticut Sun in the second half at PeoplesBank Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images Paige Bueckers figures to play a key role again Sunday against when the Dallas Wings look for a 2-0 start to their four-game road trip in a visit to the Toronto Tempo.
Bueckers scored 25 points for the third consecutive game on Thursday when the Wings (12-8) opened the trip with an 86-83 victory over the Connecticut Sun. She added seven rebounds and seven assists, while scoring 11 of her points in the fourth quarter as Dallas overcame an 11-point deficit with 7:11 to play.
“She does things every single day that now you’re not surprised by anymore,” Wings coach Jose Fernandez said. “She’s just different. She’s such a competitor and a winner, and she just refuses to lose. Certain guys don’t want the ball in their hands at the end, don’t want to take the big shot, and she never shies away from the big moment.”
Jessica Shepard added 14 points for Dallas and reserve Alanna Smith scored 11 for Dallas, which had lost its previous two games.
Before Bueckers’ streak of three 25-point games, she scored 27 against the Seattle Storm in a 112-110 overtime win on June 22.
After visiting the New York Liberty on Tuesday, the Wings will end their road swing Friday against the Tempo at Montreal.
The Tempo (9-10) have been idle since an 89-80 home loss to the Phoenix Mercury on June 27.
The Tempo were without Marina Mabrey in the loss because of neck spasms. In Toronto’s previous game, she tied a WNBA record with 53 points in a 125-97 home victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on June 25.
“I didn’t know until right before the game,” Tempo coach Sandy Brondello said of Mabrey’s injury. “She warmed up … and then they ruled her out. That was hard, because you can’t really plan, you’re planning on the fly, and rotations change a little bit.”
Mabrey has been listed as day-to-day. She was at practice on Friday and appears set to play on Sunday.
In Mabrey’s absence, Nyara Sabally led Toronto with 14 points against Phoenix. Reserve Tima Pouye added 13 points. Kia Nurse replaced Mabrey at guard and scored 12. Isabelle Harrison had 12 points and seven rebounds while Julie Allemand had 11 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.
“Julie is such a great playmaking guard, and she wants to create if you can set really good screens,” Brondello said. “She’s a pass-first point guard. I mean, who wouldn’t want to play with someone like that?”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braxton Ashcraft solid in Pirates' 7-1 win against Nationals
Jul 4, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (6) celebrates scoring a run with third baseman Nick Gonzales (3) against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images Brandon Lowe and Henry Davis each drove in two runs and Braxton Ashcraft struck out seven in a solid start as the Pittsburgh Pirates earned a 7-1 road win over the Washington Nationals on Saturday.
Ashcraft (9-3) allowed one run on six hits with two walks in 5 2/3 innings. Bryan Reynolds, Ryan O’Hearn and Nick Gonzales each had two hits for the Pirates.
James Wood hit his 23rd home run of the season and Daylen Lile had two hits for the Nationals.
Pittsburgh racked up five hits to open a 5-1 lead in the second. Gonzales singled, Jake Mangum was hit by a pitch and Tyler Callihan reached on a bunt single.
Nationals starter Carson Palmquist (0-1) was relieved by Zack Littell, who surrendered Davis’ RBI infield single, scoring Gonzales. Konnor Griffin struck out swinging, but Lowe’s two-run single scored Callihan and Mangum and advanced Davis to second. After Reynolds fouled out to third, Esmerlyn Valdez’s blooper to right drove in Davis.
Earlier, Griffin opened the game by poking a single into right field. He stole second base, and after Lowe struck out swinging, advanced to third on Reynolds’ infield single.
Palmquist struck out Valdez, but Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead on a double steal as Reynolds swiped second and Griffin slid home safely ahead of the throw from Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams.
Wood evened the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first when he drove a first-pitch fastball 428 feet to right for a homer.
Riley Cornelio relieved Littell in the eighth and Pittsburgh extended its lead to 7-1. Reynolds reached on a dribbler down the first-base line. Valdez struck out looking and O’Hearn singled to right. With runners on first and third, Gonzales laced an RBI single to left. Mangum reached on a fielder’s choice that forced out Gonzales at second, but Callihan walked to load the bases. Davis coaxed a walk to drive in another run.
Palmquist allowed four runs on four hits with no walks and three strikeouts in one inning.
–Field Level Media
Oilers sign D Shakir Mukhamadullin to 2-year extension
Paige Bueckers on a scoring binge as Wings visit Tempo
