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
Report: Celtics' Neemias Queta agrees to 4-year, $56M extension
Apr 21, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) controls the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first half of a game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images The Boston Celtics are picking up their team option on Neemias Queta for next season and will sign the 7-foot center to a fully guaranteed four-year, $56 million contract extension.
Queta’s agent, Bill Duffy of WME Basketball, told ESPN of the deal on Friday morning that locks in his client through the 2030-31 season. The Celtics exercised Queta’s $2.67 million team option for the 2026-27 season, with the new contract starting with the 2027-28 campaign.
Queta averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots in 76 games (75 starts) this past season. He shot 65.3% from the field en route to finishing fourth in the NBA’s Most Improved Player voting.
He has averages of 7.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in 186 career games (81 starts) with the Sacramento Kings and Celtics. He was selected by the Kings in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft.
Queta will turn 27 on July 13.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: G Kyle Lowry to sign 1-day contract with Raptors, then retire
Mar 19, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Kyle Lowry (7) runs up the court during the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images Kyle Lowry, a veteran of 20 NBA seasons, intends to sign a one-day contract with the Toronto Raptos and retire with the franchise for which his name is synonymous, Sportsnet reported Friday.
The Memphis Grizzlies selected Lowry, now 40, with the No. 24 overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft and at the 2009 trade deadline. He was dealt him to the Houston Rockets as part of a three-team deal that returned Adonal Foyle, Mike Wilks and a 2009 first-round draft pick to Memphis from the Orlando Magic.
Before the 2012-13 season, the Rockets traded him to the Raptors for Gary Forbes and a 2013 first-round pick.
It was in Toronto that Lowry became a star, earning six consecutive All-Star selections (2014-20) and winning the 2018-19 NBA title with the Raptors.
He is the franchise’s all-team leader in 3-point field goals (1,518), assists (4,277) and steals (873). He stands second to another Toronto icon, DeMar DeRozan, in minutes played and games played.
A rebuilding Toronto team traded Lowry to the Miami Heat prior to the 2021-22 season, and he later signed with his hometown Philadelphia 76ers in 2014, appearing in just 72 games there over two-plus seasons.
He ends his career with averages of 13.8 points, 6.0 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals over 1,187 career games.
In his 601 games over nine seasons in Toronto, Lowry averaged 17.5 points, 7.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.
He also won a 2016 Olympic gold medal with Team USA.
Sportsnet reported the Raptors have set a news conference for Tuesday, at which time is it expected Lowry will sign the contract and retire.
–Field Level Media
Sports
MLB Best Bets: Friday Picks for Cardinals-Cubs and Red Sox-Angels
Jun 30, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) hits a two-run home run against the San Diego Padres during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images Happy 250th to all! We’ve got a packed weekend of baseball on tap, let’s celebrate the holiday with some winning MLB picks.
Season Record 40-40-2, -2.68 Units
Cardinals at Cubs
Cards F5 (+102 FanDuel)
We get a nice Rivalry Series here with the added twist that these teams are right in the middle of the NL Wild Card chase. That’s kind of surprising as far as the Cardinals are concerned as they sold off all sorts of pieces in the offseason as they looked to open up playing time for their younger players. Well its worked way better than they could have imagined. Jordan Walker has finally lived up to his prospect hype, and then some as he’s slashing 288/.342/.509 with 18 homers and 59 RBI’s in a shade over half a season. Meanwhile JJ Wetherholt is the current NL ROY favorite as he mans 2B and bats leadoff every day and he’s popped 12 homers with 9 steals and a .259 average. He’s got crazy good control of the strike zone for a rookie with a 10.35 BB% vs, a 15.9% K%.
I mostly love the Cards in this spot thanks to the pitching matchup. St Louis starts Andre Pallante, who’s quietly given them a very solid season. He has a 3.83 ERA and 1.23 WHIP while not missing a start and getting decently deep into games. He’s gone at least 6 IP in his last 4 starts and 8 of his last 11. He doesn’t get the whiffs you’d like as he has just an 18.7% K%, but he does limit contact well. His EV against is just 87 and it’s mostly on the ground with a 6.8 LA. That should prove helpful in hot and possibly windy Wrigley.
The Cubs counter with David Peterson, just imported from the reeling Mets. He pitched well in his first start with Chicago (5.2 IP, 2 ER) but it came with only 2 K’s. It’s been an overall forgettable year though with a 5.86 ERA and 1.59 WHIP. Like Palencia, he doesn’t strike out many (19.2%) and keeps in on the ground (7.7 LA). Unlike Pallante, its 90 EV contact. He’ll be better with the Cubs thanks their infield defense, but its a really tough formula for success. Give me the Cards here.
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Red Sox at Angels
Under 8 (-115 bet365)
It’s two pretty weak teams here but we have a nice matchup of lefties at least. Jake Bennett starts for the Red Sox and he has a 3.27 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 6 starts. He’s really been lethal in his last 2 outings, limiting the Rockies (at Coors) and the Yankees to just 1 ER total over 12.1 IP. The Angels start Reid Detmers and he’s a rare bright spot in another dismal season in Anaheim with a 3.88 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 27.8% K%. His xERA of 3.01 suggests he’s been even better than that. The Red Sox have played a bit better recently, but it’s mostly thanks to the their pitching as they still have a lousy lineup. Let’s bank on the arms here.
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Report: Celtics' Neemias Queta agrees to 4-year, $56M extension
Report: G Kyle Lowry to sign 1-day contract with Raptors, then retire
