Sports
Jack Draper continues hot run, upsets Taylor Fritz in Paris
Sep 4, 2024; Flushing, NY, USA; Jack Draper of Great Britain celebrates after defeating Alex de Minaur of Australia on day nine of the U.S. Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images Great Britain’s Jack Draper continued his torrid play, knocking off fifth-seeded Taylor Fritz 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-4 on Wednesday to advance to the Round of 16 at the Rolex Paris Masters.
Draper has won seven consecutive matches, dating back to the start of the Erste Bank Open, which he captured on Sunday in Vienna, Austria, for his second tour-level victory.
The Brit had the edge on the American in winners (38-27) and aces (14-8), and he forced Fritz to save eight of 10 break-point opportunities. Draper faced only two and didn’t save either. He was better on first-serve points, winning 77 percent (40 of 52) to 68 percent (43 of 63) for Fritz.
“I know if I want to be a consistent top player, I’m going to have to back up match after match against the top players in the world,” Draper said. “The toughest part (in Paris) has been adjusting to the conditions. It’s a lot different, a lot faster, which has made it tougher off the ground. I didn’t play my best, but I’m proud of how I competed and problem-solved.”
Third-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany reached a tour milestone with his 7-6 (2), 6-2 win over Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands. Zverev has advanced to the Round of 16 at all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments in one season.
He is the fourth different player to accomplish the feat in series history — the most recent being Rafael Nadal in 2017. Nadal and Novak Djokovic were the first to do it, in 2009. Tomas Berdych did it twice, in 2011 and 2013.
Zverev, 6-1 all-time against Griekspoor, took advantage of his opponent’s 17 unforced errors. Griekspoor recorded slightly more winners (20-19) while committing just nine unforced errors.
The German saved all three break points he faced and converted his lone break-point opportunity.
“The last few matches that we played always went the distance, 7-6 in the fifth (at the French Open), 7-6 in the third (in Shanghai) as well,” said Zverev, who has won all six tiebreakers in his past five matches against Griekspoor. “So I’m happy that it didn’t go that far today. I felt for the first match it was pretty good from my end.”
The home fans got a thrill when France’s Arthur Cazaux upset hard-serving American Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (4). Cazaux, who had a 21-15 advantage in winners, was only in the draw as a lucky loser because world No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy withdrew because of a virus.
Cazaux advanced to a third-round match against Denmark’s Holger Rune, the 2022 Paris winner and 13th seed who knocked off Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik 6-4, 6-2.
Another Frenchman, Arthur Fils, will meet Zverev for a berth in the quarterfinals. Fils won 6-3, 6-4 against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff. French wild card Adrian Mannarino rallied to get past Belgian lucky loser Zizou Bergs 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
French wild card Arthur Rinderknech also advanced out of the Round of 32 in a battle with American Alex Michelsen 7-6 (6), 7-6 (7). France’s Ugo Humbert, the 15th seed, downed American qualifier Marcos Giron 6-3, 6-2.
Russia’s Karen Khachanov overcame a tough first set to eliminate French wild card Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-7 (12), 6-1, 6-4.
Australia’s Alexei Popyrin upset No. 4 Daniil Medvedev of Russia 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4). No. 9 Alex de Minaur of Australia downed Serbian lucky loser Miomir Kecmanovic 6-4, 7-6 (5), and No. 8 Grigor Dmitrov of Bulgaria rallied past Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-7 (9), 6-3, 7-5.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cardinals scouting director to appeal NFL's gambling suspension
Arizona Cardinals logo at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 6, 2016. Two days after Arizona Cardinals director of college scouting Ryan Gold was suspended indefinitely by the NFL, his attorney responded, calling the allegations “blatantly false” and stating that they would be appealing the ruling.
On Friday, the league took the action after determining that Gold had disclosed confidential draft details and placed wagers involving football games. The NFL did not state to which parties that Gold had provided the information.
The league revealed that Gold disclosed inside information regarding Arizona’s 2026 draft picks prior to their announcement. Additionally, investigators discovered he took part in parlays involving NFL and college football games.
The suspension took effect immediately, but an appeal is permitted.
“Ryan Gold has been an outstanding NFL executive for over a decade,” attorney Mike Caspino said in a statement on Sunday. “The accusations made by the league regarding his participation in prohibited gambling activities are blatantly false. We have demanded an appeal and we look forward to clearing his good name.”
Caspino claimed that Gold’s wife, Jennifer, was making $10 weekly bets with a group of high school friends on parlays and that Gold played no role in that activity.
He added that Gold did not know whom the Cardinals were selecting because only team owner Michael Bidwill and general manager Monti Ossenfort knew and did not share that information.
NFL rules prohibit league and club employees from betting on sports, assisting others with wagers or providing information that is not available to the public.
“Although there is no reason to believe the integrity of any NFL game was affected,” the NFL said in Friday’s statement, “the league takes any violation of the gambling policy with the utmost seriousness.”
The league said its investigation included interviews and a review of electronic records. It found no evidence that any Cardinals player, coach or other employee knew about or participated in Gold’s actions. There was also no indication that a play or game had been compromised.
The Cardinals on Friday issued a statement saying they “fully support the league’s decision in this matter.” They removed Gold’s bio from the team’s official website.
Gold was entering his 13th year with the organization and his second as director of college scouting. He was promoted to the position in June 2025 after three seasons as Arizona’s assistant director of college scouting. He previously spent four years with the organization as a college scouting coordinator.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Thunder deal Luguentz Dort to Hawks in 3-team trade
May 26, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) shoots during the third quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in game five of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images The Atlanta Hawks acquired 2025 All-Defensive wing Luguentz Dort from the Oklahoma City Thunder and Ryan Nembhard from the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team deal on Sunday.
The Hawks sent former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher and a protected future second-round draft pick to the Mavericks, with two more future second-rounders going to the Thunder. Dallas is shipping one second-rounder to Oklahoma City.
While Dort has been a mainstay in Oklahoma City’s starting lineup for years, the move completed a necessary stretch of offseason deals for the Thunder. They acquired seven second-round picks while going under the second apron with their trades of Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins.
Oklahoma City picked up Dort’s $17.7 million team option, acquired three future assets and created a $17 million trade exception. Dort is now in position to sign a long-term contract in Atlanta that was infeasible with the Thunder.
Dort, 27, joins a young Hawks team led by Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker that won more playoff games against the NBA champion New York Knicks than any other opponent. Atlanta also freed up $40-plus million in cap space next summer.
Dort, who finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2024-25, averaged 8.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in 69 games last season. He averaged 11.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in seven seasons with the Thunder.
In his second NBA season, the 21-year-old Risacher averaged 9.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 67 games. However, he received just 23 minutes during the playoffs. The forward finished second to the Spurs’ Stephon Castle in the NBA’s 2025 Rookie of the Year voting.
Nembhard, 23, played in 60 games for the Mavericks as a rookie guard last season. The undrafted free agent made 27 starts and averaged 6.6 points, 5.3 assists and 2.2 rebounds.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Lakers sign developing forward Ziaire Willaims
Mar 31, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams (1) controls the ball against Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) during the third quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Lakers announced the signing of five-year veteran forward Ziaire Williams on Sunday.
Terms were not released, but multiple outlets reported on Monday that the deal was for one year at a $3 million salary.
The 6-foot-9 Williams is reuniting with Bronny James, who he played alongside at California high school Sierra Canyon. The Lancaster, Calif. native earned McDonald’s All-America honors and was a consensus five-star recruit in the 2020 class.
The No. 10 overall pick in the 2021 draft out of Stanford by the Memphis Grizzlies, Williams is a career 8.7 points-per-game scorer, though he averaged a career high 10.2 points last season for the Nets, his second season in Brooklyn after three seasons in Memphis.
He reached career highs in games played and starts (63/45), points (632), field goals made (214), 3-point field goals made (103), rebounds (287), assists (84) and blocked shots (28) during his first season in Brooklyn.
Williams, 24, converted 85% (119 of 140) of his free throw attempts in 2025-26 and is an 82.4% career shooter from the stripe.
–Field Level Media
Cardinals scouting director to appeal NFL's gambling suspension
Thunder deal Luguentz Dort to Hawks in 3-team trade
