Sports
Jannik Sinner sees record set streak snapped, advances in Monte Carlo
Mar 29, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Jannik Sinner of Italy hits a backhand against Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic after beating him in the final of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images No. 2 Jannik Sinner saw his record streak of consecutive sets won at ATP Masters 1000 events snapped at 37, but the Italian still managed to beat Czech competitor Tomas Machac 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Monte-Carlo Masters on Thursday.
Sinner, whose streak was 13 sets longer than any other since the 1000 series began in 1990, overcame committing more unforced errors (30) than winners (23) by winning 47.2% of his return points and by creating 11 break-point opportunities and converting seven of them.
He lost consecutive service games in the second set to fall behind 5-2 but rallied to force the tiebreaker which he lost handily to see his streak snapped.
“In the second set, I struggled a bit with trying to find the right energy. This can happen. I tried to push myself through, which I’ve done,” Sinner said. “Even when you don’t feel the best, I’m trying to find ways. That was the case today. I’m happy.”
He’ll face No. 6 Canadian Felix-Auger Aliassime for a semifinal spot after the latter’s 7-5, 2-2 victory over No. 9 Casper Ruud of Norway, who retired due to an apparent calf injury.
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz survived a very sloppy second set to defeat Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 in third-round action.
Of the Spaniard’s 47 unforced errors, 23 of them came in the second set. He finished with 45 winners and was never really in danger in the third set, breaking to open up a 3-0 lead and serving out the match from there in two hours and 24 minutes.
“I was playing really well in the first set. I was feeling the ball 10/10,” Alcaraz said. “Then I started pretty well in the second set as well and had a chance to break his serve in the second game, but I didn’t take it. When you don’t take the opportunities at this level, you have to run back. He played more aggressive after that, but I would say it was a great fight in the end.”
Alcaraz, who is in danger of losing his World No. 1 spot should Sinner win this event, will face eighth-seeded Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan for a semifinal spot.
Bublik had an easier time on Thursday, needing just 75 minutes to beat No. 11 Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-2, 7-5. While Lehecka had seven aces and no double faults, he was not able to force a single break point on Bublik, who won 40 of 51 service points (78.4%).
No. 3 Alexander Zverev of Germany is also through to the quarterfinals after a 6-2, 7-5 win over Belgium’s Zizou Bergs. No. 5 Alex de Minaur of Australia outlasted Belgian qualifier Alexander Blockx 7-5, 7-6 (4).
In the first of two matches between unseeded competitors, 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca coasted past Italian wild card Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 6-2 in 73 minutes.
Also, local competitor Valentin Vacherot rallied for a 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4 win over Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz to advance to the quarterfinals. It’s the deepest run a Monegasque player has ever made in Monte Carlo.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. exits vs. White Sox with apparent leg injury
May 31, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) hits a solo home run against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images Atlanta Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. exited Tuesday’s game at the Chicago White Sox in the fourth inning after sustaining an apparent left leg injury.
While attempting to leg out an infield single, Acuna pulled up and hobbled past first base and then off the field into the locker room after appearing to sustain the injury on his final step before reaching the bag.
The Braves haven’t yet provided an update on his status. He was replaced in right field and atop the lineup by Eli White.
Acuna, the 2018 National League Rookie of the Year and 2023 NL MVP, missed 14 games earlier this season due to a hamstring strain while similarly trying to leg out an infield hit. He saw his 2021 and 2024 seasons end prematurely due to torn ACLs.
The five-time All-Star entered the day hitting .254 with seven homers and 22 RBIs in 52 games. He’s a career .287 hitter with 193 homers and 481 RBIs over 869 games across nine seasons with Atlanta.
–Field Level Media
Sports
A's recall RHP Joey Estes from minors, option RHP Kade Morris
Apr 6, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Athletics starting pitcher Joey Estes (68) pitches in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images The Athletics made a change of right-handers on their pitching staff, recalling Joey Estes from their Las Vegas affiliate and optioning Kade Morris to the Triple-A club.
Estes, 24, went 2-6 with a 5.95 ERA in 12 starts for Las Vegas this season. He struck out 39 and walked 38 in 59 innings.
Last year, Estes made two early-season starts and one midseason relief appearance for the Athletics, going 0-2 with a 9.82 ERA.
Across parts of three major league seasons, all with the A’s, Estes owns a 7-12 record and a 5.51 ERA. He has fanned 105 and walked 35 in 148 2/3 innings.
Morris, a 23-year-old rookie, was rocked by the Astros on Saturday in his major league debut. In four-plus innings, he allowed nine runs on nine hits, three of them homers. Morris struck out four and walked three, taking the loss as the Athletics fell 13-3 in Houston. He hasn’t pitched since.
The moves involving the Las Vegas affiliate come as the A’s are in the midst of playing a series in the minor league park in Sin City against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Athletics are building a stadium in Las Vegas and plan to move there from their temporary home of West Sacramento, Calif., in 2028
–Field Level Media
Sports
Otto Lopez contributes early and often as Marlins defeat D-backs
Jun 9, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (6) hits an RBI single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the eighth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Otto Lopez, whose .341 batting average leads the majors, went 3-for-5 with four runs and the go-ahead RBI in the eighth inning as the host Miami Marlins defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-6 on Tuesday night.
Joe Mack, Miami’s rookie catcher, went 4-for-4 with three runs as the Marlins improved to 6-1 over their past seven games.
The Diamondbacks, just 3-8 in their past 11 games, were led by Ketel Marte, who went 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Arizona was also helped by solo home runs from Corbin Carroll and Gabriel Moreno.
Brandyn Garcia (0-1), who entered the game with a 0.69 ERA, took the loss due to Miami’s four-run eighth-inning rally. Mack singled, advanced on a hit-by-pitch and scored on Lopez’s 105-mph single. The Marlins added Javier Sanoja’s two-run single and Esteury Ruiz’s RBI double.
All four runs were charged to Garcia, whose ERA ballooned to 3.29. Pete Fairbanks (3-3) struck out two in the ninth for Miami.
Arizona needed just six pitches to take the lead as Carroll hammered a one-out solo homer. Carroll got a high fastball and drilled it 400 feet to the upper deck in right for his 11th homer of the season.
Miami tied the score in the bottom of the first as Lopez doubled and scored on Xavier Edwards’ single over second baseman Marte’s glove.
The Marlins went up 2-1 in the second as Mack singled and scored from first on Connor Norby’s 392-foot double to left-center.
Lopez scored again in the third as he doubled, stole third and trotted home on Edwards’ deep sacrifice fly.
Arizona cut its deficit to 3-2 in the fourth on Moreno’s 417-foot blast to left-center.
Miami chased Arizona starter Zac Gallen in the sixth before taking a 6-2 lead on Liam Hicks’ RBI double and Kyle Stowers’ two-run double.
Arizona kept battling in the seventh as Tommy Troy walked, advanced on a passed ball and scored on Marte’s 103-mph double to left-center, making it 6-3.
The Diamondbacks tied the score 6-6 in the eighth. After Arizona loaded the bases with one out against reliever Tyler Zuber, Miami went to Calvin Faucher, who allowed all three inherited runners to score on Marte’s two-run single and Carroll’s RBI groundout.
–Field Level Media
Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. exits vs. White Sox with apparent leg injury
A's recall RHP Joey Estes from minors, option RHP Kade Morris
