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Mirra Andreeva ousts No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek in Dubai

Tennis: French OpenJun 5, 2024; Paris, France; Mirra Andreeva reacts to a point during her match against Aryna Sabalenka on day 11 of Roland Garros at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images

No. 12 seed Mirra Andreeva stormed past No. 2 Iga Swiatek 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday to become the youngest player ever to reach the semifinals at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

The 17-year-old Russian overcame an early break in the second set to finish the match in one hour, 36 minutes. It was Andreeva’s fifth career Top 10 win and her second against a World No. 2 after beating Aryna Sabalenka in the 2024 French Open quarterfinals.

Andreeva’s decisive win Thursday made her the first player under the age of 18 to defeat Swiatek at the tour level.

Swiatek, the five-time Grand Slam winner from Poland, won their previous encounter in three sets last year in Cincinnati.

“Last time we played was a close match and it was tough, it was intense,” Andreeva said. “This time I just tried to tell myself to go for my shots, to be aggressive, to not hesitate. I think that helped me to win in a way.”

Andreeva, who struck 10 aces and saved seven of eight break points, credited her recent work with a psychologist for helping her handle several high-pressure moments in the match.

“I have some new tips,” she said. “I have some new advices, in a way, how to work with my anger inside, what to do when I don’t feel great, how to maintain my level when I feel great, how to keep being me.”

Andreeva’s semifinal opponent will be No. 6 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, a 6-2, 7-6 (2) winner against Sofia Kenin. Rybakina won the only previous meeting with Andreeva, a three-setter in Beijing in 2023.

Rybakina, the runner-up in Dubai in 2020, eliminated Kenin in one hour, 25 minutes. She was leading the former Australian Open champion 3-1 in the second set before holding on for the victory.

“I started the match really well, but in the second, I lost a little bit of concentration,” Rybakina said. “My serve didn’t go (well), and Sofia, she’s a great player — it’s always difficult matches against her, but in the end, I found my game and I’m really happy that I managed to win in two sets.”

Rybakina hammered 17 aces and finished with 45 winners, more than double Kenin’s total of 20.

Unseeded Clara Tauson of Denmark will face No. 14 Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in the other semifinal of the WTA 1000 tournament. Tauson took out Czech Linda Noskova 7-6 (4), 6-4 and Muchova eliminated Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 7-5 in Thursday’s quarterfinals.

–Field Level Media

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Alan Roden provides only runs in Twins' low-scoring defeat of A's

Jul 25, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kendry Rojas (60) throws to the Athletics in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn ImagesJul 25, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kendry Rojas (60) throws to the Athletics in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

Alan Roden delivered a two-run single in the sixth inning, and that was all the Minnesota Twins needed for a 2-0 win over the Athletics on Saturday evening in Minneapolis.

Ryan Kreidler doubled and stole a base for Minnesota, which evened the series at one win apiece. The rubber match is scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

Jeff McNeil accounted for two of the Athletics’ three hits with a pair of doubles.

Twins left-hander Taylor Rogers (6-3) earned the victory with two scoreless innings of relief. Rogers followed starter Kendrys Rojas, who allowed one hit in four scoreless innings.

Athletics right-hander Mason Barnett (1-1) allowed two runs on four hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Twins right-hander Yoendrys Gomez fired a scoreless ninth to pick up his 13th save.

After five scoreless innings, Minnesota had runners on second and third with one out in the sixth when Barnett got Victor Caratini to pop out to shallow left field for the second out of the inning.

Roden stepped to the plate and delivered a two-out, two-run single to right field. He pumped his fist as his line-drive hit found an opening between first and second base and allowed Josh Bell and Royce Lewis to score standing up.

The Athletics tried to mount a comeback in the top of the eighth.

Twins reliever Andrew Morris walked the leadoff hitter, Lawrence Butler. Morris snared a one-hop comebacker by Jacob Wilson in the next at-bat and wheeled toward second base to try to start a double play, but his throw sailed wide into right-center field.

Morris’ throwing error put runners at second and third with nobody out. He settled down after a visit from Twins pitching coach Pete Maki and retired the next three batters by striking out Nick Kurtz and Tyler Soderstrom and getting Jonah Heim to ground out to short.

That proved to be the Athletics’ last chance to tie or take the lead as they went down 1-2-3 in the ninth, finishing 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranding seven on base.

-Field Level Media

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Hunter Brown in control, Astros down White Sox for 5th straight

Jul 25, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Hunter Brown (58) throws the ball against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn ImagesJul 25, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Hunter Brown (58) throws the ball against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Hunter Brown allowed two hits over seven shutout innings and Isaac Paredes drove in three runs to lead the Houston Astros to a 4-1 win over the host Chicago White Sox on Saturday night.

Jeremy Pena was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Paredes 2-for 4 for the Astros, who have won five straight, including the first two of the three-game weekend series.

The White Sox, who managed five hits, have lost three of their last four.

They threatened in the eighth with runners on second and third and two out, but reliever Bennett Sousa replaced Bryan Abreu and got pinch hitter Randall Grichuk on a pop up to first.

After Colson Montgomery’s RBI single in the ninth, Josh Hader came in to get the last two outs for his 12th save.

Brown (2-1) finished strong, setting down 12 consecutive batters from the fourth through seventh innings. The right-hander did not walk a batter and struck out seven as he fired 60 strikes in 90 pitches.

Chicago starter Sean Burke (7-5) surrendered three runs (two earned) on four hits in six innings with a walk and 10 strikeouts.

It was a 0-0 pitcher’s duel through five with Burke also retiring 12 in a row, from the second through the fifth, but heading for trouble.

The streak was broken when Burke hit Cam Smith leading off the sixth. Pena’s single and a walk to Yordan Alvarez loaded the bases. Paredes then grounded a single to right that got past right fielder Braden Montgomery for an error that also allowed Alvarez to score, for a 3-0 Houston lead, and Paredes to reach third.

Burke then limited the damage by getting Jose Altuve on a groundout and striking out LaMonte Wade Jr. and Christian Walker.

Paredes added an RBI single in the eighth to make it 4-0.

White Sox left fielder Sam Antonnaci robbed Paredes, who was leading off the fourth, of a likely home run with a leaping catch of Paredes’ long drive by pulling the ball in just above the fence.

–Field Level Media

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Robert Gasser holds Rockies in check as Brewers win

Jul 25, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Robert Gasser (54) delivers a pitch against the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn ImagesJul 25, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Robert Gasser (54) delivers a pitch against the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

Cooper Pratt homered and drove in three runs, Robert Gasser tossed six solid innings, and the host Milwaukee Brewers beat the Colorado Rockies 8-5 on Saturday night.

Luis Lara had two hits and also drove in three runs, Jake Bauers contributed two hits and scored three times and Brice Turang added two hits for Milwaukee.

The Brewers have won four of five games from Colorado this season, with the teams wrapping up the 2026 schedule Sunday.

Gasser (3-4), in his first career start against the Rockies, allowed two runs on five hits, struck out four and didn’t walk a batter.

Jake McCarthy extended his on-base streak to 19 games with a single and Kyle Karros had two hits for Colorado.

The Brewers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Bauers led off with a walk, stole second and went to third on a groundout. Lara drove him in with a sacrifice fly and Pratt hit a solo home run, his second of the season.

Colorado rallied to tie it in the fourth.

Karros led off with a single, Cole Carrigg doubled and Hunter Goodman followed with a two-run single.

Milwaukee went back in front in the bottom of the inning when Pratt drove in Bauers with a single, and then broke it open in the sixth inning.

William Contreras and Bauers started the rally with singles, chasing starter Ryan Feltner (3-5), who allowed five runs on nine hits in five-plus innings. Juan Mejia walked Garrett Mitchell to load the bases and Lara drove in two with a double to left.

Pratt’s sacrifice fly made it 6-2 and Rockies catcher Braxton Fulford’s throwing error on a pickoff attempt at third allowed Lara to come home. The Brewers tacked on a run in the eighth on Christian Yelich’s sacrifice fly.

But Colorado mounted a rally in the ninth. The Rockies loaded the bases on two walks and a fielder’s choice, and McCarthy drove in two with a single. Trevor Megill gave up an RBI single to Karros before striking out Carrigg to earn his 17th save.

–Field Level Media

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