Sports
No. 2 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 Grand Slam event.
The French Open champion, who typically struggles 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 at the All England Club.
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 tiebreaker. Zverev sprinted to a 6-2 lead in the breaker, but Giron held off three set points before succumbing on the No. 2 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 100% 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 seed 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.
No. 6 seed Taylor Fritz started slowly before notching a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory over Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego. Both players hit 39 winners.
Fritz will face No. 10 Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in the fourth round. Bublik had a stunning 48-12 edge in aces while producing a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (11), 4-6, 6-3 victory over No. 17 Frances Tiafoe. Bublik had 83 winners against 50 unforced errors and saved nine set points before winning the third set.
“We had a great battle,” Bublik said. “This match will stay with me forever.”
Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov had 46 winners against 25 unforced errors while registering a 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3 over Matteo Berrettini of Italy. Berrettini had 49 winners and 43 unforced errors.
Dimitrov will face Brit wild card Arthur Fery, who outlasted Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 2-6, 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5). This marks the first time the London-born Fery has reached the round of 16 at a major and he also has cracked the Top 100 in the live rankings, now sitting at No. 91.
“It’s a really special moment. I can’t really fully process it yet,” Fery said. “When I’m playing this well and having these kind of results, it was only a matter of time till I broke the Top 100. It’s still a significant milestone. As I said, yeah, doing it here is incredibly special for me. It’s my home tournament. It’s where I grew up. So yeah, it’s very special.”
In another quadrant 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 points. 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,” said de Minaur. “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 tiebreakers, he flipped the early script and recorded 22 winners versus only 10 unforced errors.
Cobolli has dropped both matches against de Minaur, but the two hard-hitting baseliners have not played since 2024.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Host Mexico looks to make history vs. England
June 30, 2026; Mexico City, Mexico; Mexico’s Julian Quinones is thrown in the air in celebration by teammates after the match as Mexico qualify for the round of 16 stage of the World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Eloisa Sanchez-Reuters via Imagn Images A plethora of challenges face England as they battle host Mexico on Sunday night in what will surely be a raucous atmosphere at Mexico City.
The World Cup group of 16 match will be played at 7,200-foot altitude in possible treacherous weather that nearly led to the match being pushed up six hours.
There also is fear of not getting a good night’s sleep as Mexico fans staged a crazy noisy scene complete with fireworks outside Ecuador’s hotel the night before Mexico’s 2-0 victory on Tuesday.
Then there’s this: Mexico’s national squad is 70-2-17 all-time at Estadio Azteca since it opened in 1966.
“It is maybe one of the most beautiful fixtures, the most exciting fixtures that you can have, to play against Mexico in the Azteca,” England coach Thomas Tuchel said. “And there will be a lot of obstacles waiting for us, not to mention the altitude will be, of course, a big disadvantage because we cannot physically adapt to it in four days. It’s just impossible.”
England is coming off a tightly-contested 2-1 win over DR Congo on Wednesday in Atlanta. The Three Lions are taking aim at reaching at least the quarterfinals for the third straight World Cup.
Mexico have their sights on reaching the quarterfinals for just the third time. They also advanced that far in 1970 and 1986.
But after outscoring opponents 8-0 over four World Cup matches, El Tri are optimistic the familiar surroundings can be the deciding asset.
“It’s a match everyone dreamed of — facing England in the Round of 16 in this stadium,” Mexico midfielder Alvaro Fidalgo said. “It’s probably one of the biggest games we are ever going to experience as players. We know they have good players; we know how they play. Their midfield is highly physical, above all. They have great players in every position. They are going to be great opponents.”
The Mexico defense will have to be keenly aware of Harry Kane’s whereabouts at all times.
The English star forward has scored five goals in this World Cup, tied for third with Norway star Erling Haaland entering play on Saturday. Argentina’s Lionel Messi leads the way with seven and France’s Kylian Mbappe is second with six.
Kane is aware the pursuit of victories only gets tougher the deeper you advance in the World Cup. He said it’s time for the club to dig down deep.
“There are still things to work on for sure and these rounds are just about getting through,” Kane said. “We are in the part of the tournament when you have to grind wins out, and that’s what we have done.”
Midfielder Jude Bellingham (two goals, one assist) is also enjoying a strong tournament.
Mexico doesn’t have a megastar like Kane but forwards Julian Quinones (three goals, one assist), Raul Jimenez (two goals) and Roberto Alvarado (three assists) are leading El Tri’s strong run.
“Our team is complete and competitive,” Quinones said. “We know what our goal is and we believe we can do it.”
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre sharply criticized officials on Friday for considering moving up the time so he’s surely happy that the night-time kickoff stayed put.
But Tuchel and his club still need to worry about getting some sleep on Saturday night amid a possible loud congregation.
“We will expect that but what can we do?” said Tuchel, indicating earplugs will be part of the sleeping regimen.
The winner faces either Brazil or Norway in the quarterfinals.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Twins blast 6 HRs, as Yankees continue skid
Jul 4, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Minnesota Twins designated hitter Josh Bell (56) hits a two run home run in the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Kody Clemens lifted a three-run homer with nobody out in the first inning for the Minnesota Twins, who raced out to a six-run lead and hit six homers in their 11-4 victory over the host New York Yankees on Saturday afternoon.
On a 95-degree day, the Twins hit three of their homers off New York rookie spot starter Brendan Beck.
Clemens homered for the fifth time in eight games when he followed a walk by Trevor Larnach and a double by Byron Buxton with a drive to right-center off Beck’s full-count slider.
Luke Keaschall and Alex Jackson hit back-to-back homers in the second. Keaschall slugged a 2-2 fastball to right-center and Jackson ripped a 2-2 slider into the left field seats.
Larnach hit a 2-1 sinker into the right field seats off Tim Hill in the fourth. Josh Bell homered in consecutive at-bats to left off Ryan Yarbrough and Camilo Doval in the seventh and eighth.
Minnesota won for the eighth time in its past 11 road games and hit six homers for the first time since Sept 4, 2023. The Twins also slugged six homers against the Yankees for the second time in franchise history and first instance since June 26, 2016.
Minnesota starter Zebby Matthews exited with two outs in the fifth because of a lacerated right foot. He exited following a walk to Ben Rice and allowed four runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Taylor Rogers (4-3) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth and was awarded the win.
Jasson Dominguez hit a solo homer in the fourth, and Max Schuemann hit a two-run homer in the fifth. Cody Bellinger added an RBI double in the fifth but the Yankees lost for the eighth time in nine games and allowed six homers for the first time since Aug. 15, 2019 against Cleveland.
Beck was promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre to fill in for Carlos Rodon (left elbow inflammation) and allowed five runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros send OFs Jake Meyers, Joey Loperfido to Triple-A Sugar Land
Jun 22, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Houston Astros center fielder Jake Meyers (6) tries to catch a fly ball against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images The Houston Astros demoted outfielders Jake Meyers and Joey Loperfido to Triple-A Sugar Land prior to Saturday night’s contest against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Houston recalled utility player Zach Dezenzo and activated first baseman/outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. from the injured list.
Meyers, 30, has batted just .206 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 52 games. He is in his sixth season with the Astros.
“He’s helped us to win a lot of games, helped us win a lot of postseason games,” Houston manager Joe Espada told reporters. “He’s part of this organization’s success, but he understood it. We’re going to help him. We’ve pinpointed some things that he’s going to be working on in Triple-A.”
Meyers has a .240 career average in 517 games. He has 36 homers, 172 RBIs and 38 stolen bases.
Loperfido, 27, is batting .216 with one homer and 12 RBIs in 39 games this season. He is in his second stint with Houston.
Dezenzo, 26, batted .191 with one homer and two RBIs in 21 games with the Astros earlier this season.
Wade, 32, was signed in early June and went 4-for-12 with a homer and four RBIs in four games before sustaining a right hamstring injury. He last played for Houston on June 8.
Wade received regular playing time earlier in his career with the San Francisco Giants (2021-25). He owns a .236 batting average with 56 homers and 189 RBIs in 564 games with four big league teams.
–Field Level Media
Host Mexico looks to make history vs. England
Twins blast 6 HRs, as Yankees continue skid
