Sports
Novak Djokovic dismantles Stefanos Tsitsipas; No. 1 Jannik Sinner moves on
Jun 29, 2026; London, United Kingdom; Novak Djokovic (SRB) reaches for a backhand against Yibing Wu (CHN) (not pictured) on day one of The Championships Wimbledon 2026 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images No. 7 seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia extended his domination of Stefano Tsitsipas on Wednesday, routing the unseeded Greek 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the third round of Wimbledon for the 20th time in 21 appearances at the All England Club.
Djokovic, the former World No. 1 currently ranked No. 8, improved to 13-2 against Tsitsipas — whom he beat in the 2021 French Open final — by outplaying his opponent in every facet. The Serbian legend notched 33 winners, committed only seven unforced errors and did not have his serve broken. Meanwhile, Tsitsipas endured 24 unforced errors and had his serve broken four times.
During a key sequence in the second set, Djokovic managed to block a pair of smashes by Tsitsipas and went to break serve for a 5-4 lead en route to winning the set on the next point. After breaking Tsitsipas’ serve to go up 5-2 in the final set, Djokovic produced three winners in the final game to wrap up the easy victory in one hour, 38 minutes.
“You feel very happy, satisfied and joyful on the court when you are playing this way,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview. “Once you get the momentum going. … That game when I went 5-2 up was one of the best return games I’ve played in a while. I just went for my shots. I was a bit more relaxed, a little less tension in my head.”
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy also won in straight sets, though he had to put in extra effort during a 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-4 victory over unseeded Nuno Borges of Portugal.
In a two-hour, 32-minute triumph, Sinner eclipsed Nicola Pietrangeli for the most main-draw match victories at Grand Slams among Italian players with 95.
Aiming to become the 10th man in the Open Era to win back-to-back titles at Wimbledon, Sinner notched 47 winners against 29 unforced errors and broke his opponent twice early in the final set. The Italian star also posted 22 aces to just six for Borges, No. 48 in the world rankings.
No. 3 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada cruised to victory on Canada Day, disposing of unseeded Dino Prizmic of Croatia 7-6 (2), 6-3, 7-5, to earn his second straight-sets victory in as many matches.
Auger-Aliassime amassed 15 aces to just three for his opponent while winning 86% of points on his first serve. The Montreal native converted two of four break points and did not give up a break.
Russian Daniil Medvedev, the No. 8 seed, dropped the first set but quickly rebounded to take down unseeded Daniel Merida Aguilar of Spain 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-2. Medvedev converted five of six break points and totaled 38 winners against Merida Aguilar, who made his Wimbledon debut this week.
In a first-round match that was halted after the third set Tuesday night due to darkness, No. 9 seed Flavio Coballi of Italy eliminated Argentina’s Mariano Navone 1-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (8). In addition to losing the first set, Coballi trailed 4-2 in the second set before rallying.
No. 16 seed Learner Tien was one of two seeded players to fall as unseeded Marton Fucsovics of Hungary pulled off a hard fought 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory. Fucsovics saved an impressive 14 of 18 break points, posting 41 winners against his American opponent.
Tien’s countryman, No. 21 seed Tommy Paul, advanced to the third round with a straight-sets victory against South Korean qualifier Kwon Soon-woo 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-2. Paul collected 43 winners while converting four of eight break point chances and posting 19 aces to six for Soon-woo, who had just 19 winners and five double faults.
Four other seeded players moved on, including No. 22 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain with a 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 rout of unseeded Italian Fabian Marozsan. Joao Fonseca of Brazil, the No. 24 seed, took down unseeded Netherlands native Jesper de Jong 6-1, 7-5, 6-4, while No. 25 seed Arthur Rinderknech of France defeated unseeded American Martin Damm 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-3.
Unseeded American Jenson Brooksby upset No. 31 seed Ignacio Buse of Peru in impressive fashion, prevailing 6-2, 6-2, 6-3. The 81st-ranked Brooksby will face Sinner next after converting seven of 11 break point chances while Buse converted just one of four.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Celtics trade Jaylen Brown to 76ers for Paul George, 4 picks
Apr 24, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the second half at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images The Boston Celtics have agreed to a blockbuster trade which sends All-NBA forward Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for former All-NBA veteran forward Paul George and four draft picks, according to multiple media reports on Wednesday.
The draft compensation, according to ESPN, will send two first-round picks (2028, which could be a swap that is more favorable for Boston, and unprotected 2031 pick) and two second-round picks (2028 and 2030) to Boston for Brown, who finished sixth in NBA MVP voting this past season when he averaged a career-high 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.
Brown’s future with the Celtics has been uncertain since he was reportedly used as the main piece in Boston’s failed trade offer to acquire Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. He has three years left on the five-year, $285 million supermax contract extension he signed in July 2023.
Brown, 29, has averaged 20.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game in 674 games (547 starts) over 10 seasons with the Celtics since they selected him eighth overall in the 2016 NBA Draft. The five-time All-Star and two-time second-team All-NBA standout was named NBA Finals MVP when Boston beat the Dallas Mavericks to win the 2024 championship.
In Philadelphia, he’ll be paired with former MVP Joel Embiid and rising star guards Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe on a team which suddenly could be an Eastern Conference contender.
George, 36, has spent the last two seasons in Philadelphia after previous stops with the Indiana Pacers (2010-17), Oklahoma City Thunder (2017-19) and Los Angeles Clippers (2019-24).
He battled knee, adductor and finger injuries during his time with the Sixers, limited to 78 games over the last two seasons. The nine-time All-Star has averaged 20.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists over 945 games (897 starts) across 16 NBA seasons.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Belgium beat Senegal on extra-time PK after VAR review
Belgium’s Youri Tielemans celebrates scoring the winning goal against Senegal on July 1. SEATTLE — Belgium followed a dramatic comeback late in regulation with a penalty kick goal from captain Youri Tielemans in the fifth minute of extra-time stoppage time to beat Senegal 3-2 in a dramatic World Cup round of 32 game on Wednesday.
With the game just minutes from heading to penalty kicks, Senegal midfielder Lamine Camara made a hard challenge in the penalty box on Tielemans. After not initially being called a foul, the play was sent for a VAR review.
The penalty kick was ultimately awarded to Tielemans, who converted it for his second goal of the game.
The matchup between Belgium and Senegal didn’t appear as though it would offer much drama until the Red Devils’ frantic comeback in the closing minutes of regulation.
Senegal’s frontline speed was the dominant theme of the first 85 minutes, with the Lions of Teranga mercilessly pressuring Belgium’s overwhelmed backline.
Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra opened the scoring in the 25th minute, easily knocking a rebound past Belgium goaltender Thibaut Courtois. The goal was set up by a cross from Sadio Mane that saw Ismaila Sarr send a difficult header off the goalpost.
Sarr, who also sent an attempt off the goalpost in the 13th minute, finally got his goal in the 51st minute. The Crystal Palace forward took a brilliant long ball from Moussa Niakhate off his chest, shielded a defender and knocked a shot past a helpless Courtois.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia, who had already brought on Romelu Lukaku at halftime, made a desperate attempt to flip the momentum by bringing off Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne in the 56th minute in favor of Nicolas Raskin and Dodi Lukebakio.
It didn’t appear to make much difference until Lukaku breathed life into the Red Devils with an 86th-minute goal.
Tielemans scored his first goal of the game just three minutes later when he fought through a pair of Senegal defenders to head a ball past goalkeeper Mory Diaw.
Belgium will now return to Seattle for a round of 16 match on July 6 against the winner of Wednesday night’s game between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
NOTES: De Bruyne made his 17th World Cup start for Belgium, but was unable to put either of his shots on target before being subbed off. … Belgium finished atop Group G, while Senegal claimed the last of eight third-place spots in the round of 32 after posting one win and two losses with a plus-two goal differential in Group I. … While Belgium used the same starting lineup from their group-stage finale, Senegal made three changes. Pathe Ciss, Iliman Ndiaye and Pape Gueye were in the starting XI with Abdoulaye Seck, Ibrahim Mbaye and Lamine Camara on the bench.
–Derek Harper, Field Level Media
Sports
Red Sox place LHP Connelly Early (elbow) on 15-day injured list
Jun 30, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Starter Boston Red Sox pitcher Connelly Early (71) throws in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Jaiden Tripi-Imagn Images The Boston Red Sox placed starting pitcher Connelly Early on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday because of left elbow inflammation.
In other moves, the Red Sox activated left-hander Jovani Moran (elbow inflammation) from the 15-day IL, recalled lefty Alec Gamboa from Triple-A Worcester and designated right-hander Tommy Kahnle for assignment.
Early, 24, pitched on Tuesday, scattering three hits and two walks with five strikeouts over four innings before exiting in an 8-1 home loss to the Washington Nationals while experiencing left shoulder soreness.
“It’s tough,” Early said. “I thought I was throwing the ball really well. I felt really good going into the game, so just a little unfortunate thing that happened there.”
The rookie is 7-5 with a 3.44 ERA, 34 walks and 93 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings. He was scheduled for an MRI exam on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury.
“Yeah, he comes out of the game. There’s soreness,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said Wednesday. “He’s feeling better today, but it’s still a little sore. So with one more start remaining prior to the All-Star break — it’s not just the start right, it’s like, (are we really) going to have this guy go out in two days and throw a side? That’s not something we’re going to do with that kid.
“Connelly will tell you that he fought to not have it happen. But between that and having to use as much bullpen as we did and some of the moves we had to make to make sure we got arms, that’s an easy decision to make sure you take that out of his hands and do right by him.”
Early made his major league debut last September and is 8-7 with a 3.24 ERA, 38 walks and 122 strikeouts in 21 starts.
Boston selected Early in the fifth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Virginia.
Kahnle, 36, gave up four runs on four hits and one walk in one inning of Tuesday’s setback. He was 0-0 with an 8.00 ERA, six walks and five strikeouts in nine innings in his first season with Boston.
For his career, Kahnle is 11-19 with 17 saves and a 3.70 ERA in 464 games (all in relief) with six different teams since 2014.
Moran, 29, is 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA, 15 walks and 38 strikeouts in 33 innings over 21 games (three starts) this season. He is a career 3-5 with one save and a 3.94 ERA in 102 games (three starts) in parts of five seasons with the Minnesota Twins (2021-23) and Red Sox (2025-present).
Gamboa, a 29-year-old rookie, did not allow a hit, run or walk while recording three strikeouts against five batters in his two games after making his major league debut with Boston on May 5.
He was 2-3 with a 3.21 ERA, eight walks and 40 strikeouts in 42 innings over 13 games (six starts) at Worcester.
–Field Level Media
Reports: Celtics trade Jaylen Brown to 76ers for Paul George, 4 picks
Belgium beat Senegal on extra-time PK after VAR review
