Sports
Top 2 seeds ousted in chaotic opening day at Libema Open
Aug 27, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia serves against Wang Xinyu of China in the second round of the women’s singles at the US Open at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds each fell in straight sets on a chaotic first day of women’s competition in the Libema Open at ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands on Monday.
No. 1 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia — a two-time winner at the event in 2022 and ‘23 — fell 6-4, 7-6 (5) to Hungary’s Panna Udvardy, who ranks nearly 50 spots lower (65th to 17th). In a match that was statistically even in a number of spots, the difference may have been Udvardy’s one more converted break (3 of 6) in an equal number of chances.
Second-seeded Clara Tauson of Denmark lost 6-4, 6-4 to Slovakia’s Mia Pohankova, a 17-year-old who won the final five games of the match to secure her first career top-30 win. No. 3 seed Belgian Elise Mertens avoided the same fate with a thorough 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Canada’s Bianca Andreescu.
In other Monday action, Poland’s Magda Linette rallied for a 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over Australian Kimberly Birrell, Robin Montgomery pulled out a 5-7, 6-0, 6-4 victory against Daria Kasatkina of Australia and Ukraine’s Daria Snigur swept Spain’s Paula Badosa 6-1, 7-6 (2).
HSBC Championships
Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic rallied for a 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-3 defeat of McCartney Kessler in first-round action at London.
Pliskova was sloppy on her serve with three aces and 11 double faults but made up for it by winning 51% of her return points and converting 8 of 11 break-point opportunities.
In the only two other matches completed on Monday, when multiple matches were delayed or postponed by rain, Great Britain’s Harriet Dart beat Liudmila Samsonova of Russia 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, while Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian swept Qinwen Zheng 6-4, 7-6 (4).
The final match of the day, which pitted No. 8 seed Leylah Fernandez of Canada against Great Britain’s Katie Boulter, was suspended due to darkness with Fernandez up a set and the second set level at 3 games apiece.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Defender Chris Richards returns to USMNT practice
June 8, 2026; Irvine, California, U.S.; Chris Richards of the U.S. signs an autograph for a fan during training. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Defender Chris Richards is back on the field with the United States Men’s National Team on Monday and appears to be on track for the World Cup opener against Paraguay this week.
“We will see … first time with the team,” coach Mauricio Pochettino said Monday. “Nearly everyone ready to be selected for the game.”
Richards sustained an ankle injury last month and is viewed as a vital defender in the center of the backline.
Miles Robinson and Mark McKenzie filled in for Richards on Saturday in the final World Cup tuneup against Germany in Chicago.
At Monday’s practice in Irvine, Calif., Tyler Adams was not on the field. He worked in the gym for load management purposes, Pochettino said.
Richards, 26, suffered a pair of torn ligaments in his left ankle on May 17 as his Crystal Palace team played Brentford in a Premier League match. He did complete the match but limped off the field and has not competed since.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Kings to hire Peter Laviolette as head coach
Mar 29, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette instructs his team as left wings Artemi Panarin (10), Chris Kreider (20) and Brennan Othmann (78) look on against the San Jose Sharks during the third period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Kings are set to hire Peter Laviolette to a three-year deal as their next head coach, Sportsnet and ESPN reported Monday.
Laviolette had been in talks to become the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs as recently as last week, according to multiple reports, and the Edmonton Oilers had also reportedly looked at him as a candidate to fill their head coaching vacancy.
Laviolette, 61, has been an NHL head coach for 23 seasons.
He won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. He also reached the Stanley Cup Final as coach of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010 and the Nashville Predators in 2017.
He most recently coached the New York Rangers from 2023-25. The Rangers went 55-23-4 (114 points) in Laviolette’s first season and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals, where they were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in a six-game series. New York went 39-36-7 (85 points) the following season to finish six points out of a playoff spot, leading to Laviolette’s dismissal in April 2025.
He owns an 846-562-161 record (25 ties) as head coach with the New York Islanders (2001-03), Hurricanes (2003-09), Flyers (2009-14), Predators (2014-20), Washington Capitals (2020-23) and Rangers.
His 846 regular-season wins are the most among United States-born coaches in NHL history and seventh all-time.
Laviolette appeared in 12 NHL games during his playing career as a defenseman, all during the 1988-89 season with the Rangers.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Marlins' Max Meyer will test ace-level stuff against Diamondbacks
Jun 3, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Miami Marlins pitcher Max Meyer (23) throws a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images The Miami Marlins have won five of their past six games. It’s their best stretch since going 5-1 to start the season.
After their initial 5-1 run, the Marlins dropped four of the next five. They hope to fare far better when they open a three-game series Tuesday night against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks.
Miami is 20-16 at home as compared to Arizona’s 13-17 road mark. The Diamondbacks have lost seven of their last 10 overall.
All of that should give the Marlins some confidence, especially after they just took two of three games against the American League East-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
Miami’s pitching staff should be in good shape because the bullpen was needed for just two innings on Sunday before Monday’s day of rest.
The starter will be right-hander Max Meyer (6-0, 2.81 ERA), Miami’s first-round pick (third overall) in 2020. Meyer missed all of 2023 due to elbow surgery, but the 27-year-old finally is enjoying a breakthrough season. He owns a 1.045 WHIP and throws 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings.
The Marlins are 9-4 this year when starting Meyer, who is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in his only appearance against Arizona.
As for the team as a whole, the metrics show the Marlins are better on the mound (ninth in the majors in WHIP) than they are in the batter’s box (21st in OPS).
Marlins manager Clayton McCullough believes his team needs to scrap to win.
“That’s what’s required at this level,” he said. “You need to pitch well, play good defense … Offensively, you’re just looking to find whatever ways to score more runs than the other (team).”
Arizona has been struggling in that regard of late, in part due to an absence of power. The Diamondbacks have hit just 58 homers, which ranks 26th in the majors — one spot ahead of Miami.
In a sign that the Diamondbacks have diagnosed that weakness, they made a move on Sunday by signing outfielder Max Kepler. He hit 18 homers for the Phillies last year, but will be unavailable to Arizona until his MLB suspension ends on June 25. He was dinged for 80 games on Jan. 6 for testing positive for Epitrenbolone.
While Kepler rounds into shape, Arizona comes off a 3-4 homestand that left manager Torey Lovullo with a bland feeling.
“Nothing overly alarming,” he said, “and nothing to get overly excited about.”
The Diamondbacks are just 5-8 when starting right-hander Zac Gallen (3-5, 5.32 ERA), who will get the ball on Tuesday. Arizona has lost six of Gallen’s past eight starts.
Gallen broke into the majors with Miami in 2019, going 1-3 with a 2.72 ERA. On the last day of the 2019 trade deadline, the Marlins sent Gallen to Arizona for Jazz Chisholm Jr. Since then, Gallen has gone 68-54 with a 3.72 ERA in 182 starts with Arizona.
However, he has done some of his finest work against his former team — fashioning a 3-1 record and 2.00 ERA in four starts.
–Field Level Media
The Milky Ways black hole may have formed this curious tunnel in space
Defender Chris Richards returns to USMNT practice
