Sports
Year after injury at Wimbledon, Grigor Dimitrov stuns No. 15 Jakub Mensik
Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov against Czech Republic’s Jakub Mensik at Wimbledon on July 2, 2026.
Nearly one year to the day when he sustained a torn pectoral muscle against World No. 1 Jannik Sinner on Centre Court, Grigor Dimitrov pulled off a huge upset, upending No. 15 seed Jakub Mensik 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 at Wimbledon in London on Thursday.
Dimitrov, ranked No. 146 in the world, was emotional in his post-match TV interview, pausing a few times to collect himself after advancing to the third round.
“I honestly don’t have much to say other than I’m so happy to be back and play tennis in front of you guys,” the 35-year-old Bulgarian said, gesturing to the cheering crowd after the three-hour, 13-minute match. “For me, I’m very emotional, overwhelmed a little bit at the moment.”
Last July 7, Dimitrov was leading Sinner by two sets when the injury occurred, forcing Dimitrov to retire and denying him a chance at one of the biggest victories of his career. Six days later, he watched as his friend and Monte Carlo neighbor Sinner hoisted the trophy.
On Thursday, Dimitrov saved all seven break points en route to winning the first set, then bounced back after Mensik pulled even in the second set to win 21 of 25 points on his first serve to take a 2-1 lead. In the fourth set, the former World No. 3 induced 10 unforced errors from his Czech Republic foe, breaking him twice to clinch the hard-fought victory.
“A great match today, all I wanted to do was come out and fight,” Dimitrov said after saving 13 of 15 break points and surviving 31 aces from Mensik. “That was my goal. I didn’t think about winning or losing. … You guys (the fans) helped me a lot. The atmosphere was spectacular as usual.”
Up next for Dimitrov is unseeded Italian Matteo Berrettini, who took down No. 20 seed Arthur Fils of France 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.
“If nothing else, it’ll be a pretty match,” Dimitrov said with a laugh. “I’m looking forward to it.”
The remainder of the ranked field advanced to the third round, including No. 2 Alexander Zverev, who cruised through two sets before putting away unseeded Frenchman Valentin Royer 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (3).
“For two and a half sets I played an almost perfect match,” Zverev said in his on-court interview. “Then I lost a bit of focus and he used it very well. He made it very interesting in the end, but definitely happy to be through in straight sets and not have to play another set, even though I love to play here at Wimbledon! It’s nice to win easier at the beginning of the week.”
No. 5 Alex de Minaur of Australia, No. 6 Taylor Fritz, No. 10 Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, No. 13 Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic and No. 19 Karen Khachanov of Russia all won in straight sets, while No. 9 Flavio Cobolli of Italy and No. 17 Frances Tiafoe prevailed in four sets.
No. 23 Rafael Jodar of Spain prevailed in five sets while No. 28 Brandon Nakashima was eliminated in five sets.
–Field Level Media
Sports
President Trump will not attend USMNT-Belgium World Cup match
President Donald Trump stands in the octagon during UFC Freedom 250 at White House South Lawn. SEATTLE — President Donald Trump will not attend Monday’s round of 16 World Cup match between the United States and Belgium at Seattle Stadium.
A King County spokesperson confirmed Thursday that the county has been told neither Trump nor Vice President JD Vance will be in attendance.
The United States men’s national team advanced to Monday’s match with a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday night, just hours after Belgium staged a dramatic comeback to beat Senegal 3-2 in extra time.
Trump has attended several major sporting events while in office, including Game 3 of the NBA Finals last month. Kenmore Air had previously said the Federal Aviation Administration had notified the company last week of a potential presidential visit for Monday’s World Cup match if the USMNT advanced, which could have affected the local seaplane company’s ability to operate flights in the area.
Trump has not attended any World Cup matches to date, although some Cabinet members have. That includes U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who attended the USMNT’s 2-0 win over Australia in Seattle on June 19.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino attended multiple group-stage matches in Seattle.
According to the Seattle Times, neither Trump nor Vance have paid a visit to Seattle in their capacity as president or vice president.
Seattle Stadium hosted four group stage matches, including Belgium’s 1-1 draw with Egypt and the USMNT win over Australia. Belgium’s victory over Senegal also came at Seattle Stadium, and the Red Devils’ World Cup base camp is located just a few miles south at the Sounders FC Performance Center.
Monday’s 5 p.m. PT match at Seattle Stadium will be the last at the site in this tournament.
–Derek Harper, Field Level Media
Sports
Jaylen Brown: Both 'excited and disappointed' by trade
Apr 30, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dribbles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Jaylen Brown said goodbye to Boston on Thursday, admitting he was “still processing how this all went down,” a day after being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Brown, linked all offseason to a possible trade to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, had his best pro season in 2025-26 as he led the team with Jayson Tatum out due to an injury until his return on March 6.
Once Antetokounmpo was dealt to the Miami Heat, the Celtics engaged in trade talks with other teams.
Brown, 29, said he was invested in the Celtics and the city of Boston.
“I’m excited and disappointed at the same time. I earned my respect from this city,” he wrote in his statement. “I never asked for shortcuts or special treatment. I simply showed up every day, put my head down, and accepted every challenge.
“The relationships I built here, the battles we fought together, the championship we brought to this city, and the connection I shared with the fans, I’ll carry on with me.”
The Celtics finished last season with a 56-26 record, four games behind the Detroit Pistons and a favorite to play for the NBA title. Instead, they were sent home in the first round of the playoffs, losing to the 76ers in seven games.
Trading Brown for Antetokounmpo potentially could have given the Celtics the piece they needed to win a championships. Fans and analysts have been highly critical of the Wednesday trade, which sends Brown to Philadelphia for 36-year-old Paul George, two first-round picks (2028, which could be a swap that is more favorable for Boston, and an unprotected 2031 pick) and two second-round picks (2028 and 2030) to Boston for Brown.
George has suffered several injuries since the 2018-19 season, when he played in 77 games, and has been limited to 56 games or fewer in six of his seven seasons since then. He played 74 games in 2023-24. In his two seasons with the 76ers, George appeared in 78 total games.
Brown finished sixth in NBA MVP voting in 2026 after averaging a career-high 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. He is a five-time All-Star.
“Saying goodbye isn’t easy when you’ve invested your heart into something,” Brown said. “I’m big on respect and actions speak louder than words. To the people of Boston, thank you. To the community I built here I love you.”
Brown said he is ready to embrace his new team.
“I’m excited for what’s ahead and grateful for the opportunity to join Philadelphia. Every city has its own identity, its own passion, and its own expectation. I respect that, and I’m looking forward to earning that respect the only way I know how … through the work.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Revitalized Sabrina Ionescu leads Liberty vs. league-best Lynx
Jun 28, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) dribbles against Golden State Valkyries guard-forward Kaila Charles (6) in the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images Sabrina Ionescu appears to be back, which is great news for her New York Liberty.
The Liberty (12-8), who are set to play host to the Minnesota Lynx (15-4) on Friday night, are coming off a win over the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship game.
Ionescu, a four-time All-Star, entered this week averaging just 9.5 points in eight games of a season in which she has been slowed first by a foot injury and then back pain. However, Ionescu scored a season-high 26 points against the Aces, making 5 of 13 shots from 3-point range.
“I always have belief in myself,” Ionescu said. “An injury is not going to diminish my understanding of who I am.”
One of the keys for Ionescu in the Cup final was that she attacked the rim more, which opened up her 3-point game.
If Ionescu is truly back, New York’s starting lineup — which has been in flux all year due to a variety of injuries — has been solidified. The other components are Cup final MVP Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Leonie Fiebich and rookie point guard Pauline Astier.
Meanwhile, Minnesota has a rookie point guard of its own, Olivia Miles, who averages 18.7 points, 5.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals. Miles, 23, has been so good that she is a near-lock for Rookie of the Year and a strong contender for league MVP.
On the other end of the experience scale is Lynx veteran Natasha Howard, 34. Howard is having a career year, shooting 61.1% from the floor, which leads the league (minimum seven shots per game). Howard also averages 17.7 points and a career-high 8.2 rebounds.
Those two players are a big reason why the Lynx have the best record in the WNBA. That top spot in the standings is shocking considering that Lynx star Napheesa Collier has missed the whole season following surgery on both of her ankles.
Collier, who finished second in MVP voting last year, returned to practice on Wednesday, although there is no target date for her to get back to playing games.
“We’re not at the end yet,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said of the comebacks of Collier and Dorka Juhasz (foot). “There’s more work to do.”
Reeve was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame last Saturday.
–Field Level Media
President Trump will not attend USMNT-Belgium World Cup match
Jaylen Brown: Both 'excited and disappointed' by trade
