Sports
Zachary Svajda remembers late dad after latest French Open win
May 30, 2026; Paris, France; Zachary Svajda of the United States returns a shot during his match against Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina on day seven at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images Unheralded American Zachary Svajda continued his surprise French Open run on Saturday by posting a 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 victory over No. 25 Francisco Cerundolo to reach the fourth round in Paris.
Svajda committed 18 fewer unforced errors (59-41) than Cerundolo while thriving on the clay at Roland Garros.
The run is emotional for Svajda, whose father, Tom, died of cancer last October. Saturday would have been Tom’s 61st birthday, and Svajda pointed to the sky after finishing off the victory.
“I was thinking about that,” Svajda said. “I was nervous. I know he’s proud of me, and I want to perform well and win. When I got that match, the last point, I just teared up, fell to the ground like, ‘Oh my gosh, what is happening?'”
Cerundolo of Argentina had the edge in aces (13-10) and winners (61-43), while Svajda scored well by converting 6 of 9 break points.
Svajda will next face No. 10 Flavio Cobolli, who sailed to a 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Learner Tien.
Due to a slew of upsets, Cobolli is the third-highest-seeded player remaining in the field. The Italian is also aware that not a single former champion remains in the field.
“Of course I want to think match by match,” Cobolli said. “That’s the way that I want to think this week.”
“I know that there are many possibilities to have a new Grand Slam champion. For sure, we will have a new Grand Slam champion, but I don’t want to think about this. For sure, I have now another tough match.”
Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo, who upset top-seeded Jannik Sinner of Italy on Thursday, needed five hours and 57 minutes to finish off a 6-4, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (4), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6) victory over Spain’s Martin Landaluce. The match was the third-longest in Roland Garros history.
Juan Manuel Cerundolo won 214 points to Landaluce’s 213 and held a 16-6 edge in aces. Landaluce had more winners (87-76) and also committed more unforced errors (86-71).
Italy’s Matteo Berrettini also won a lengthy match with a marathon fifth-set tiebreaker, outlasting Argentina’s Francisco Comesana 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (13) in five hours and 13 minutes.
“Francisco played an unbelievable match,” said Berrettini, who lost in the 2021 Wimbledon final. “It was an unbelievable match, I really had to find my way (through) and I gave it everything I had.”
Berrettini will face Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the round of 16.
Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo moved on with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (9) victory over 17-year-old Moise Kouame of France.
Also, Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi outlasted Belgium’s Raphael Collignon 6-4, 6-7 (5), 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (8).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mavs' Kyrie Irving "close to 100%" in recovery from torn ACL
Nov 14, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving looks on during the second half against the LA Clippers in an NBA Cup game at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving gave an update on his recovery from a torn ACL via Twitch, saying he is now close to full strength.
“I am definitely close to being over at 100% in terms on my ACL recovery,” Irving said. “It’s been a while now. … I’m just so grateful that I’ve had the time to heal and just experiment with my body more on the court.”
The nine-time All-Star has been sidelined since his injury March 3, 2025. During the 2024-25 campaign, he averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists over 50 games (all starts), while shooting 40.1% from 3-point range.
Last season, the Mavericks struggled without the 34-year-old veteran, limping to a 26-56 record.
A return means Irving will be able to pair NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg next season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rangers OF Wyatt Langford to begin rehab assignment
Apr 19, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Texas Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford (36) hits a single during the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford is set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.
The 24-year-old landed on the injured list in late April with a forearm flexor strain. Since then, the Rangers have recorded an underwhelming 14-20 record.
Last season, Langford posted 22 home runs, 62 RBIs and 22 steals in 134 games, while providing quality defense in the outfield.
In 20 games this season, he had one home run, four RBIs, three steals and a .238 batting average.
Rangers All-Star shortstop Corey Seager (back) is taking ground balls and had a live BP session scheduled for Saturday. Seager has been out since May 14.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Valkyries will put stingy defense to test against visiting Aces
May 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) and forward Gabby Williams (1) help up guard Kaila Charles (6) against the Connecticut Sun in the second quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images The defending-champion Las Vegas Aces find themselves looking up in the standings at the second-year Golden State Valkyries as the clubs prepare to meet Sunday afternoon in San Francisco.
The Aces (4-3) have lost two in a row, including 95-87 at Dallas on Thursday night to tip off a three-game trip.
Meanwhile, the Valkyries (5-2) won their second straight Thursday, edging the Indiana Fever 90-88 in the second of four consecutive home games.
Playing for just the eighth time as an expansion franchise, Golden State surprised the Aces 95-68 as part of the Commissioner’s Cup last June. Las Vegas then exacted three measures of revenge before season’s end, including 78-72 in a return visit to San Francisco in August.
This time around, the matchup features the league’s stingiest defense (Golden State) against a team that has shot the fewest free throws in the WNBA this season (Las Vegas).
Aces coach Becky Hammon would love to see the latter change immediately, which she made clear after her club got to the foul line just 12 times (compared to Dallas’ 22) in Thursday’s loss.
“A’ja Wilson shoots one free throw. Chennedy Carter, zero; Jackie Young, zero,” Hammon cited off the stat sheet at her postgame press conference. “I’m (very) tired of that (occurrence). I’m not saying they didn’t earn their 22. But when Awak Kuier shoots more free throws than A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young and Chennedy Carter all combined, that’s a problem.”
“We’re not getting the same whistle.”
The Valkyries, on the other hand, have built up the second-highest point differential in the league at plus-8.4 per game, trailing only the Minnesota Lynx (plus-9.2). In Thursday’s game, their success at the line made a big difference.
Veronica Burton (10-for-12) and Gabby Williams (7-for-10) combined for 22 free throw attempts alone in the win over the Fever. Golden State got seven more foul shots than Indiana in the two-point win.
Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase believes the nightly sellout her club attracts at Chase Center helps in many ways.
“It’s great that everyone comes, whether it’s Indiana or Vegas coming up,” she noted to reporters Thursday. “I want it loud; I want the boos and the cheers and ups and the downs. We want all 14 (visiting teams) to be rivals. It’s good for the game.”
–Field Level Media
Mavs' Kyrie Irving "close to 100%" in recovery from torn ACL
Rangers OF Wyatt Langford to begin rehab assignment
