The Sportsletter - Upsets Du Jour 🎾

BY JEFF YODER

MAY 24, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

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Good Morning, 

Two weeks of French Open action are on the docket, but some of the biggest names in tennis are already out at Roland-Garros. It's upsets du jour! Plus, the Celtics clapped back and the Lightning swept the Panthers in the all-Florida series to keep the 3-peat quest intact. All that and more in five minutes or less...

Letter Rip!

TENNIS

Osaka Out Early at French Open

Photo: Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

Naomi Osaka Loses in Round 1 of French Open as Upsets Upend Women’s Bracket

The second major of the tennis calendar has finally arrived, and it didn’t take long for some of the sport’s biggest names to exit the French Open. Naomi Osaka, #2 Barbora Krejcikova, #5 Anett Kontaveit and #6 Ons Jabeur all suffered first-round exits at Roland-Garros on Monday. The top-tier talents in the men’s draw — #1 Novak Djokovic and #5 Rafael Nadal — are both alive and well after straight-set victories in Round 1. First-round action continues this morning as the French Open picks up steam.

French Open Highlights

Men’s Draw

#1 N. Djokovic def. Y. Nishioka (6-3, 6-1, 6-0)

#5 R. Nadal def. J. Thompson (6-2, 6-2, 6-2)

Women’s Draw

D. Parry def. #2 B. Krejcikova (1-6, 6-2, 6-3)

A. Tomljanovic def. #5 A. Kontaveit (7-6, 7-5)

M. Linette def. #6 O. Jabeur (3-6, 7-6, 7-5)

#27 A. Anisimova def. N. Osaka (7-5, 6-4)

French Open Schedule

This Week: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Rounds

This Weekend: 4th Round

Next Week: Quarterfinals & Semifinals

Next Weekend: Finals

Additional Storylines

NBC Sports: Naomi Osaka Exits French Open in 1st Round, May Skip Wimbledon

Yahoo! Sports: Djokovic, Nadal Launch French Open Bids as Swiatek Puts Streak on the Line

NBA PLAYOFFS

Game 4: Celtics Clap Back

Photo: Elsa / Getty Images

Celtics Crush Heat in Wire-to-Wire Game 4 Win (102-82) to Even Series (2-2)

We’re all even in the East! After alternating wins in Games 1-3, the Boston Celtics put the Miami Heat in a bind on Monday night with a 20-point blowout that was never in question. Boston jumped out to a double-digit lead (12-1) within five minutes and never looked back. The Celtics’ defensive clampdown held the Heat to just 33-percent shooting, and they out-rebounded Miami 60-39 in a glass-cleaning clinic. Jayson Tatum had a game-high 31 points to go along with eight boards and five assists, while none of the Miami starters scored in double figures. The Heat’s starting five combined for just 18 total points, and we’re heading back to Miami with the Eastern Conference Finals all-even at 2-2.

Watch: Celtics Crush Heat in Game 4 (102-82)

Fun Fact: The average margin of victory in the Eastern Conference Finals is 15 points despite the series being an even 2-2.

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 4: Warriors at Mavericks (9:00 pm ET)

GSW Lead Series (3-0)

Additional Storylines

Yahoo! Sports: Tatum, Celtics Flip Defensive Script on Heat in Game 4

USA Today: Celtics Pull Even With Heat in Another Lopsided Eastern Conference Finals Game

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NHL PLAYOFFS

3-Peat Watch: Bolts Sweep

Photo: Mike Carlson / Getty Images

Lightning Shut Out Panthers in Game 4 (2-0) to Complete Sweep; Kadri’s Hat Trick Leads Avalanche to the Brink

Lightning strike again! The Bolts completed the sweep against the Panthers on Monday night with a game-winning goal by Patrick Maroon in the third period before Ondrej Palat fired an empty-netter. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy recorded 49 saves in the closeout shutout performance, and the Lightning — now winners of six straight postseason games — are heading back to the Eastern Conference Finals for the third straight season. Out west, the Avalanche rolled the Blues behind Nazem Kadri’s hat trick to take a 3-1 series lead. More Game 4s on the way tonight.

Stanley Cup Playoff Highlights

Gm 4: Lightning def. Panthers (2-0) | TBL Wins (4-0)

Gm 4: Avalanche def. Blues (6-3) | COL Leads (3-1)

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 4: Hurricanes at Rangers (7:00 pm ET) | CAR Leads (2-1)

Gm 4: Flames at Oilers (9:30 pm ET) | EDM Leads (2-1)

Additional Storylines
NY Post: Vasilevskiy’s Brilliance Helps Lightning Sweep Top-Seeded Panthers

Sporting News: Avalanche’s Nazem Kadri Gets Sweet Revenge With Hat Trick in Game 4

🎥 THE HIGHLIGHTS

⚾️ MLB: Goldy’s Grand Walk-Off Slam

Paul Goldschmidt punched a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the 10th on Monday in St. Louis to push the Cardinals over the Blue Jays (7-3). The Cards are riding a four-game win streak.

🏀 WNBA: Aces Drumb Sparks for 5th Straight

The Las Vegas Aces continued their early-season hot streak with a 28-point blasting of the L.A. Sparks (104-76) behind A’ja Wilson’s 24-point night. The Aces (7-1) have won five games by double digits.

THE STORYLINES

⚽️ Why Mbappe Spurned Real Madrid

After courting astronomical offers from his current club, Paris Saint-Germain, and LaLiga giants Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe made his choice to stay in the French capital and now has the chance to not only build his own legacy, but build the project around him. (ESPN+)

⚾️ MLB Power Rankings

We've seen just about one-quarter of the MLB season. There are so many takeaways. The Padres look like they’re for real after a statement sweep, even without Fernando Tatis Jr., but the Yankees still hold the No. 1 spot. (CBS Sports)

🏎️ Blaney Wins Big at All-Star Race

The NASCAR Cup Series' May schedule continued Sunday with the highly anticipated All-Star Race in Fort Worth, Texas. Twenty-four drivers took to the track to battle for a cash prize of $1 million, and after a wild series of events, it was Ryan Blaney who came out victorious in this one — twice! (FOX Sports)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• 49ers & QB Jimmy Garoppolo Open to Trades for ‘Best Situation’ (Bleacher Report)
• Avalanche Working With NHL & St. Louis Police Over Threats to Avalanche Star Nazem Kadri (THN)
• Top Receiver in 2023 Class Ashton Cozart Flips Commitment From Oklahoma to Oregon (247 Sports)
• Jack Nicklaus Sued by His Own Company for Breach of Contract (Yahoo! Sports)

• Video Surfaces Showing Ex-NFL Player Brendan Langley Fighting Airline Employee (SI)

• QB Nick Foles Signs With Colts on 2-Year Deal to Backup Matt Ryan (NBC Sports)

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