The Sportsletter - Another #1 Bites the Dust 🎾

BY JEFF YODER

JULY 10, 2024 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning 👋

The summer soccer takeover is back after yesterday’s dramatic semifinal showdowns. Two more matches take the pitch today to set up the finals matchups. Plus, another 1-seed falls at Wimbledon to shake things up. And National League powers collide this week before the MLB All-Star break.

T-minus 14 days to Paris. If you're not excited, we'll light the hype torch shortly.

Letter Rip!

  WIMBLEDON   🎾

Another #1 Bites the Dust

Photo: Shi Tang / Getty Images

#5 Daniil Medvedev Ousts #1 Jannik Sinner in 5-Set Quarterfinal Clash

Both 1-seeds are out in England! Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner went blow-for-blow in a five-set epic Tuesday in Wimbledon, and it was #5 Medvedev (28 yrs) who reached deep in the fifth set and pulled the veteran’s advantage over the 22-year-old #1 Sinner. Both the Russian and Italian have one major title each, but Sinner’s rise to the 1-seed came with added pressure. He also underwent a medical check late in the match and appeared to struggle physically. Both 1-seeds — Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek — are out. Medevedev gets a crack at #3 Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals — the defending Wimbledon champ.

Men’s Singles (Round of 16)

#5 D. Medvedev def. #1 J. Sinner (6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 2-6, 6-3)

#3 C. Alcaraz def. #12 T. Paul (5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2)

Women’s Singles (Round of 16)

#7 J. Paolini def. #19 E. Navarro (6-2, 6-1)

D. Vekic def. L. Radovcic (5-7, 6-4, 6-1)

Today’s Schedule (Quarterfinals)

W: #13 J. Ostapenko vs. #31 B. Krejcikova (8:00 am ET)

W: #4 E. Rybakina vs. #21 E. Svitolina (8:30 am ET)

M: #13 T. Fritz vs. #25 L. Musetti (9:15 am ET)

M: #2 N. Djokovic vs. #9 A. de Minaur (9:45 am ET)

Read More

NY Times: Wimbledon Roundtable: Who Can Capitalize on Open Women’s Draw?

Guardian: Medvedev Knocks World No. 1 Sinner Out of Wimbledon in Topsy-Turvy Five-Setter

  INTERNATIONAL SOCCER  

Semifinals: Argentina & Spain Advance

Photo: Eduardo Munoz / Getty Images

Copa America: Lionel Messi Scores 1st Copa Goal as Argentina Shuts Out Canada (2-0)

Two of our four semi-final matches in the Copa America and UEFA Euro tournaments took the pitch yesterday, and we now have two of our finalists in each competition. Two more matches are on the way today to set the stage for Sunday’s finales. Argentina, with the boot of Lionel Messi, ended Canada’s dream Copa America run (2-0). The Argentinians will go for their 16th Copa America title as they aim to break a tie with Uruguay (15) for the most of any nation.

Watch: 🇦🇷 Argentina def. 🇨🇦 Canada (2-0)

Euro 2024: Spain Shocks France With Comeback (2-1) as Lamine Yamal Becomes Youngest Euro Scorer Ever

Earlier in the day, Spain rallied from down 1-0 to knock off their French neighbors (2-1) thanks to one remarkable strike from 16-year-old Lamine Yamal. France scored first just eight minutes in, but Yamal curled a left-footed off the post for one of the filthiest goals in recent Euro history. He also became the youngest player ever to score in a Euro match. Spain, with just two shots on target, made every chance count.

Watch: 🇪🇸 Spain def. 🇫🇷 France (2-1)

Today’s Schedule (Semi-Finals)

EURO: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England vs. 🇳🇱 Netherlands (3:00 pm ET, FOX)

COPA: 🇺🇾 Uruguay vs. 🇨🇴 Colombia (8:00 pm ET, FS1)

Read More

ESPN: Scaloni Has Turned Argentina Into a Well-Oiled Winning Machine

FOX Sports: Watch: Lamine Yamal Becomes Youngest Player to Score in Euros History

  MLB  

NL Powers Collide

Photo: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images

Phillies Flex on Dodgers (10-1) in Game 1 of Series Between National League Leaders

The MLB All-Star festivities are fast approaching, but there’s one series this week in the baseball spotlight. The National League titans — Phillies and Dodgers — squared off last night for Game 1 of a three-game clash in Philly, and the team with baseball’s best record came to play. Trea Turner (3-for-4, HR, 4 RBIs) hit a grand slam in the 4th inning that helped put the Phillies up 9-0 on L.A. Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh also went yard and Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber returned to the lineup. It was a decisive Game 1 win (10-1) behind a Zack Wheeler gem (5 IP, 7 Ks, 3 Hits, 1 ER). That win gives Philly 59 Ws for the season, which is no small feat.

60 at the Break: Only 18 teams in MLB history have eclipsed 60 wins before the All-Star break. Three of those happened in the last two years — 2023 Braves (60 Wins), 2022 Dodgers (60 Wins), 2022 Yankees (64 Wins). It would mark the first time in Phillies franchise history they cracked 60 wins before the break.

Watch: Turner’s Slam, Wheeler’s Gem Help Phillies Dominate Dodgers in Clash of NL Leaders (10-1)

MLB Quick-Hitters ⚾️

Red Sox Start Red Hot: Boston kept the spark in their recent hot streak with 11 runs in the first two innings of a historic start. All nine batters in the Red Sox lineup recorded a hit and scored a run in the first two frames. They beat the A’s (12-9).

Rece Hinds’ Record Start: Reds’ rookie Rece Hinds is having quite the MLB debut this week. He became the first player since (at least) 1901 with five extra-base hits in his first two career games. He’s hit two HRs, two doubles and one triple. The Reds beat the Rockies (12-6).

Guardians Take AL Lead: With a dramatic extra-inning win over the Tigers (9-8, 10 Innings) after blowing a six-run lead, Cleveland now owns the best record in the American League (57-33), leading the Orioles by a half-game (57-34).

  STORYLINES   

🏀 Assemble Your USA Basketball Olympians

Some of the NBA’s best players will compete against Team USA at the Paris Olympics, so the U.S. must, as Carmelo Anthony said, “put our ‘Avengers’ together” to win gold. Pick your Team USA ‘Starting 5’ in this interactive ratings simulator. (ESPN)

🏈 The NFL All-Breakout Team

NFL players develop at their own pace; not every All-Pro reaches that status from the moment they arrive on the scene. This team of breakouts, still on their rookie contracts, have a chance to burst into the upper echelon of NFL stars in 2024. (CBS Sports)

⚾️ Every Team’s Mt. Rushmore of HR Hitters

It’s time to carve up some granite. The 2024 MLB Home Run Derby is just days away. While we wait for the spectacle that brings dingers in droves, here’s a look back at every team’s Mt. Rushmore (top 4) home run hitters in franchise history. (B/R)

  NEWS   📰 

⚾️ Guardians’ 3B Jose Ramirez Joins MLB Home Run Derby Field (ESPN)

🏅 Full U.S. Track & Field Olympic Team Roster Announced (USA Today)

🏟️ Hurricane Beryl Rips Hole in NRG Stadium Roof (SI)

🏈 Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Seen in Walking Boot Ahead of Training Camp (Sporting News)

🎙️ WWE Signs Veteran Broadcaster Joe Tessitore to Play-by-Play Role (CBS Sports)

🏈 Bengals QB Joe Burrow Wants to Play for Olympic Flag Football Team in 2028 (Yahoo! Sports)

🏀 Duke-Commit Cooper Flagg Turning Heads at USA Basketball Camp (B/R)

🏈 Jaguars Pass-Rusher Josh Allen Announces Name Change Before 2024 Season (CBS Sports)

  SCHEDULE   🗓️

Today's Must-Watch List

🎾 Wimbledon (Quarterfinals)

W: #13 J. Ostapenko vs. #31 B. Krejcikova (8:00 am ET)

W: #4 E. Rybakina vs. #21 E. Svitolina (8:30 am ET)

M: #13 T. Fritz vs. #25 L. Musetti (9:15 am ET)

M: #2 N. Djokovic vs. #9 A. de Minaur (9:45 am ET)

*Wimbledon Coverage on ESPN

⚽️ Soccer (Semi-Finals)

EURO: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England vs. 🇳🇱 Netherlands (3:00 pm ET, FOX)

COPA: 🇺🇾 Uruguay vs. 🇨🇴 Colombia (8:00 pm ET, FS1)

⚾️ MLB

Cubs at Orioles (6:35 pm ET, MLBTV)

Dodgers at Phillies (7:00 pm ET, ESPN)

Braves at D-Backs (9:40 pm ET, ESPN+)

🏀 WNBA

Liberty at Sun (11:00 am ET)

Mystics at Fever (Noon ET, NBATV)

Aces at Storm (3:00 pm ET)

🚴 Tour de France

Stage 11: Evaux-Les-Bains > Le Lioran

  POLL   📊

Poll Results: July Sports

Yesterday, we asked: Aside from the Olympics, which July sports event are you most excited about? It was a pretty even split, but our golf fans rose to the occasion. We’ll turn to The Open Championship next weekend before it’s full speed ahead towards the Olympics.

  THE TEAM  

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Assistant Writer: Marissa Kasch

Social Media: Aaron Yorke

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