WIMBLEDON-DRAW
Getting ready for Wimbledon
LONDON (AP) β Play at Wimbledon, the third major of the year in tennis, starts next Monday. Defending men’s champion Novak Djokovic (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich) avoided his three biggest traditional rivals in the draw as the other members of tennis’ “Big Four” were all placed on the opposite side. Serena Williams had no such luck in the women’s draw, where she may have to get past a trio of former No. 1s, sister Venus, Victoria Azarenka (ah-zah-REN’-kuh) and Maria Sharapova (shah-rah-POH’-vah), just to get to the final.
The men’s draw at the All England Club set up a number of intriguing possibilities for the upcoming two weeks, especially with former champions Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal (rah-fay-ehl nah-DAHL’), all grouped together in the bottom half of the men’s draw. Murray and Nadal could face each other in the quarterfinals, with Federer possible awaiting the winner in the semis.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Scherzer back on the field
UNDATED (AP) β What will he do this time out? Max Scherzer has been almost perfect in his last two outings and tonight the right-hander is back in action as he and his Washington Nationals are playing the Phillies in Philadelphia. In his last game, Scherzer lost a bid for a perfect game in the ninth when he hit a batter. He had to settle for a no-hitter, the first of his career. In his previous start, he struck out 16 and had to settle for a one-hitter after a bloop base hit.
By the way, the only man to throw back to back no-hitters was Cincinnati’s Johnny Vander Meer in 1938.
The last time the Royals and Athletics hooked up, the benches cleared in each game. That was back in April, and tonight the two American League clubs square off for the first time since in Oakland. The A’s have won five straight.
Rick Porcello of the Red Sox has lost his last six starts to fall to 4-8 on the season. Tonight he and the rest of his BoSox ‘mates will be at Tropicana Field for a game with the Rays.
The rest of the schedule has Cleveland playing in Baltimore, the Pirates home to the Braves, Texas at Toronto, the Tigers entertaining the White Sox, the Reds in New York to meet the Mets, Miami home to the Dodgers, Minnesota at Milwaukee, Houston hosting New York’s Yankees, the Cubs at St. Louis, L.A.’s Angels home to Seattle, Arizona at San Diego and the Giants home to the Rockies.
NHL-DRAFT
Annual draft of players today
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) β The National Hockey League conducts its player draft this evening in Sunrise, Florida. The Edmonton Oilers have the top pick, and from all indications they will take Connor McDavid, a 6-1 center who recently graduated from high school in Canada. The second choice belongs to the Buffalo Sabres and it is believed they will take Boston University’s Jack Eichel (EYE’-kihl), the winner of the Hobey (HOH’-bee) Baker award. Rounding out the top five picks are Arizona, Toronto and Carolina.
NHL-PREDATORS
Preds retain Fisher
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) β Center Mike Fisher has signed a two-year, $8.8 million contract with Nashville. The 35-year-old had 19 goals and 20 assists in 59 games last season after returning from a ruptured Achilles that kept him out for the Predators’ first 21 games. He has 78 goals and 94 assists in 271 games with Nashville since the Predators acquired him from the Ottawa Senators in February 2011.
U.S. SENIOR OPEN
Great start for Watson
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) β Tom Watson starts the day in first place at the U.S. Senior Open after an opening round 4-under-66 yesterday. The eight-time major champion begins the second round with a one shot lead over six players, Michael Allen, Lee Janzen, Jeff Hart, Jim Carter, P.H. Horgan and Woody Austin.
PGA-TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Bubba goes low
CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) β Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson is the man on top as second day play starts at the PGA’s Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut. Watson opened yesterday with an 8-under 62 for a two-shot lead over four players.
LPGA
Day 1 play
ROGERS, Ark. (AP) β The first round of the three-round LPGA Arkansas Championship is being played today in Rogers, Arkansas. Former University of Arkansas player Stacy Lewis was the winner last year and the third-ranked player in the world is back to defend the title against the likes of World No. 1 Inbee Park and second-ranked Lydia Ko.
The tour is off next week with play resuming July 9-12, with the U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania.
WOMENS WORLD CUP
Americans look to advance to semifinals
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) β The last time the United States played China in the Women’s World Cup was in the 1999 final at the Rose Bowl, when the Americans won on penalty kicks for their second title. The teams meet again this evening in Ottawa, with the winner advancing to the semifinals against either top-ranked Germany or No. 3 France.
The United States has a 24-game unbeaten streak against China dating to 2003.
The Americans will be missing midfielders Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday, suspended because of yellow card accumulation. Morgan Brian and Christen Press are likely to take their spots in the starting lineup against China.
INDYCAR
Qualifying for Saturday race
FONTANA, Calif. (AP) β The IndyCar circuit returns to action today with practice and qualifying for Saturday’s Verizon IndyCar race at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. A year ago, Tony Kanaan (kuh-NAHN’) of Target Chip Ganassi (ghuh-NAS’-ee) Racing, won the season finale in late August.
The race is the third of the six oval races this season. Penske’s Juan Pablo Montoya won the Indianapolis 500, and Ganassi’s Scott Dixon took the Texas race. Montoya leads the standings, 27 points ahead of Power with six races left.
