Jrue Holiday amassed 26 points and 11 rebounds to lead the way as the Boston Celtics opened up a 2-0 lead on the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals with Sunday's 105-98 win.
Holiday made good on 11 of 14 field goal attempts to help offset a rare off-shooting night from Jayson Tatum and help the Eastern Conference champion Celtics move within two wins of their first NBA title since 2008.
Tatum struggled to a 6-of-22 performance from the field, though the All-Star forward did contribute 12 assists and nine rebounds as Boston withstood a triple-double from Dallas' Luka Dončić and earned its ninth straight win of this post-season.
Doncic compiled 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in 42 minutes despite being a game-time decision. The NBA MVP finalist was listed as questionable for Game 2 due to a chest contusion he presumably sustained during Dallas' 107-89 loss in Thursday's series opener.
He added four steals but committed eight of the Mavericks' 15 turnovers on the night, while backcourt mate Kyrie Irving was held to 7-of-18 shooting while managing 16 points.
The Western Conference champions will attempt to avoid an 0-3 hole when they return home to host Wednesday's Game 3, though the Celtics are 6-0 on the road in these play-offs.
Dallas couldn't overcome a 21-point half-time deficit in Game 1, but it led 55-54 early in the second half of this one before the Celtics began to assert control late in the third quarter.
Boston used a 10-0 run, capped by Holiday's layup off a Tatum feed, to build a 75-63 advantage with under three minutes left in the period. The Celtics never trailed thereafter, though Dallas made a bid to get back in it late.
Down 14 with under 3 1/2 minutes remaining, the Mavericks scored nine straight points to pull within 103-98 on Doncic's 3-point play with 1:15 to go.
Dallas had a chance to move closer, but PJ Washington's dunk attempt in the final minute was blocked by Derrick White. Jaylen Brown then drove the lane and scored on the ensuing possession to extend Boston's margin to seven points with less than 30 seconds left.
Brown finished with 21 points and seven assists, while White had 18 points and went 4 of 10 from 3-point range.
Holiday recorded 17 first-half points on 7-of-9 shooting, though the Celtics took a slim 54-51 lead into the break as Doncic kept Dallas close with 23 points on a 9-of-13 success rate.
The New York Mets scored three times in the top of the ninth inning, then held off a late comeback attempt by the Philadelphia Phillies to conclude Major League Baseball's London Series with a 6-5 win on Sunday.
New York took advantage of a wild outing from Philadelphia closer Jose Alvarado to rally for a 6-4 lead in the top of the ninth, then got a game-ending double-play after the Phillies loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning to earn a split of the two-game set held at London Stadium.
The MLB-leading Phillies entered the contest on a four-game winning streak following Saturday's 7-2 victory over New York in the British capital.
Philadelphia appeared on its way to a sweep, but Alvarado couldn't protect a 4-3 lead after entering to start the ninth.
The left-hander walked Tyrone Taylor to begin the inning before surrendering singles to Jeff McNeil and Mark Vientos, the latter plating Taylor with the tying run. Luis Torrens then drew a walk to re-load the bases, and Alvarado hit Pete Alonso with a pitch two batters later to force in the go-ahead run.
Jose Iglesias, pinch-running for Vientos, then came home on a passed ball by Philadelphia catcher J.T. Realmuto to extend New York's advantage to 6-4.
The Phillies would threaten in their half, however, as singles by Christian Pache and Bryce Harper and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out. New York reliever Drew Smith then walked Alec Bohm to bring in Pache and cut the lead to 6-5.
Smith would get Nick Castellanos to hit a dribbler in front of home plate, though, and catcher Torrens stepped on the base to get a forceout before throwing Castellanos out at first to end the game.
The Phillies had taken a 4-3 edge on pinch-hitter David Dahl's solo home run off Dedniel Nunez in the seventh.
Kyle Schwarber went 2 for 4 and scored Philadelphia's first run by coming in from third on a double-play ball off the bat of Bohm in the first inning. The Phillies struck twice more in the fourth as Edmundo Sosa knocked in Castellanos with a double and scored on Whit Merrifield's single.
Philadelphia starter Taijuan Walker held the Mets scoreless until the sixth, when New York put two on in front of Brandon Nimmo's run-scoring double and J.D. Martinez followed with a two-run single to tie the game at 3-3.
Yankees bash three homers to avoid sweep by Dodgers
Aaron Judge hit one of three home runs by the New York Yankees as the American League leaders avoided a three-game sweep by the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 6-4 win.
Trent Grisham had the biggest blow, a go-ahead three-run homer off Tyler Glasnow in the sixth inning that helped New York salvage the finale of this anticipated series between two of the majors' premier teams.
Judge had two more hits in addition to his MLB-leading 24th homer of the season and knocked in a pair of runs for the Yankees, who also received a solo homer from Oswaldo Cabrera.
Teoscar Hernandez briefly put Los Angeles ahead with his third homer of the series, a solo shot off Luis Gil that snapped a 2-2 tie in the top of the sixth inning. However, the Yankees answered in their half of the frame to spoil a 12-strikeout performance from Glasnow.
WIth Judge and Alex Verdugo having reached on infield singles, Grisham cracked a line drive into the right field stands to give the Yankees a 5-3 lead. The reserve outfielder was in the lineup with star Juan Soto out for a third straight game due to a sore forearm.
The Dodgers got a run back in the top of the eighth when Shohei Ohtani doubled and later scored on Will Smith's sacrifice fly. Judge restored New York's two-run advantage, however, with a blast off Yohan Ramirez in the bottom of the inning.
Los Angeles threatened by putting two runners on in the ninth, but New York closer Clay Holmes struck out Mookie Betts to end the game and notch his 19th save.
Glasnow (6-5) worked six innings and was reached for five runs, two of which came in the third on Cabrera's lead-off homer and back-to-back doubles by Verdugo and Judge.
The Dodgers drew even in the fifth on Betts' two-out double off Gil that brought in Andy Pages and Gavin Lux, who had reached on a double and single, respectively.
Gil, who entered the game leading the AL with a 1.82 ERA, permitted three runs in 5 2/3 innings.
Happ, Imanaga help Cubs end Reds' seven-game winning streak
Ian Happ delivered a three-run double in the first inning to support a bounce-back start from Shota Imanaga as the Chicago Cubs ended the Cincinnati Reds' seven-game winning streak with a 4-2 victory.
Imanaga (6-1) yielded two runs on five hits while striking out seven over 6 2/3 innings to return to his early-season form. The Japanese lefty posted a 0.84 ERA over his first nine MLB starts before being tagged for 12 runs - eight earned - in 8 2/3 innings over his last two.
The Cubs gave Imanaga a quick lead as Cincinnati starter Frankie Montas struggled in the first inning. Mike Tauchman opened the game with a walk and Seiya Suzuki followed with a double before Christopher Morel drew a walk to load the bases with one out.
Happ then lined Montas' pitch down the right field line to bring in all three Chicago runners.
The Cubs extended the lead to 4-0 when Miguel Amaya doubled off Montas in the second and scored on Tauchman's single.
Luke Maile's solo homer off Imanaga in the third got the Reds on the board, and Cincinnati drew closer when consecutive singles by Spencer Steer, Jonathan India and Santiago Espinal led to another run in the seventh.
Mark Leiter then relieved Imanaga and prevented further damage, and Hector Neris struck out two in a perfect ninth to record his ninth save and allow Chicago to avoid being swept in the four-game series.
Montas (3-5) lasted just 1 1/3 innings and was tagged for four runs on five hits and three walks.
Suzuki finished 3 for 5 in his return from a one-game absence. The outfielder was held out of Saturday's game after being hit in the back with a throw on Friday.
Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić will play in Sunday's Game 2 of the NBA Finals despite being downgraded to questionable on the injury report earlier in the day.
Doncic is dealing with a chest contusion and was given a questionable designation hours before the Mavericks were due to face the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. The NBA MVP finalist participated in pre-game warm-ups, however, and the team announced shortly afterward he would be available to play.
The franchise guard was initially listed as probable with a right knee sprain and left ankle soreness, injuries Doncic has dealt with for much of this post-season despite playing in all 18 of Dallas' games.
Doncic is averaging 28.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game in the post-season to help Dallas to its first NBA Finals appearance since 2011. The five-time All-Star had 30 points and 10 rebounds in 38 minutes during the Mavericks' 107-89 loss to Boston in Thursday's series opener.
Doncic is also averaging 41.3 minutes per game during the play-offs and has played at least 37 minutes in each of the Mavericks' post-season contests.
The Dallas Mavericks downgraded Luka Doncic to questionable for Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
With the Mavericks in danger of dropping the first two games in Boston, the injury designation from probable was made about 6 1/2 hours prior to tip-off.
He was also diagnosed with new ailment on the report, with a thoracic contusion being added to prior injuries of a right knee sprain and left ankle soreness.
Video posted of him from Saturday's practise showed the five-time All-Star holding his chest while appearing to be in some pain.
Doncic has routinely been listed on the injury report throughout the play-offs, but has yet to miss a game in the post-season.
Despite dealing with multiple injuries, he's still averaging 28.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 8.4 assists in the play-offs.
In Dallas' 107-89 loss to Boston in Thursday's Game 1, he finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds and one assist.
Max Verstappen beat Lando Norris to win a thrilling Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday, the lead changing hands on several occasions in wet conditions in Montreal.
Starting second on the grid behind George Russell, Verstappen was passed by Norris in the early stages but managed an expert restart after a safety-car period with 11 laps to go.
Norris took the lead on two separate occasions but was unable to hit back when Verstappen pulled two seconds clear late on, having to settle for his third second-place finish of the season.
An error-strewn performance saw Russell give up the lead and slip into a battle for third with Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri.
Contact between Russell and Piastri allowed Hamilton to surge into third place with five laps remaining, but Russell overtook his team-mate with a neat move at the final chicane on lap 68.
With Hamilton finishing fourth, both Mercedes drivers recorded their best finishes of the season thus far.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was sixth, while neither Ferrari managed to finish, Charles Leclerc retiring just past the halfway stage and Carlos Sainz following suit as he collided with Alex Albon's Williams.
Data Debrief: Sixty up for Verstappen
Verstappen's previous two victories in Montreal had come from pole position, but he had to fight his way past Russell and later Norris to make it three straight wins in Canada.
The victory was his 60th in Formula One overall, from 194 races. Among drivers who have achieved at least 25 wins, only Jim Clark (25 – 34.7 per cent) has a higher win ratio than the Dutchman's 30.9 per cent.
Alexander Zverev described Carlos Alcaraz as a future International Tennis Hall of Famer after losing to the Spaniard in a five-set classic in Sunday's French Open final.
Alcaraz clinched his third major title – and his first at Roland Garros – with a 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 6-2 success on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
The 21-year-old looked set for defeat when Zverev went 2-1 up, the German's aggressive style allowing him to dictate the contest from the baseline, but the Spaniard rediscovered his composure in the fourth set.
After evening things up, Alcaraz clinched two breaks in the decider to join compatriot Rafael Nadal on the list of French Open champions.
At the age of 21 years and 35 days, he is the youngest player in the Open Era to win men's singles titles at three different grand slams.
He has also needed the fewest major appearances (13) of any male player in the Open Era to capture grand slam titles on grass, clay and hard courts.
Speaking in his post-match interview, Zverev – who has lost both of his grand slam finals – said: "Congratulations Carlos. Third grand slam at 21 years old. It's incredible.
"You won three different ones. You're already a Hall of Famer and you're only 21 years old."
Alcaraz, meanwhile, thanked his support team for their work in helping him overcome a troublesome forearm injury that caused him to miss the Italian Open.
"My team have been incredible in the last month. We were struggling a lot with the injury. Coming back from Madrid, I didn't feel well," he said.
"I'm grateful to have the team that I have. I know everyone in my team is giving their heart to help me improve. I call this a team but it's a family.
"I have loved having part of my family here. I used to watch this tournament on TV and now I'm holding the trophy, so thank you very much.
"Everyone has a really important part in making this tournament special. It's not easy to do that, we complain a lot, but you all do a great job. Thank you to everyone.
"The crowd have been great since the first match until today. The support has been unbelievable in the matches and practice. I'll see you soon, for sure. Thank you."
Addressing Zverev, Alcaraz added: "It's unbelievable, the level you are playing at and the work you are putting in every day.
"I'm pretty sure you will win slams and this tournament very, very soon, so keep going and congratulations."
Carlos Alcaraz claimed the French Open title for the first time as he beat Alexander Zverev 6-3 2-6 5-7 1-6 6-2 on Sunday.
Alcaraz was staring down the barrel of a defeat when Zverev emphatically came back from conceding an early break of serve to take the third set and a 2-1 lead.
Yet the Spaniard turned on the style in the fourth, needing just 41 minutes to take the set and tee up a decider.
Alcaraz grabbed the first, crucial break, and then clawed back four break points to hold onto that advantage.
A second break followed in game seven, paving the way for Alcaraz to win his third grand slam title when he sent a brilliant shot into the corner.
Neither player started confidently as the first set began with back-to-back breaks of serve, but it was Alcaraz who took an error-strewn opener, slamming a powerful forehand past Zverev on set point.
A downcast Zverev shouted at his box as the mistakes continued at the start of the second set, but a lengthy hold was the catalyst for a sudden upturn as his aggression and power began to overwhelm Alcaraz on the longer rallies.
The German took five straight games to level things up, even drawing applause from Alcaraz with a flicked backhand winner at the net, one of the shots of the tournament.
Alcaraz initially came on strong in the third set, breaking to love in the fifth game courtesy of some expert play at the net, but Zverev roared back to inch ahead, converting his second set point with an overhead smash.
The momentum switched yet again in the fourth as Alcaraz rediscovered his groove either side of a medical timeout for treatment on his left leg, Zverev's consistency tailing off as he only won 46 per cent of points behind his first serve.
Alcaraz did not let it slip from there, breaking Zverev in game three of the decider, before brilliantly saving four break points himself in the very next game.
With Zverev's resolve broken, Alcaraz duly served out, etching his name on the French Open trophy alongside legendary compatriot Rafael Nadal.
Data Debrief: He's a superstar
Alcaraz, aged 21 years and 35 days, is the second-youngest player in the Open Era to win all his first three major finals, after Bjorn Borg (20 years and 27 days).
He is also the youngest player in the Open Era to win the singles title at three different grand slams, with the Australian Open the only one missing from the set.
Alcaraz has taken the fewest main draw appearances of any player in the Open Era to win titles on grass, clay and hard courts, and is the youngest player to win majors on clay, grass and hard court, surpassing Nadal.
Record-champion Nadal may well have made his farewell Roland-Garros appearance, but the future of tennis is in safe hands with his heir apparent.
Defending champions Nicholas Benjamin and Aliana McMaster are set to defend their Jackson Bay Hunting & Fishing Club Sporting Clays titles on Sunday which they won last year.
Well over one hundred gunners are expected to trek to Jackson Bay in Clarendon for the 9:30 am shot-gun start of a challenging day on the course.
If last year's conditions are repeated then the competitors can expect extreme heat, wind and some rain before the end of the tournament. Notwithstanding those conditions, the shooters will get a chance to display their skills by the sea as at least one station will be positioned with the sea in the background.
In 2023 Benjamin shot 90 to be the only shooter to post a score in the 90's while McMaster was engaged in a shoot-off which she won convincingly over Kashka Jones.
The top contenders for this year include former national shotgun champions Ian Banks, Shaun Barnes, Christian Sasso and Chad Ziadie plus other top gunners such as Bruce DeQuesnay and Ray McMaster.
On the female side, Aliana will have to contend with her mother and many-time national female shotgun champion Wendy McMaster as well as several other ladies who have been shooting well.
Club president Sean Clacken looks forward to the tournament for the development of the club as well as to gain funds to assist the people of the Portland Cottage Community where the club is based.
President Clacken credits the support of many sponsors who have come on board for the shoot this year. They include First Rock, Century 21, Ultra Financiers and Optimum Distributors as well as many others.
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has vowed to mature after a tumultuous offseason that saw him arrested for allegedly causing a six-vehicle crash.
Rice faces charges including aggravated assault after he and another driver of a speeding car allegedly caused a pile-up on a Dallas highway in April.
He was also investigated in connection with an alleged assault in a Dallas nightclub, but police said no charges would be brought against him over that incident last month.
The second-year receiver – who caught six passes for 39 yards as the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers to win Super Bowl LVIII in February – says he has learned from those incidents and is determined to put them behind him.
"I've learned so much from that," he said. "All I can do is mature and continue to grow from that. This is a step in a better direction for me.
"Accidents and stuff like that happen, but all you can do is move forward and walk around being the same person, try to be positive so that everybody can feel your love and your great energy."
Rice's 26 passes caught throughout last season's playoffs represented a new record for any rookie, beating Ja'Marr Chase's total of 25 from two years earlier.
Throughout his first regular season in the league, the former SMU Mustangs man caught 79 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games.
Coco Gauff declared "the third time's a charm" after teaming up with Katerina Siniakova to win the French Open doubles title on Sunday.
Gauff and Siniakova defeated Italian pair Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 in the doubles showpiece on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
The triumph was Gauff's first in a doubles tournament at a grand slam, after she lost the 2021 US Open final alongside Caty McNally and the 2022 French Open showpiece alongside Jessica Pegula.
She only decided to play alongside Siniakova – who has now won eight major doubles titles – at the last minute after neck and back injuries forced Pegula to withdraw.
Speaking after claiming the title, Gauff said: "The third time's a charm. Thank you, Katerina, for playing with me. We decided two days before the tournament to play together.
"Thank you to the fans. I know 11:30 on a Sunday morning is early for most people. It's early for me."
Gauff and Siniakova only dropped one set in the tournament, against Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk in the semi-finals.
World number three Gauff was the only player not to lose serve in Sunday's final, which contained nine breaks in total.
It marked a second final defeat in as many days for Paolini, who was beaten 6-2 6-1 by Iga Swiatek in Saturday's singles final as the world number one clinched a third straight crown at Roland Garros.
The Italian's tournament may not have ended with silverware, but she will look back on it fondly, saying: "The last two weeks were very nice, very emotional.
"I have a lot of great memories. I can't wait to be back."
Mattea Issa improved her lead over former national female golf champion Emily Mayne by three shots after scoring one over par 73 on the second day of the national senior trials to Mayne's four over par 76. Issa's combined score of five over par 149 is eight strokes ahead of Mayne's 157.
Issa was very pleased with her second round score card which showed a birdie and a bogey on the front nine and just one bogey on the back nine. She was even par up to the 13th hole, then she dropped the bogey on the 14th. Now five strokes ahead she is well positioned to top the female section of the senior trials for the first time.
Mayne's scorecard showed four bogeys and a double bogey but she had two birdies which cut her second round deficit to four. She still had a reasonable day on the course as she was even par up to hole number 14 but had a double bogey on 15 along with bogeys on 17 and 18. She has it all to play for on Sunday's final day of the trials but came in with some confidence as she had a very successful collegiate season which saw Howard University winning the championship.
Last year's national champion William Knibbs and the 2022 national champion Oshae Haye were joint leaders at the end of the second round after both golfers scored five over par 77s for the round. Their two-day scores were four over 76 and 77, respectively, for a total of nine over par 153. They were in joint second play at the end of the first round.
Dr. Mark Newnhan, Ryan Lue and Shamar Wilson all share the third spot with combined scores of 154 each after scoring 75, 75 and 76, respectively, in the second round.
First round leader Rocco Lopez scored 14 over par 86 in his second round for a total of 14 over par 158. He is the only golfer to post an even par score (72) so far, which he did in the first round.
Current national champions, Zandre Roye dropped from joint second (76) to seventh place after posting eight over par 80 in the second round. He will start the third and final round on 12 over par 156 but just three strokes behind leaders Knibbs and Haye.
The golfers will tee off at 9:00 am on Sunday aiming to qualify for a spot on the team to represent Jamaica at the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championship in July.
Clifton Johnson, Diane Hudson, and George Hugh emerged as the top winners at the 7th MCOBA/Lindy Delapenha Golf Tournament, held at the Caymanas Golf and Country Club recently. The tournament, which saw 88 participants, was marked by excellent weather conditions until the afternoon when rain began to fall, just as most players completed their rounds.
Johnson was crowned the overall winner of the tournament, scoring 44 points in the Stableford format. His victory earned him a weekend stay for two at the Half Moon Hotel and a gift basket from Carimed. Hudson, who won the Women's championship with 38 points, received a weekend stay for two at the Spanish Court Hotel and a gift basket from Carimed. Hugh, the Super Senior Men's champion with 41 points, was awarded a weekend stay for two at Jamaica Inn.
In the Men and Senior Men’s category, Damian Chung took first place with 42 points, followed by Calvery Winn with 41 points, and Paul Authurs with 40 points. In the Super Senior Men's category, Khaleel Azan finished as the runner-up, also with 41 points, and Gord Hutchinson came in third with 39 points. Jennifer Mendes was the runner-up in the Women's category with 37 points, while Maggie Lyn finished third with 30 points. Dane Marsh, with 36 points, was the best-performing Munro Old Boy.
Tournament Manager Telroy Morgan, who also participated in the tournament, described this year's event as the most successful yet. "This is the most successful event to date on several fronts inclusive of the tournament being oversubscribed. Unfortunately, we couldn’t accommodate some of the golfers who tried to register on the day, so it seems like next year we’ll need to stage the event over two days to accommodate all the golfers."
Morgan added, "It was a thrill to participate in the tournament for the first time. The possibility of winning the hole-in-one prize was thrilling, but more so, just being out on the course interacting with fellow golfers enjoying the atmosphere was priceless."
Nevin Nish, Qualified Principal Broker at Keller Williams, the main sponsors of the event, expressed pride in the success of the tournament. "Keller Williams Jamaica is very proud of this year’s staging of the Lindy Delapenha Munro College Golf Classics. As title sponsors, it was so heartwarming to see that we were oversubscribed."
Nish continued, "Even to the end of the tournament, and even as it rained, 90% of the golfers stayed right throughout the ceremony. We had a great time. The boys at Munro College will definitely benefit from all the proceeds because 100% of the proceeds go back to those boys at the institutions which are facing hard times. We are delighted, and we congratulate the organizers as well as the Caymanas Golf Club Team for this year's execution, and we look forward to continued support."
Winsome Gibbs, Branch Manager of CG United Insurance Limited, which sponsored the hole-in-one prize, reflected on the event as a day well spent. "It was an honor for our company, CG United, to participate in such a prestigious event. As a people-first organization, we are always happy to support initiatives that contribute to the growth and development of young people in our communities. The experience of watching each golfer take their shot at the hole-in-one was both exciting and nerve-wracking for me. Ultimately it was a bittersweet feeling at the end of the day but with our golfer’s insurance in place, I knew we were covered."
Both golfers and sponsors are already looking forward to next year's event after enjoying a memorable day of golf and camaraderie.
George Russell edged out Max Verstappen to claim pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix.
Russell and Verstappen, the reigning Formula One world champion and championship leader, set identical lap times.
Both clocked in at one minute and 12 seconds, but Russell was given the edge as he banked his first. That had not happened in F1 since 1997.
It is a huge boost for Mercedes, who seem to have turned a corner in recent races following some upgrades to their car.
"It's sort of come from nowhere," Russell said after qualifying in Montreal. "But maybe not a surprise with the upgrades we've been bringing.
"We brought these upgrades to Monaco, which has been a really challenging circuit for us in the past, and we were 0.1secs from the front row and we thought going into Montreal we had a shot here.
"It's just turning really nicely through the corners. We struggled a lot with understeer before.
"Last year, we had a lot of oversteer and we've been trying to find the halfway house between what we had last year and what we had this year.
"And it feels like we're sort of dialling in that sweet spot right now. So it feels like something we've been saying for a long time, in all honesty. But you know, just really a sense of relief to actually see it translate into a pole position. [There's] more to come.
"We are the favourite at the moment because we have the fastest car and I was feeling great behind the wheel.
"But there is rain on the horizon and the wind is picking up. We are going to have to be so on our feet. It's a bit of a shame in a way. But I am feeling optimistic."
Verstappen said: "It's how it is. We had a good qualifying. The whole weekend has been still a bit tricky for us but to be P2, I'll take it. Going into qualifying I would have definitely taken that. It makes it more exciting for the race as well."
Russell's team-mate Lewis Hamilton did not have as much luck, as he could only manage seventh place, behind the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Pisastri.
Verstappen's Red Bull team-mate, Sergio Perez, also had a poor session, as he was knocked out in Q3 for the second straight race.
Perez's Red Bull future was confirmed this week, though the team are also keeping on Yuki Tsunoda as back up.
It was a poor day for Ferrari, with both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz missing out on the top 10.
Sainz is hoping to claim a top seat for next season, with Hamilton replacing him at Ferrari, but Mercedes boss Toto Wolff confirmed that would not be with his team.
"Carlos deserves a top seat," Wolff said. "He's done a fantastic job, but for us we've embarked on a route now.
"We want to reinvent ourselves a little bit going forward and Kimi Antonelli definitely plays a part in that.
"We haven't taken a decision yet for next year but we didn't want to have Carlos wait as well because he needs to take decisions for himself and that's fair, but he's doing a super job."
Ranger Suarez became the majors’ first 10-game winner and Bryce Harper celebrated his tying home run with a soccer slide as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the New York Mets, 7-2 in the opener of Major League Baseball’s third London Series on Saturday.
Harper’s homer sparked a six-run fourth that included Whit Merrifield’s three-run homer and the major league-best Phillies (45-19) won their fourth in a row and seventh in eight games.
Harper finished a triple shy of the cycle and did a soccer slide in front of the Phillies dugout and moments later yelled “I love soccer!” while high-fiving teammates.
Nick Castellanos went deep in the eighth inning as manager Rob Thomson earned his 200th regular season win (200-137).
Suarez gave up two runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings and Philadelphia’s bullpen worked 3 1/3 scoreless innings.
Starling Marte had two hits and an RBI for the Mets, who had won three straight.
Streaking Reds edge Cubs
TJ Friedl homered and knocked in three runs and Jeimer Candelerio also went deep as the Cincinnati Reds held off the Chicago Cubs, 4-3, for their seventh straight win.
The Cubs threatened to tie in the ninth with runners at first and third with one out, but Justin Wilson got Ian Happ on a foul popup and retired Mike Tauchman on a groundout for his first save since 2019.
Andrew Abbott allowed five hits and walked four in five innings, but the only run he gave up was on Dansby Swanson’s first-inning RBI double. He struck out Patrick Wisdom three times and Christopher Morel twice.
Candelerio’s first-inning home run off Ben Brown lifted the Reds into a 1-1 tie, and Friedl’s two-run shot in the third was his third homer in the last seven games.
Hernandez goes deep twice as Dodgers rout Yankees
Teoscar Hernandez belted an eighth-inning grand slam for his second homer of the game and drove in six runs to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 11-3 victory over the New York Yankees.
Hernandez opened the scoring in the second inning with a solo shot off Nestor Cortes and connected for his fifth career grand slam in the eighth to extend the lead to 8-2.
The six RBIs matched a career high for Hernandez, who had done that twice previously. He has eight RBIs in the first two games of this series.
Kike Hernandez also went deep and Freddie Freeman added a two-run double for Los Angeles, which has taken the first two games of this marquee series in the Bronx.
Aaron Judge hit his major league-leading 22nd and 23rd home runs as the Yankees lost their second straight following an eight-game winning streak.
New York’s star right fielder Juan Soto sat out his second consecutive game with left forearm inflammation.
Sergei Bobrovsky continued his red-hot play with 32 saves and Carter Verhaeghe and Evan Rodrigues scored to lift the Florida Panthers to a 3-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday night.
Bobrovsky was the story as the Oilers outshot the Panthers 32-17. He turned in one of the most memorable playoff goaltending performances in recent history, denying multiple breakaways and even managed to make saves without his stick for 30 seconds.
Over his last four playoff games, the 35-year-old Bobrovsky has stopped 101 of 106 shots for a .953 save percentage.
Three-time MVP Connor McDavid, who leads all scorers in the postseason with 31 points, led all skaters with six shots but couldn’t beat the Russian goaltender.
Thanks to him, the Panthers have a lead in the Cup final for the first time in franchise history and are three wins away from their first championship.
Eetu Luostarinen scored into an empty net with five seconds remaining, but that insurance goal was hardly needed the way Bobrovsky played.
Game 2 is Tuesday in Florida.
The goals by Verhaeghe and Rodriguez came on the first five shots against Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner, who wasn't to blame for either one.
The Oilers were shut out in the playoffs for the first time since June 2, 2022, against Colorado.
On May 25, 2024, Ingrid Graham made history as the first ever female to be elected as President of the Jamaica Table Tennis Association.
Graham secured 14 votes compared to 10 received by her opponent Colette Palmer at the elections held at the Sports Development Foundation in Kingston.
“It’s really a great honour to be in that capacity,” Graham told Sportsmax.tv in an interview this week.
“It just tells to show our young ladies that the sky is the limit and nothing is unreachable to them as long as the interest is there and they love it and have a passion for it,” she added.
The journey to get to this point was not without its ups and downs according to the President.
“It was a strenuous journey and a tiresome one. Sometimes you think of giving up but when I look back on all the children and young ladies and the development of Table Tennis and where it really has taken them, I decided to continue,” she said.
Graham got right to work after winning the election with her immediate attention going to organizing trials to select Jamaica’s teams to the Caribbean Mini and Pre-Cadet Championships set for July 1-7 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
“In the one week that I was in office I was tasked with basically putting on a trial for the Under-11 and Under-13 Pre and Mini Cadets who should be going to the Dominican Republic from June 29.”
Graham says she has also reached out to a number of players and entities to try and send the “excellent” team of youngsters to the tournament.
“The good thing about this set is that we have five children on this team who are from the inner city and they are very talented. They love this sport and they put in their everything they have,” she said.
In addition to planning those trials, which were held at the Excelsior High School, Graham says her and her team are currently planning a one-day rally for Prep and Primary Schools.
“We have not had a proper competition since 2019. Last year, myself, Skills Unlimited Table Tennis Academy (SUTTA), the Kingston and St Andrew Table Tennis Association (KSATTA), and Supersonic Table Tennis Club and the JTTA, we all came together and hosted a one-day rally which was excellent and well supported by the schools. We even had sponsors come on board last minute to assist us,” she said.
“We’re doing the same thing this year. We’re currently planning that and I have to be seeking funding and resources for the team to leave on June 29 for the Pre and Mini cadet,” Graham added.
While admitting that a lot of work needs to be done, she remains confident that her and her team will be able to get the job done.
“It can happen and it will happen. It’s a lot of work but once the structures are in place and persons are dedicated to the cause, we will get there,” she said.
That team consists of First Vice President Andrea Murray, Second Vice President Simon Lei, General Secretary Sean Wallace and Treasurer David White. Wallace will be assisted by Konata Beluchi while White be assisted by Mark Edwards and Errol Howlett.
The Council members include former national champion Simon Tomlinson, current national champion Mark Phillips, Matthew Dawson, Kevin Peterkin and Lisette Wilson.
“We have a diverse team. We have persons in the field of media, accounting, persons who operate their own businesses. We are aiming for positive output, unity, transparency and accountability,” she said.
“We want the entire Jamaica to know that whatever we’re tasked with, we’re going to fulfil it. Each sponsor that comes on board, they will get a report of players participation as well as documentation of hos the resources were spent,” Graham added.
An emotional Jasmine Paolini says this year's French Open was "the best days of my life" following her final defeat to Iga Swiatek on Saturday.
It was the Italian’s maiden Grand Slam final after she saw off Mirra Andreeva in straight sets in the semi-finals.
Paolini was already assured of breaking into the top 10 in the WTA rankings on Monday, no matter her result in the final.
She also booked her place in the women's doubles final after coming from behind with partner Sara Errani and will be playing that showpiece on Sunday.
Speaking after the single’s final, Paolini said she could not believe the journey she had been on in the past two weeks.
"Thanks for coming. I really enjoyed playing today," a choked-up Paolini said.
"The best days of my life, I think. Tomorrow, I have the doubles final. It's been a very intense 15 days, and I'm really happy to be here.
"Today was tough, but I'm really proud of myself anyway. You were cheering for me and that is unbelievable.
"I have to say congratulations to you, Iga. Playing you here is the toughest challenge in the sport. You are doing a great job - world number one and many slams.
"I want to thank my team, my family, everyone who is cheering for me every day. Congratulations to everyone who made this tournament special."
Iga Swiatek thanked the fans at the French Open for giving her the belief she needed to win the tournament after nearly being knocked out in the second round.
The world number one won her fourth title at Roland Garros, and her third in a row with a dominant 6-2, 6-1 victory over Jasmine Paolini on Saturday.
However, she almost made a shock early exit in the tournament at the hands of Naomi Osaka but pulled off an incredible comeback.
Swiatek saved a match point against the former world number one to come from 5-2 down to win the deciding set 7-5, setting her on her way to the trophy.
Now, she is the second player in the Open Era to win all of her first five Women's Singles Grand Slam finals after Monica Seles.
From the round of 16 onwards, Swiatek dropped just 11 games combined on her way to securing the title, but following her win, she said it was the crowd in Paris that boosted her confidence following that game.
"I love this place, I wait every year to come back here," Swiatek said after winning her title.
"I was almost out in the second round so thank you for still cheering for me. I needed to believe that this was possible. It’s been an emotional tournament. Thank you for supporting me.
"I want to thank my team, my family, without them I wouldn't be here. I want to thank everyone who made this tournament possible."
Paolini played in her maiden Grand Slam final and also reached the doubles final on Sunday with partner Sara Errani.
Swiatek was full of praise for her opponent and wished her well in her upcoming showpiece.
"Congrats for an amazing tournament," she added.
"I'm really impressed with how you've been playing these last two weeks. I hope we'll have many more matches in final rounds."
Rocco Lopez and Mattea Issa are the early leaders at the Jamaica Golf Association's National Senior Trials which began on Friday at the Half Moon Golf Course in St. James.
Lopez ended the first round on even par 72 after being on one under par up to the 17th hole but bogeyed the 18th hole.
His scorecard showed three birdies on holes five, twelve and sixteen but they were cancelled out by the three bogeys on holes number one, three and eighteen.
Three former national golf champions Zandre Roye (the current champion), William Knibbs (2023) and Oshae Haye (2022) all shot four over par 76 for a three-way tie for second place.
Roye held the lead at the 13th hole with a two under par score but had a wretched time on the course after that after sending down four bogeys and a double bogey. Overall, he shot four birdies, six bogeys and a double bogey for the round.
Knibbs, who has been away from the local golf scene for a while, sent town six bogeys in the round including bogeys on holes 17 and 18 but he had two birdies in the back nine on holes 10 and 12.
Haye's scorecard showed four bogeys and a double bogey but his two birdies on holes 11 and 12 helped him to share the second spot.
Many time national representative Owen Samuda was one stroke back in fifth place on five over par 77.
Fresh off her first national female golf title was Mattea Issa leads the female section of the national trials by five clear strokes.
Issa closed the first round on four over par 76 after recovering from a rough start bogeying holes number one and two.
She followed up with a birdies on hole number seven but got into trouble again with bogeys on holes nine and sixteen plus a double bogey on hole number 11. She did get a reprieve with a birdie on fifteen.
Emily Mayne returned for the trials after coming off a successful college season in the United States where she helped her university to win the national collegiate championship.
She had a torrid time on the course, sending down 10 bogeys and a birdie for a first-round score of nine over par 81. She topped the national trials in 2022 at the same venue so she will be looking to improve in the second and third rounds.
The golfers will tee off at 10:00 am on Saturday as they seek to improve their scores and positions in order to gain a spot on the national team to represent Jamaica at the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championship in July.
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