Novak Djokovic (AP Photo)

LONDON: Late in the opening set of his Wimbledon third-round match, Novak Djokovic, slightly off balance, flung himself to his right to meet a volley, placing it perfectly for a winner. Seconds later, the supple 39-year-old was back on his feet, taking a bow on Centre Court before turning to the crowd and asking for more love. In the stands, his son Stefan leapt up in animated celebration, completing what is increasingly becoming the Djokovic show.More than three hours later, after 225 points and 41 games of gripping tennis, Djokovic was taking another bow. This time, both he and his opponent Arthur Rinderknech were sprawled on the grass after the Serbian flicked a winner past the giant Frenchman to seal victory. Djokovic was the first back on his feet, striding around the net to embrace and applaud Rinderknech, nine years his junior, whose fearless performance had pushed the 24-time major champion further than he would’ve liked.Djokovic, who walked out in his GOAT blazer looking every inch the seven-time Wimbledon champion, shifted gears at just the right moments to earn a 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4) victory over the 30-year-old Frenchman and book his place in the fourth round, where he will face the world No. 132 and qualifier Roman Safiullin.“A bit of luck, a bit of skill, in the end,” Djokovic said when asked how he had got the job done. “It was pretty much a flawless tie-break from my side. I did everything I could. I think I served extremely well, only in the tie-break. For most of the match, I struggled with that serve.”“But it was also due to his quality. He’s very tall, he hit some incredible serves. It was a really tiring, really close match. Sometimes you just have to find a way to win, and I’m happy I did that today.”Friday’s victory, which featured 107 winners — 67 of them from Rinderknech — saw Djokovic draw level with Roger Federer‘s record of 105 singles match wins on the men’s draw at Wimbledon. The pair trail only Martina Navratilova, who holds the all-time mark with 120 victories at the grass-court major.At this stage of his career, Djokovic prefers to conserve energy. The seven-time champion said he hopes his body continues to cooperate as the tournament progresses.“I think I’ve done everything I needed to do today, under circumstances that weren’t maybe as good for me as they were in the second round, and it was still enough to win,” he said. “At this age and stage in my career, every day brings something new and unpredictable for me. I’m hoping that I will come out at my best in a few days’ time.”

Fonseca, Jodar bow out

It was not the best of days for the two 19-year-olds left in the men’s draw. Rafael Jodar and Joao Fonseca, seeded 23rd and 24th respectively, were both outplayed by qualifiers Shintaro Mochizuki and Safiullin.Fonseca, sluggish in both movement and shot-making on the day, looked like someone forced to function without their morning coffee as he bowed out 3-6, 3-6, 3-6 to comeback man Safiullin.Safiullin, who was ranked as high as No. 36 and reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2023, had to cut short his 2025 season in September after injuring his knee. He arrived at this year’s championships without a tour-level win in 2026. But after battling through qualifying, the Russian has reeled off three strong victories, over Andrey Rublev, Botic van de Zandschulp and now Fonseca, to book his place in the round-of-16.Jodar, meanwhile, went down 6-1, 6-7 (5), 4-6, 4-6 to Shintaro Mochizuki, the world No. 151.

The Minnesota Vikings’ first regular season game is about 10 weeks away — yes, we’re that close — and the club will inevitably make some roster moves before go-time. So, we’re here to predict those, especially during the quiet time of the NFL calendar when the World Cup, NBA free agency, and Wimbledon have taken center stage.

Ranked in no particular order, these are the moves we reasonably expect to see from the purple team and new general manager Nolan Teasley.

Brian O’Neill’s Extension Should Be the First Move on the Board

1. Brian O’Neill’s Contract Extended

O’Neill’s contract situation is straightforward. As he is set to become a free agent in 2027, the Vikings should proactively address his future to maintain continuity on their offensive line. Extending O’Neill, a crucial component of the trenches, is a rational step. Offering new guaranteed money just makes sense.

While O’Neill will turn 31 soon and concerns about aging players are common, he has shown no marked decline in performance. Offensive tackles, particularly those as consistent as O’Neill, often age more gracefully than players in positions that endure greater abuse.

O’Neill has been the Vikings’ most reliable offensive lineman since 2018, known for his durability and steadiness. The Vikings face a clear choice: extend O’Neill or let him walk next March.

Prediction: Vikings extend O’Neill on a three-year, $66 million deal.

2. OLB Leonard Floyd Signed

With Jonathan Greenard’s departure, the Vikings have a clear need for an additional outside linebacker. They just do. What happens if Andrew Van Ginkel or Dallas Turner get hurt? Start the season with Turner and Bo Richter as the main EDGE rushers?

The trade of Greenard and a 7th-round pick to the Eagles for a 2026 3rd-Rounder and a 2027 3rd-Rounder, while a decent return, altered their pass-rushing depth. With Greenard, their pass rush was formidable; without him, the primary burden falls on Van Ginkel and Turner, with considerably less-experienced backups.

That’s where Floyd could prove invaluable. Floyd’s familiarity with Kevin O’Connell (2021 Los Angeles Rams Super Bowl season) could put this deal over the top. Bringing him in would add a veteran who can play a high volume of snaps, which would be crucial if injuries accumulate.

The move is not about a blockbuster signing, but rather a strategic acquisition to prevent the EDGE room from becoming dangerously thin by midseason.

SI.com‘s Will Ragatz noted on Floyd as an option for the Vikings in May, “Floyd was the 9th overall pick by the Bears out of Georgia back in 2016. He’s never been a Pro Bowler but has had a strong ten-year career in the NFL. After four years in Chicago, he had the three best years of his career with the Rams from 2020-22.”

He’s now in his mid-30s, but Floyd has never had a season with fewer than 36 QB pressures. Floyd overlapped with Kevin O’Connell in LA for two seasons and would be a big addition for the Vikings if they can get him on something like a one-year, $8 million deal.

Prediction: Vikings extend Floyd to a one-year, $6 million deal.

3. Blake Brandel’s Deal Extended by 2 Years

Brandel’s trajectory as O’Connell’s starting center in 2026 is notable, especially given his standing just a few years ago. Despite opportunities to draft a center this offseason, the Vikings waited until Round 7 to select Gavin Gerhardt from Cincinnati. It seems Brandel is “the guy” at center in 2026.

His contract also expires after the 2026 season, and the team’s apparent trust in him is evident. His ability to play multiple positions on the offensive line is damn near sacred, considering the OL injuries that emerged all over the place last year.

The Vikings prioritize versatile players like Brandel. He’s been with the franchise since 2020 and might as well stick around for a couple of years.

Prediction: Vikings extend Brandel on a two-year, $12 million deal.

4. Vikings Sign OG Daniel Brunskill or Liam Eichenberg

Unless the Vikings convert third-year tackle Walter Rouse to guard — that’s a real possibility — the guard depth is a bit skinny. Minnesota would basically rely on Joe Huber, an undrafted free agent from 2025, as the main go-to if something happened injury-wise to Donovan Jackson or Will Fries.

Meanwhile, O’Connell now has Frank Smith on his coaching staff, who previously served as the Miami Dolphins’ offensive coordinator for four seasons and is now Minnesota’s new assistant head coach. Needing guard help, Smith could call on a lineman from his Miami days. Brunskill and Eichenberg are free agents.

Brunskill played 176 offensive snaps last year, with a 60.6 Pro Football Focus grade to show for it. Eichenberg didn’t play at all last year due to injury, and his career could be in jeopardy.

Prediction: Vikings sign Brunskill to a one-year, veteran minimum deal.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

The team sheets are officially in here at Miami Stadium, and both managers have thrown massive curveballs ahead of this high-stakes Round of 32 clash!

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has completely flexed his squad depth, making nine sweeping changes to the side that wrapped up the group stage against Jordan. The headline news, however, is exactly what the Miami crowd came to see—captain Lionel Messi reclaiming his throne in the starting eleven after being rested. He is flanked by Lautaro Martínez and Thiago Almada in a lethal-looking frontline.

On the other side of the trenches, Cape Verde boss Bubista isn’t sitting back defensively either. He has made five bold changes to the setup that earned a historic draw against Saudi Arabia. Dynamic options like Steven Moreira, Sidny Cabral, Laros Duarte, Nuno da Costa, and Jovane Cabral all march into the XI as the ultimate underdogs aim to pull off a historic heist.

Here is how both teams line up for this epic knockout fixture:

Argentina Starting XI (4-1-2-3):

• Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martínez

• Defenders: Facundo Medina, Lisandro Martínez, Cristian Romero, Nahuel Molina

• Midfielders:​ Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, Rodrigo De Paul

• Forwards:​​ Thiago Almada, Lautaro Martínez, Lionel Messi (C)

Cape Verde Starting XI (4-1-4-1):

• Goalkeeper: Vozinha

• Defenders: Sidny Cabral, Diney Borges, Roberto Lopes, Steven Moreira

• Defensive Midfielder: Kevin Pina

• Midfielders: Ryan Mendes, Deroy Duarte, Laros Duarte, Jovane Cabral

• Forward: Nuno da Costa

Serena Williams’ hopes of playing alongside older sister Venus in the Wimbledon doubles look to have improved after the pair’s match was added to Saturday’s order of play.

Williams, 44, picked up a knee injury in her singles comeback on Tuesday, when she lost to Australia’s Maya Joint.

The sisters, who are six-time doubles champions at the All England Club, are scheduled to reunite on a Grand Slam court for the first time since 2022.

Their match against Colombia’s Camila Osorio and Argentina’s Solana Sierra has not been allocated a court, but organisers say it will not be played before 16:30 BST.

It suggests Serena Williams is being given as long as possible to declare herself fit after her knee swelled up during a gallant three-set defeat by 20-year-old Joint.

Sources close to the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion told BBC Sport on Friday that the plan is for her to play.

It is likely the Williams sisters, who were given a wildcard, will be put on one of Wimbledon’s biggest show courts once the day’s singles matches have finished.

However, the loose scheduling leaves Wimbledon with no issues in case the American superstars do withdraw.

England all-rounder Sam Curran has described Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s rise to the Indian team as an “incredible story”, saying the 15-year-old has earned the attention coming his way, while hoping England can keep him quiet if he makes his international debut in the ongoing T20I series.The cricket world has been waiting for Sooryavanshi’s India debut ever since he was picked for the tour of the UK following his performances for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026.Speaking to the media ahead of the second T20I, Curran said he had followed Sooryavanshi closely during the IPL.“I guess it’s an incredible story. I watched a lot of the IPL for a month, and I was just watching this guy, he looks so easy. It’s truly incredible and it’s rightly so, getting the attention he deserves.“He’s so raw and he’s just having the time of his life, isn’t he? Playing for India at 15 years old is such a cool story and I think even as opposition, you’ve got to admire the skill and things like that,” Curran said.Curran believes England’s conditions could present a different challenge for the youngster.“I think England will probably be a different challenge, the pitches are very different, a lot slower than in India. Guys can have their plans and all this kind of thing.“So I guess, we will have our plans, of course, but I’m not saying they’re the right plans, you never know because he’s playing really well.“But at the end of the day, I’ll try and execute my skills, but there’s no doubt that he’s pretty special for what he’s doing,” he said.Sooryavanshi finished IPL 2026 as the tournament’s highest run-scorer, scoring 776 runs at a strike rate of over 230.Curran also said handling the attention that comes with playing for India could be Sooryavanshi’s biggest challenge.“I think being an Indian cricketer in India is probably much bigger than we are. So I think that’ll probably be his biggest challenge, how he handles that. He has played one or two IPL seasons and is straight into the Indian squad now. I’m sure he’s got people around him trying to help him. But I guess you never know until he’s given his debut and see how he goes.“I’m sure he’s going to have ups and downs like anybody else, but as a cricket player, you’ve got to enjoy what he’s doing because it is pretty cool. At 15 years old, I think I was just knocking in the Surrey indoor school.”

Last month, Bleacher Report ranked all NFL teams’ wide receiving corps, and the Minnesota Vikings checked in at No. 1. Fast forward to July, and SI.com has come along to do the same thing, but this time ranking duos, and in this case, just Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison from Minnesota.

And according to Gilbert Manzano, the pair ranks fifth-best in the NFL, which is a bit low for Vikings fans’ liking.

Vikings’ QB Fix Could Settle the Whole Argument

Manzano: Jefferson, Addison Rank No. 5

Manzano explained the fifth-best ranking: “There were a few duos considered for the fifth spot, including the Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed, Broncos’ Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton, and Patriots’ A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs. But two of those candidates haven’t played a game together and Shaheed made more of an impact on special teams than as a receiver after joining Seattle in a midseason trade from the Saints.”

“There is some uncertainty with the partnership of Jefferson and Addison after a down 2025 season and the ongoing quarterback battle between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy.”

If there’s uncertainty about the WR duo, it’s news to those who closely follow the Vikings.

Manzano continued, “But this is a dominant duo when receiving competent quarterback play, evident from what they have done since the Vikings drafted Addison in 2023 to pair him with Jefferson, who still might be the league’s best receiver after delivering his sixth consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season, despite the disastrous QB play in 2025.”

“If Murray can regain his top form or McCarthy shows vast improvement, there likely won’t be any debate about who’s the best wideout in the game. Addison hasn’t had a 1,000-yard receiving season in his three-year career, but his knack for stretching the field has given Jefferson plenty of beneficial matchups on the field.”

A Quiet Year in 2025 by Their Standards

In 2025, Jefferson logged 1,024 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, totally pedestrian numbers compared to his typical interstellar standard. His copilot, Addison, produced 610 yards and 3 touchdowns. Together, they created a stat line that Jefferson generally posts by his lonesome.

So, what happened? The Vikings’ quarterback struggled, with McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer all getting snaps under center. Wentz, at times, was able to distribute effectively, but McCarthy struggled with consistency, and Brosmer was a total train wreck.

If you’re wondering why Jefferson and Addison didn’t rank higher than No. 5 on Manzano’s list, this is probably it — the “what have you done for me lately?” argument.

A Chance to Rebound with Revamped Quarterbacking

Of course, the minuscule output from Jefferson and Addison need not persist. That’s why Murray is in town — to unlock the pass-catchers and the offense, as a whole, to its fullest potential.

In February, the rumor mill suggested that the Arizona Cardinals would cut ties with Murray after seven seasons, and that proved accurate. The Cardinals dumped Murray, willing to pay him to play for another team, and the Vikings pounced, securing the 28-year-old on a contract worth $1.3 million.

Murray didn’t find much team success in Arizona — just one postseason appearance and zero playoff wins since 2019 — but his individual numbers hint that he can succeed in his next chapter, which might involve getting players like Jefferson and Addison the ball.

For example, Cardinals tight end Trey McBride turned into one of the best players at his position with Murray running the show. If McBride could pull that off, why Jefferson and Murray?

Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins as Top Dogs

Manzano nominated the Bengals’ WRs as the league’s best, noting, “With most duos, it’s about complementing each other with different skills. That’s not the case with Chase, a top-three wideout, and Higgins, a clutch playmaker who can take over games when needed.”

“They’re both versatile as wideouts who can make plays downfield and near the line of scrimmage. It also helps that Joe Burrow is an established elite quarterback. This dynamic offense has been held back a bit playing with a poor defense the past few seasons.”

When best WR duo articles circulate on the internet, it’s almost always these two who take home the bacon.

Manzano concluded, “It’s been three years since Burrow, Chase and Higgins played in a playoff game, but this group got to a Super Bowl in the 2021 season, Chase’s rookie year. Perhaps this high-scoring offense can return to the big stage after the offseason moves the Bengals made defensively, including the trade for star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II.”

“The AFC likely doesn’t want to see this scary offense return to the postseason.”

Jefferson turned 27 this offseason, and Addison is 24.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

Maria Sharapova has revealed that retiring from tennis was not a last-minute decision, saying she spent years preparing for life after the sport.

The five-time Grand Slam champion explained that she always knew a tennis career had an expiration date, which is why she started building her future long before announcing her retirement in 2020.

“I recognized from an early age that as a woman, my career would end much sooner than in other professions. I was like, ‘I’ve got to hustle. I’ve got to start learning from other people.’”

Instead of seeing injuries and breaks from the tour as setbacks, Sharapova turned them into opportunities to learn.

She said she attended business school, completed internships and even spent time shadowing NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

“When I was injured, or I had a break, I’d go to a business school… I would take internships. I went to the NBA for a few weeks to shadow Adam Silver.”

Sharapova also began investing while she was still competing, believing those decisions would help her build a successful career beyond tennis.

Looking back, she said personal growth away from the court was just as important as her success on it.

“There are elements of growth that even though you’re progressing in one arena, I thought it was really critical and important to help grow in others.”

Sharapova retired from professional tennis in 2020 after winning five Grand Slam singles titles and spending years among the sport’s biggest stars.