One feared he might never return to top-level tennis. The other will now share the court with a player who, in his mind, is a celebrity.
After causing two of the biggest shocks of the first week at Wimbledon, qualifiers Roman Safiullin and Shintaro Mochizuki will now set their sights on toppling two of the favourites for the Wimbledon title.
Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner are the superstars standing in their way of going any deeper in the tournament, with the quarter-finals just a step away.
Russian Safiullin was in tears after a stunning 6-3 6-3 6-3 over talented Brazilian 24th seed Joao Fonseca, having struggled with an injury he feared he would never fully recover from six months ago.
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The 28-year-old is a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist but is now at 132 in the world rankings and had not won an ATP Tour-level match this year before entering qualifying.
He ended his 2025 season after the US Open in August and did not return to action until February.
Safiullin is now on a six-match winning streak in SW19 – including three qualifying matches – as he goes into a fourth-round meeting with seven-time champion Djokovic on Sunday.
Struggling to speak through his tears, Safiullin was given a standing ovation by the crowd on Court Two following his victory over 19-year-old Fonseca.
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“After the US Open, I had to stop to treat my injury. That time was super tough. Even half a year ago, I didn’t know whether I would be able to [come] back,” Safiullin said.
Safiullin again became emotional as he tried to explain the significance of his victory, telling the BBC: “It [the emotion] came from the hard times, I would say. It was not an easy period.”
Looking ahead to facing Djokovic, he added: “I played against him three times and only one time I was really close to getting a set against him.
“The other two times he destroyed me. Hopefully this time I will give him problems and make him suffer on the court.”
Lionel Messi has once again rewritten FIFA World Cup history, surpassing Kylian Mbappe and Pele to set a new record. The Argentina captain netted the first goal against tournament debutants Cabo Verde to set the record in the ongoing round of 32 clash in Miami (July 3, ET).
The strike gave him 12 goal contributions in World Cup knockout rounds, the most in the history of the competition. That number puts the 39-year-old ahead of both Kylian Mbappe and Pele, who had previously been tied for the top spot on 11 each.
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He scored in the 29th minute to break a tense stalemate that had frustrated the reigning champions early on. The goal itself was a signature of his genius: Lisandro Martinez’s inviting pass over the top sent Messi gliding past the Cabo Verde defense with a perfect run. He controlled the ball beautifully in his stride before lifting a composed effort over Vozinha to put Argentina 1-0 up.
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The strike also took his run to eight consecutive FIFA World Cup matches on the scoresheet, a streak which has not been equaled by anyone. And on top of that, Lionel Messi has now scored against 14 different teams. It is the most by any player, surpassing the likes of Miroslav Klose, Ronaldo Nazario, and Jurgen Klinsmann, all of whom have 10.
Lionel Messi at the FIFA World Cup so Far
Lionel Messi arrived at a record sixth FIFA World Cup with question marks over his fitness after nursing a minor hamstring issue in the build-up. But any lingering doubts were quickly dispelled in Argentina’s Group J opener against Algeria in Kansas City.
His terrific hat-trick in the 3-0 triumph pulled him level with Miroslav Klose as the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer. He didn’t wait long before making that record his own in the next match, against Austria. He scored twice to surpass Klose’s tally and increase his overall total. His influence went beyond the goals and ensured his team dominated the group stage with maximum points.
Lionel Messi rounded off the group stage against Jordan, coming off the bench to curl in a trademark free-kick. That gave him six goals in the group stage, level with Mbappe at the top of the scoring charts going into the knockout rounds. His goal against Cabo Verde was his 20th goal at the FIFA World Cup.
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If Argentina can survive this tie, they’ll meet Egypt in the round of 16 in Atlanta on July 7. For a country dreaming of back-to-back trophies, their talisman appears far from finished.
The United States Men’s National Team is coming off of a massive victory on Wednesday night over Bosnia and Herzegovina, but there is a big cloud hanging over them for the next match against Belgium.
That’s because the team will be without star striker Folarin Balogun after he was dealt a wildly controversial red card in the second half of the match.
That, of course, means a suspension is coming his way, but the U.S. got some good news on Friday when FIFA confirmed that the suspension would be for just one match.
While it was always pretty unlikely that FIFA could add extra games to Balogun’s suspension, they’ve formally decided not to, and that’s the best possible outcome for the U.S. in this scenario.
US striker Folarin Balogun’s controversial red card was one of the biggest moments of the team’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images))
There is no mechanism through which the U.S. could appeal this decision, so all it could do was hope the suspension would be limited to one match.
Balogun himself gave his first comments on the incident on Friday, shortly after FIFA’s decision to keep the suspension at one game was made public.
“It’s important for me to say, first and foremost, it was totally unintentional,” he said Friday. “The choice of the referee was his choice. I don’t think it was the correct choice. I think a yellow card would’ve been fair, due to it not being intentional.”
“It’s something that happened; we have to move forward, and I have to accept it.”
Folarin Balogun of the United States celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match against Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026.(John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images)
Balogun will certainly be missed for Monday’s match against Belgium in Seattle, seeing as he’s leading the team with three goals in this tournament.
But now, if the Americans are able to pull off a bit of an upset over the Belgians, they’ll be relieved to know that he’ll be back in action in the quarterfinals.
Despite being made a pre-fight underdog, Crawford was able to dethrone the more natural super-middleweight to become a three-division undisputed champion.
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His best performances arguably came at 147lbs, though, as the American scored seven straight stoppages before orchestrating a ninth-round finish over Errol Spence Jr in July 2023.
This victory alone has inspired many to compare Crawford with other welterweight greats, including the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Sugar Ray Leonard.
A particularly intriguing fantasy matchup, however, would be between the masterful switch-hitter and Thomas Hearns, who challenged Leonard for the WBC welterweight title in 1981.
Despite suffering a 14th-round stoppage defeat, ‘The Hitman’ was leading on all three judges’ scorecards and would eventually rematch Leonard in 1989, only for their super-middleweight contest to end in a controversial draw.
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Standing at 6ft 1in, there are few that could have gotten the better of Hearns between 147 and 168lbs, where his only other defeats came against Marvin Hagler and Iran Barkley.
It is perhaps this size advantage that has inspired Lopez to favour Hearns over Crawford while speaking with Daily Mail Sport.
Minnesota Vikings fans react in the stands during first-quarter action against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sep. 25, 2022, bringing early energy to an NFC North matchup as the home crowd followed Minnesota’s offense and defense through another divisional test inside the regular-season schedule. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
The hype train for Dallas Turner this summer isn’t necessarily out of control, but it exists nevertheless. A lane is finally clear for Turner to be featured as a full-time starter, and according to Bleacher Report, that works out great because he’s one of the most underrated players in the NFL.
Alex Kay published the list this week, exploring the league’s five most underrated commodities, and Turner got a tap on the shoulder.
Greenard’s Exit Turns Turner’s Hype into a Real Job
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (15) settles into position during an NFC Wild Card matchup at State Farm Stadium, with Jan. 13, 2025 marking the postseason scene in Glendale, Arizona, against the Los Angeles Rams. Turner watches the play develop and prepares to react in a tense playoff setting. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
Turner = One of NFL’s Most Underrated, per BR
Most Vikings fans would call Turner under-utilized, but BR rolled with underrated.
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Kay explained, “Turner struggled to grasp the defensive coordinator Brian Flores‘ system as a rookie and was relegated to a meager 28 percent snap share. After mustering 20 tackles and three sacks across 16 games, he narrowly avoided the dreaded draft bust label but certainly didn’t do enough to warrant the costs of acquiring him.”
“That changed in 2025 when the 23-year-old finally figured things out and dialed in. He received a big bump in playing time (logging a 66 percent snap share on the year) while appearing in all 17 games and starting 10. He finished the campaign with 66 tackles, eight sacks and four forced fumbles—a sizable jump in production for the youngster, one that went relatively unnoticed due to the bulk of his sack production occurring in the back half of Minnesota’s dismal campaign.”
The Vikings traded a king’s ransom to get Turner during the 2024 NFL Draft. They need him to be good.
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Kay added, “Turner racked up 6.5 of his sacks between Weeks 11-18, including two in the season finale. He’s now primed to build on that impressive finish by stepping into a more prominent role following the departure of Jonathan Greenard — the Pro Bowl edge-rusher who played 74 percent of Minnesota’s defensive snaps last year.”
“If Turner seizes that opportunity and continues his current trajectory, he’ll have few issues shedding the underrated tag and becoming a renowned Pro Bowler.”
He’s Free …
Alas, Turner is free to be deployed in the Vikings’ defense with no Pro Bowl defender in front of him on the depth chart. It took two years. Minnesota no longer has to wonder when Turner will play full-time; that question has effectively answered itself. Turner demonstrated enough late in the 2025 season to earn a larger role, and with Greenard’s departure, his path to increased playing time is now uncontested.
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Had Greenard signed an extension, Turner likely would have remained behind both Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel for another year. While that would have presented a beneficial problem for the Vikings, it would have been detrimental for a former 1st-Round pick striving to become a game-changer.
Now, Turner will receive the opportunity everyone has anticipated. Minnesota can build its outside linebacker room around him and Van Ginkel, then acquire a solid OLB3 to ensure a smooth rotation. That might involve bringing in a veteran like Jadeveon Clowney or Leonard Floyd, particularly if the Vikings aim to manage Turner’s workload initially.
Stats to Date Agree with Kay’s Assessment
In his second year, Turner finally began to embody the potential Minnesota saw when trading up for him.
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Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (15) works in space against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium, with Nov. 17, 2024, capturing the first-half action in Nashville, Tennessee. Turner shows the range and urgency that shaped his rookie year as Minnesota leans on his speed against Tennessee’s physical offense. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images.
When Greenard sustained an injury, Turner stepped into a more prominent role, and his snap count surged to 66%. From that point, his production increased, concluding the season with 8 sacks and 15 quarterback hits. He also added 11 tackles for loss and 4 forced fumbles — a stat line indicative of a burgeoning pass rusher.
It was the version Vikings fans eagerly awaited.
His rookie year in 2024 was more challenging to assess, as he played only 28% of defensive snaps. Nevertheless, Turner showed flashes despite limited work, recording 3 sacks and 5 quarterback hits, along with 3 tackles for loss and 1 interception, giving Minnesota enough encouragement to remain patient.
By November of his second season, most of the hesitation surrounding Turner had dissipated. He appeared more comfortable in Brian Flores’s defense, which made sense because not every rookie is game-ready. After all, Turner was 21 in 2024.
He concluded the year with a 65.5 Pro Football Focus grade, including a 70.2 pass-rushing score. He’s on the right track
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One More Year before Extension Chatter, Believe It or Not
Just like quarterback J.J. McCarthy, Turner has a lot riding on the 2026 campaign because he can reasonably begin talking with the Vikings’ front office about an extension next offseason. In fact, Minnesota has until May 2027 to decide whether to exercise Turner’s fifth-year rookie option, a decision that is up in the air right now but probably trending in his favor.
Dallas Cowboys running back Malik Davis (43) carries the ball against Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (15) at AT&T Stadium, with Dec. 14, 2025 placing the second-half action in Arlington, Texas. Turner closes from the defensive side as Minnesota tries to limit Dallas’ rushing attack on the road. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images.
It’s not quite a “make or break” season, but if Turner logs double-digit sacks and fully solidifies himself as a long-term starter, he can instruct his agent to engage new general manager Nolan Teasley for an extension that may pay him $25 million per season.
It feels like the Vikings drafted Turner yesterday, but in reality, fans are about seven months away from pondering his extension value. Time flies.
Turner will turn 24 next February.
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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Satin Summer’s accumulated experience from the latter stages of her two-year-old season is expected to provide a solid foundation for her return in an off-season race at Rosehill.
Trained by Michael Freedman, a conditioner well-regarded for his juvenile success, Satin Summer defeated Zambales, the eventual runner-up in the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, on her debut in January. She subsequently finished fifth in the Lonhro Plate (1000m) behind Agrarian Girl.
Tim Clark will have his inaugural race-day ride aboard the filly in the Thank You ATC Members Handicap (1100m) this Saturday. Following a recent barrier trial win on Satin Summer, he believes her early race experience will be invaluable against a field that includes the promising debut winner Omolong from Chris Waller’s stable.
“Yes, there are some nice horses coming through and Chris’ horse won well at the midweeks, but she’s in her second preparation and she’ll be ready to go,” Clark stated.
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“She is a pretty sharp type of filly. I had a sit on her Tuesday morning as well, and was very happy with her work.
“She is a really straightforward, easy sort of filly to do anything with. She knows her job, and she is well educated.
“I think she is going to look the winner at some stage in the straight.”
The juvenile event has attracted a respectable lineup, featuring the $850,000 yearling purchase Omolong and Bjorn Baker-trained debutant Kotor, who also fetched the same price at auction and remains unbeaten in two trials.
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Clark’s mounts also include Mo Chroi, a four-year-old import from Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. The horse was exported to Australia after two starts in Ireland, highlighted by a win over middle distances.
Mo Chroi made an immediate impact in his local career with a 1550m victory at Canterbury last month. While Saturday’s TAB Handicap (2000m) represents a step up in class, Clark is relying on the horse’s potential to handle the challenge.
“Gai and Adrian seem to have a really good record at getting the imports ready to go first time out, generally over a bit further than what he ran in,” Clark explained.
“It was good to see him be sharp enough and have that good tactical speed and be able to race on pace over a shorter journey.
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“He’s jumping in grade, and it wasn’t a strong race at the midweeks, but he’s getting out to the right distance, and soft ground won’t be any concern.”
With the Thank You ATC Members Handicap approaching, savvy punters might want to check out the latest racing odds at various Australian betting sites.
Tonight, the Athletics kick off a three-game Independence Day weekend series against the Miami Marlins, who have been arguably the hottest team in baseball, as evidenced by their MLB-best 20-6 record in June. After dropping two of three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this week, the A’s will look to bounce back against the Marlins in the second and final series of the team’s latest homestand.
Earlier today, the “Green and Gold” shook up their bullpen, activating Mark Leiter Jr. off the injured list and welcoming back Jose Suarez from the paternity list. The team made room in its bullpen by designating right-handed reliever Geoff Hartlieb and left-hander Matt Krook for assignment. The two journeymen relievers will likely either clear waivers and remain in the organization, most likely at Triple-A Las Vegas, or be claimed by another club.
While Leiter Jr. and Suarez could see action out of the bullpen, they will follow right-hander Jack Perkins, who gets the start for the A’s in the series opener. Perkins enters his 23rd game and sixth start of the season with a 2-3 record, a 6.00 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP and 62 strikeouts across 51 innings.
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The 26-year-old delivered his best start of the season in his most recent outing, holding the Los Angeles Angels to two runs on four hits over five innings. Despite pitching well, he received a fourth straight no-decision. Perkins will aim to change that this evening as he chases his first win since April. He will need to keep the ball on the ground, avoid giving up the long ball and work efficiently on the mound.
Here’s the A’s lineup for tonight’s matchup:
This is one of the most interesting lineups the Athletics have used this season. Their two likely All-Stars sit atop the order, with first baseman Nick Kurtz leading off after catcher Shea Langeliers hit first in the A’s previous game.
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The middle of the lineup features several players in unfamiliar spots. Slumping right fielder Lawrence Butler will hit third, rather than his usual position closer to the bottom of the order. An injury to starting left fielder Tyler Soderstrom has opened up everyday playing time for Colby Thomas, who gets a rare chance to face a right-handed starter. Designated hitter Carlos Cortes has seen limited action lately amid a prolonged slump at the plate.
For the hosts to emerge victorious, they will need offensive production from these three players, as well as rookies Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and Henry Bolte. Kuroda-Grauer, making his fourth straight start, looks to build on his strong 5-for-11 start to his MLB career.
The A’s offense will face Marlins right-hander Tyler Phillips, who enters his 23rd game and seventh start with a 1-3 record, a 3.02 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP and 50 strikeouts over 65 2/3 innings. The 28-year-old recorded his first MLB win against the A’s when he was on the Phillies in 2024. Last year, Phillips threw three scoreless innings when the “Green and Gold” faced the Marlins in Miami.
The right-hander comes into this outing full of momentum after a 7 1/3-inning, two-run performance in a losing effort against the St. Louis Cardinals. In his start before that, Phillips held the Texas Rangers to two runs over six innings. If Miami’s starter continues pitching this well, the A’s may have trouble scoring runs tonight. However, he could be prone to a letdown outing, especially in the hitter-friendly confines of the A’s home ballpark.
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And the Marlins’ starting nine this evening:
The Marlins’ offense contrasts with how the Athletics and many other teams operate. Miami scores much of its runs through speed and small ball rather than home runs. Liam Hicks and Kyle Stowers provide the power, while the middle-infield duo of Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards supply on-base ability and speed.
As a result, Perkins must pitch carefully and avoid leaving pitches over the middle of the plate. His battery mate, Langeliers, will need to help him control the running game and throw out potential base stealers.
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Time to start this series on the right foot with a Friday night win. Let’s go A’s!
Jeffery Simmons had a front-row seat as Cam Ward started his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans. The All-Pro defensive tackle played 15 games in Ward’s rookie campaign.
Simmons sat down with Terron Armstead on “The Set” and made his feelings known about the Miami Hurricanes product. The host asked,
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“What did you see from him (Cam Ward) in his rookie year? What would you like to see from him moving forward?”
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Simmons replied,
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“We know it comes with being the number one overall pick. I see and see the work continuously from Cam.
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“From every day being the first one at the building. To see them type of things, you can feel and you can tell the will that he really wanna be the best he could be.
“The presence that he bring and the energy that Cam bring is rubbing off, continuing to rub off on the offense. And I’m excited for it.”
Cam Ward had a rough rookie year that saw him muster a stat line of 3,169 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.. The 2025 No. 1 pick led the Titans to just three wins, marking their fourth straight losing season.
What’s next for Jeffery Simmons and Cam Ward?
Jeffery Simmons is gearing up for his eighth season with the Titans. The Titans selected him in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft.
Simmons is one of the team’s best defensive players, and he’s earned one first-team All-Pro selection, two second-team All-Pro nods and four Pro Bowl invitations. He’s fresh off his maiden first-team All-Pro selection after racking up 67 total tackles (39 solo), 11.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 21 quarterback hits in 15 games.
Cam Ward has loads of room for improvement ahead of Year 2. The promising signal-caller was regularly tracked down by opposing pass rushers, and he scored just two rushing touchdowns.
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Jeffery Simmons and Cam Ward will look to inspire the Titans to their first playoff appearance since 2021. The Titans last reached the postseason in the Mike Vrabel and Derrick Henry era. They’ll look to end that painful drought in the upcoming campaign.
A fan stole the show during a domestic T20 match in Afghanistan after running onto the field and taking Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s cap before quickly running away, adding a light-hearted moment to an otherwise one-sided contest in the Shpageeza Cricket League.The incident took place during the Shpageeza Cricket League match between Band-e-Amir Dragons and Mis Ainak Knights on Friday.The incident took place during the match between Band-e-Amir Dragons and Mis Ainak Knights. Gurbaz was fielding during the first innings when a spectator breached security, ran towards the Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter, grabbed his cap and quickly ran away. The unexpected moment left players and spectators smiling, with videos of the incident spreading on social media.The match itself was dominated by Mis Ainak Knights.After winning the toss, captain Rahmanullah Gurbaz opted to bowl first. The decision worked in his team’s favour as the bowlers kept Band-e-Amir Dragons under pressure throughout the innings.The Knights bowled out Hashmatullah Shahidi-led Band-e-Amir Dragons for 114 in 19.3 overs.The Dragons, led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, were bowled out for 114 in 19.3 overs. Ziaur Rahman and Mujeeb Ur Rahman led the attack with three wickets each. Khalil Gurbaz and Nooristani Omarzai also played their part by taking two wickets apiece.Azizullah Miakhil was the top scorer for the Dragons with 30 off 25 balls.The Knights then chased down the target of 115 in just 9.4 overs to register an eight-wicket win.Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Khalid Taniwal both scored half-centuries during the chase.With the victory, Mis Ainak Knights moved up to second place in the five-team tournament after two matches.
Who impressed you the most in the Mis Ainak Knights victory?
NEW YORK — JuJu Smith-Schuster was there. So was Cooper Kupp, fresh off winning the Super Bowl.
NFL players and other prominent sports figures made up part of the star-studded crowd for Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s wedding at Madison Square Garden on Friday.
Kareem Hunt was one of Kelce’s many current or former Kansas City Chiefs teammates spotted in New York ahead of the wedding, which was expected to also be attended by Kelce’s retired Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl-winning brother Jason, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle and others from football, golf and beyond.
Soccer even had a presence, albeit in the form of “Ted Lasso” actor Jason Sudeikis, himself a big Chiefs fan.
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The wedding is taking place at the home arena of the NBA’s New York Knicks and NHL’s Rangers. Swift attended Game 4 of the NBA Finals there, sitting courtside as the Knicks pulled off the biggest comeback at that stage of the playoffs in league history by rallying from down 29 to beat San Antonio.
MSG has been the site of some iconic sports moments since the current version opened at this location atop Penn Station in 1968.
The Knicks won their first NBA title there in 1970, when Willis Reed famously returned from injury to spark their Game 7 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Joe Frazier beat Muhammad Ali there in the first of the legends’ three boxing matches against each other, the “Fight of the Century,” in 1971. Ali won the rematch in ’74.
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The Rangers ended their 54-year championship drought at the Garden in 1994, defeating the Vancouver Canucks to win the Stanley Cup.
Kelce is a three-time Super Bowl champion with Kansas City and a four-time AP All-Pro selection at his position. Jason was a seven-time All-Pro center who helped Philadelphia win the Super Bowl in the 2017 season.
Although Craig Williams doesn’t hold the record for most wins in the Winter Championship Final, no jockey has dominated the day it is run quite like the popular veteran rider.
His sole success in the $200,000 Listed Flemington feature came aboard Magic Consol, part of a record haul at the 2018 Finals Day meeting.
It resulted in six wins for the day, the most by any individual rider at a Melbourne meeting. This surpassed the record he shared with several other riders, achieved with five wins at the same fixture two years prior.
He also rode a treble at the 2015 meeting and a double in 2020. Much to the dismay of Williams’ jockey room rivals, that significant meeting was the last time he participated in the event that has risen to become the jewel in the Victoria Racing Club’s winter crown.
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He missed three editions, from 2022 to 2024, due to his humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. This followed being stood down from the 2021 meeting due to an inadvertent Covid protocol breach.
In that year, Williams returned from Brisbane three days before parts of Queensland were declared a Covid red zone, back-dated to days when Williams was still in the Sunshine State, meaning he was unable to ride.
Williams has only himself to blame for missing last year, and his mind was far from Flemington while the Finals Day features were being decided.
‘I was suspended last year, so I went and did some (ten pin) bowling,’ he said.
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That’s the way Williams operates when forced to miss a major meeting due to suspension. He was famously at the movies when the 2011 Melbourne Cup was run, in which he was scheduled to ride the winner, Dunaden.
The 49-year-old’s focus is now firmly on Finals Day this year, as he strives to secure his 10th Victorian Metropolitan Jockeys’ Premiership.
Williams leads Jamie Mott by five wins with eight metro meetings remaining before the season concludes on July 31.
He has rides in all nine races at Flemington, seven of which are on either the first or second line of betting.
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Al Duca is the $2.90 favourite for the 1600-metre Winter Championship Final, entering the race off a narrow second to Seafall in The David Bourke at the same track on June 20.
‘He’s only had one blemish and I think they blamed the track being a bit firm at Bendigo,’ Williams said of the gelding now in the care of Clayton Douglas.
‘He had a freshen up going into the other day, when he went down fighting.
‘He was great, he’s tenacious and he’s going to take a lot of beating.’
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Williams’ shortest-priced ride of the day comes up in the first race, the $150,000 Next Generation Sprinters Series Final (1200m), in which he rides Stars Of Dom.
It will be his first ride on the Lindsay Park-trained daughter of Exceedance, who has metro second placings to her name from her only two starts to date. Williams was buoyed by a trackwork report from fellow rider Blake Shinn.
‘Blake actually worked her on Monday or Tuesday and said that she’s going really well,’ Williams said of the $2 favourite.
‘She’s had two starts, really good form references and been beaten by nice horses when she was beaten both times.’
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Williams’ other favourite is Losesomewinmore, who he will reunite with for the first time since partnering the Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained gelding to victory in July last year.
‘He’s won five times down the straight, so he’s a great straight horse,’ Williams said.
‘If he produces the acceleration that he did two starts ago they’ll have to beat him and, his run the other day, they felt there were excuses for him the way the track conditions were.’
Marwooba is challenging Star Of Macedon for favouritism in Race 2, Decalogue is second favourite for Race 4, as is Wuddzz in Race 6 and Lucky Lucky Boom is an equal second elect in the last race.
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Miss Aria is on the $5 third line of betting in Race 3, while Blethyn Williams’ roughie for the day is a $15 chance in the Creswick Sprint Series Final, which is Race 8.
Check out the latest racing odds from top Australian betting sites for the Winter Championship Final.
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