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🎾 Good morning to everybody, however particularly to …

FRANCES TIAFOE AND TAYLOR FRITZ

For the primary time since 2009, an American man will probably be in a Grand Slam ultimate. No. 20 Frances Tiafoe and No. 12 Taylor Fritz, buddies and doubles companions, each sprung US Open quarterfinal upsets, and they’re going to meet each other within the semifinal tomorrow.

• Fritz downed No. 4 Alexander Zverev, 6-7 (2-7), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3). It is his fourth win towards a top-10 opponent at a significant this yr, most by an American man since Andre Agassi in 1999.
• Fritz spoke with Isabel Gonzalez earlier than the event. That is a must-read, now greater than ever.
• Tiafoe superior through walkover after Grigor Dimitrov retired on account of a leg harm. Tiafoe was up 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 4-1, nearing victory when play was halted.

This would be the eighth Fritz-Tiafoe assembly. Fritz has received six of the earlier seven. Each gamers possess a giant serve, and this matchup may hinge on Fritz’s. He has received 83% of his first-serve factors within the event, better of any participant, whereas Tiafoe leads the event in second-serve return factors received.

On the ladies’s aspect, No. 13 Emma Navarro is into the semifinals as nicely after beating No. 26 Paula Badosa, 6-2, 7-5. Navarro received the ultimate six video games of the match, a shocking rally that put her in her second main semi this yr.

You possibly can observe all of our US Open protection proper right here.

😃 Honorable mentions

🏈 And never such a very good morning for …

EVERY TEAM HOPING THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS’ ROCKY OFFSEASON WOULD CARRY OVER

Per week in the past, two of the 49ers‘ greatest gamers had no plans of enjoying, and opponents had been licking their chops on the risk that the San Francisco machine was nearing an finish.

Right this moment, the band is again collectively once more, and opponents are in for a world of harm. Trent Williams agreed to a three-year, $82.66 million extension that features $48 million at signing and a $25.69 million signing bonus, ending his maintain out. It comes simply days after the 49ers agreed to a four-year, $120 million extension with Brandon Aiyuk, who had been holding out.

Williams is not only a nice left sort out. He is a man you may design components of your offense round, very similar to Aiyuk or Christian McCaffrey (who returned to observe) or Deebo Samuel or George Kittle. Why do you assume the 49ers had among the finest offenses ever — sure, ever — final yr?

Let me provide you with some extra perspective. Final yr, utilizing anticipated factors added per play …

• With Aiyuk and Williams on the sector, the 49ers’ offense was the most effective within the NFL. The 49ers general led the league on this class, in any case.
• With at the least one off the sector they had been about tenth, just like the Seahawks.
• With each off the sector, they had been twenty ninth, barely worse than the Steelers.

So, sorry, opponents. The 49ers are again and able to dominate … once more. (Although they’ve many extra contracts to cope with quickly.)

😐 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 NFL season preview: Energy Rankings, Tremendous Bowl picks and extra

ONE. MORE. DAY. The NFL is again tomorrow. I do not know whether or not to cry tears of pleasure or run a marathon off nothing however adrenaline or utterly shut down till the Chiefs and Ravens kick it off tomorrow night time. I feel, for now, I am going to simply attempt to do my job.

You understand soccer is within the air when Pete Prisco’s NFL Energy Rankings make their triumphant return, and here is his prime 5:

1. Chiefs
2. Packers
3. 49ers
4. Payments
5. Bengals

A giant purpose for the Chiefs’ excessive rating — aside from, you already know, the information that they’ve Patrick Mahomes and have received two straight Tremendous Bowls — is that they return so many confirmed items along with their offseason acquisitions. They got here in first in Josh Edwards’ continuity rankings.

One workforce I feel Pete has too low is the Rams (fifteenth). They misplaced Aaron Donald, sure, however they nonetheless have Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay main an offense that features breakout star Puka Nacua and a now-healthy Cooper Kupp. That group offers the Rams an opportunity in any recreation, bar none. The non-Donald components of the protection ought to be vastly improved, too.

John Breech agrees with me. In our professional daring predictions, he has the Rams successful the NFC West.

OK, now onto the greatest and boldest predictions: Tremendous Bowl winners, playoff fields and ultimate standings for each workforce. Listed here are some massive takeaways throughout our panel:

• Just one workforce bought a number of Tremendous Bowl champion picks, and, no, it wasn’t the Chiefs.
• Three groups bought division champion picks in each the AFC East and NFC South
• Eight groups had been unanimous picks to make the playoffs, and 20 groups general bought at the least one vote for a playoff spot.

John additionally has report predictions for each workforce and a darkish horse MVP choose amongst his projections.

Here is extra:

🏈 School soccer rankings, Energy Rankings, bowl projections

It has been just one week (nicely, two if you happen to depend Week 0), however faculty soccer is already wild, and the newest AP Prime 25 and Coaches Ballot replicate simply that. However for now, I am wanting most carefully at Brandon Marcello’s School Soccer Energy Rankings, the place the highest 5 is …

1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. Texas
4. Ole Miss
5. Notre Dame

That is a giant soar for the Combating Irish, and Brandon defined why:

• Marcello: “All the things Notre Dame hoped for got here true within the opener at Texas A&M. The protection is elite, and the offense discovered game-changers at receiver. Riley Leonard was unbelievable in his debut, too, carrying the workforce on the bottom when required. The go-ahead landing drive was stuffed with massive boy performs in entrance of essentially the most hostile setting of Week 1.”

Additionally impressing was Miami. The Hurricanes moved all the best way as much as No. 4 — the ultimate School Soccer Playoff bye — in Jerry Palm’s bowl projections. (And sure, there is a lengthy, lengthy technique to go.)

Here is extra Week 1 response earlier than we transfer onto Week 2:

🏀 NBA’s 21 most iconic photographs of twenty first century

We’re within the NBA quiet time with the preseason nonetheless a few month away. It is an ideal time for large initiatives and lists which are 1) deeply researched and a pair of) positive to generate loads of dialog. How else will we go all this time?

Brad Botkin has nailed each facets together with his 21 most iconic photographs of the twenty first century. I will not spoil an excessive amount of, however I’ll let you know one which holds a particular place in my coronary heart.

• Botkin: “18. LeBron works his Magic (2009) — LeBron James went wild within the 2009 Jap Convention finals towards the Magic by averaging 38.5 factors, 8.3 rebounds and eight.0 assists. It wasn’t sufficient as Orlando eradicated the Cavaliers in six, however LeBron nonetheless walked away with the signature shot of the collection and of his younger profession with a buzzer-beating 3 to steal Recreation 2. The shot. The response. It is all etched clear as day in our collective basketball reminiscence.”

I bear in mind going to mattress earlier than this occurred (I used to be 12 years previous and at a membership soccer event), waking up the subsequent morning, speeding to the resort foyer TV and seeing dozens of different folks watching the shot again and again. If you’re 12, these sorts of moments stick to you.

If nothing else, it will ship you down a YouTube rabbit gap stuffed with enjoyable (talking from expertise) and provide you with one thing to speak about together with your NBA-loving buddies. What might be higher?

📺 What we’re watching Wednesday

🎾 We’re watching the US Open. Here is how.
🏀 Sparks at Fever, 7 p.m. on CBS Sports activities Community
⚾ Guardians at Royals, 7:40 p.m. on FS1
⚾ Yankees at Rangers, 8:05 p.m. on Prime Video