You can imagine my shock when my boyfriend invited me — a lifelong volleyball player who had barely set foot in a tennis court — to go and swing rackets with him at the local court. Tennis was never a sport I paid attention to. Every year, when the US Open came around, I didn’t understand why friends were in a frenzy over heading to Queens to catch the great Grand Slam winners. But ever since my boyfriend got me a racket and encouraged me to take up the sport, I’ve been addicted to playing and watching tennis.

Gareth Southgate was full of praise for Bukayo Saka after the Arsenal forward scored his first career hat-trick in a 7-0 victory against North Macedonia in Monday’s (19 June) Euro 2024 qualifier. Despite nursing a sore ankle, Saka was instrumental in carrying England to the halfway point of qualification with four wins from their four Group C games. “He’s such a popular member of the team and so humble, works incredibly hard... it was an outstanding performance,” the England boss said.

According to an MLB insider's sources in Houston, the team is furious with MLB and believes it has played favorites in the Bryan Abreu-Aroldis Garcia suspension saga.

Everton gave their late chairman Bill Kenwright the send-off he would have wanted as ex-Burnley duo James Tarkowski and Dwight McNeil played a major part in the 3-0 Carabao Cup victory over their former club. On a night when the fanbase, which has often been divided over the role of Kenwright spanning almost two decades, rose as one to mark his death last week at the age of 78, the team ensured the occasion was marked in fitting fashion. Tarkowski’s header opened the scoring in the 13th minute and the centre-back’s aerial prowess came to the fore early in the second half when he nodded McNeil’s header back into the danger area for Amadou Onana to poke home from close range. Ashley Young’s first Everton goal in added time came courtesy of substitute Beto’s driving run along the byline, handing Toffees manager Sean Dyche victory against his former side. The scoreline flattered Burnley, struggling after promotion straight back to the Premier League, whose side registering seven changes struggled to lay a glove on their hosts. They were no match for Everton, watched by owner Farhad Moshiri for the first time in over two years, and they are growing in confidence after a fifth victory in seven matches – their best run in a non-Covid-19 season since May 2019. From the moment Tarkowski buried a header from a McNeil cross the result was barely in doubt. The centre-back’s celebration was low-key against his former team but McNeil, whose first-half stint on the left wing put him in the firing line of the travelling support, turned and cupped his ear to Clarets fans. And he almost silenced them completely with a drive just over from the edge of the penalty area. Burnley’s inability to play out from the back against better quality opposition was highlighted when Dara O’Shea, one of four players to be retained from the Bournemouth defeat, passed straight to Dominic Calvert-Lewin and was fortunate the striker’s low shot was off target. McNeil’s harsh treatment from the visiting fans was extended onto the pitch when Ameen Al-Dakhil, another player keeping his place, was booked for chopping him down as he threatened to break. Burnley’s best chance was denied by a sliding James Garner cutting out a cross which was destined to be a Jay Rodriguez tap-in at the far post. Everton – particularly goalkeeper Jordan Pickford making his 250th appearance for the club – were barely extended and more calamitous defending early in the second half led to another goal. Al-Dakhil lost all perspective of where the ball was, allowing it to bounce off him into the path of Calvert-Lewin whose shot was deflected behind. Onana delivered the killer blow from the resulting corner and another close-range strike from Young saw Everton coast into the quarter-finals. Read More Benoit Badiashile returns in style as Chelsea beat Blackburn in the Carabao Cup Darwin Nunez comes off bench to help Liverpool beat Bournemouth Fulham ease into quarter-finals with win at Championship high-flyers Ipswich West Ham hammer Arsenal on Declan Rice’s return to reach quarter-finals James Harden joins LA Clippers from Philadelphia 76ers Eddie Jones: Marcus Smith is a very good player – but he is not a full-back

Portugal goes for its first win at a Rugby World Cup without winger Vincent Pinto after his red card in the team’s pool opener ruled him out of Saturday’s match against Georgia

Bangladesh spearhead Taskin Ahmed said Friday "there's nothing much for bowlers" at the World Cup as runs flow...

Alex DeBrincat had two goals and an assist in his home debut with Detroit, leading the Red Wings to a 6-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning

Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis says the severe leg injury he sustained Saturday will end his season

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is set to play his first full season since 2020, but training camp isn't off to a flying start.Deshaun Watson hasn't exactly looked bad in preseason action thus far -- of which the Browns have played two games -- if only because he hasn'...

Texas A&M quarterback Jaylen Henderson threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns and the Aggies defeated Abilene Christian 38-10 on Saturday to start the Elijah Robinson era

Masters champion Jon Rahm hailed his flawless 63 in the third round of the British Open on Saturday as the best round he had ever...

The Phoenix Suns continued a major NBA roster revamp on Sunday by dealing guard Cameron Payne to San Antonio and agreeing to terms with center...