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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 remaining. No. 20 Frances Tiafoe and No. 12 Taylor Fritz, associates and doubles companions, each sprung US Open quarterfinal upsets, and they’ll 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 in opposition to a top-10 opponent at a serious this 12 months, most by an American man since Andre Agassi in 1999.
• Fritz spoke with Isabel Gonzalez earlier than the match. That is a must-read, now greater than ever.
• Tiafoe superior by way of walkover after Grigor Dimitrov retired as a result 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 gained six of the earlier seven. Each gamers possess an enormous serve, and this matchup may hinge on Fritz’s. He has gained 83% of his first-serve factors within the match, better of any participant, whereas Tiafoe leads the match in second-serve return factors gained.

On the ladies’s facet, No. 13 Emma Navarro is into the semifinals as properly after beating No. 26 Paula Badosa, 6-2, 7-5. Navarro gained the ultimate six video games of the match, a shocking rally that put her in her second main semi this 12 months.

You’ll be able to comply with 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 taking part in, and opponents had been licking their chops on the risk that the San Francisco machine was nearing an finish.

Right now, the band is again collectively once more, and opponents are in for a world of damage. 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 deal with. He is a man you possibly can design components of your offense round, very like Aiyuk or Christian McCaffrey (who returned to observe) or Deebo Samuel or George Kittle. Why do you suppose the 49ers had among the best offenses ever — sure, ever — final 12 months?

Let me provide you with some extra perspective. Final 12 months, utilizing anticipated factors added per play …

• With Aiyuk and Williams on the sphere, the 49ers’ offense was the perfect within the NFL. The 49ers general led the league on this class, in spite of everything.
• With at the least one off the sphere they had been about tenth, much like the Seahawks.
• With each off the sphere, 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 take care of 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 fully shut down till the Chiefs and Ravens kick it off tomorrow evening. I feel, for now, I will simply attempt to do my job.

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

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

An enormous motive for the Chiefs’ excessive rating — aside from, you already know, the details that they’ve Patrick Mahomes and have gained 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 crew 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 sport, bar none. The non-Donald components of the protection needs to be vastly improved, too.

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

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

• Just one crew received a number of Tremendous Bowl champion picks, and, no, it wasn’t the Chiefs.
• Three groups received 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 received at the least one vote for a playoff spot.

John additionally has document predictions for each crew and a darkish horse MVP decide amongst his projections.

Here is extra:

🏈 Faculty soccer rankings, Energy Rankings, bowl projections

It has been just one week (properly, two in the event you rely Week 0), however school soccer is already wild, and the latest AP High 25 and Coaches Ballot mirror simply that. However for now, I am wanting most intently at Brandon Marcello’s Faculty Soccer Energy Rankings, the place the highest 5 is …

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

That is an enormous bounce for the Preventing 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 crew on the bottom when required. The go-ahead landing drive was crammed with huge boy performs in entrance of essentially the most hostile atmosphere of Week 1.”

Additionally impressing was Miami. The Hurricanes moved all the way in which as much as No. 4 — the ultimate Faculty Soccer Playoff bye — in Jerry Palm’s bowl projections. (And sure, there is a lengthy, lengthy option 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 giant initiatives and lists which might be 1) deeply researched and a couple of) certain to generate loads of dialog. How else can we go all this time?

Brad Botkin has nailed each facets along 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 in opposition to 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 Sport 2. The shot. The response. It is all etched clear as day in our collective basketball reminiscence.”

I keep in mind going to mattress earlier than this occurred (I used to be 12 years previous and at a membership soccer match), waking up the following morning, dashing to the lodge foyer TV and seeing dozens of different folks watching the shot time and again. Whenever you’re 12, these sorts of moments stick to you.

If nothing else, it will ship you down a YouTube rabbit gap filled with enjoyable (talking from expertise) and provide you with one thing to speak about together with your NBA-loving associates. What could possibly 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