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sports Saturday 2 July 2022
Wimbledon wild-card entry outside top 100 gets Djokovic next

By HOWARD FENDRICH player that is just starting,
AP Tennis Writer so I'm sure his career will be
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) very good."
— It is, to be sure, the stuff Other men's fourth-round
of movies: An oft-injured matchups set up for the
guy ranked outside the middle Sunday — tradition-
top 100, making his Grand ally an off day, that is now
Slam debut thanks to a wild a scheduled day of play
card, knocks out two seed- for the first time in the tour-
ed players on his way to a nament's 145-year history
fourth-round matchup at — are No. 5 Carlos Alcaraz
Wimbledon against none vs. No. 10 Jannik Sinner, No.
other than No. 1 Novak 23 Frances Tiafoe vs. David
Djokovic, the three-time Goffin, and No. 30 Tommy
defending champion. Paul vs. No 9 Cam Norrie.
We can guess what Hol- Djokovic is eyeing a sev-
lywood might do with that enth career title at Wimble-
script. Tim van Rijthoven, don and 21st major cham-
a 25-year-old Dutchman, pionship overall. Only one
earned the chance to see other man on the top half
what will happen in real life of the bracket ever has
across the net from Djokov- been to the fourth round at
ic after both men won in Tim van Rijthoven of the Netherlands serves to Georgia's Nikoloz Basilashvili in a third round men's the All England Club in the
straight sets Friday at the All singles match on day five of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Friday, July 1, 2022. past: Goffin.
England Club. Associated Press And Djokovic is the only
"Before the tournament man still around who
started, it was a dream for win that match." "golfer's elbow" that he not- been keeping an eye on reached last year's quarter-
me to play him, basically. Actually, until June, the ed with a smile he incurred the guy. finals.
So to be able to have that backward-ballcap-wear- from playing tennis. So Djokovic offered a bit of "I've been playing better
chance, and to maybe ing van Rijthoven never "I'm just happy to be in the a scouting report. and better as the tourna-
even play on Centre Court had won a match on the place I am right now," he "His game, from what I've ment progresses," Djokovic
or Court 1, is beautiful and ATP Tour. Since then, he said. "I hope to be there for seen, is quite suitable to this said. "I always expect the
magical," van Rijthoven hasn't lost one, going 8-0, a couple more years — or surface. His big serve, one- highest of myself."
said after beating No. 22 including a victory over a lot more years, actually." handed backhand. Uses Women's fourth-round-
Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-4, 6-3, current No. 1 Daniil Medve- If he's an unknown to most, the slice well. He's an all- ers Sunday are No. 3 Ons
6-4 on Court 12, with its dev to claim the trophy at he is not to Djokovic, who around player. He can play Jabeur vs. No. 24 Elise
capacity of 1,736, to be- a grass-court event in the grabbed the initial seven fast, he can also stay in the Mertens, No. 12 Jelena Os-
come the first wild-card en- Netherlands. games and then six of sev- rally and come to the net," tapenko vs. Tatjana Maria,
try since 2015 to get to the "It's been a long one. I've en in a strong stretch later said Djokovic, who seemed Marie Bouzkova vs. Caro-
round of 16 at Wimbledon. had my ups and downs, on, during a 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 vic- to enjoy the sunny, breezy line Garcia, and Heather
"I go into every match think- injuries here and there. tory over No. 22 Miomir Ke- conditions in the afternoon, Watson vs. Julie Niemeier.
ing I can win the match," Also struggled mentally," cmanovic at nearly 15,000- compiling a 36-13 edge in One of those players will
said van Rijthoven, whose said van Rijthoven, whose seat Centre Court. winners against his Serbian play for the championship;
baseline-based style elimi- health issues included wrist That's in part because Davis Cup teammate. "I'm the only one who's ever
nated No. 15 Reilly Opelka surgery, a procedure on Djokovic is pals with van sure he's excited to play participated in a Grand
earlier in the week. "Also, a vein in his right arm be- Rijthoven's coach, Igor Si- on a big stage. He doesn't Slam singles final previously
against Djokovic, I'll go into cause of thrombosis and jsling. have much to lose. He's on is 2017 French Open cham-
that match thinking I can nine months healing from And in part because he's his dream run. He's a young pion Ostapenko.q

Aaron Judge, Ronald Acuña Jr. elected MLB All-Star starters

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees Starters will be announced lo Stanton, Lourdes Gurriel
outfielder Aaron Judge July 8, and pitchers and re- Jr.
and Atlanta Braves out- serves on July 10. Designated Hitter: Yordan
fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. Judge received 3.76 mil- Alvarez, Shohei Ohtani
were elected Thursday to lion votes and was elected NL finalists:
start in the July 19 All-Star to start for the fourth time. Catcher: Willson Contreras,
Game at Dodger Stadium. Acuña led the NL with 3.5 Travis d'Arnaud
The pair were chosen under million votes and was elect- First Base: Paul Gold-
new rules that give starting ed to start for the third time. schmidt, Pete Alonso
spots to the top vote-get- AL finalists: Second Base: Ozzie Albies,
ter in each league in the Catcher: Alejandro Kirk, Jazz Chisholm Jr.
first phase of online voting, Jose Trevino Third Base: Manny Macha-
which began June 8 and First Base: Ty France, Vladi- do, Nolan Arenado
ended Thursday. Others mir Guerrero Jr. Shortstop: Trea Turner, Dan-
advanced to the second Second Base: Jose Altuve, sby Swanson
phase, which runs from Santiago Espinal Outfield: Mookie Betts, Joc
noon EDT on Tuesday and Third Base: Rafael Devers, Pederson, Starling Marte, New York Yankees' Aaron Judge tosses his bat after hitting a
ends at 2 p.m. EDT on July José Ramírez Adam Duvall winning home run against the Houston Astros during the 10th
8. Votes from the first phase Outfield: Mike Trout, Designated Hitter: Bryce inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 26, 2022, in New York.
do not carry over. George Springer, Giancar- Harper, William Contrerasq Associated Press