Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz advance to US Open semifinals; 49ers get one other star again; NFL predictions

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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 might be in a Grand Slam last. 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 yr, most by an American man since Andre Agassi in 1999.
• Fritz spoke with Isabel Gonzalez before the tournament. That is a must-read, now greater than ever.
• Tiafoe superior by way of walkover after Grigor Dimitrov retired attributable to a leg damage. 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 an enormous serve, and this matchup might 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 facet, No. 13 Emma Navarro is into the semifinals as effectively after beating No. 26 Paula Badosa, 6-2, 7-5. Navarro received the ultimate six video games of the match, a surprising rally that put her in her second main semi this yr.

You can follow all of our US Open coverage right here.

😃 Honorable mentions

🏈 And never such a superb morning for …

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

Every week in the past, two of the 49ers‘ finest gamers had no plans of enjoying, and opponents have been licking their chops on the chance that the San Francisco machine was nearing an end.

At present, 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 sort out. He is a man you may design elements of your offense round, very similar to Aiyuk or Christian McCaffrey (who returned to practice) or Deebo Samuel or George Kittle. Why do you assume the 49ers had probably the greatest offenses ever — sure, ever — final yr?

Let me offer you some more perspective. Final yr, utilizing anticipated factors added per play …

• With Aiyuk and Williams on the sphere, the 49ers’ offense was the very best within the NFL. The 49ers total led the league on this class, in any case.
• With not less than one off the sphere they have been about tenth, much like the Seahawks.
• With each off the sphere, they have 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 more contracts to deal 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 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 Power 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 realize, the details 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 staff 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 elements of the protection ought to be vastly improved, too.

John Breech agrees with me. In our expert bold predictions, he has the Rams profitable the NFC West.

OK, now onto the biggest and boldest predictions: Super Bowl winners, playoff fields and final standings for every team. Listed below are some large takeaways throughout our panel:

• Just one staff obtained a number of Tremendous Bowl champion picks, and, no, it wasn’t the Chiefs.
• Three groups obtained division champion picks in each the AFC East and NFC South
• Eight groups have been unanimous picks to make the playoffs, and 20 groups total obtained not less than one vote for a playoff spot.

John additionally has record predictions for every team and a dark horse MVP pick amongst his projections.

Here is extra:

🏈 Faculty soccer rankings, Energy Rankings, bowl projections

It has been just one week (effectively, two for those who rely Week 0), however school soccer is already wild, and the latest AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll mirror simply that. However for now, I am trying most intently at Brandon Marcello’s College Football Power Rankings, the place the highest 5 is …

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

That is an enormous soar for the Preventing Irish, and Brandon explained why:

• Marcello: “Every part 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 incredible in his debut, too, carrying the staff on the bottom when required. The go-ahead landing drive was full of large boy performs in entrance of probably the most hostile surroundings 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 method to go.)

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

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

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

Brad Botkin has nailed each features together with his 21 most iconic shots of the 21st century. I will not spoil an excessive amount of, however I’ll inform you one which holds a particular place in my coronary heart.

• Botkin: “18. LeBron works his Magic (2009) — LeBron James went wild within the 2009 Japanese 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 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 outdated and at a membership soccer event), waking up the following morning, speeding to the lodge foyer TV and seeing dozens of different individuals watching the shot over and over. Once you’re 12, these sorts of moments keep on with you.

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

📺 What we’re watching Wednesday

🎾 We’re watching the US Open. Here’s 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