George Springer's solo homer (17)
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- Yahoo
National Bank Open's longer format is bad news for tennis fans, players: experts
Toronto tennis fans were served up disappointment after the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and other top players dropped out of the National Bank Open this year — a trend experts say could repeat if the tournament structure doesn't change. The National Bank Open (NBO) expanded from one week to 12-days of competition, with the men facing off in Toronto and the women in Montreal from July 26 to Aug. 7. This year the tournament comes two weeks after Wimbledon and is immediately followed by the Cincinnati Open and the U.S. Open a week after that. The change limits the amount of rest time for top players, said Gill Gross, tennis commentator with Monday Match Analysis. "Tennis is played 11 months out of the year. So, it is a grind for these players as is, but the expansion of the Masters 1000 to two-week events has actually made it worse," he said. "They're spending more days out of the year at tournaments, living in hotels, out of suitcases, living with the anxiety that they feel just in that tournament mode, instead of being at home." Gross and a former professional Canadian tennis player both say the NBO will continue to see withdrawals from tennis stars in the future if the elongated Masters 1000 schedule isn't changed. While NBO Toronto tournament director Karl Hale says he's excited for the new format, he says they will discuss possible changes with the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). "We're going to have talks with the tours about how we can mitigate against this, so we have some really good ideas," Hale said. "I just think the 12 days is bigger, better for the tournament, for the fans, more broadcasts … more kids watching and participating in tennis. So I think it's better for tennis in Canada." Hale says Wimbledon's earlier schedule means players will have a longer break period ahead of the NBO next year. World No. 1 Sinner, No. 2 Alcaraz, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and world No. 5 Jack Draper pulled out of the ATP Masters-level hardcourt event earlier this week, citing injuries. WATCH | Canadian tennis player Vasek Pospisil will retire following the 2025 NBO: Could fewer stars benefit Canadian players? Gross says the NBO's expansion from one to two weeks of competitions initially seemed like a good idea, with more games for fans and more money for tournaments. "The rationale originally was you stretch out the premium product … that is your money-making product," he said, adding days off between matches initially seemed to address the needed rest time for players. Instead, former tennis player Bobby Mahal says players prefer weeks of rest ahead of the Masters and the U.S. Open. "That rest period is so crucial because you have got to remember that Sinner and Alcaraz played in the French Open, then they go all the way to the Wimbledon final," he said. However, Mahal says the changing lineup is good news for Canadian players and fans. "We can now watch the event and cheer on the Canadians. I think we have got two Canadians in the top 30 now with legitimate chances for deep runs in Felix (Auger-Aliassime) and Denis (Shapovalov)," he said. 'These kids have trained in Canada their whole life … so that hometown crowd plus the hometown conditions is a huge factor that can help them." WATCH | Canadian players Felix Auger-Aliassime and Bianca Andreescu win big ahead of the NBO: Auger-Aliassime is ranked 27 and Shapovalov is 28 in the world, according to the ATP's website. Hale says he's also hoping for a Canadian victory, similar to Bianca Andreescu's win at the NBO in 2019. "The tour is really tough and injuries are part of the tour and it benefits the Canadians. So we're looking forward to the Canadians coming of age this year," he said.
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
MLB trade deadline preview: buyers & sellers
Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube There is slightly over a week until the MLB trade deadline. Rumors are running rampant as it nears the time for teams to decide if they are going to bolster their roster for a run towards the postseason or if they are going to cut their losses and prepare for the future. Some will be buyers and some will be sellers. That is exactly what Jake and Jordan discuss. They break down each team and project what moves those teams might make. Eugenio Suárez is the biggest name being rumored to be swapping jerseys by next week. Will he be the latest Bronx Bomber or will another team come in and take the star? The Dodgers have had a far less spectacular season, thus far, than many expected, and their pitching depth needs help. Who might they go get to help them on their quest to repeat as World Series champions? The two best teams in baseball are notorious for not doing much at the trade deadline. What kind of moves, if any, will the Milwaukee Brewers and the Detroit Tigers make? 30 teams, more than 30 possibilities and one podcast to cover it all. Plus, Robert Murray, MLB Insider for FanSided, joins the show. He gives his thoughts on what to watch for as we approach the trade deadline. He also tells the story of the career-altering moment he broke the Rafael Devers trade news. Don't forget about our special MLB Trade Deadline Live Show. In just over a week, on July 31, you can join Jake and Jordan live as they cover the final moments of the trade deadline and react to all of the drama that unfolded. (5:26) - AL Buyers (24:11) - Red Sox & AL Messy Middle (34:10) - AL Sellers (39:34) - Robert Murray joins the show (57:13) - NL Buyers (1:09:02) - NL Messy Middle (1:15:57) - NL Sellers🖥️
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Verlander ends historic 16-game winless streak as Devers' 2 homers power Giants past Braves 9-3
ATLANTA (AP) — Justin Verlander ended the longest streak of starts in a season without a win in Giants history, Rafael Devers drove in four runs with three hits, including two home runs, and San Francisco beat the Atlanta Braves 9-3 on Wednesday. The 42-year-old Verlander (1-8) had been winless in his first 16 starts, the longest stretch by a Giants pitcher in a single season in franchise history. The three-time Cy Young winner, who finalized a $15 million, one-year deal with San Francisco in January, allowed one hit in five scoreless innings and overcame five walks. Devers went deep off Spencer Strider (4-8) in the fifth for the game's first run. Strider then hit Willy Adames with a pitch before Matt Chapman's two-run homer gave San Francisco a 3-0 lead. Devers added a three-run shot off Dylan Dodd, who was recalled earlier in the day, in the sixth. Devers served as the designated hitter, one day after making his debut as the starting first baseman in Tuesday night's 9-0 win, which ended the team's six-game losing streak. Key moment Eli White's blooper landed fair near the right-field line to open the fifth for Atlanta's first hit off Verlander. White stole second base and moved to third on a wild pitch before Verlander struck out Drake Baldwin to end the inning. Key stat The Giants outscored the Braves 18-3 to win the final two games of the series after Atlanta won the opener 9-7. Up next The Giants, off on Thursday, return home to open a weekend series against the New York Mets on Friday night. Giants RHP Logan Webb (9-7, 3.08) is scheduled to face RHP Clay Holmes (8-5, 3.48). The Braves play at Texas on Friday night with LHP Joey Wentz (2-1, 5.71) scheduled for face Rangers RHP Nathan Eovaldi (7-3, 1.58). ___ AP MLB:
