Alcaraz advances into 4th round at French Open
Carlos Alcaraz displayed deft drop shots and plenty of other skillful strokes to become the youngest man in the French Open's fourth round since Novak Djokovic in 2006.
The 19-year-old Alcaraz advanced by beating 21-year-old American Sebastian Korda 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 under the lights at Court Philippe Chatrier on Friday night.
This outcome reversed the result of a meeting between the two at the Monte Carlo Open last month, which Korda won to account for Alcaraz's lone loss on red clay in 20 matches in 2022.
It also was a much smoother ride for Alcaraz than in the second round at Roland Garros on Wednesday. In that one, needed to save a match point before coming back to win in five sets against fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
Alcaraz improved to 31-3 overall this year with a tour-leading four titles.
The tournament's No. 6 seed will meet No. 21 Karen Khachanov on Sunday for a berth in the quarterfinals.
The 27th-seeded Korda's father, Petr, was the runner-up at the 1992 French Open.
DJOKOVIC CONTACTS BECKER'S FAMILY >> Top-ranked Novak Djokovic said he's reached out to Boris Becker's family to offer support after the tennis great was sentenced to prison for bankruptcy offenses.
Becker was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for illicitly transferring large amounts of money and hiding assets after he was declared bankrupt.
Djokovic said after his third-round win at the French Open that he's contacted Becker's son, Noah, “asking if there is something that I could do, help, you know, just being there for his family members, you know, because I can't get to him.”
The 54-year-old Becker coached Djokovic for three years from December 2013.
The three-time Wimbledon champion must serve at least 15 months before being eligible for release. SWIATEK RETURNS TO ACTION >> No. 1 Iga Swiatek tries to extend her 30-match winning streak as thirdround matches continue today on Day 7 at the French Open. Swiatek faces 95th-ranked Danka Kovinic at Court Philippe Chatrier. The 20-yearold Polish player has the longest winning streak in women's tennis since Serena Williams won 34 in 2013.
NBA
LAKERS HIRE HAM >> A person with knowledge of the decision says Darvin Ham has accepted an offer to be the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The person spoke with The Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been publicly announced.
The 48-year-old Ham is getting
his first head coaching job as the 28th coach in Lakers history. He has been an assistant to Mike Budenholzer with the Milwaukee Bucks since 2018, and he played a significant role in their run to the 2021 NBA title.
Ham will be the successor to Frank Vogel, who was fired one day after the Lakers wrapped up one of the most disappointing seasons in NBA history by going 33-49 and missing the playoffs.
The Lakers flopped despite another impressive season from LeBron James, who welcomed his new head coach on social media even before the move was publicly announced.
“So damn EXCITED !!!!!!!! ” James tweeted. “Congrats and welcome Coach DHam!!”
Ham will be the 15th Black coach currently in the NBA, the most ever at one time.
HERRO MISSES GAME 6 >> Heat guard Tyler Herro remained sidelined because of a strained left groin as Miami tried to stave off elimination in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals Friday night.
The reigning sixth man of the year hasn't played since Game 3 of the Heat's matchup with the Celtics.
Boston's Marcus Smart (sprained right ankle) and Robert Williams III (left knee soreness) tested their injuries pregame and played.
NHL
AVALANCHE OUST BLUES IN FINAL SECONDS >> With two third-period goals including a stunning winner with six seconds left from Darren Helm, the Colorado Avalanche overcame a late 2-1 deficit to knock off the St. Louis Blues and advance to their first Western Conference final since 2001.
Colorado held a 3-2 series lead entering Friday's game and put the Blues away with a strong third period as J.T. Compher scored the tying goal on a power play just over halfway through the third period before Heim fired a laser past goalie Ville Husso that sent the Avalanche into the next round.
NFL
BROWNS EXTEND NJOKU >> Tight end David Njoku got the long-term commitment he wanted from the Cleveland Browns, agreeing to a four-year contract extension Friday, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Njoku, who figures to have a more prominent role in Cleveland's offense this season, will be among the NFL's highest-paid tight ends, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the sides were still finalizing the package,
Financial terms were not immediately known.
A first-round pick in 2017, Njoku has had an eventful stay in Cleveland. Two years ago, he asked to be traded but has since become a dependable player and now a core piece for a team with Super Bowl ambitions.
Golf
THREE TIED FOR COLONIAL LEAD >> This has been a good week in North Texas for Scott Stallings, first qualifying for the U.S. Open that will be played less than an hour from where he was born and now sharing the lead at Colonial with top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and Beau Hossler.
Stallings shot a 6-under 64 without a bogey on a relatively calm Friday at Hogan's Alley. That put the Massachusetts-born and 206th-ranked player in the world at 9-under 131 along with with Dallas-area resident Scheffler and former University of Texas player Hossler, who both had bogey-free 65s.
Scheffler, in one of the last groups of the day after Stallings and Hossler played in the morning wave, tied them with a 14-foot birdie putt at the par-4 17th and saved par at No. 18 after his final drive went left into the rough.
“I think I needed to put up a good score with the wind being real low and the greens being not crazy firm,” said Scheffler, without a bogey so far this week. “Yeah, I love that stat. It's a lot of fun . ... I kept the stress off myself for the most part.”
Scheffler and Hossler were among the Colonial-record eight players to share the 18-hole lead at 66. Stallings began the second round as one of the seven others within a stroke of that.
Patrick Reed matched his opening 66 with another and was alone in fourth place at 8-under 132. Pat Perez (66) and Chris Kirk (67), the 2015 Colonial champion who hasn't won on the PGA Tour since, were 7 under.
Motorsports
HERTA CRASHES AT PRACTICE >> Colton Herta rolled his Indianapolis 500 car end-over-end during Friday's final practice. The star driver for Andretti Autosport was uninjured in the most significant crash in the build up to the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
“I think I was going a little too fast for that corner,” Herta said.
The crash with 25 minutes remaining on “Carb Day” destroyed the Andretti Honda and he will need a backup for Sunday's race.