Rafa, Osaka pull out of Wimbledon
Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka are sitting out Wimbledon, leaving the oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament without two of the sport’s biggest stars as it returns after being canceled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Nadal, a two-time champion at the All England Club, announced via a series of social media posts Thursday that he would also miss the Tokyo Olympics to rest and recover “after listening to my body.”
“The goal,” the 35-year-old Spaniard said, “is to prolong my career and continue to do what makes me happy.”
Osaka’s agent, Stuart Duguid, said Thursday in an email that the fourtime Grand Slam champion does plan to head to the Summer Games after skipping Wimbledon.
“She is taking some personal time with friends and family,” Duguid wrote. “She will be ready for the Olympics and is excited to play in front of her home fans.”
Last month, Osaka was fined $15,000 when she didn’t speak to reporters after her first-round victory at the French Open. The next day, Osaka pulled out of the tournament entirely, saying she experiences “huge waves of anxiety” before meeting with the media and revealing she has “suffered long bouts of depression.”
MAVS’ CARLISLE QUITS
Rick Carlisle stepped down as coach of the Mavericks on Thursday, the second major departure for that franchise in as many days.
Carlisle spent 13 seasons in Dallas, leading the Mavericks to the 2011 NBA title. His decision was announced one day after general manager Donnie Nelson and the team agreed to part ways, ending a 24-year run for Nelson as part of the organization.
“This was solely my decision,” Carlisle said in a statement released to ESPN shortly before the team announced that he was leaving.
Dallas becomes the seventh team with a coaching vacancy, joining New Orleans, Washington, Orlando, Indiana, Portland and Boston, where Carlisle played for the team that won the 1986 NBA title.
Now the Mavericks need a coach and a GM, in an offseason where they’re also expected to offer 22-year-old Luka Doncic, the team’s best player and now a twotime All-NBA performer, a $201 million extension.
Carlisle went 555-478 in Dallas, taking a team built around Dirk Nowitzki to the title in 2011. Dallas made six playoff appearances in the 10 seasons that followed, never getting out of the first round.
RECORD ROAD SKID
Occasionally, the Arizona players glanced up at the Oracle Park scoreboard in center field. It told a most familiar, gloomy story.
The Diamondbacks made dubious history, setting a major-league record with their 23rd straight road loss in getting trounced by the Giants, 10-3, Thursday.
“It’s nothing we’re proud of,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “It’s been an extended period of time. It weighs on you. It’s heavy.”
The dejected D-backs trudged off the field and quietly made their way back to the visiting clubhouse following the final out, breaking a tie with the 1963 Mets and ’43 Philadelphia Athletics for road futility.
Held to just a lone single by pitcher Zac Gallen through six innings, Arizona fell behind 6-0. The Diamondbacks went feebly, helpless to stop this runaway train of despair.
BIG HAUL FOR MONMOUTH
Guard Shavar Reynolds of Seton Hall and North Carolina forward Walker Miller are joining the Monmouth basketball team as graduate transfers.
Coach King Rice announced the moves Thursday, adding that guard Sam Fagan from nearby Neptune High School will be joining the team.
Reynolds of Manchester, N.J., returns to the shore after spending four years with the Pirates. He played in 107 games, starting 28, including all 27 last season when he averaged 30 minutes. He averaged 7.7 points while shooting 40.6% from the field last season.