BERRETTINI APPEARS WIMBLEDON READY
looks in prime shape for another deep run at Wimbledon.
The second-seeded Italian retained his grass-court Queen’s Club title by beating Filip Krajinovic 7-5, 6-4 in the final on Sunday. It backed up his title triumph in Stuttgart last week, which also was on grass.
Wimbledon starts June 27 and Berrettini is heading to the All England Club having won 20 of his last 21 matches on grass — his only loss coming against Novak Djokovic in four sets in last year’s Wimbledon final.
“I couldn’t ask for a better start to the grass season,” Berrettini said. “I am feeling really good — obviously a Slam is different, best-of-five sets. And a lot of pressure is going to be on me. But I guess that’s normal.”
Krajinovic was a surprise finalist in west London, having never won a match on grass at ATP level before this week, and the 30-yearold Serb usually tries to skip grass-court events if he can.
“I hated it,” Krajinovic said of grass. “But I feel now I want to play on it more and more.”
His serve wasn’t big enough to threaten the tall and imposing Berrettini, who only gave up two break points and sent down 14 aces — more than double that of Krajinovic. The last of those came on match point, after which he smashed a ball high into the sky and jumped the advertising hoardings to celebrate with his team and then his father on Father’s Day.
More tennis
A women’s doubles player who was born in Moscow will be able to get around the ban on Russians at Wimbledon this year because she now represents the country of Georgia.
Natela Dzalamidze ,a29year-old who is currently 44th in the doubles rankings, is listed as being from Georgia on the WTA Tour website — and in Wimbledon’s entry list for the tournament, which begins June 27. Dzalamidze will play with partner Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia.
Hubert Hurkacz upset top-ranked Daniil Medvedev to win the Halle Open in Germany and underline his credentials as a contender for Wimbledon two years running. The big-serving Polish player needed just 63 minutes to beat Medvedev
6-1, 6-4 and win his first grass-court title.
Top-seeded Alison Van Uytvanck beat Italian veteran Sara Errani 6-4, 6-3 to win the inaugural Veneto Open for her sixth career title.
Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil secured back-toback WTA titles after Chinese opponent Shuai Zhang retired with an injury trailing 5-4 in the first set of the Birmingham Classic final.
In the Barnes Tennis Center Open, Ethan Quinn of Fresno defeated USD’s
August Holmgren of Denmark 3-6, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4) in
the men’s final. In the women’s singles final, Makenna Jones of Greenville, S.C., beat Oceanside’s Megan McCray, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
WNBA
NaLyssa Smith scored a career-high 26 points — including a go-ahead threepoint play in the closing seconds to help the Indiana Fever erase a 15-point secondhalf deficit and beat the visiting Chicago Sky 89-87.
Elena Delle Donne scored all 15 of her points in the first half and the host Washington Mystics beat the Connecticut Sun 71-63.
Gabby Williams scored a season-high 23 points in Seattle’s 81-72 win over the host New York Liberty in what was Storm guard Sue Bird’s final regular-season game in her hometown. Bird (11 points) sealed the game with a 3-pointer as the shot clock ran down with 18.9 seconds left.
Arike Ogunbowale hit five 3-pointers and finished with 27 points, Marina Mabrey scored a seasonhigh 21 points and the host Dallas Wings used a thirdquarter run to take control in their 92-82 win over the L.A. Sparks.
A’ja Wilson scored 25 points, Dearica Hamby added 16 — including a 3pointer in the closing seconds — and the Las Vegas Aces rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat the visiting Minnesota Lynx 96-95.
Boxing
The rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua for the world heavyweight title will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Aug. 20. Usyk will be defending the IBF, WBA, WBO titles he claimed from Joshua in beating the British fighter in London in September.
Soccer
Liverpool signed Scotland under-21 defender
Calvin Ramsay from Aberdeen as a backup to right back Trent Alexander-Arnold. The 18-year-old Ramsay, who hasn’t played for Scotland’s senior team, has joined for a reported fee of 4.2 million pounds ($5.15 million).
Rocco Rios Novo —a 20-year-old who started and made his first MLS appearance — stopped the three shots he faced while Luiz Araujo scored as Atlanta United earned a 2-0 win over visiting Inter Miami.
Graham Zusi’s goal led Sporting Kansas City to a 2-1 win over host Nashville. Zusi’s game-winner came in the 51st minute to put Kansas City ahead 2-0. Remi Walter assisted the goal.
Gustavo Bou scored a crucial goal in the New England Revolution’s 2-1 victory against visiting Minnesota United. Bou scored the winning goal in the 69th minute to put the Revolution up 2-1.
Talles Magno scored the equalizer in the 72nd minute for host New York City FC in a 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids.