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    Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic both picked up straight-set victories in the first round of the French Open against opponents ranked outside the Top 100 and making their Grand Slam debuts. Alcaraz is seeded No. 1, Djokovic is No. 3 and most everyone expects them to face each other in the semifinals. Alcaraz beat Flavio Cobolli on Monday. Djokovic defeated Aleksandar Kovacevic.

      Barbora Krejcikova is trying not to think too much about her past two trips to the French Open as she prepares to play her first-round match Tuesday in Paris. Two years ago, she arrived relatively unknown and relatively unaccomplished and left with championships in both singles and doubles, something no woman had done at Roland Garros in more than 20 years.

        Aryna Sabalenka initially thought the boos and derisive whistles coming from the French Open crowd were directed at her after a first-round victory. Instead, the negative reaction was aimed at her opponent, Marta Kostyuk, for not participating in the usual postmatch handshake at the net. Kostyuk, who is from Ukraine, avoided so much as any eye contact with Sabalenka, who is from Belarus, after the match, instead walking directly over to acknowledge the chair umpire.

          Novak Djokovic has made his long-term goal clear. He wants to focus on accumulating Grand Slam titles in order to surpass the totals of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. The French Open starts Sunday without the injured Nadal or the retired Federer, so Djokovic gets the chance to lead the career standings alone with a men's-record 23. 

            Yannick Noah has returned to the French Open stage for a celebration of his 1983 title. This time he he had a microphone in his hand instead of a racket. Noah is a celebrity in his home country and he was feted 40 years after he became the last man from France to win a Grand Slam singles trophy.

              All of those questions about who would step to the fore once Serena Williams walked away from the tennis tour seem to be getting answered with three names: Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina. As the start of the French Open approaches on Sunday, defending champion Swiatek is ranked No. 1, Sabalenka is No. 2 and Rybakina is No. 4. More to the point, perhaps, with a major trophy up for grabs on the red clay of Roland Garros: This group divvied up the past four Grand Slam titles, the prizes that help define greatness in their sport.

              Oklahoma claimed its 50th straight win in style. Tiare Jennings and Kinzie Hansen homered, and No. 1 seed Oklahoma rolled past No. 4 Tennessee 9-0 in five innings on Saturday to advance to the Women's College World Series semifinals. The Sooners (58-1) inched closer to a possible third consecutive national title and extended their Division I record for consecutive victories.

              TAMPA, Fla. — A donor approached Florida Gators athletic director Scott Stricklin recently with a hypothetical question percolating around big-time college sports. If I had $100 in my pocket, should I give it to the Gator Boosters or a name, image and likeness (NIL) fund? “Well, with all due respect,” Stricklin replied, “I’d love for you to find another $100 and do both.” Until July 2021, a ...

              Rylee Holtorf had three hits to help Washington defeat Utah 4-1 in the Women's College World Series. She went 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Washington's Lindsay Lopez got the win in relief of starter Ruby Meylan. Lopez allowed just one hit in 3 2/3 shutout innings. Meylan gave up just one run on two hits in 3 1/3 innings. Mariah Lopez went the distance for Utah and allowed four runs in six innings. Kendall Lundberg's RBI double produced the Utes' only run.

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              Rory McIlroy didn't look like he was going anywhere at the Memorial until he wound up with a share of the lead. That's how tough it was at Muirfield Village. McIlroy had a 70 and was tied with Si Woo Kim and David Lipsky. That leads to a Sunday that figures to be wide open. There are 22 players separated by three shots. That includes Hideki Matsuyama and Patrick Cantlay. They helped everyone's cause by making triple bogeys at various points in their rounds. Nine of those 22 players in the mix have never won on the PGA Tour.

              Bills safety Damar Hamlin kicked off a multicity tour at his home stadium on Saturday to distribute medical equipment and promote techniques that saved his life in January. Hamlin handed out automated external defibrillators for close to 50 youth sports and community organizations on the Bills' field at Highmark Stadium at the event launching his Chasing M's Foundation CPR Tour. 

              NEW YORK — For football fans of a certain age, it may seem unthinkable that the entire AFC North division is now playing catch-up with the Cincinnati Bengals. This is a franchise that did not appear in a single playoff game from 1991 through 2004. They lost in the AFC’s wild-card round five straight years from 2011 through 2015. They watched the Pittsburgh Steelers (2005, 2008) and Baltimore ...

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