Andrey Santos joins Manchester United for five years

The Italian Jannik Sinner kissed the Wimbledon trophy after defeating the German Alexander Zverev in the final. With a score of 6‑3, 6‑4, 6‑7 and 6‑4, the world number one demonstrated a new variety of shots that surprised his rival.

A perfect lob in the second game and a drop shot that caused Zverev to sprain his knee made the difference. Sinner’s coaches, Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi, highlighted the evolution of his game.

“Alexander now plays a different style against Jannik. We know he’s going to have to improve in certain areas,” Cahill said.

With this victory, Sinner reached five Grand Slam titles, two of them at Wimbledon. Reduces the gap with Carlos Alcaraz, who has seven but missed Roland Garros and Wimbledon due to a right wrist injury. His return for the US Open is still uncertain.

Zverev rose to second place in the ranking after his performance in London. He comes from winning his first Grand Slam at Roland Garros last month, where Sinner fell in the second round.

“A lot of respect for Sascha,” Sinner said, using Zverev’s nickname. “There is always someone who pushes you to the limit. We hope Carlos comes back, because tennis needs him.”

Sinner’s mother, Siglinde, could not bear to see the most tense moments. “He left the stadium a couple of times. It’s not easy,” commented the champion.

Sinner faced heat problems during the tournament. Originally from northern Italy, it grew up in the snow. Cahill anticipated changes in the preseason: “We will chase the sun a little more to acclimatize it.” He also wore an ice vest during the pre-tournament heat wave.

Southport, England. — Jordan Spieth was 23 when he worked magic at Royal Birkdale to win the 2017 British Open. That day he completed the third leg of the Grand Slam. Eight years later, the panorama is different.

Since then, he has only two wins on the PGA Tour. He is number 51 in the world. He has not played in a final group at a major since 2018. His optimism, however, has not faded.

“If you give up on reaching your ceiling, then I don’t see the point in continuing to play,” Spieth said Monday. “I know I can be at the top. I’ve already been.”

The Texan insists that his current game is better than four or five years ago, when he reached the top 10. The results do not reflect it, but he is confident in a favorable streak.

“I’m pretty frustrated with the results,” he admitted. “But it’s a stay-the-course mentality. Sometimes the reward takes a while.”

A transformed field

Royal Birkdale looks different. In 2017 it was green and wet; Now, with a heatwave in England, the field is yellow and firm. Additionally, the par-3 14th hole was replaced with a new 241-yard hole.

“Undecided,” Rory McIlroy commented on the new design. Tommy Fleetwood added that we will have to see him in competition.

Spieth knows conditions will change strategy. “Achievable holes now require mid- or long-irons,” he noted. The wind also plays a key role.

Look ahead

The golfer compares himself with his best version, but not to repeat it. “I know my ceiling is where I was. I’m going to strive to reach it with the type of player I am now.”

His return to Birkdale brings back memories: that bogey on the 13th hole that felt like a robbery, the 6-iron on the 14th, the 50-foot eagle on the 15th. But he prefers to focus on what’s next.

“Maybe the best shot and the best putt I’ve ever made no longer exists,” he said with a smile.

Spieth is still at the table. Wait your chance.

Plan after injury

Conor McGregor outlined his plan after the knee injury suffered during his fight at UFC 329 against Max Holloway. The Irish fighter announced surgery, rehabilitation and a new attempt inside the octagon.

“Surgery. Prehabilitation. Go back to practicing martial arts. Try again. Final fight of the contract. Please God!” McGregor wrote on Instagram.

The fight, the Irishman’s first in five years, lasted just 1 minute and 9 seconds. It all ended when he attempted a roundhouse kick and landed awkwardly on his right knee.

McGregor went to the canvas two more times in failed attempts to continue. The referee stopped the fight scheduled for five rounds.

On Sunday, his manager John Kavanagh ruled out a previous injury.

“That changing of guard jump kick at the beginning was practiced daily for months, several times in the warm-up. It was never a problem. The knee gave out when he launched the first kick. It can’t be worse than this,” Kavanagh posted on Facebook.

McGregor also clarified on the social network X that he had no discomfort. “I was kicking, bracing and jumping throughout camp, as well as backstage before the fight. I didn’t have any injuries coming into the fight.”

Now, the former champion focuses on recovery to fulfill his last contractual commitment.