Nikoloz Basilashvili, ranked No. 134, is set to face No. 266 Daniel Michalski in the first-round qualifying match at the ATP 250 Bucharest Open on outdoor clay. Basilashvili has a ranking and experience advantage. Traders favour Basilashvili’s baseline power and ATP pedigree.
Florida’s attorney general, James Uthmeier, is challenging the NFL’s Rooney Rule, calling for its suspension or facing potential civil rights action. Uthmeier argues that the rule, which mandates teams to interview external minority candidates for specific positions, constitutes ‘blatant race and sex discrimination’. The NFL has acknowledged the letter and is reviewing its contents.
New Zealand defeated Chile in a friendly match, with Elijah Just scoring a goal that was awarded following a VAR review. Marko Stamenic won a free kick for New Zealand in the attacking half. Ben Old was shown a yellow card.
France defeated Colombia 3-1 in a friendly match. Jhon Córdoba had a shot saved by Brice Samba. Kylian Mbappé was caught offside during the game.
Rio Ferdinand has stated that Elliot Anderson ‘ticks Manchester United’s boxes’ as they search for a new midfielder. Anderson, currently at Nottingham Forest, has also earned six caps for England. It has been reported that Forest want to bank around £80million should they sell Anderson.
Jannik Sinner has closed the gap on Carlos Alcaraz in the ATP rankings after the Miami Open. Alexander Zverev has overtaken Novak Djokovic in the rankings. Jiri Lehecka is set for a new career-high ranking.
UConn secured a Final Four berth with a 73-72 victory over Duke, thanks to Braylon Mullins’s late heroics. Mullins hit a 3-pointer with just 0.4 seconds remaining, capping off a remarkable comeback after trailing by 19 points. Duke, the tournament’s top seed, will now watch the Final Four from home.
De’Anthony Melton’s future with the Golden State Warriors is uncertain as he approaches the deadline for his player option. Melton has stated he feels he should be rewarded for his time and effort in the league. This has sparked speculation he may explore free agency.
Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark called Nikola Jokic the best player in the world. Clark made the comments while serving as a guest analyst for NBC’s broadcast of the game between the New York Knicks and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Clark stated Jokic is probably her favourite player to watch.
The Golden State Warriors have recently strung together three straight wins. Brandin Podziemski has scored 20 or more points in each of those games. In the 24 games Steph Curry has missed since the end of January, Podziemski is averaging 15.4 points.
