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WTA World No. 3 Jessica Pegula enters the 2026 U.S. Open with a clear focus on claiming the first Grand Slam title of her career. Pegula, who reached the final in 2024 before falling to Aryna Sabalenka, spoke to USA TODAY Sports about visualizing a victory in New York. “My goal is to win the tournament,” she shared. “It is my favorite place to play just purely because I am an American and I’m from New York State.” ...

With only 25% of the MLB season remaining, the National League Wild Card race is entering a critical stretch. Tonight, the Miami Marlins (currently three games out of the final playoff spot) take on the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The starting pitching matchup heavily favors the home team. The Phillies send out Cy Young contender Christopher Sanchez (15-4, 2.54 ERA), who has been nearly untouchable at home with a 1.41 ERA. The Marlins counter with Janson Junk (6-7, 4.41 ERA), who has struggled significantly with road splits. ...

One of the most competitive matchups in the third round of the Cincinnati Open features Czech star Jiri Lehecka squaring off against the athletic Frenchman Arthur Fils. Arthur Fils enters as the narrow betting favorite at -162 moneyline odds, leading their career head-to-head record 3-2. However, Lehecka has been the superior performer on outdoor hard courts, winning two of their three meetings on the surface. With both players showing strong form, this match has all the makings of a three-set thriller. ...

The Cincinnati Open is set for a mouth-watering all-American third-round clash as third seed Jessica Pegula takes on 25th seed Emma Navarro. Adding to the drama, Navarro will be playing on courts owned by her father, billionaire Ben Navarro. But the real story entering this match is the physical health and fitness status of both stars. Pegula enters the match having recovered from a grueling North American swing where she felt “run down” after a quick turnaround from Washington D.C. to Toronto. On the other side, Emma Navarro continues to work her way back to top form while actively managing hypothyroidism, a metabolic condition she has battled for a year and a half. ...

In a highly unusual and breaking development, the Arizona Diamondbacks placed star second baseman Ketel Marte on the MLB Restricted List shortly before first pitch Monday night against the Boston Red Sox. Reports from The Arizona Republic confirm that Marte traveled with the team to Boston but failed to show up to Fenway Park. The Diamondbacks front office and manager Torey Lovullo have not yet provided specifics on his absence or a timeline for his return. ...

The second round of the 2026 Crosstown Classic is finally here, and the stakes haven’t been this high in nearly two decades. The Chicago White Sox make the short trip north to Wrigley Field to face the Chicago Cubs in a three-game series that carries heavy weight for both teams. For only the second time since 2008, both franchises are above .500 and fighting for postseason position. The White Sox currently sit atop the AL Central, while the hot, heavy-hitting Cubs are leading the race for the National League Wild Card. ...

The Atlanta Braves kick off a crucial four-city road trip at Target Field against the Minnesota Twins. Both teams are looking to lock in playoff momentum, but the starting pitching matchup is what makes this game incredibly intriguing. Left-hander Martin Perez returns to his old stomping grounds in Minnesota. Perez has defied expectations with a scoreless streak spanning 16 innings across his last three starts, relying heavily on a rising groundball rate to escape jams. ...