Sabalenka's Wimbledon foe is Carson Branstine, a qualifier from California, Canada and Texas A&M
LONDON (AP) — There are plenty of tennis players who might be daunted by the prospect of making their Grand Slam debut against someone ranked No. 1 and in a big stadium — in this case, Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon's No. 1 Court.
Carson Branstine, though, is embracing the circumstances she'll find herself in Monday. Branstine, 24, is a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen — she was born in California and represents Canada, where her mother is from — and helped Texas A&M win the 2024 NCAA title. She is ranked just inside the top 200, but made it into the women's bracket at the All England Club by winning three matches in qualifying last week.
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Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Oliver Giroud admits he 'didn't fit' LAFC, but is eager to 'challenge myself one more time' at Lille
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Olivier Giroud admits his brief tenure at Los Angeles FC was disappointing, although he will cherish the friendships and the trophy he gathered during his year in Major League Soccer. The 38-year-old striker is eager to play once again in France after 13 years away, and he confirmed Sunday night that he will join Lille to take on one more challenge in his storied career. The top goal-scorer in the history of the French national team said farewell to LAFC by going scoreless and coming off with what he called tendon pain after 60 minutes in a 1-0 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps. Giroud had a golden opportunity to score in front of goal early in the second half, but volleyed a pass from Denis Bouanga over the bar. Giroud was still given a standing ovation by the BMO Stadium fans who stayed firmly behind him while he scored just five goals in 38 matches for their club. 'I wish I could have had a bigger impact on the team, on the results,' Giroud said. 'At the end, it was a good experience. Obviously I can't stay longer, so I need a new chapter. I need to challenge myself one more time, and when I had the opportunity to come back (to) France, I just grabbed it. I wish nothing but the best for the club. I tried hard. I tried my best.' Giroud was under contract until the end of the current MLS season, but LAFC and Giroud mutually agreed to part ways so he could leave on a free transfer. He confirmed he will soon join Lille, which finished fifth in Ligue 1 last season to earn a Europa League place. 'I think the French people are happy that Paul Pogba, myself are coming back in the French league,' Giroud said of his Monaco-bound friend and teammate on France's World Cup-winning team in 2018. 'If you would have asked me a few years before, I would have answered you that was not the plan to come back, but you never know, and never say no,' Giroud added. 'I think this club ticked a lot of boxes for me and for my family. (I) hope that I can be helpful for the team, being a leader and a link-up player on the field, but (also) off the pitch between the youngsters and the staff. I'm excited because we also play Europa League. It's very positive. It's a big club in France, Lille. Top five.' Giroud hasn't played in Ligue 1 since 2012, when he left Montpellier for the start of his famed six-year tenure at Arsenal. He subsequently won the Champions League and the Europa League with Chelsea before winning Serie A with AC Milan. Giroud moved to LAFC in July 2024, but he now acknowledges he never fit into the system played by LAFC and its championship-winning coach, Steve Cherundolo — who is also leaving the club this fall. 'If you know football, you understand that in one sense, yeah, I didn't really fit to maybe the game style, I would say,' Giroud said. 'Just being honest. I try to adapt. I try my best one more time, but I can't do something I'm not used to (doing) and I don't know how to do.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Cherundolo favors a transition game emphasizing counterattacks and play up the sides, which doesn't mesh with Giroud's 38-year-old pace up the middle. In a scenario familiar across MLS, LAFC struggled to find a playmaker capable of providing service to an elite goal-scorer like Giroud, who excels on crosses in the box. Giroud was relegated to a substitute role in most matches despite wearing the No. 9 shirt, and he made a major impact in only a handful of outings — most memorably his goal in LAFC's victory in the U.S. Open Cup final last year. 'We did not use the cross a lot, which is my main strength in the box,' Giroud said. 'And yeah, I had the feeling that we would play a lot in transition, so it's not the best for me. … I know what I can bring to the team, but I know what I can't do also. I think it's time to say goodbye now, and one more time to wish all the best to the boys because I love them. I will miss LA, but on the other hand, I'm really excited to have another challenge.' ___ AP soccer:
The Province
4 hours ago
- The Province
Canada crashes out of CONCACAF Gold Cup with penalty shootout loss to Guatemala
Published Jun 29, 2025 • 4 minute read Canada defender Alistair Johnston (2) and Guatemala forward Rubio Mendez (9) battle for possession of the ball during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals soccer match on Sunday. Photo by Abbie Parr / via the Canadian Press Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. MINNEAPOLIS — Canada, reduced to 10 men when Jacob Shaffelburg was sent off in first-half stoppage time, exited the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Sunday after a 6-5 penalty shootout loss to Guatemala. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The quarterfinal went to spot kicks after finishing tied 1-1 after 90 minutes at U.S. Bank Stadium. Tied 5-5 after six rounds of the shootout, Canadian teenage defender Luc de Fougerolles hit the crossbar. Jose Morales stepped up and beat Dayne St. Clair to send the 106th-ranked Guatemalans into the semifinal. Promise David, Daniel Jebbison, Derek Cornelius, Mathieu Choiniere and Nathan Saliba scored for No. 30 Canada in the shootout. Kenderson Navarro stopped Cyle Larin Oscar Santis, Nicola Samayoa, Aaron Herrera, Darwin Lom and Pero Altan also scored for Guatemala in the shootout. Guatemala captain Jose Pinto had a chance to win it in the fifth round after Larin's spot kick was saved but sent his penalty over the bar. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Canada exited the 2023 Gold Cup in a quarterfinal penalty shootout loss to the U.S. The Canadians also lost a shootout to Ivory Coast in the recent Canadian Shield Tournament in Toronto with de Fougerolles denied from the penalty spot. Guatemala will play either the 16th-ranked U.S. or No. 54 Costa Rica in Wednesday's semifinal at Energizer Park in St. Louis. The Americans and Costa Ricans met in the nightcap of Sunday's doubleheader at U.S. Bank Stadium, home of the NFL's Vikings. Leading 1-0 via a 30th-minute Jonathan David penalty, Canada was reduced to 10 men when Shaffelburg was shown a second yellow card for bodying Stheven Robeles to the ground. He picked up the first caution in the 40th minute for taking down CF Montreal's Olger Escobar. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Canadians did not sit back in the second half, coming forward when not absorbing the pressure of Guatemala hunting for an equalizer. But Rubio Rubin tied it for Guatemala in the 69th minute with a stylish header off a Santis cross to cap off a well-constructed attack. The Oregon-born Rubin earned seven caps for the U.S. before, taking advantage of family ties to Guatemala, switching his international allegiance. He plays his club football for the Charleston Battery in the USL Championship. While there was none of the over-the-top physicality shown by El Salvador in Canada's final Group B game, there was no shortage of niggle Sunday, be it an extra shove or ball kicked at a downed Canadian player. And the emotional temperature rose in a frenetic second half. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Jonathan David went down repeatedly in the second half, receiving treatment twice. Defending champion Mexico, ranked 17th in the world, faces No. 75 Honduras in the other semifinal Wednesday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. The first half was entertaining with the 30th-ranked Canadians attacking from the get-go and No. 106 Guatemala responding with the occasional counter-attack. Canada won six corners in the first 20 minutes. Costa Rican referee Keylor Herrera pointed to the penalty spot in the 27th minute when Tani Oluwaseyi, put behind the defence by a pinpoint Richie Laryea pass, went down in the box. The contact with Aaron Herrera, a former CF Montreal player, was minimal but the decision passed video review. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Jonathan David, who had a penalty saved the previous game against El Salvador, made no mistake this time. He found the corner of the goal for his 36th goal in 67 appearances, adding to his Canadian men's scoring record. It was his second goal in as many games at the tournament and his Canada-leading eighth, along with three assists, in eight career Gold Cup games. Canada coach Jesse Marsch made two changes to his starting 11 with St. Clair, who played the first two Group B games before giving way to Max Crepeau, returning in goal and Oluwaseyi replacing Promise David up front. The Canadian starting 11 went into the game with a combined 353 caps with David (66 caps), Laryea (64), Alistair Johnston (55) and Tajon Buchanan (50) accounting for 235 of them. Buchanan, who was seen clutching the back of his leg in the first half, gave way to Jebbison in the 58th minute. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Navarro started in goal for Guatemala in place of the injured Nicho Hagen, a backup with the Columbus Crew, and did well, commanding his penalty box and initiating Guatemala attacks with savvy ball distribution. Canada had 59 per cent possession in the first half and had a 4-3 edge in shots (2-2 in shots on target) and 7-2 in corners. Canada came into the game with 10-2-2 all-time record against Guatemala was unbeaten in the previous five meetings (4-0-1), dating back to a 2-0 loss in August 2004 in World Cup qualifying in Burnaby, B.C. The teams played to a scoreless draw the last time they met, in group play at the 2023 Gold Cup. Canada defeated Honduras 6-0, tied No. 90 Curacao 1-1 and dispatched No. 81 El Salvador 2-0 to win Group B. Guatemala finished runner-up to No. 33 Panama in Group C, beating No. 63 Jamaica 1-0 and unranked Guadeloupe 3-2 and losing 1-0 to Panama. Canada, which won the tournament in 2000, had made the quarterfinals in the last four editions of the Gold Cup but had only advanced once — in 2021 when it lost 2-1 to Mexico in the semifinal after beating Costa Rica 2-0. Guatemala reaches the semifinal for just the second time, following 1996 when it lost 1-0 to eventual champion Mexico. The Guatemala roster features four MLS players including Hagen and Escobar.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Matt Freese shined in his shootout moment, and the Americans are moving onto the Gold Cup semifinals
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — After losing a second-half lead to Costa Rica, this young U.S. side was forced into a shootout with the daunting task of facing goalkeeper Keylor Navas. Matt Freese studied for this. Literally. The late-blooming national team rookie, who made a costly mistake in the previous match, actually conducted an in-depth research project in college at Harvard about penalty kicks. Freese spent the flight to Minneapolis reviewing his findings and examining Costa Rica's tendencies, time well spent that fueled his steely performance in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal victory on Sunday night. 'To be able to rely on that type of thing and deal with a lot of statistics and read the game and read their hips, things like that, is massive,' Freese said after making three saves in the six-round shootout won 4-3 by the Americans after a 2-2 tie in regulation. The Americans play Guatemala in the semifinals on Wednesday in St. Louis. If the U.S. can rely on Freese like this moving forward, that too would be an enormous boost. The 26-year-old native of Pennsylvania, who has displaced for now 2022 World Cup and 2023 Gold Cup starter Matt Turner, knocked away shootout attempts by Juan Pablo Vargas, Francisco Calvo and Andy Rojas. Calvo scored on Freese in the 12th minute on a penalty kick. Freese, a little-used backup for Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union before a trade to New York City FC in 2023 jump-started his career, has had little time with the national team for training. His path was only cleared this spring by injuries to Patrick Schulte and Zack Steffen. But new coach Mauricio Pochettino has been determined to push his young players into the deep end during this biennial championship for North America, Central America and the Caribbean, with Freese at the forefront of the experiment. 'I've just got to be ready for whatever game I get, for whatever moment is there for me,' said Freese, who gave up one goal in three group stage matches. 'He's shown a lot of faith in me. That's something I'm really grateful for, and it's my job to repay him and help the team win.' The goal Freese gave up during the group stage was quite a gaffe, a misfired clearing attempt against Haiti that set up the tying goal in a game the U.S. won 2-1. But Pochettino and his staff had no problem sending Freese back to the net for the knockout rounds. 'It's an opportunity to show you can bounce back, an opportunity to learn and quickly move on to the next,' Freese said. Turner played only three club matches in the recently ended season for Crystal Palace, all in the FA Cup and none since March 1. The critical position is wide open for Freese — or anyone — to seize it with the North American World Cup looming next summer. 'I think it's good for Matt, for the rest of the keepers, to see that they can have the possibility and deal with the pressure,' Pochettino said. 'Because you never know what's going to happen in one year. Now is the moment to test or to give the possibility to show that they can deal with that stress and perform.' Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Pochettino didn't directly answer a question about whether Freese has passed Turner on the depth chart. But the native of Argentina, who began his playing career with the same club that Navas stars for and briefly managed him with Paris Saint-Germain, was clearly pleased by the way his keeper stepped up with one of the best in the world during the dramatic shootout. After each save, Freese told himself he wanted another one. After the third diving stop, he became especially demonstrative — nodding his head and sticking out his tongue toward his cheering teammates at midfield. 'He's done extremely well. He's worked extremely hard,' said Diego Luna, who scored his first international goal for the U.S. in the first half. 'These are the type of moments that we live for.' ___ AP soccer:
