Venue: All England Club Dates: 30 June-13 July

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Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz held off a battling Taylor Fritz in a thrilling fourth-set tie-break to reach the Wimbledon final and stay on course for a third successive title.

The world number two produced all the high-quality facets of his game, from powerful serves to hitting shots of unreturnable quality and riding through high-pressure moments, to win 6-4 5-7 6-3 7-6 (8-6)

It was a display that underlines he will be a tough man to beat in Sunday’s final, where he will either once again face Novak Djokovic – who he has beaten to the trophy in the past two years – or world number one Jannik Sinner.

Half of Fritz’s career wins have come on grass and he did well to hang in there with Alcaraz, giving his all to try to take the match to a decisive fifth set.

At one stage that looked like happening as Fritz took five successive points in the tie-break, but Alcaraz dug deep to save two set points before holding his nerve to fight back for a win that he celebrated by holding out his arms and roaring to the sky.

“It was a really difficult match. It was tough with the conditions, really hot,” he said.

“I am just happy in the four sets, saving two set points. I am really proud about the way I stayed calm.

“I am really pleased about my level today.”

The win extended Alcaraz’s winning run to 24 matches and he added: “This is my dream, stepping on these kind of courts and playing these beautiful courts at the most beautiful tournaments in the world. That is all I try to think about.

“I don’t want to think about Sunday, I just want to think about this moment.”

Alcaraz’s matches at Wimbledon have mostly been characterised by him making slow starts, but that was not the case on Friday as he immediately broke Fritz’s powerful serve.

His aggressive start appeared to startle his opponent and Alcaraz looked on course to win in straight sets as he raced through the opener, even unperturbed by having something in his eye at one point that required attention.

But the 27-year-old Fritz responded well in the second set, keeping pace with Alcaraz to increase the scoreboard pressure and that seemed to take its toll on the Spaniard for the first time on a sweltering day at the All England Club, as he was broken at 6-5 to level matters.

Alcaraz’s response to that was as devastating as it was swift, breaking Fritz early once again before winning 13 unanswered points and not dropping a single one on his serve in the first four games on his way to taking the third set.

But Alcaraz’s battling qualities were required once again as Fritz, looking to become the first American man to reach a Wimbledon singles final since 2009, once again found his serve, at one stage hitting a four-ace game.

Just as the crowd were settling in for a prospective fifth set after Fritz brought up two set points, Alcaraz responded by seeing them both off and then sealing his match point opportunity to reach a Grand Slam final for the sixth time.

Bbc.com

The rematch between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan has been officially upgraded to a world title fight with the vacant IBF welterweight belt now on the line.

Promoters Matchroom Boxing confirmed on Thursday that the title previously held by American Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis would be the prize for the winner of the rematch.

The bout will be the first time two boxers from the island of Ireland have met in a world title fight.

A date and venue has yet to be confirmed but Saturday, 13 September has been floated as a potential date with Windsor Park, the home of the Northern Ireland football team, the preferred venue.

Speaking to BBC Sport NI in June, Matchroom Boxing chief executive Frank Smith said things were “moving the right direction” for the fight to take place at the football stadium and that talks with the Irish Football Association had been “positive”.

The first meeting between the pair on 1 March was a final eliminator for the IBF title and ended in controversial fashion with Crocker taking the win by disqualification in front of a 8,500 crowd at the SSE Arena in Belfast.

Donovan, who had twice previously been deducted points, was thrown out at the end of the eighth round for punching after the bell.

An appeal from Donovan’s team resulted in the IBF granting a rematch which would again serve as a final eliminator for the world title but with champion Ennis moving up to the light-middleweight, the belt became vacant.

Bbc.com

The Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has assured President of the Nigeria Judo Federation, Dr. Musa Oshodi, of its support for his re-election bid.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Ibrahim Adamu Alhassan, gave the assurance when he received the National President of the Judo Federation and his entourage who were in Lafia, the State capital, on Thursday, to solicit support.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary said, “We heard about your coming, and, and we have also heard about the good things you have done for us as a State, ranging from donations of sporting equipment to other supports, particularly to one of the aspiring daughters of our State, Esther Obile Allu, who is currently a certified International Judo Referee and Financial Secretary of the Nigeria Judo Referees’ Association.

“These are, indeed, proud moments for us as a State.

“As a State, we like continuity and advancement. We kindly request your further supports for our coaches and athletes to be at par with their counterparts around the world.

“On behalf of my principal, the Honourable Commissioner, who has directed me to receive you on his behalf, I want to thank you for the numerous pledges you have made to develop our Judo activities and personnel which align with the blueprint of the current administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule for sports and talent development in the State.

“Kindly consider Nasarawa State in your developmental programmes once you assume the function of your second tenure.

“Your leadership has supported and stood for Nasarawa State in sundry ways. It’s now only right to reciprocate the gesture by supporting your desire to vie again for the position of the President of the Nigeria Judo Federation.

“Rest assured that you have our full support for the next Federation’s election. We will also use our contacts and networks across other States to campaign for you so that you will emerge victorious at the end of the contest.

“Only by your victory can we benefit from your myriads of programmes for our State”, the Permanent Secretary remarked.

Speaking earlier, President of the Nigeria Judo Federation, Dr. Musa Oshodi, revealed the essence of his visit to Nasarawa State.

“Nasarawa is an important State to me, not because I am seeking re-election but because of things we have done together in the past and still doing today.

“The State has contributed immensely to judo development in the country, particularly to talent development, where one of your great ambassadors, Mrs. Esther Obile Allu, has continued to distinguish herself in the sport as she is about being the only female Nigerian recognized by the International Judo Federation as a certified referee – she is the latest and most up-to-date referee we have in the Nigeria Judo Federation today.

“In an ideal situation, a State with such passion for Judo development should be a stop-over spot for anyone who desires the best in this sport.

“I want Nasarawa State to benefit more under my leadership, which is why I have come to reveal some of the lofty packages I have for the State and its judo community.

“I kindly solicit your support to enable me emerge victorious next month when our election will hold”, the Lagos State-based Judo Federation President appealed.

Oshodi who is seeking a second, four-year tenure added that his second tenure would be characterized with massive infrastructural development, capacity building, and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships with organisations and individuals around the world to move the Judo Federation in Nigeria to Category A from its current Category C in the league of the International Judo Federation.

He said he would ensure a National Judo Tournament is held in Nasarawa State in honour of Governor Abdullahi Sule in appreciation of his massive support to Judo development in the State and Nigeria.

Oshodi assumed office as President of the Nigeria Judo Federation about four years ago.

Directors and a few staff of the Ministry joined the Permanent Secretary in receiving the President and his team.