Ranking top 10 sports events July 6-12 you won’t want to miss:
NO. 1: TENNIS: 129th WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS
WOMEN’S AND MEN’S FINALS:
Details/TV: At the All England Lawn Tennis Club in England, Saturday and Sunday, 6 a.m., ESPN:
Look beyond the Manic Monday matchup of Serena Williams versus Venus Williams. Working on a third straight major after winning in Australia and France, Serena has nothing but respect for her sister, two years her elder. Venus isn’t going to get in her way. But on the men’s side, things may look easy for defending champion Novak Djokovic, who outlasted Roger Federer in five sets in ’14. Djokovic now comes out Monday against the big serve of 14th-seed Kevin Anderson. “I’m trying to build my game in general, every stroke is getting better each match,” said the 28-year-old coached by former Wimbledon champ and current resident Boris Becker. “That is something that is obviously very encouraging to see.” Djokovic added that the “second week is obviously always more challenging, more difficult than the first, but I’m ready for it now. I have two days (to prepare for the next round). I’m going to work on the court, get myself recovered and ready for a challenge that is presented in the second week.” British favorite Andy Murray also faces the huge serve of Ivo Karlovic in his next step. “He will come to the net a lot,” Murray said. “He’s served more than 40 aces in a couple of his matches. Returns turns must be on if I’m to get through.”
Monday’s play starts at 4 a.m. on ESPN2 and 5 a.m. on ESPN. The women’s quarterfinals are Tuesday at 5 a.m. on ESPN and ESPN2, and the semifinals are Thursday at 5 a.m. on ESPN. The men’s quarterfinals are Wednesday at 5 a.m. on ESPN and ESPN2, and the semifinals are Friday at 5 a.m. on ESPN.
NO. 2: SOCCER: 13th CONCACAF GOLD CUP
GROUP A OPENING GAME: UNITED STATES vs. HONDURAS
Details/TV: At Frisco, Texas., Tuesday, 4:30 p.m., FS1:
GROUP B OPENING GAMES: COSTA RICA vs. JAMAICA and EL SALVADOR vs. CANADA
Details/TV: At StubHub Center, Wednesday at 5 and 7:30 p.m., FS2:
The momentum of the FIFA Women’s World Cup could be transferred to the U.S. Men’s National team as it jumps into this three-group, 12-country biennial event as a co-host with Canada. Jurgen Klinsmann’s team, which includes the Galaxy’s Gyasi Zardes and is ranked a humble No. 27 in the world, come in as the defending champs from 2013, but that’s been on real stunner. Either the U.S. or Mexico, which comes in ranked No. 23, has won the last seven events. The American’s group play continues Friday against Haiti in Foxborough, Mass. (5:30 p.m., FS1), and July 13 against Panama in Kansas City.
Carson’s StubHub Center is one of the 14 American-based venues for Group B openers, where Costa Rica is the highest-rated FIFA team in the event at No. 14 in the world. The whole thing wraps up on July 26 in Philadelphia.
NO. 3: GOLF: 70th U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN
Details/TV: At Lancaster Country Club in Lancaster, Penn., Thursday-Sunday, Ch. 11, FS1:
We remember Michelle Wie. She won this whole thing last year at Pinehurst’s Course No. 2 in North Carolina, her first really big deal since winning the 2003 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links at age 13. The 24-year-old hit a 25-foot birdie putt on the 17th after a double bogey on the previous hole. Finishing at 70-even and 2-under for the event, she ended up two strokes ahead of world No. 1 Stacy Lewis, who matched the championship’s low round of 66 on Sunday. Since 1991, only two have defended their U.S. Open title – Annika Sorenstam in ’96 and Karrie Webb in ’01.
The USGA said it accepted a record 1,873 entries for this thing, and among them are Angel Yin, the 16-year-old sophomore at Arcadia High who just won the Annika Invitational junior girls event in Kissimmee, Fla., and was in the top four at the May 26 Industry Hills qualifier, won by former UCLA and La Serna High standout Lee Lopez. Another former UCLA standout, Alison Lee out of Valencia High, won the Goose Creek qualifier on May 19 to advance – she made the cut at the 2009 U.S. Open at Saucon Valley C.C. in Bethlehem, Pa., and finished tied for 26. She qualified in 2010 at Oakmont outside of Pittsburgh but missed the cut. The LPGA Tour rookie recently finished fourth at the Kia Classic at Aviara in Carlsbad and is 24th on the money list this season. Also, Jenny Coleman, the Rolling Hills Estates and Peninsula High grad won the Serrano Country Club qualifier on May 18.
Channel 11 has third- and final-round coverage on Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 a.m. FS1 has the first two rounds at 11 a.m.
NO. 4: MLB: DODGERS vs. PHILADELPHIA
Details/TV: At Dodger Stadium, Monday-Thursday, 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA:
At this point, the Phillies might as well just put Cole Hamels in a reed basket and send him up the L.A. River for someone to pick up – maybe in time for this series to begin. The MLB trade deadline isn’t until July 31 but surely the Dodgers could use him before that. Since the 30-year-old pitched seven shutout innings against Atlanta on Sunday to lower his ERA to 3.02, he’s just an innocent bystander this four-game series. Jimmy Rollins may be able to coax him over before the Dodgers release him, eh? Former Dodger Chad Billingsley (0-2, 7.71 ERA) throws for the Phillies in Tuesday’s game, with another ex-Dodger, Kevin Correia (0-3, 6.56), pitching Thursday against Zack Greinke and his 27-plus inning scoreless streak.
NO. 5: MLB: DODGERS vs. MILWAUKEE
Details/TV: At Dodger Stadium, Friday-Sunday, SportsNet LA:
Saturday’s 7:10 p.m. game is where they’ll go ahead with the Juan Uribe bobblehead giveaway. Sunday’s 1:10 p.m. outing is the last one before the MLB All-Star break.
NO. 6: GOLF: SCOTTISH OPEN:
Details/TV: Final round, Sunday, 9:30 a.m., Ch. 4:
It’s the week before the British Open, yet two-time major winner Jordan Spieth has decided to skip on this traditional warm up event and play instead on the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill. (Thursday-Sunday, Golf Channel, Ch. 2) – that’s where the 21-year-old got his first tour win in 2013. Then he takes the cross-continental trip to the United Kingdom before getting acclimated with St. Andrews. See how that plays out. Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson headline the Scottish Open field.
Golf Channel has the first two rounds from 2:30-to-11:30 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, plus 6:30-to-9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
NO. 7: MLB: ANGELS at SEATTLE:
Details/TV: Thursday-Sunday, FSW:
Winning two of three against the Mariners in Anaheim recently gives the Angels six wins in nine meetings this season. But of course, Felix Hernandez (10-5, 3.02) is scheduled to throw against them in this series opener. He’s 2-0 against them this year with a 0.90 ERA in three starts in ’15, and 5-0 with a 1.04 ERA in his last eight starts against the Angels. The Mariners have won them all.
Games Thursday-Saturday are at 7:10 p.m., Sunday’s game is at 1:10 p.m.
NO. 8: MLB: ANGELS at COLORADO
Details/TV: Tuesday-Wednesday, FSW:
Two games in Denver shouldn’t be long enough to have altitude sickness. But as the Dodgers know, don’t rule out a snow flurry. Both are at 5:40 p.m.
NO. 9: SOCCER:
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONS CUP:
GALAXY vs. CLUB AMERICA (MEXICO)
Details/TV: At StubHub Center, Saturday, 8:30 p.m., FS1:
There are 12 teams playing in this North American leg of the competition, and the Galaxy is one of three representing the U.S. (along with the MLS’ San Jose Earthquakes and New York Red Bull). The star attractions are FC Barcelona (which faces the Galaxy on July 21 at the Rose Bowl), Manchester United and Chelsea. But there are those who question whether the MSL teams should even be involved in this thing.
NO. 10: WNBA: SPARKS at TULSA
Details/TV: Saturday, 5 p.m.
At some point during this summer, Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, Iggy Azalea, Shania Twain and Kelly Clarkson have or will be performing at Staples Center. The Sparks, who didn’t necessarily shock the Shock with a win over them last week, haven’t been able to get Candace Parker to report to the team’s locker room yet. So why wouldn’t the franchise try to entice one of these acts as a temporary star-power substitute?
Also this week: Sparks at San Antonio, Wednesday at 5 p.m.
