Sports News Roundup: Dart frustrated as mixed doubles partner Clarke teams up with Gauff

Dart frustrated as mixed doubles partner Clarke teams up with Gauff

British youngster Harriet Dart was left frustrated after she was dumped by her Wimbledon mixed doubles partner Jay Clarke for American teenager Cori Gauff. Dart received a text from Clarke, saying he was switching partners ahead of the mixed doubles opening round on Thursday.

No pain, no gain for Kvitova as she reaches round three

Petra Kvitova's decision to give her shoes an almighty whack with her racket turned out to be a masterstroke as the Czech's legs finally started to move more freely, and she eked out a 7-5 6-2 win over Kristina Mladenovic at Wimbledon on Thursday. The sixth seed did not exactly enjoy the most promising of starts - she was broken in the opening game and fell 5-3 behind when she squandered three break points in the eighth game.

Cycling: Bardet ready to ride wave of French expectation

So great are expectations placed on French riders every time the Tour de France comes around they could be excused for feeling as though they are pedaling up an Alpine road carrying pannier bags full of lead. For comparison think of the Brazil soccer team at a home World Cup, Andy Murray, pre-hip surgery, and his annual Wimbledon quest or a Ferrari driver racing for the chequered flag at Monza.

Barty, Stephens keep eyes on the ball outside Wimbledon

It is not just the on-court action at the All England Club that is proving to be a big draw for the players competing at Wimbledon this fortnight. While whacking a furry yellow ball across manicured lawns remains a priority for most players -- maybe with the exception of Bernard Tomic who was fined 45,000 pounds after organizers deemed he had 'tanked' his first-round match -- Ash Barty and Sloane Stephens are also having a ball away from the courts.

U.S. head to Gold Cup final after 3-1 win over Jamaica

The United States will face Mexico in the Gold Cup final after two goals from Christian Pulisic helped the hosts to a 3-1 win over Jamaica on Wednesday. The home side got the perfect start after eight minutes when Weston McKennie stormed into the box to pick up a cut back from Reggie Cannon and sidefoot home from six meters out.

Dutch upstarts bid to shock mighty U.S. in World Cup final

The Netherlands will bid to begin a new era in women's soccer in Sunday's World Cup final when they try to stop the all-conquering United States team from claiming a record fourth crown. It is almost a classic David v Goliath clash, although the Dutch did produce a major shock two years ago when, ranked 12th in the world, they won the European Championship on home soil to lift their first trophy.

Netherlands reach first World Cup final with extra-time rocket

A long-range strike from Jackie Groenen sent European Champions the Netherlands into their first women's World Cup final as they edged Sweden 1-0 after extra time in their last-four clash on Wednesday. The 24-year-old midfielder scored in the 99th minute when she collected a deflected pass outside the box and struck it expertly into the bottom right corner of the goal to put the Dutch into Sunday's final against holders the United States.

Kerber suffers shock loss to lucky-loser Davis

Defending champion Angelique Kerber was dumped out of Wimbledon on Thursday as she suffered a stunning 2-6 6-2 6-1 second-round defeat by American world number 95 Lauren Davis. German Kerber, a three-times Grand Slam champion, raced through the first set before the match turned wildly on its head and Davis, who needed a lucky-loser spot to play in the tournament, lost only three more games.

MLB roundup: Bellinger blasts D-backs, extends L.A.'s walk-off run

The Los Angeles Dodgers continued their late-game heroics, winning their fifth consecutive home game in walk-off fashion, this time on a Cody Bellinger home run in the 10th inning for a 5-4 victory Wednesday over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. It was the second home run of the game for Bellinger, who has 29 on the season to give him the Dodgers' record for most homers in the first half. His home run in the second inning tied the club's first-half record previously held by Gil Hodges and Duke Snider.

Federer crushes Clarke to reach third round

Roger Federer dashed home hopes of an outlandish upset at Wimbledon by easing into the third round with a 6-1 7-6(3) 6-2 win over Britain's world number 169 Jay Clarke on Thursday to reach the third round. Federer had never lost a Grand Slam match to somebody as low as Clarke in the rankings and, despite the Briton putting up a brave fight in the second set, the huge gulf in class ensured the Swiss never had to get out of second gear.

(With inputs from agencies.)