From the Back Pages, July 3: Brazil striker opens up on £5.5m deal after rejecting Arsenal and Liverpool interest
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When the new rankings are calculated after Wimbledon fortnight, James Ward will find his name in the world’s top 100. Few would have put their money on that before this match, or still less the opening round of the tournament, but in front of an increasingly vocal crowd the British No 3 beat Jiri Vesely 6-2, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the third round of a grand-slam tournament for the first time in his career. (The Times)
If the goal of all the top players at a Grand Slam tournament is to get through the first week expending the minimum amount of energy, then Andy Murray is doing just fine. The 28-year-old Scot secured his place in the third round here with his second successive straight-sets victory, beating the Dutchman Robin Haase 6-1, 6-1, 6-4. (The Independent)
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Hide AdRafael Nadal was knocked out of Wimbledon in the first week for the third time in four years, bamboozled by the wild but often brilliant game of qualifier Dustin Brown, a man who spent three years living in a camper van as he travelled Europe trying to earn a living. The German hit numerous drop shots, some unbelievable returns and generally kept the 10th seed off balance and out of kilter, clinching a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory. (The Guardian)
Southampton are launching a late bid to beat Tottenham to the signing of Toby Alderweireld. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is to hold talks in Spain with Atletico Madrid over the 26-year-old Belgian who wants to remain in the Premier League. (The Mirror)
For a moment during Roger Federer’s second-round victory over the American Sam Querrey, it was as if the Centre Court crowd was watching one of those veterans’ exhibitions in which the passing of time is disguised by a profusion of trick shots. So smooth, so accomplished, so easy was this encounter, midway through the second set Federer unleashed a wonderfully inventive lob, struck from between his legs. Those who know these things insist it is known technically as “a front tweener”. Though such language does scant justice to Federer’s elegant choreography. (The Telegraph)
De Gea arrives in Madrid but United refuse to budge over £35m fee despite risk of losing keeper for free next summer. (Daily Mail)
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