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Deadspin | Stan Wawrinka, 40, earns noteworthy win in Montpellier

Deadspin | Stan Wawrinka, 40, earns noteworthy win in Montpellier

Jan 24, 2026; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland in action against Taylor Fritz of United States in the third round of the menís singles at the Australian Open at John Cain Arena in Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images

Stan Wawrinka wasn’t acting his age on Wednesday during a first-round victory over Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic in the first round of the Open Occitanie on Wednesday in Montpellier, France.

The 40-year-old Swiss veteran prevailed 7-6 (3), 6-4 to become the oldest man to win an ATP Tour indoor match since 1980 (excluding the Davis Cup). The last player older than Wawrinka to log an indoor win was Ken Rosewall, then 45.

A wild-card entrant who is ranked 113th in the world, Wawrinka won despite putting just 38% of his first serves in play. He saved four of the five break points he faced.

Two seeded players lost their second-round matches.

Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic, the third seed, trailed France’s Arthur Gea 6-3, 4-5 before retiring because of a knee injury. Adrian Mannarino rallied past fifth-seeded Ugo Humbert 6-7 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (4) in an all-French matchup.

Eighth-seeded Aleksandar Kovacevic of the United States overtook 16-year-old French qualifier Moise Kouame 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-2 in first-round action. Also earning first-round wins were Italy’s Luca Nardi and the U.S. qualifier Martin Damm.

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Stan #Wawrinka #earns #noteworthy #win #Montpellier

Coventry City ended its 25-year absence from the Premier League with a 1-1 ‌draw at Blackburn Rovers, securing promotion from the Championship with three games to ​spare on Friday.

Needing only a point to make it mathematically certain, Frank ⁠Lampard’s league-leader salvaged a draw as Bobby Thomas headed a late equaliser at Ewood Park.

Blackburn had taken the lead shortly after the interval with a deflected shot by Ryoya Morishita.

The promotion party got ‌going after Thomas’s glancing header and the final whistle sparked celebrations on the pitch and delirious scenes among the 7,500 travelling fans.

Coventry tops the table with ‌86 points from 43 games, 13 ahead of third-placed Millwall, which can no longer ‌catch it. Ipswich Town, Millwall, Southampton and Middlesbrough are battling for the second automatic ⁠promotion spot.

Coventry City returns to the Premier League after 25 years  Coventry City ended its 25-year absence from the Premier League with a 1-1 ‌draw at Blackburn Rovers, securing promotion from the Championship with three games to ​spare on Friday.Needing only a point to make it mathematically certain, Frank ⁠Lampard’s league-leader salvaged a draw as Bobby Thomas headed a late equaliser at Ewood Park.Blackburn had taken the lead shortly after the interval with a deflected shot by Ryoya Morishita.The promotion party got ‌going after Thomas’s glancing header and the final whistle sparked celebrations on the pitch and delirious scenes among the 7,500 travelling fans.Coventry tops the table with ‌86 points from 43 games, 13 ahead of third-placed Millwall, which can no longer ‌catch it. Ipswich Town, Millwall, Southampton and Middlesbrough are battling for the second automatic ⁠promotion spot. Needing only a point to make it mathematically certain, Frank ⁠Lampard’s league-leader salvaged a draw as Bobby Thomas headed a late equaliser at Ewood Park.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Reuters
                            

                            Needing only a point to make it mathematically certain, Frank ⁠Lampard’s league-leader salvaged a draw as Bobby Thomas headed a late equaliser at Ewood Park.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Reuters
                                                    “It was an incredible moment (when Thomas scored),” former Chelsea and England midfielder Lampard told        Sky Sports. “We knew we were nearly there but to get it over the line after 25 years, wow! It’s amazing. What (the fans) ​have gone through.”It was former England and ‌Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s first promotion as a manager and he was clearly emotional as the achievement sank in.“This is a serious football club. These boys have achieved something unique. This is right up there for me,” he said.“I was fortunate to be in great ‌Chelsea teams, winning league titles and Champions Leagues but to do this I’m ​very proud to be their manager.”As well as regaining its place amongst the elite for the first time in a generation, promotion will have a ⁠massive financial impact for Coventry — a club which has been through the mill since relegation a quarter of a century ago.BROADCAST INCOMEPromotion from the Championship to the Premier League is worth around ‌120 million to 170 million pounds (0 million) over three seasons, driven largely by a surge in broadcast income, with even the bottom club in the top flight earning more than 100 million pounds in central distributions in its first season.On Friday though it was not the money but the pure joy for the visiting fans as Lampard’s side completed the job.Coventry spent 34 consecutive seasons in England’s top flight after promotion in 1967 and survived countless ‌relegation battles before succumbing in 2000-01 when it finished 19th in the Premier League. It was former England and ‌Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s first promotion as a manager and he was clearly emotional as the achievement sank in.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Reuters
                            

                            It was former England and ‌Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s first promotion as a manager and he was clearly emotional as the achievement sank in.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Reuters
                                                    Financial hard times followed and it was relegated to the third tier in 2012 and was forced to ground share with Northampton Town after a rent dispute over its new stadium.Coventry’s ⁠low point on the pitch arrived in 2017 when it was relegated to the fourth tier ⁠for the first time since 1959 and although it was promoted the following season, it was again forced away from its stadium between 2019 and 2021, playing ‌home games at Birmingham City’s ground.Coventry came close to a Premier League return twice, reaching the Championship playoff final in 2022-23 and bowing out in the semifinals last season.Lampard ​took charge in November 2024 and steered it to fifth in the Championship last season.Published on Apr 18, 2026  #Coventry #City #returns #Premier #League #years

Needing only a point to make it mathematically certain, Frank ⁠Lampard’s league-leader salvaged a draw as Bobby Thomas headed a late equaliser at Ewood Park. | Photo Credit: Reuters

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Needing only a point to make it mathematically certain, Frank ⁠Lampard’s league-leader salvaged a draw as Bobby Thomas headed a late equaliser at Ewood Park. | Photo Credit: Reuters

“It was an incredible moment (when Thomas scored),” former Chelsea and England midfielder Lampard told Sky Sports. “We knew we were nearly there but to get it over the line after 25 years, wow! It’s amazing. What (the fans) ​have gone through.”

It was former England and ‌Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s first promotion as a manager and he was clearly emotional as the achievement sank in.

“This is a serious football club. These boys have achieved something unique. This is right up there for me,” he said.

“I was fortunate to be in great ‌Chelsea teams, winning league titles and Champions Leagues but to do this I’m ​very proud to be their manager.”

As well as regaining its place amongst the elite for the first time in a generation, promotion will have a ⁠massive financial impact for Coventry — a club which has been through the mill since relegation a quarter of a century ago.

BROADCAST INCOME

Promotion from the Championship to the Premier League is worth around ‌120 million to 170 million pounds ($230 million) over three seasons, driven largely by a surge in broadcast income, with even the bottom club in the top flight earning more than 100 million pounds in central distributions in its first season.

On Friday though it was not the money but the pure joy for the visiting fans as Lampard’s side completed the job.

Coventry spent 34 consecutive seasons in England’s top flight after promotion in 1967 and survived countless ‌relegation battles before succumbing in 2000-01 when it finished 19th in the Premier League.

It was former England and ‌Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s first promotion as a manager and he was clearly emotional as the achievement sank in.

It was former England and ‌Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s first promotion as a manager and he was clearly emotional as the achievement sank in. | Photo Credit: Reuters

lightbox-info

It was former England and ‌Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s first promotion as a manager and he was clearly emotional as the achievement sank in. | Photo Credit: Reuters

Financial hard times followed and it was relegated to the third tier in 2012 and was forced to ground share with Northampton Town after a rent dispute over its new stadium.

Coventry’s ⁠low point on the pitch arrived in 2017 when it was relegated to the fourth tier ⁠for the first time since 1959 and although it was promoted the following season, it was again forced away from its stadium between 2019 and 2021, playing ‌home games at Birmingham City’s ground.

Coventry came close to a Premier League return twice, reaching the Championship playoff final in 2022-23 and bowing out in the semifinals last season.

Lampard ​took charge in November 2024 and steered it to fifth in the Championship last season.

Published on Apr 18, 2026

#Coventry #City #returns #Premier #League #years">Coventry City returns to the Premier League after 25 years  Coventry City ended its 25-year absence from the Premier League with a 1-1 ‌draw at Blackburn Rovers, securing promotion from the Championship with three games to ​spare on Friday.Needing only a point to make it mathematically certain, Frank ⁠Lampard’s league-leader salvaged a draw as Bobby Thomas headed a late equaliser at Ewood Park.Blackburn had taken the lead shortly after the interval with a deflected shot by Ryoya Morishita.The promotion party got ‌going after Thomas’s glancing header and the final whistle sparked celebrations on the pitch and delirious scenes among the 7,500 travelling fans.Coventry tops the table with ‌86 points from 43 games, 13 ahead of third-placed Millwall, which can no longer ‌catch it. Ipswich Town, Millwall, Southampton and Middlesbrough are battling for the second automatic ⁠promotion spot. Needing only a point to make it mathematically certain, Frank ⁠Lampard’s league-leader salvaged a draw as Bobby Thomas headed a late equaliser at Ewood Park.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Reuters
                            

                            Needing only a point to make it mathematically certain, Frank ⁠Lampard’s league-leader salvaged a draw as Bobby Thomas headed a late equaliser at Ewood Park.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Reuters
                                                    “It was an incredible moment (when Thomas scored),” former Chelsea and England midfielder Lampard told        Sky Sports. “We knew we were nearly there but to get it over the line after 25 years, wow! It’s amazing. What (the fans) ​have gone through.”It was former England and ‌Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s first promotion as a manager and he was clearly emotional as the achievement sank in.“This is a serious football club. These boys have achieved something unique. This is right up there for me,” he said.“I was fortunate to be in great ‌Chelsea teams, winning league titles and Champions Leagues but to do this I’m ​very proud to be their manager.”As well as regaining its place amongst the elite for the first time in a generation, promotion will have a ⁠massive financial impact for Coventry — a club which has been through the mill since relegation a quarter of a century ago.BROADCAST INCOMEPromotion from the Championship to the Premier League is worth around ‌120 million to 170 million pounds (0 million) over three seasons, driven largely by a surge in broadcast income, with even the bottom club in the top flight earning more than 100 million pounds in central distributions in its first season.On Friday though it was not the money but the pure joy for the visiting fans as Lampard’s side completed the job.Coventry spent 34 consecutive seasons in England’s top flight after promotion in 1967 and survived countless ‌relegation battles before succumbing in 2000-01 when it finished 19th in the Premier League. It was former England and ‌Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s first promotion as a manager and he was clearly emotional as the achievement sank in.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Reuters
                            

                            It was former England and ‌Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s first promotion as a manager and he was clearly emotional as the achievement sank in.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Reuters
                                                    Financial hard times followed and it was relegated to the third tier in 2012 and was forced to ground share with Northampton Town after a rent dispute over its new stadium.Coventry’s ⁠low point on the pitch arrived in 2017 when it was relegated to the fourth tier ⁠for the first time since 1959 and although it was promoted the following season, it was again forced away from its stadium between 2019 and 2021, playing ‌home games at Birmingham City’s ground.Coventry came close to a Premier League return twice, reaching the Championship playoff final in 2022-23 and bowing out in the semifinals last season.Lampard ​took charge in November 2024 and steered it to fifth in the Championship last season.Published on Apr 18, 2026  #Coventry #City #returns #Premier #League #years

Deadspin | Matt Fitzpatrick catches break en route to 63, takes RBC Heritage lead  Apr 17, 2026; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Matt Fitzpatrick putts on 16 green during the second round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images   Matt Fitzpatrick of England shot a spotless, 8-under 63 to vault into the lead halfway through the RBC Heritage on Friday in Hilton Head Island, S.C.  Fitzpatrick climbed to 14-under 128 at Harbour Town Golf Links, while Norway’s Viktor Hovland came close to tying him at the end of the day but settled for a 65 and second place at 13 under.  Harris English sits third at 10 under following a 68, and first-round leader Ludvig Aberg of Sweden made three back-nine bogeys on his way to 70, slipping into a tie at 9 under with Patrick Cantlay (64) and Austrian Sepp Straka (67).  There is no 36-hole cut at the post-Masters signature event with a  million purse. Justin Thomas, last year’s champion, will be grateful to see the weekend as he’s fallen to dead last in the 82-man field following rounds of 76 and 75 (9 over).   Fitzpatrick, 31, won the Heritage in 2023 in its first year as a signature event. With the course comfortability came a lucky break at the par-3 14th on Friday.  His tee shot flew far left of the green, but his ball appeared to bounce off a tree and a cart path to come back to the green with some speed. It nearly rolled all the way off into the water, but a sprinkler head helped bring it to a stop. The head allowed Fitzpatrick a free drop for relief, and from just off the green he drilled a 33-foot putt for birdie.  Akshay Bhatia matched Fitzpatrick for the round of the day, shooting 63 and tying a tournament single-round record with 11 birdies. After a poor first round, he moved up to 6 under on the leaderboard.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Matt #Fitzpatrick #catches #break #route #takes #RBC #Heritage #leadApr 17, 2026; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Matt Fitzpatrick putts on 16 green during the second round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Matt Fitzpatrick of England shot a spotless, 8-under 63 to vault into the lead halfway through the RBC Heritage on Friday in Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Fitzpatrick climbed to 14-under 128 at Harbour Town Golf Links, while Norway’s Viktor Hovland came close to tying him at the end of the day but settled for a 65 and second place at 13 under.

Harris English sits third at 10 under following a 68, and first-round leader Ludvig Aberg of Sweden made three back-nine bogeys on his way to 70, slipping into a tie at 9 under with Patrick Cantlay (64) and Austrian Sepp Straka (67).


There is no 36-hole cut at the post-Masters signature event with a $20 million purse. Justin Thomas, last year’s champion, will be grateful to see the weekend as he’s fallen to dead last in the 82-man field following rounds of 76 and 75 (9 over).

Fitzpatrick, 31, won the Heritage in 2023 in its first year as a signature event. With the course comfortability came a lucky break at the par-3 14th on Friday.

His tee shot flew far left of the green, but his ball appeared to bounce off a tree and a cart path to come back to the green with some speed. It nearly rolled all the way off into the water, but a sprinkler head helped bring it to a stop. The head allowed Fitzpatrick a free drop for relief, and from just off the green he drilled a 33-foot putt for birdie.

Akshay Bhatia matched Fitzpatrick for the round of the day, shooting 63 and tying a tournament single-round record with 11 birdies. After a poor first round, he moved up to 6 under on the leaderboard.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Matt #Fitzpatrick #catches #break #route #takes #RBC #Heritage #lead">Deadspin | Matt Fitzpatrick catches break en route to 63, takes RBC Heritage lead  Apr 17, 2026; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Matt Fitzpatrick putts on 16 green during the second round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images   Matt Fitzpatrick of England shot a spotless, 8-under 63 to vault into the lead halfway through the RBC Heritage on Friday in Hilton Head Island, S.C.  Fitzpatrick climbed to 14-under 128 at Harbour Town Golf Links, while Norway’s Viktor Hovland came close to tying him at the end of the day but settled for a 65 and second place at 13 under.  Harris English sits third at 10 under following a 68, and first-round leader Ludvig Aberg of Sweden made three back-nine bogeys on his way to 70, slipping into a tie at 9 under with Patrick Cantlay (64) and Austrian Sepp Straka (67).  There is no 36-hole cut at the post-Masters signature event with a  million purse. Justin Thomas, last year’s champion, will be grateful to see the weekend as he’s fallen to dead last in the 82-man field following rounds of 76 and 75 (9 over).   Fitzpatrick, 31, won the Heritage in 2023 in its first year as a signature event. With the course comfortability came a lucky break at the par-3 14th on Friday.  His tee shot flew far left of the green, but his ball appeared to bounce off a tree and a cart path to come back to the green with some speed. It nearly rolled all the way off into the water, but a sprinkler head helped bring it to a stop. The head allowed Fitzpatrick a free drop for relief, and from just off the green he drilled a 33-foot putt for birdie.  Akshay Bhatia matched Fitzpatrick for the round of the day, shooting 63 and tying a tournament single-round record with 11 birdies. After a poor first round, he moved up to 6 under on the leaderboard.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Matt #Fitzpatrick #catches #break #route #takes #RBC #Heritage #lead

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