Connect with us

Sports

Roberto Bautista Agut: Retired tennis player scores on debut for seventh-tier Spanish side

Published

on

Just over a month after retiring from tennis, Roberto Bautista Agut has returned to competitive sport – this time on a football pitch.

The 38-year-old former Wimbledon semi-finalist has signed for Spanish seventh-tier side CD Els Ibarsos and scored twice in a 4-2 win on his debut in a pre-season match.

The Spaniard’s tennis career featured 12 singles title wins plus a Davis Cup triumph with his country in 2019.

Achieving success on the football field is now his challenge.

“It’s a new stage of life that’s making me very happy”, Bautista Agut said on Instagram.

“May the good start continue!”

Bautista Agut returns to football after playing for Villarreal’s youth teams until the age of 14, before opting to pursue a career in tennis.

Els Ibarsos, who are based about 60 miles north of Valencia, said Bautista Agut was presented to fans before he made his debut, and the club are looking forward to watching him play for a “whole season”.

“It’s official: Roberto Bautista Agut is a C.D. Els Ibarsos player,” the club wrote on Instagram.

“Thanks to everyone who came out to support us and create a great atmosphere on an unforgettable evening. And thank you, Roberto, for putting your trust in this project and this town.”

During his tennis career, Bautista Agut reached a highest world ranking of ninth in late 2019, boosted by his run to the last four at Wimbledon earlier in the year.

>

Continue Reading

Sports

How to watch Orioles vs. Rays: TV channel and streaming options for August 15

Published

on

The Tampa Bay Rays host the Baltimore Orioles at 6:10 p.m. ET on Saturday. Ian Seymour (9-3, 4.08 ERA) gets the start for the Rays, who are 74-47 this season and first in the AL East. Kyle Bradish (7-11, 3.69 ERA) is expected to start for the Orioles, who are 59-63 and fifth in the AL East.

How to watch Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Orioles vs. Rays odds

  • Favorite Moneyline: Rays -149
  • Underdog Moneyline: Orioles +125
  • Total: 7.5
  • Total Over Odds: +100
  • Total Under Odds: -120

Injury reports

Rays

Ben Williamson: 10 Day IL (Hamstring), Cole Sulser: 15 Day IL (Back), Shane McClanahan: 15 Day IL (Back), Griffin Jax: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Jake Fraley: 60 Day IL (Groin), Manuel Rodriguez: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Ryan Pepiot: 60 Day IL (Hip), Gavin Lux: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Jon Heasley: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Edwin Uceta: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Victor Mesa Jr.: day-to-day (Hamstring)

Orioles

Samuel Basallo: 10 Day IL (Shoulder), Blaze Alexander: 10 Day IL (Hand), Zach Eflin: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Felix Bautista: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Keegan Akin: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Ryan Helsley: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Ryan Mountcastle: 60 Day IL (Foot), Jordan Westburg: 60 Day IL (Ucl), Colin Selby: 60 Day IL (Shoulder)

Stats to know

  • Junior Caminero is hitting for a .276 BA, .368 OBP and .548 SLG with an 18.3% strikeout rate and a 12.5% walk rate. His OPS is .916, which ranks 5th in MLB, and he has scored 77 runs. In 530 plate appearances, he has hit 35 home runs (3rd in MLB) and driven in 78 runs (7th in MLB).
  • In 515 plate appearances, Yandy Diaz is hitting .301/.369/.463 with a .832 OPS. He has hit 17 long balls, driven in 69 runs and scored 68 times.
  • Pete Alonso is hitting for a .260 BA, .353 OBP and .479 SLG with a 24.4% strikeout rate and an 11.5% walk rate. His OPS is .833, which ranks 19th in MLB, and he has scored 74 runs. In 529 plate appearances, he has hit 26 home runs (13th in MLB) and driven in 77 runs (9th in MLB).
  • In 549 plate appearances, Gunnar Henderson has hit 20 long balls, tallied 51 RBIs and scored 73 runs. He is batting .221/.302/.403 and has posted a 22.4% strikeout rate and an 8.9% walk rate. Henderson has recorded nine steals on 14 attempts.

This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.

Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

Photo: Jamie Squire, Ishika Samant, Scott Taetsch, Alika Jenner / Getty Images

Connections: Sports Edition Logo

Connections: Sports Edition Logo

Connections: Sports Edition

Spot the pattern. Connect the terms

Find the hidden link between sports terms

>

Continue Reading

Sports

Thousands of fans support Dutch soccer player after death of daughter

Published

on

Thousands of fans of a Dutch second-tier club lit sparklers in the stands to support a soccer player and his partner on Friday, after the death of their newborn baby.

NAC Breda, who compete in Eerste Divisie, said in a statement on Wednesday that 34-year-old midfielder Mats Seuntjens and his partner, Elba, had lost their daughter, Celine Inaya Seuntjens Silva.

Two days later, Seuntjens came on as a 55th-minute substitute as NAC were defeated 2-0 by VVV-Venlo in their first home match of the 2026-27 season.

After the defeat, thousands of fans remained in the 20,500-capacity Rat Verlegh Stadion, and lit sparklers, unfurled banners and chanted in support of Seuntjens and his partner, who were visibly moved by the tributes.

NAC defender Jan Van den Bergh said, via ESPN NL: “Even now, after the game, you can see what this club means in the grieving process, and that’s both incredibly beautiful and sad at the same time. It was loud and quiet all at once.

“It’s an indescribable feeling. It’s just a whole mix of emotions. I can’t find the right words for it.”

VVV-Venlo coach Marinus Dijkhuizen said: “These kinds of things cut to the bone.”

Upon appearing from the bench, Seuntjens made his first appearance for NAC since re-joining the club this summer from FC Groningen. He came through NAC’s academy and made 130 appearances for the Dutch side before moving on to AZ Alkmaar in July 2016.

On Friday, tributes were also paid before the match to NAC’s former manager Bob Maaskant, who died at the age of 88 in June.

>

Continue Reading

Sports

Sebastien Pocognoli set to be appointed new Scotland head coach

Published

on

Monaco's Belgian head coach Sebastien Pocognoli looks on

Pocognoli departed Monaco this summer Franck Fife / AFP via Getty Images

Sebastien Pocognoli is set to be announced as the new Scotland men’s head coach next week.

The Belgian will become the first foreign appointment since Berti Vogts’s spell in charge between 2002 and 2004.

Multiple candidates were interviewed during an extensive search that also used data to identify a coaching style that matched the requirements outlined as key to a successful Scotland team.

The 39-year-old’s tactical work on the training ground and track record of integrating young players have been major factors in his appointment, according to sources with knowledge of the recruitment process.

The Scottish Football Association (SFA) have moved quickly to replace Steve Clarke, who resigned days after Scotland’s World Cup group stage exit despite signing a new four-year contract before the tournament.

The search was led by the SFA’s chief football officer Craig Mulholland, who started his role last month after joining from Nottingham Forest, where he was head of football development and talent management.

Top 3 off-pitch World Cup stories

Clarke’s 81 games in charge is the most of any Scotland manager in history and Pocognoli will be tasked with qualifying for the 2028 European Championship and the World Cup in 2030.

He won 13 caps for Belgium as a player and played over 300 times domestically with experience of British football during spells at West Bromwich Albion and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Pocognoli’s managerial career started with spells in charge at Royal Union Saint-Gilloise (RUSG), Genk and the Belgium national team, where he oversaw their respective under-18 and under-21 sides. He took over the RUSG first team in 2024, leading them to a first Belgian league title in 90 years and secured Champions League group stage football.

He was hired by AS Monaco last October but sacked this summer after leading them to a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1.

Connections: Sports Edition Logo

Connections: Sports Edition Logo

Connections: Sports Edition

Spot the pattern. Connect the terms

Find the hidden link between sports terms

>

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2017 Zox News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by WordPress.