🎾 Kyrgios Caught Up In Court Battle

Happy hump day, it's Wednesday, 6 July

🔊 Sport Today Podcast

This morning, Sam Ferris and Lucy Watkin are at the mic.

Today's listen time: 9 minutes.

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

📺 What we're watching

🏀 9.00am - NBA Summer League - 76ers v Grizzlies - Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City - Foxtel, Kayo

⚾ 10.00am - MLB - White Sox v Twins - Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago - Foxtel, Kayo

🎾 10.00pm - Wimbledon Day 10 - All England Club, London - Channel 9, Stan Sport

All times are in AEST

🎾 Kyrgios called up to court over alleged assault

On the eve of the biggest match of his career, Aussie tennis star Nick Kyrgios has been summoned to a different kind of court.

Golden points: Late last night, ACT Policing issued a statement that said a 27-year-old Watson man (Kyrgios) is scheduled to face the ACT Magistrates Court on 2 August in relation to one charge of common assault following an incident in December 2021.

• The victim of the assault is allegedly Kyrgios' ex-girlfriend Chiara Passari, who was in an on-and-off relationship with Kyrgios for 18 months before ending late last year.

• Kyrgios hasn't spoken, but his lawyer says a media release is coming soon and that Kyrgios is taking the allegations very seriously.

• The charge carries a maximum jail sentence of 2 years.

They said it: "At the present time, the allegations are not considered as fact by the court, and Mr Kyrgios is not considered charged with an offence until the first appearance." - Lawyer Pierre Johannessen, who is also representing Kyrgios, issued a statement last night.

What's next: Wimbledon confirmed Kyrgios's quarter-final against Chilean Cristian Garin will go ahead tonight. That match is on Court 1 and follows Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic's quarter-final against #17 seed Elena Rybakina, which starts at 10pm AEST.

🏀 Griner reaches out to Biden for help

Brittney Griner was meant to be in Russia playing the sport she loves. But the American basketballer is in jail and worried she might be there forever.

Golden points: The 31yo landed in Russia in February but was arrested when security found a couple of cannabis oil vape cartridges in her luggage.

• She’s been detained ever since, and was last week charged with intentionally bringing drugs into the country. That carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail.

• There’s more at play here. This isn’t just about the drugs. This goes a lot deeper and it boils down to the tension between Russia and the USA about the war in Ukraine.

• There are reports Russia wants to use Griner as part of a prisoner swap to bring home a high-ranking official.

They said it: "I’m terrified I might be here forever." - A letter from Griner to US President Joe Biden shows the terrifying reality of what’s going on.

Key click: Here’s the timeline of everything that’s happened.

🏏 Bazball brings out England's best

The Brendon McCullum revolution is in full swing, and us Aussie fans are starting to get a bit nervous ahead of next year’s Ashes.

Golden points: McCullum is the modern messiah. He’s come in as England’s Test coach and the team suddenly looks unbeatable.

• They looked no chance to beat India in the 5th Test after the first 3 days. But the attacking approach that is ‘Bazball’ helped them win again.

• Joe Root and Jony Bairstow added 269 for the 4th wicket as England chased down 378 in a Test that had been delayed since last year due to COVID.

• That was England’s biggest successful run chase in Test cricket, and the 9th-highest in history.

They said it: "It is phenomenal. I wish people could understand what is going on in this changing room right now - it is incredible." - Skipper Ben Stokes is stoked.

Watch it: It’s a good day to be English.

🏉 Hipwood walks a fine line

Someone call Avril Lavigne because even the AFL tribunal said last night’s case was complicated.

Golden points: There are a lot of confused people after Brisbane’s Eric Hipwood was found guilty of pushing an opponent into an umpire… but he’s free to play this weekend.

• Let’s back it up to last Thursday when the Lions were hosting the Bulldogs.

• Hipwood was running toward goal when Bulldogs player Ryan Gardner got in his way. So he pushed him straight into an umpire.

• The incident was referred straight to the tribunal where the AFL wanted him to be banned for at least a week. He was found guilty of careless contact, but only copped a $2500 fine.

They said it: "I know people disagree with me, but I am staggered again." - AFL360 co-host Mark Robinson couldn’t believe it.

What’s next: Hipwood is free to play Essendon on Sunday at 1.10pm (AEST).

⚽ Socceroos set for Suncorp send off

It looks like we’re off to Brisbane to say goodbye to the Socceroos before they head to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup.

Golden points: Queensland is the place to be in early September because the Matildas also have a blockbuster game coming up.

• They’ll play Olympic gold medallists Canada on 3 September in what will be their first game in Brisbane in 3 years. They’ll also play Canada at the new Allianz Stadium in Sydney later that month.

• The men get to play New Zealand and this will be a special one because it’s 100 years since their first game against NZ.

• They’ll also play again 3 days later in Auckland. Forget about friendlies. This is all about getting ready for the World Cup.

They said it: "I’ll probably nearly use two different teams, and that gives everyone a good chance then to show me what they’ve got and whether they are ready to go." - Socceroos coach Graham Arnold says this will be a World Cup audition.

👀 Quick singles

🏉 The Wallabies will be without veteran fly-half Quade Cooper for this weekend's 2nd Test against England. Cooper hurt his calf in the warm-up before the 1st Test and is now in doubt for the whole series.

🎾 Ons Jabeur fought back from a set down to reach the semis of a grand slam for the first time in her career. She’ll play unseeded German Tatjana Maria for a spot in the final.

🏏 Men’s and women’s cricketers in New Zealand are about to get paid the same. A new deal means players at both international and domestic level will get the same match fees. 

🏉 Both the Broncos and Rabbitohs have been hit hard by injuries. That’s not ideal when you’re already missing plenty of players to Origin and you’ve got to name a team for Round 17.

🏉 The future looks bright for the Wallabies after the next generation belted Fiji last night. The under-20s team won 58-5 with a couple of sons of former Wallabies doing really well.

🏉 The news just keeps getting better for the Penrith Panthers. The defending premiers are going to get a new stadium but they won’t have to leave their current home ground next season.

🙃 Left of field...

Someone needs to fly us to the States to watch some baseball in the Atlantic League.

Golden points: This isn't quite the major leagues, but manager Mark Minicozzi threw a tantrum that would’ve made the best in the business proud.

• Minicozzi manages the Wild Health Genomes. They were playing the Charleston Dirty Birds. You can’t make this up.

• Fair to say he thought the umpire was having a shocker because he stormed onto the field, threw a bunch of bats and drew in the strike zone to teach the officials the difference between a ball and a strike.

• He was, unsurprisingly, thrown out of the game.

Watch it: The video and commentary are just what you expected.

📽 The highlight reel

A saint must be looking over #1 seed Novak Djokovic after he came back from 2 sets down to beat Jannik Sinner in a Wimbledon classic overnight.

📸 Photo finish

What a moment for Tom Gilbert to get his first Maroons jersey.

🏃‍♀️ The finish line

🏆 Today's trivia answer

They drew 1-1 against Korea Republic.