🎾 Seeds Slump As Serb Star Surges

Cya financial year, it's Thursday, 30 June

🔊 Sport Today Podcast

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

Today's listen time: 9.45 minutes.

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

📺 What we're watching

🏏 2.30pm - Test Cricket - Sri Lanka v Australia - Galle International Stadium, Galle - Foxtel, Kayo

🏉 7.20pm - AFL - Lions v Bulldogs - Gabba, Brisbane - Channel 7, Foxtel, Kayo

🏉 7.50pm - NRL - Sea Eagles v Storm - 4 Pines Park, Sydney - Channel 9, Foxtel, Kayo

All times are in AEST

🎾 Novak advances as big names fall 

You didn’t want to be a seeded player at Wimbledon overnight. There were upsets galore, but Novak Djokovic wasn’t one of them.

Golden points: He was way too good for Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis, winning their 2nd round match in straight sets.

• The #1 seed has now won 81 matches at Wimbledon. That was just Kokkinakis’ 4th ever match on London’s famous green grass.

• The carnage didn’t end there. Women’s #2 seed Anett Kontaveit lost 6-4 6-0. That’s the same score #9 seed Garbiñe Muguruza copped, while local hope Emma Raducanu is also out.

What are the chances… Serena Williams returns to Wimbledon next year. The 40yo lost her first singles match in a year when she went down to Harmony Tan in an epic 3-setter yesterday. There’s massive motivation for her to continue because Williams is one grand slam away from tying Margaret Court’s women’s record.

What’s next: There are 5 Aussies on court in the singles tonight, headlined by Nick Kyrgios. That’s must-see TV so put it on 9Gem or stream it on Stan Sport.

🏏 The GOAT has the heart of a Lyon

Nathan Lyon did GOAT things on the first day of the first Test against Sri Lanka, but Usman Khawaja was a bit sheepish after a costly run out late in the day.

Golden points: There’s something about Galle that brings out Lyon’s best. This is the ground he made his Test debut, and the good times keep rolling.

• He took 5 wickets in the first innings 11 years ago, and he claimed his 20th 5-wicket haul yesterday on a pitch that suits the spinners.

• And get this, he had back spasms yesterday but still took 5-90 to help bowl Sri Lanka out for 212.

• The Aussies are doing okay in reply. They’re 3/98 but have lost star trio David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith.

What are the chances… Smith and Khawaja are besties? Maybe not this week after a mix-up saw Smith run out late in the day.

Watch it: Check out what went down on day one.

🏉 Sister act ready to be the best out west

Montana Ham is the toast of the town after she was the #1 pick in last night’s AFLW Draft.

Golden points: This was a big moment for the comp with 4 new teams locking in some of the best young talent for the new season.

• Ham was expected to be picked first by the Swans, and that went to plan. The only surprise was that she nominated to be picked by a NSW team so the young Victorian could be closer to the beach. We get it.

• Draft night always dishes out some epic moments. This year was no exception.

• Zoe Wakfer thought she was there to support sister Lauren, who was pick #15 by West Coast. She wasn’t wearing a club polo because she thought she was no chance. That was until West Coast selected her with pick #36.

They said it: “It's really surreal. I didn't know what to expect, but it wasn't this.” - What a time to be a Wakfer.

What’s next: The new teams have a couple of months to gel because the season starts on 24 August.

⚽ In a league of their own

There has never been a better time to be a female athlete in Australia. The NRLW is getting bigger. So is the AFLW. Now it’s football’s turn to expand.

Golden points: Get ready to welcome Western United to the A-League Women’s comp next season.

• And while you’re at it, give it up for the Central Coast Mariners who will join in the 2023/24 season to take the comp up to 12 teams.

• That means we’ll have a 22-round comp in 2 seasons which is what happens in the US, UK and France.

• There’ll be international breaks to allow players to compete in big matches but not miss any club games. That’s a big deal with a World Cup in Australia just around the corner.

They said it: “We've got to make sure that we make it clear that moving to a second-tier league in Europe is not a better proposition than staying in the A-League Women.” - Australian professional Leagues CEO Danny Townsend wants this to be world class. 

🚴‍♂️ You need a car to beat Tadej

Get excited for breathtaking scenery, encyclopaedic commentary and of course some cycling to keep you up at night.

Golden points: The Tour de France begins tomorrow and it starts in … Denmark.

• Huh? Yeah, it doesn’t actually start in France. It’s weird, but it’s not a biggie. The first 3 stages are in Denmark before the race heads to France.

• There are plenty of Aussies in the race this year, and there are a couple in with a big chance. But Giro d’Italia winner Jai Hindley isn’t one of them because he’s decided to skip it.

• The man to beat is 2-time defending champ Tadej Pogačar. This guy is only 23yo and never seems to get tired.

Key click: Here’s a deep dive into all the key info for the great race.

Watch it: SBS has you sorted. You can watch it on TV or on demand.

🏉 It's that time of the week!

Don't Forget Your Tips! is a weekly podcast for footy fans who are keen to get an edge in their footy tipping comp. DFYT! will give you some facts, figures and maybe even a few omens that'll help you out with your AFL and NRL footy tips every week of the footy seasons. Episodes are around 12-minutes long and drop 6am every Thursday. Listen on Apple, Spotify and your favourite podcast app. Enjoy!

👀 Quick singles

⚽ Sam Kerr is going to have some competition in England next season. Matildas teammate Mary Fowler has joined Manchester City on a huge deal for the 19yo.

🏉 Good luck getting tickets to Game 3 of the State of Origin series. The match at Suncorp Stadium officially sold out yesterday for the decider.

🏀 The Boomers are back in Australia for some World Cup qualifiers starting in Melbourne tonight. Some of our best basketballers will be in action against China, with Matthew Dellavedova to captain the side.

🏉 Lachie Hunter is back for the Bulldogs after he took some time away from the AFL on personal grounds earlier this year. But the club has suffered a blow, with Caleb Daniel ruled out of tonight’s game against the Lions.

🏉 Ireland’s rugby tour of New Zealand is off to a shaky start. They were beaten 32-17 by the Maori All Blacks last night ahead of Saturday’s first Test.

🏉 The AFL community is mourning the loss of Hall of Famer Neil Kerley. The 88yo, who won a number of comps in South Australia, died when his car crashed through a fence and into a paddock.

🏀 Stephen Curry is taking his talents to the silver screen. Warriors legend Curry was announced as the host of the ESPYs - the big US sports awards show - on ESPN on July 20.

🙃 Left of field...

Move over scriptwriters because Daniel Ricciardo is about to take Hollywood by storm.

Golden points: Okay, maybe not quite that far. But the Aussie F1 driver is about to dive into TV.

• This is big news just a day before he turns 33.

• Ricciardo is going to be an executive producer on a scripted show about F1 that will be on streaming service Hulu.

• We don’t know the name of the show, but we can tell you that F1 shows are really popular after the success of Netflix’s Drive to Survive.

Watch it: If you want to see Ricciardo in some reality TV, then make sure you follow the British Grand Prix this weekend.

📽 The highlight reel

The man they call 'Cheese' was humbled by his Melbourne Storm teammates. Check out this emotional Haka to celebrate Brandon Smith's 100th NRL game tonight against Manly.

📸 Photo finish

Yep, that's Adele and LeBron James hanging out. They were there for Kevin Love's wedding, who used to play with 'the King' at the Cleveland Cavaliers.

🏃‍♀️ The finish line

🏆 Today's trivia answer

Melbourne Victory beat Sydney FC 2-1.