Men’s 100m showdown stymied by DQ at Birmingham Diamond League

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Trayvon Bromell was disqualified for a false start in his Diamond League season debut, denying a showdown with Olympic 200m champion Andre De Grasse of Canada in Birmingham, Great Britain, on Saturday.

“Send my apologies to everyone who had to watch that rookie mistake,” Bromell tweeted.

Another Canadian, Aaron Brown, later won the men’s 100m in 10.13 seconds, just ahead of 2012 Olympic silver medalist Yohan Blake of Jamaica (10.18). De Grasse was fourth in 10.24.

Bromell was the world’s fastest man last year at 9.76 seconds, but at the Olympics was eliminated in the semifinals. He remains tied for third in the world this year at 9.92 seconds, trailing world leader Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya (9.85).

Bromell’s season is ramping up. In June, the top three at the USATF Outdoor Championships qualify for July’s world championships, which like the USATF Outdoors are in Eugene, Oregon. Separate from the top three, Christian Coleman has a bye into worlds as defending champion.

Full Birmingham results are here. The Diamond League moves next Friday and Saturday to Eugene for the Prefontaine Classic.

In other events Saturday, world silver medalist Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain won the women’s 100m in 11.11 seconds, edging Olympic bronze medalist Shericka Jackson of Jamaica by .01. Gabby Thomas, the Olympic 200m bronze medalist, was fifth in 11.31.

Two-time Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica withdrew on Thursday, a precautionary move citing discomfort in training, and plans to return to competition shortly.

Another two-time Olympic 100m gold medalist, Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, remains fastest in the world this year at 10.67.

In the women’s pole vault, American Sandi Morris posted the world’s top outdoor clearance this year of 4.73 meters. She beat a field that included the last two Olympic champions — Greek Katerina Stefanidi (second, 4.65 meters) and American Katie Nageotte (4.30, seventh place).

American Valarie Allman edged Czech Sandra Perkovic in a battle between the last two Olympic women’s discus champions. Allman threw 67.85 meters to Perkovic’s 67.26.

Czech Kristjan Ceh won a men’s discus that included the top six from the Olympics. Ceh, who was fifth in Tokyo, threw 71.27 meters, improving his personal best by three feet. Only Olympic gold medalist Daniel Stahl of Sweden, who was third on Saturday, has thrown farther over the last nine years.

Olympic gold medalist Malaika Mihambo of Germany recorded the farthest women’s long jump since last June, winning with a 7.09-meter leap.

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2023 French Open women’s singles draw, scores

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At the French Open, Iga Swiatek of Poland eyes a third title at Roland Garros and a fourth Grand Slam singles crown overall.

The tournament airs live on NBC Sports, Peacock and Tennis Channel through championship points in Paris.

Swiatek, the No. 1 seed from Poland, can join Serena Williams and Justine Henin as the lone women to win three or more French Opens since 2000.

Turning 22 during the tournament, she can become the youngest woman to win three French Opens since Monica Seles in 1992 and the youngest woman to win four Slams overall since Williams in 2002.

FRENCH OPEN: Broadcast Schedule | Men’s Draw

But Swiatek is not as dominant as in 2022, when she went 16-0 in the spring clay season during an overall 37-match win streak.

She retired from her most recent match with a right thigh injury last week and said it wasn’t serious. Before that, she lost the final of another clay-court tournament to Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.

Sabalenka, the No. 2 seed, and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, the No. 4 seed and Wimbledon champion, are the top challengers in Paris.

No. 3 Jessica Pegula and No. 6 Coco Gauff, runner-up to Swiatek last year, are the best hopes to become the first American to win a Grand Slam singles title since Sofia Kenin at the 2020 Australian Open. The 11-major drought is the longest for U.S. women since Seles won the 1996 Australian Open.

MORE: All you need to know for 2023 French Open

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2023 French Open Women’s Singles Draw

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2023 French Open men’s singles draw, scores

French Open Men's Draw
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The French Open men’s singles draw is missing injured 14-time champion Rafael Nadal for the first time since 2004, leaving the Coupe des Mousquetaires ripe for the taking.

The tournament airs live on NBC Sports, Peacock and Tennis Channel through championship points in Paris.

Novak Djokovic is not only bidding for a third crown at Roland Garros, but also to lift a 23rd Grand Slam singles trophy to break his tie with Nadal for the most in men’s history.

FRENCH OPEN: Broadcast Schedule | Women’s Draw

But the No. 1 seed is Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who won last year’s U.S. Open to become, at 19, the youngest man to win a major since Nadal’s first French Open title in 2005.

Now Alcaraz looks to become the second-youngest man to win at Roland Garros since 1989, after Nadal of course.

Alcaraz missed the Australian Open in January due to a right leg injury, but since went 30-3 with four titles. Notably, he has not faced Djokovic this year. They could meet in the semifinals.

Russian Daniil Medvedev, who lost in the French Open first round in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, is improved on clay. He won the Italian Open, the last top-level clay event before the French Open, and is the No. 2 seed ahead of Djokovic.

No. 9 Taylor Fritz, No. 12 Frances Tiafoe and No. 16 Tommy Paul are the highest-seeded Americans, all looking to become the first U.S. man to make the French Open quarterfinals since Andre Agassi in 2003. Since then, five different American men combined to make the fourth round on eight occasions.

MORE: All you need to know for 2023 French Open

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2023 French Open Men’s Singles Draw

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