PARIS — Second seed Coco Gauff brushed aside Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-0 7-5 on Monday to move into the French Open quarterfinals and stay on course for her first title in Paris.

The American world No. 2 must have thought she would have an easy morning session after powering through the first set in sensational fashion but the Russian bounced back in the second to test her opponent.

‘The whole match I played well. She stepped up her game in the second set. Overall I thought I played great,’ Gauff said.

‘I move well on clay, really comfortable with sliding and moving on the surface. The most physical surface for sure and I do well in that department.’

Hunting her first French Open crown after reaching the final in 2022 and semifinals last year, the 21-year-old started fast, earning three consecutive breaks for a 5-0 lead in 15 minutes.

Gauff was running her opponent ragged across the baseline, with the 30-year-old Alexandrova, bidding to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal, earning a mere five points until that stage.

Gauff, who has now won four of five meetings against Alexandrova, gave away five break points in the next game but still secured her first bagel of the tournament before the Russian got on the scoreboard at the start of the second set with her first hold.

Unforced errors started creeping into Gauff’s game as Alexandrova put up stronger resistance.

Gauff, the youngest American player to have reached at least the fourth round at seven consecutive Grand Slams since Venus Williams between 1997-1999, broke Alexandrova at 3-3.

But the Russian broke straight back and went up 5-4, with Gauff clearly rattled and double-faulting twice before holding to level.

The second seed kept her composure, broke Alexandrova and wrapped up the match on her serve. She will next face the winner of the all-American fourth-round clash between Madison Keys and Hailey Baptiste.

By nearly every metric, the Yankees’ Aaron Judge’s offensive performance during the first two months of the 2025 season ranks among the best in baseball history. Whether he can maintain this torrid pace for the next four months could determine if he joins the ranks of the all-time greats. Consider just a few of his numbers:

Batting average: Judge finished May with a .398 batting average – a hit short of topping .400 and 24 points ahead of Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, who is also having a career year.

Power: Two of every five hits have gone for extra bases, including Judge’s 21 home runs. He finished May just one shy of league leaders Shohei Ohtani and Cal Raleigh. Judge’s slugging percentage, though, is more than 100 points of ahead of Ohtani’s.

On base percentage: Add 38 walks to Judge’s 86 hits, and he’s been on base almost every other time he steps up to the plate.

How Aaron Judge’s 2025 offensive numbers compare to some of MLB’s best

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The OPS statistic combines a player’s on-base percentage with his slugging percentage. The sum shows how consistently a player reaches base along with how often the player hits for power – the more bases a player reaches per hit, the higher the slugging percentage.

With exception of his rookie season, Judge’s OPS has been at least 150 points higher than the league average, and his OPS has been trending even higher during the past four seasons. He led the MLB in OPS in 2022 and 2024 – the same years he won the American League MVP award.

Aaron Judge’s OPS continues to club

What the Yankees’ Aaron Judge has accomplished at the plate in the first third of the season would rank among the best seasons ever in MLB history if could maintain this pace. Judge’s 1.268 OPS would trail only the best years in the careers of Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds and Ted Williams – who was also the last to hit .400 that year in 1941.

With more than 100 games left in the season, the long grind could pull Judge’s numbers back down to Earth. Consider some of the other strong starts in the first two months of the season during the past decade.

Players with league-leading OPS in first two months of the MLB season

If you dig a little deeper into Judge’s numbers this season, you see he’s not hitting the ball quite as hard as he has in previous years. According to MLB, his average exit velocity ranks third at 95.4 mph behind the Pirates’ Oneil Cruz and Ohtani. Judge led the league last year with a 96.2 mph average.

So while Judge’s hits are a tick down in velocity, he’s on a pace to set a record for balls hit into the field of play, or batting average on balls in play (BABIP). The MLB average is .290 this season, the lowest since 1992. At .461, Judge’s BABIP is the third-highest in the first 54 games of a season since 1969, behind Jim Edmonds in 2000 and Yasiel Puig in 2013.

Where Judge’s BABIP would rank among best seasons since 1901

In 2024, Judge had one of his more typical slow starts, batting .207 in April. But he ultimately won his second MVP last season, finishing with a .322 average, 1.159 OPS and 58 home runs. His 10.8 WAR was the same he produced in his 62-homer 2022 MVP campaign.

At this pace, it’s not hard to image Judge claiming another American League MVP. He’d join an exclusive club among Yankees three-time MVPs: Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle. Consider all the other firsts he vaulted into by the end of May:

Hitting categories where Aaron Judge ranks first in the American League

The unranked UTSA Roadrunners are moving on in the NCAA baseball tournament after knocking off the No. 2-seeded Texas Longhorns 7-4 at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in the Austin Regional on June 1.

UTSA will play in its first NCAA baseball super regional. The victory led to coach Pat Hallmark leaping into the arms of pitcher Conor Myles after the game as the team began to celebrate.

Norris McClure’s two-run home run in the first inning provided the Roadrunners with an early lead and set the pace for the 7-4 victory over the in-state rival. 

“That was one of the greatest games in baseball that I had ever been a part of,” McClure said on the ESPN broadcast after the game. “We knew we had talent and just had to stay where our feet were.”

UTSA had seven different players score a run in the game. Ty Hodge was responsible for three of those RBIs on two hits. Pitcher Gunnar Brown allowed six hits and one earned run with four strikeouts and two walks in five innings pitched against the Longhorns.

Texas was the second top-two school to get eliminated in its home regional after Wright State beat No. 1 seed Vanderbilt 5-4 on Sunday.

Texas out-hit UTSA 9-8 in the game, including two from Max Belyeu and Rylan Galvan. Belyeu had a two-run home run in the top of the ninth that brought in Galvan and helped the Longhorns cut into the lead, 7-4. As it turns out, those were the last runs of the season for the Longhorns.

The Roadrunners’ win wasn’t a fluke, either. Hallmark’s team won both of the teams’ two prior meetings this season: 8-7 in 12 innings on March 18 and 9-7 on May 31. The latter of those sent Texas to the loser’s bracket in the Austin Regional on June 1.

While the Roadrunners entered the game after having the afternoon off, the Longhorns eliminated Kansas State with a 15-8 win before fighting to keep their season alive.

Journalism is expected to race in the $2 million Grade 1 Belmont Stakes race on Saturday, June 7.

The 3-year-old colt is coming off a victory as the odds-on favorite in the Preakness Stakes race on May 17, working his way from along the rail and in the middle of the pack to break free after the final turn and overcoming some bumping from other competitors.

Michael W. McCarthy, Journalism’s trainer, praised the horse by telling the New York Racing Association that ‘he’s a wonderful mover. He gets over the ground very well. He’s got an incredible stride to him.’

Journalism finished the Preakness with a time of 1 minute, 55.47 seconds at Pimlico in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Preakness winner will go against a field that features Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby winner. Journalism finished in second place in the Kentucky Derby on May 3.

Journalism will be the only horse among the Belmont field that’s competed in all three Triple Crown races. Sovereignty did not compete in the Preakness.

When will the Belmont Stake post position draws be announced?

The Belmont Stakes post position draws will be held on Monday at 5 p.m. ET.

Journalism wins the Preakness Stakes

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The 2025 Women’s College World Series field has yet another semifinalist.

Laura Mealer served as the hero for the Lady Vols, drilling a line-drive single to left field with the bases loaded and one out to bring home teammate Taylor Pannell for the game-winning run.

With the win, Tennessee will advance to take on No. 6 Texas in the semifinal at noon on June 2. It would need to defeat the Longhorns twice to advance to the best-of-three-game championship series, which is scheduled to start on June 4.

Watch UCLA vs Tennessee softball, Women’s College World Series on Fubo (free trial)

UCLA, which was coming off a 3-1 loss to NiJaree Canady and Texas Tech in the winner’s bracket on Saturday, has been knocked out of the double-elimination tournament.

The Lady Vols led 4-2 heading into the seventh inning, but allowed a two-run home run to Megan Grant. Grant, however, appeared to not initially touch home plate before being mobbed by her teammates. At a teammate’s prompting, she went back and touched the plate, but the play was challenged by Tennessee and ultimately upheld, with officials determining that while Grant didn’t touch the base, the play was not subject to review based on Appendix G of the NCAA Softball Rule Book. The decision sent the game into extra innings.

Tennessee previously avoided elimination by defeating its SEC rival Florida by a run-rule 11-3 margin on May 30. The Vols left no doubt by plating seven runs in the opening inning and then doing enough to finish the game in five innings. The best part for them, ace Karlyn Pickens, threw one inning and then earned a much-needed rest.

Here’s a look at the score, updates and highlights from the WCWS elimination game between UCLA and Tennessee:

UCLA vs Tennessee live score

UCLA vs Tennessee live updates

Final: Tennessee 5, UCLA 4

Laura Mealer plays the role of hero for Tennessee, drilling a game-winning RBI single to left field with the bases loaded and one out to lift the Lady Vols past UCLA 5-4 in the ninth inning.

Tennessee will take on Texas Monday while UCLA’s season is over.

Megan Grant walked intentionally

Tennessee walks Megan Grant intentionally and then Karlyn Pickens gets Alexis Ramirez to ground out to first on the first pitch to end the threat with the bases loaded. Tennessee has another chance to walk it off.

Savannah Pola two-out single keeps UCLA 9th alive

Savannah Pola with a two-out single that sneaks past Tennessee shortstop Laura Mealer for a base hit. That brings up Bruins’ star hitter Jordan Woolery to the plate. Woolery singles through the right side.

It’s first and third, two outs for the ninth inning hero, Megan Grant.

End of eighth inning: Tennessee 4, UCLA 4

Tennessee strands 2; game heads to 9th inning

Despite having a chance to walk it off with runners on first and third, two outs, the Lady Vols cannot capitalize on the opportunity. Gabby Leach flies out to left field to end the inning. We are still tied 4-4 heading to the ninth inning.

Clarke reaches on error

After Mealer and Leach each ground out to Bragg at shortstop, she misses a sure out on a defensive miscue. Saviya Morgan singles to centerfield in the next at-bat to advance Clarke to third.

1-2-3 inning for UCLA

Pickens forces three straight groundouts to Slimp, Bragg and Mujica in the 6-7-8 spots of the UCLA lineup. Tennessee once again heads up to bat with a chance to walk off the Bruins. Mealer, Leach and Clarke are up in the 6-7-8 spots for the Lady Vols.

Gibson lines into double play

Tennessee’s McKenna Gibson rips a line straight to UCLA’s Jordan Woolery, who turns the double play and catches Pannell at second to end the inning. Incredible play to extend the game with momentum on Tennessee’s side.

UCLA intentionally walks Sophia Nugent

The Bruins want none of Nugent, and intentionally walk her to put runners on first and second.

Taylor Pannell fouls, then walks

Tennessee’s Pannell nearly walks off UCLA, but her would-be homer goes foul. She walks on a full count and advances to second off an Ella Dodge sac bunt. Vols have one out and a runner in scoring position.

End of seventh inning: Tennessee 4, UCLA 4

Alexis Ramirez grounds out to end seventh inning

Alexis Ramirez grounds out to end the inning. We are headed to the bottom of the seventh inning in a 4-4 tie. The Lady Vols can walk it off with a run.

Tennessee files protest

Tennessee coach Karen Weekly has filed for a protest following the unsuccessful challenge. According to the ABC broadcast, the Lady Vols cannot file a protest because the play was not reviewable.

Calling on the field is upheld

The home run stands and it is a tie ball game. After a lengthy review, it’s ruled the call is upheld.

‘The runner missed home plate and was assisted. However, that play is not reviewable according to Appendage G,’ according to the umpires.

Tennessee challenges if Megan Grant touched home plate after home run

Tennessee is challenging if Megan Grant touched home plate after hitting her home run. It appears she missed the plate on the first look but then went back and touched the plate. But according to the rules expert, she could be called out if she received assistance from her teammate to touch home.

Megan Grant ties game with two-run home run

Down to its final out, Megan Grant takes a first pitch swing from Karlyn Pickens and knocks it out of the park to tie the game 4-4 in the top of the seventh inning.

Jordan Woolery collected a two-out single to set up the heroics from Grant.

End of sixth inning: Tennessee 4, UCLA 2

Tennessee 3 outs away from WCWS semifinal

Despite getting the lead-off hitter on via a hit-by -pitch, the Lady Vols are not able to add any insurance runs in the inning after Taylor Tinsley records three straight outs.

Karlyn Pickens and Tennessee will face the top of the UCLA order in the top of the seventh inning.

Taylor Tinsley relieves Kaitlyn Terry in circle for UCLA

Kaitlyn Terry hits Alannah Leach on an 0-2 count to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning. Taylor Tinsley will come on to relieve Terry in the circle. Terry will actually move to right field instead of being removed altogether.

Emma Clarke is up for the Lady Vols.

Tennessee challenge ends UCLA threat in sixth

Tennessee successfully challenges that Kaitlyn Terry was out of the runner’s lane, causing an error on a throw from pitcher Karlyn Pickens to the first baseman and allowing Terry to reach. That results in the third out of the inning.

UCLA would have had runners on first and third with two outs for the top of the order if the challenge had not been successful. The Bruins are down to their final three outs.

End of fifth inning: Tennessee 4, UCLA 2

Tennessee is 6 outs away from CWS semifinal appearance

Following a two-run home run from Taylor Pannell in the bottom of the fifth inning, Tennessee is ahead of UCLA 4-2. The Lady Vols need to record six more outs to get back to the WCWS semifinals vs. No. 7 Texas.

That was a good bounce back by Kaitlyn Terry to get Laura Mealer to ground out to end the inning with runners on second and third.

Taylor Pannell gives Tennessee lead with 2-run home run

Taylor Pannell takes the first pitch she sees in the bottom of the fifth inning to left field for a two-run home run to give Tennessee a 4-2 lead. The ball flies 69.5 mph off the bat. Gabby Leach had a single up the middle with one out preceding the homer.

UCLA leaves bases loaded

UCLA potentially misses out on a huge scoring opportunity. Karlyn Pickens strikes out Alexis Ramirez with the bases loaded and two outs to escape the jam and strand three runners on base. Pickens walked Megan Grant with runners on second and third to load the bases.

It was a bold move considering Ramirez went deep off Pickens earlier in the game, but it did set up a righty vs. righty situation.

End of fourth inning: Tennessee 2, UCLA 2

Kaitlyn Terry, Karlyn Pickens in pitcher’s duel

Following a fast start for both offenses, both Kaitlyn Terry and Karlyn Pickens have settled in for a pitcher’s duel.

Terry has retired seven straight batters and 10 of the last 11 she has faced since a two-RBI single by Laura Mealer in the first inning. Terry has six strikeouts and one walk (an intentional walk) in four innings of work.

Meanwhile, Pickens has five strikeouts and two walks in her four innings. Sofia Mujica’s home run in the second inning was the last hit she allowed.

End of third inning: Tennessee 2, UCLA 2

Kaitlyn Terry strikes out pair in 1-2-3 third inning

Kaitlyn Terry strikes out Sophia Nugent and McKenna Gibson back-to-back in a 1-2-3 bottom of the third inning. Terry has retired four straight batters and seven of the last eight hitters since the Laura Mealer two-RBI single in the first inning.

Alexis Ramirez, who hit a solo home run in the second inning, leads off the fourth for the Bruins.

Karlyn Pickens bounce back in third inning

A nice bounce back inning for Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens after allowing two home runs in the second inning. Pickens works around a one-out walk to Jordan Woolery for a scoreless third inning.

End of second inning: Tennessee 2, UCLA 2

Sofia Mujica ties game with home run

Freshman DP Sofia Mujica takes another high riseball and hits it over the center field wall to tie the game at 2-2 with a home run. This is the first time Karlyn Pickens has allowed two home runs in an inning this season.

Alexis Ramirez hits home run for UCLA

Alexis Ramirez takes a riseball from Karlyn Pickens and drives it out to left field for a solo home run to get one run back for the Bruins.

End of first inning: Tennessee 2, UCLA 0

Tennessee strikes first vs UCLA

Tennessee’s offense strikes first off a two-RBI single by Laura Mealer with the bases loaded and two outs. UCLA opted to walk McKenna Gibson with two runners in scoring position.

Taylor Pannell and Ella Dodge had back-to-back singles with one out and advanced to scoring position on a flyball to center field, in which outfielders Jessica Clements and Liesl Osteen nearly collided.

Laura Mealer gives Tennessee early lead

Laura Mealer makes UCLA pay for walking McKenna Gibson to load the bases. With two outs, she hits a two-RBI single to center field.

Infield flyball rule ends UCLA inning with double play

UCLA’s Jessica Clements had a leadoff single, and Jordan Woolery added a one-out single, but the UCLA threat ends due to the infield fly rule. Megan Grant popped out behind short, but Laura Mealer struggled with the sun and dropped the ball. The umpire called it an infield fly, which means the batter is out and runners can advance at their own risk.

Tennessee center fielder Kinsey Fiedler threw out Clements trying to advance to third base for the third out.

Tennessee-UCLA WCWS matchup underway

Karlyn Pickens fires the first pitch of the Tennessee-UCLA matchup for a strike and we are underway here at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.

Pregame

UCLA-Tennessee first pitch is set for 2:15 p.m.

UCLA will bat first, serving as the designated away team. That means the Bruins will begin the game at the plate against Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens.

First pitch is scheduled for 2:15 p.m.

Tennessee starting lineup

Here’s a look at the Lady Vols’ starting lineup for today’s elimination game against UCLA:

Gabby Leach, RF
Taylor Pannell, 3B
Ella Dodge, 2B
Sophia Nugent, C
McKenna Gibson, 1B
Laura Mealer, SS
Alannah Leach, LF
Emma Clarke, DP
Kinsey Fielder, CF

Starting pitcher: Karlyn Pickens

UCLA starting lineup

Here’s a look at the Bruins’ starting lineup for today’s elimination game against Tennessee:

Jessica Clements, CF
Savannah Pola, 2B
Jordan Woolery, 3B
Megan Grant, 1B
Alexis Ramirez, C
Rylee Slimp, LF
Kaniya Bragg, SS
Sofia Mujica, DP
Kaitlyn Terry, P
Liesel Osteen, RF*

* Won’t be in the batting lineup.

Karlyn Pickens’ tournament stats

Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens has been in top form in the NCAA softball tournament, allowing 10 earned runs on 23 hits in 37 1/3 innings of work to go along with 59 strikeouts and 13 walks.

Pickens lasted just one inning against Florida in her last outing, being relieved after the Lady Vols built up a 7-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

UCLA defeated Tennessee in an early-season tournament game

The Bruins earned a 4-3 win over the Vols in the most recent meeting in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, California on Feb. 22. Tennessee scored three first inning runs and held the lead into the fifth inning.

Karlyn Pickens limited the Bruins’ offense until the fifth inning when they loaded the bases against her. Karen Weekly pulled Pickens for Sage Mardjetko, who allowed all four runs to score, including a three-run homer by Jordan Woolery to give UCLA the lead.

UCLA vs Tennessee softball history

UCLA leads the all-time series against Tennessee softball 10-4. The Bruins have won four in a row against the Lady Vols. They have split their two previous matchups in the WCWS: The Lady Vols defeated the Bruins 4-3 in 2006, while UCLA earned a 3-1 win in 2005.

What time does UCLA vs Tennessee softball start?

Date: Sunday, June 1
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Where: Devon Park (Oklahoma City)

First pitch for UCLA and Tennessee’s softball game in the 2025 Women’s College World Series is set for 3 p.m. ET from Devon Park in Oklahoma City on June 1.

What TV channel is UCLA vs Tennessee softball WCWS game today?

TV: ABC
Streaming: ESPN app | ESPN+

Sunday’s WCWS elimination game between UCLA and Tennessee will air on ESPN. Beth Mowins, Michele Smith and Jessica Mendoza will have the call, while Holly Rowe serves as the sideline reporter.

Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app, which requires a valid cable login to access, and ESPN+, the latter of which serves as ESPN’s subscription streaming service.

UCLA softball schedule 2025

Below is UCLA softball’s postseason schedule. For the Bruins’ full schedule, click here.

Los Angeles Regional

Friday, May 16: No. 9 UCLA 9, UC Santa Barbara 1 (6 innings)
Saturday, May 17: No. 9 UCLA 10, San Diego State 0 (6 innings)
Sunday, May 18: No. 9 UCLA 12, UC Santa Barbara 1 (5 innings)

Columbia Super Regional

Friday, May 23: No. 8 South Carolina 9, No. 9 UCLA 2
Saturday, May 24: No. 9 UCLA 5, No. 8 South Carolina 4
Sunday, May 25: No. 9 UCLA 5, No. 8 South Carolina 0

WCWS

Thursday, May 29: No. 9 UCLA 4, No. 16 Oregon 2
Saturday, May 31: No. 12 Texas Tech 3, No. 9 UCLA 1
Sunday, June 1: No. 9 UCLA vs. No. 7 Tennessee (3 p.m. ET)

Tennessee softball schedule 2025

Below is Tennessee softball’s postseason schedule. For the Lady Vols’ full schedule, click here.

Knoxville Regional

Friday, May 16: No. 7 Tennessee 17, Miami (Ohio) 0 (5 innings)
Saturday, May 17: No. 7 Tennessee 4, Ohio State 2
Sunday, May 18: No. 7 Tennessee 5, Ohio State 0

Knoxville Super Regional

Friday, May 23: Nebraska 5, No. 7 Tennessee 2
Saturday, May 24: No. 7 Tennessee 3, Nebraska 2
Sunday, May 25: No. 7 Tennessee 1, Nebraska 0

WCWS

Thursday, May 29: No. 2 Oklahoma 4, No. 7 Tennessee 2
Friday, May 30: No. 7 Tennessee 11, No. 3 Florida (5 innings)
Sunday, June 1: No. 7 Tennessee vs. UCLA (3 p.m. ET)

WCWS schedule

Women’s College World Series: May 29-June 5/6
WCWS finals: June 4-5/6

The Women’s College World Series began May 29 and will run through either June 5 or June 6. The WCWS three-game championship series will begin on June 4 and end on June 5 or 6, depending on whether the series concludes in two or three games.