Sinner beats Djokovic to set up final against defending champion Alcaraz

PARIS >> After beating top-ranked Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (3) in the French Open semifinals on Friday, Jannik Sinner must find a way past defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the final.

Sinner has not dropped a set en route to his first final at Roland-Garros, but Alcaraz has won their last four meetings and leads him 7-4 overall. Sinner is aiming for his fourth major title and Alcaraz his fifth.

“We try to push ourself in the best possible way,” Sinner said. “And the stage, it doesn’t get any bigger now.”

Djokovic is the men’s record 24-time Grand Slam champion but could not counter Sinner’s relentless accuracy and pounding forehands on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

“I tried to stay there mentally, trying to play every point in the right way with the good intensity,” Sinner said. “You have to be ready to counterattack. That’s why it’s very important to be focused, no? Because if you sleep, then the match is gone.”

Sinner became the second Italian man to reach the final at Roland-Garros in the Open era, which began in 1968, after Adriano Panatta, the 1976 champion.

All-Star Corbin Burnes set for Tommy John surgery, ending his 1st season in Arizona

CINCINNATI >> All-Star right-hander Corbin Burnes of the Arizona Diamondbacks is set to undergo Tommy John elbow surgery, ending his season early in the first year of a $210 million, six-year contract that’s the richest in team history.

Manager Torey Lovullo said Friday the decision was made with “a lot of people weighing in.” Lovullo said the surgery probably would be scheduled for next week with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the team physician of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The announcement came three days after the Diamondbacks put Burnes on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.

The 30-year-old left his most recent start with Arizona leading 3-0 in the top of the fifth inning Sunday. After Burnes allowed a single by Washington’s CJ Abrams with two outs, he gestured toward the dugout with his glove and yelled in frustration.

Burnes allowed a run and four hits in 4 2/3 innings in the Diamondbacks’ 3-1 victory. He is 3-2 with a 2.66 ERA in 11 starts this season.

After the game, Burnes said he felt tightness in the elbow while getting the first two hitters out in the fifth.

Beckham to be awarded a knighthood by King Charles, according to media reports

LONDON >> David Beckham, the former England soccer captain who has been an ambassador for the U.N. children’s fund for two decades, is to receive a knighthood in next week’s honors list from King Charles III, according to U.K. media reports Friday.

Without citing sources, the BBC said Beckham is set to receive further recognition both for his soccer career, and his contributions to British society.

The knighthood will make Beckham “Sir David” while his wife since 1999, former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, will become “Lady Beckham.” In 2003, Beckham was awarded the Order of the British Empire, or OBE, for services to soccer. Victoria Beckham got the same honor for services to the fashion industry in a later New Year Honours list.

Honors are awarded twice a year, once at New Year’s, and then in June to mark the king’s birthday. They are mostly made on the recommendation of the government, though the monarch has input too.

— The Associated Press

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office would not confirm the press reports, as is custom. Buckingham Palace declined to comment. The Associated Press has not been able to independently confirm the award of the knighthood, which was first reported in The Sun tabloid newspaper.

In video footage published by The Sun from the Chelsea Flower Show earlier this month, the king is seen asking Beckham if he “received his 50th birthday present.” The King appeared to say “I’m glad it got to you,” with Beckham responding: “It was incredible, thank you, it was very kind.”