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

Sinner has not dropped a set so far on the way 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.

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

Earlier Alcaraz led 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-0, 2-0 against Lorenzo Musetti when the eighth-seeded Italian retired with a leg injury.

NHL

Stars fire DeBoer after trio of West final losses

Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer has been fired after three seasons with the team, getting to the Western Conference final each time but never advancing past that for a shot at the Stanley Cup.

The move came a week after the Stars ended their season in a 6-3 loss at home to Edmonton in Game 5 of the West final.

DeBoer made the curious and much-discussed decision to bench Jake Oettinger after his star goalie gave up two goals on two shots in the first 7:09. Two days later, the coach acknowledged he still hadn’t talked to Oettinger about that decision.

MLB

Burnes to undergo Tommy John surgery

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, which is the richest deal in club history.

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

The injury will end a four-year run of All-Star appearances for Burnes.

Braves call up former All-Star closer Kimbrel

The Atlanta Braves have called up franchise career saves leader Craig Kimbrel from the minors a day after having their worst blown ninth-inning lead in more than a half-century.

The Braves selected Kimbrel from Triple-A Gwinnett and recalled left-hander Dylan Dodd before opening a road series against the San Francisco Giants.

The move comes a day after the Braves blew a 10-4 lead in the ninth inning at Arizona and lost 11-10.

Saints

Railriders hand St. Paul second straight defeat

A three-run ninth by Scranton/Wilkes-Barre put any comeback hopes the Saints may have had before falling to a second-straight defeat, 5-1, at CHS Field.

St. Paul (29-29) was held scoreless until the ninth when a solo homer from Carson McCusker ruined the Railriders’ (28-30) shutout.

golf

Champ holds Canadian Open lead into 3rd round

Masters champion Rory McIlroy tumbled out of the RBC Canadian Open with his worst round in nearly a year, with Cameron Champ taking a two-stroke lead into the weekend.

McIlroy shot an 8-under 78, making a mess of the fifth hole with a quadruple-bogey 8 in his highest score since also shooting 78 last year in the first round of the British Open. He had a double bogey on No. 11, four bogeys and two birdies.

Champ had four birdies in a 68 in the morning a day after opening with a 62. He was at 12 under, playing the first 36 holes without a bogey.

Szokol, Lee share lead at ShopRite LPGA Classic

Elizabeth Szokol birdied the first five holes and shot an 8-under 62 for a share of the first-round lead with Ilhee Lee in the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

Playing in the afternoon on Seaview’s Bay Course, Szokol followed her opening birdie run with a bogey on No. 6, then added birdies on Nos. 8, 9, 13 and 16.

College sports

Ruling paves way for athletes to cash in big

A federal judge has signed off on arguably the biggest change in the history of college sports, clearing the way for schools to begin paying their athletes millions of dollars as soon as next month.

U.S. Judge Claudia Wilken approved the final proposal that had been hung up on roster limits.

The sweeping terms of the so-called House settlement include approval for each school to share up to $20.5 million with athletes over the next year and $2.7 billion that will be paid to thousands of former players who were barred from that revenue for years.

soccer

Tottenham cuts ties with Europa-winning manager

Leading Tottenham to its first trophy in 17 years didn’t prevent Ange Postecoglou from getting fired.

The Australian coach was denied the chance to take Tottenham into the Champions League in the wake of winning the Europa League after the London club’s leadership made the baffling decision to sack him.

Despite winning the Europa title, Spurs finished 17th in the English Premier League after slogging through an injury-riddled season.

English hero Beckham to be knighted by king

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.

The BBC said Beckham is set to receive further recognition both for his soccer career, and his contributions to British society.

In 2003, Beckham was awarded the Order of the British Empire, or OBE, for services to soccer.

Briefly

USL >> The Minnesota Aurora improved to 5-0 on the season with a 2-0 defeat of visiting Sioux Falls. Kunie Hirai and Natalie Tavana scored for the hosts.

— From news services