EMCH NOT ON U.S. ROSTER

COLUMBUS — Crestview High School graduate and University of Pittsburgh sophomore Abbey Emch did not make the roster for the U.S. women’s U21 national volleyball team as it begins play in the Pan American Cup starting today at the Covelli Center on the campus of Ohio State University.

A total of 14 players were chosen from the 20 that tried out. Emch was a late addition to the tryout as an injury replacement. She is listed as an alternate for this tournament but was expected to return back to Pittsburgh to resume training for the collegiate season.

The Pitt volleyball season opens with a Blue and Gold scrimmage on Aug. 8.

AMERICANS AT TOP

(AP) — The U.S. match against Bosnia-Herzegovina at the World Cup was viewed by nearly 26.4 million people, making it the most-watched English-language soccer telecast in the country’s history, Fox said Monday.

The U.S. beat Bosnia 2-0 on Wednesday night in the first round of the knockout stage to reach the round of 16.

Fox says its audience peaked at over 34.8 million between 9:45 p.m. and 10 p.m. EDT. Kansas City, Missouri; Boston; St. Louis; San Francisco; and Austin, Texas, were the top local markets.

It was the most-watched program on any network since the Super Bowl on Feb. 8 between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots.

BRITISH WILD CARD

LONDON (AP) — Arthur Fery used to come to Wimbledon when he was a kid to watch Roger Federer on Centre Court.

He grew up only five minutes away from the All England Club.

On Monday, the tables were turned when Federer was in attendance watching Fery on the sport’s most famous court as he became the first British wild card to reach the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam in the professional era (since 1968).

Fery beat fellow wild Grigor Dimitrov — a former top-five player — 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7).

When it was over Fery, dropped his racket to the grass and held his hands up in disbelief.

“We’ve got probably the greatest of all time watching in the front row over there,” Fery said, nodding in Federer’s direction. “And now playing here in front of all you guys, having the support and winning, it’s unbelievable.”

Fery’s quarterfinal opponent will be Flavio Cobolli, who beat Alex de Minaur.

FEDERER’S MOMENT

LONDON (AP) — Roger Federer was back at Wimbledon on Monday on the 18th anniversary of his memorable five-set loss to rival Rafael Nadal in the 2008 final.

Wearing a brown double-breasted suit, Federer — the record eight-time men’s singles champion at the grass-court Grand Slam — was a guest in the Royal Box for fourth-round matches.

Federer sat in the front row for the Centre Court match featuring rising player Alexandra Eala of the Philippines against 2024 finalist Jasmine Paolini. Up next, it was Grigor Dimitrov against fellow wild card Arthur Fery, who grew up just beyond the All England Club’s gates, and French Open champion Alexander Zverev against Jiri Lehecka.

When the Zverev-Lehecka match started near 9 p.m., Federer was briefly by himself in the Royal Box.

Nadal beat Federer 9-7 in the fifth set of the 2008 final, which is considered one of the most memorable matches in tennis. The defeat prevented Federer from becoming the first man since the 1880s to win a sixth consecutive championship at Wimbledon.

The 2008 final was played on July 6, which was also the date Federer won his first Wimbledon title in 2003 by beating Mark Philippoussis.

Federer, who won the last of his Wimbledon titles in 2017, retired in 2022.

Next month, he will be enshrined into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

CARRASCO DESIGNATED

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves placed left-hander Martín Pérez on the 15-day injured list on Monday with a left forearm contusion.

Pérez was hit by Juan Soto’s line drive in Sunday’s 10-9 loss to the New York Mets and left the game. Afterward, Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said X-rays were negative.

Pérez (6-6) allowed six hits and five runs, four earned, in 4 1/3 innings. He has a 3.54 ERA in 18 games, including 14 starts.

Right-hander Carlos Carrasco was designated for assignment after allowing five runs on five hits in two innings on Sunday.

The Braves recalled right-hander JR Ritchie from Triple-A Gwinnett and called up right-hander Owen Murphy, who has pitched for Gwinnett and Double-A Columbus this season. Murphy would make his major league debut if used in a game.

The Mets also made a move before Monday night’s game at the Braves, acquiring right-hander Matt Seelinger from the Detroit Tigers for cash. Seelinger, 31, was drafted by Pittsburgh in 2017. He had a 3.89 ERA and one save in 27 games with Triple-A Toledo this season and has never pitched in the majors.

NATS KNOCK ON WOOD

WASHINGTON (AP) — James Wood hit a grand slam in the fifth inning and the Washington Nationals overcame a five-run deficit and held off the Houston Astros 12-11 in the opener of a three-game series Monday night.

CJ Abrams and Curtis Mead each homered and drove in three runs as part of three-hit games for Washington. Nasim Nuñez also had three hits and his major league-leading 33rd stolen base.

Jose Altuve, Yainer Diaz and Brice Matthews homered for Houston.

Mead led off the fifth with a go-ahead home run for the Nationals, who then loaded the bases to chase Astros starter Mike Burrows (4-9). Drew Millas hit a sacrifice fly off AJ Blubaugh before Nuñez’s infield single loaded the bases again. Wood then launched a 446-foot blast to center for his second grand slam of the season.

Houston scored four runs in the eighth off reliever Cole Henry to pull within 12-11, a rally capped by Matthews’ three-run shot to left.

Burrows surrendered 10 runs — seven earned — in 4 1/3 innings. It was the most runs allowed by an Astros pitcher since J.P. France gave up 10 to Boston on Aug. 24, 2023.

Major League Baseball reduced Washington pitcher Cade Cavalli’s suspension for his role in a June 30 brawl at Boston from seven games to five. He began serving the suspension Monday.