Eala and Osaka’s Wimbledon Upsets, Sudo Retains Belt, MLB All-Star Watch

As Naomi Osaka and Alexandra Eala thrill fans on the grass courts, Shohei Ohtani leads All-Star voting and Miki Sudo captures another victory. At Wimbledon, London’s pristine grass courts have once again become the stage for elite women’s singles underdog performances.  Filipino rising star Alexandra Eala captivated fans by upsetting #3 seed Iga Swiatek in a hard-fought third-round clash, a stunning feat reminiscent of her victory over the same opponent at last year’s Miami Open.  Though Eala’s magical run ended in the subsequent round against Jasmine Paolini, the upset signaled that the 21-year-old is primed to continue her ascent.  Four-time major winner Naomi Osaka stunned the #1 seed Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round – securing her first victory over the powerhouse in eight years – en route to her first-ever Wimbledon quarterfinal.  She is joined in the final eight by Korean American Jessica Pegula, who, riding the momentum of two singles titles this year, remains in pursuit of her first major championship. Back in the States, tradition met dominance once again on the Fourth of July.  Japanese American competitive eating legend Miki Sudo asserted her supremacy at the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, claiming her 12th consecutive title in the women’s division by consuming 38.75 hot dogs in 10 minutes, further cementing her legendary status in Coney Island. Lineups for this year’sMLB All-Star Game – on July 14th in Philadelphia – were just announced. To no one’s surprise, Shohei Ohtani led the league in All-Star voting as a designated hitter with over 3.3 million votes.  No word yet on whether he will participate in the Home Run Derby. The roster selection process did spark some controversy.  Chicago White Sox rookie sensation Munetaka Murakami was notably excluded from the All-Star squad, despite a blistering start that saw him blast 20 home runs in just 57 games.  A hamstring injury has sidelined the slugger for five weeks, likely costing him an All-Star nod.  Murakami is set to begin his rehab assignment on Monday with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights; possibly returning before the midsummer break.