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5 players, $1.1 billion: NBA free agency starts with a bang

NEW YORK: The NBA generated more basketball-related income than ever this past season, the total number coming up just short of $9 billion.

Rafael Nadal taking extra care with COVID scare at Wimbledon

Rafael Nadal is not taking any chances with COVID-19 and staying indoors when he is not on court, the Spaniard said on Thursday with three big names in the men's singles draw having pulled out of Wimbledon after contracting the virus. Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut joined Croatian Marin Cilic, the former U.S. Open champion and 2017 Wimbledon runner-up, and Italian eighth seed Matteo Berrettini, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2021 final, in withdrawing from the Grand Slam. Nadal, who tested positive for coronavirus at the end of last year, said he was taking extra precautions. "No, no, no paranoia at all. Reality," he told reporters after reaching the third round with a 6-4 6-4 4-6 6-3 victory over Ricardas Berankis on Thursday. "That's the thing. A good friend of mine today had to pull out, Roberto Bautista, with another case. When this kind of stuff happens it's because probably a lot of cases are around."

Novak Djokovic Eyes Wimbledon Last 16 As John Isner Targets Aces Record

Novak Djokovic faces fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic for a place in the Wimbledon last 16 on Friday as John Isner targets becoming the sport's king of aces. Kecmanovic, 22, has lost both his previous two meetings against the man he describes as his "idol". However, with 2002 Wimbledon runner-up David Nalbandian in his coaching team, he is enjoying a breakout season. Kecmanovic enjoyed career-best runs to the last 16 at the Australian Open and third round at Roland Garros. He has also broken into the top 30 for the first time.