TENNIS.com's Steve Tignor noted Sam Querrey's quarterfinal victory over Andy Murray at Wimbledon yesterday was a "breakthrough for U.S. men’s tennis." The last American male to "reach the semifinals at any Grand Slam" was Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in '09 (TENNIS.com, 7/12). Querrey said, "American tennis isn’t that bad. I know it kind of gets a bad rep. That’s just ’cause guys don’t win majors. We got four guys in the top 30, a great group of young guys" (USA TODAY, 7/13).
DOLLARS & SENSE: THE HOCKEY NEWS' Ken Campbell noted the Canadian dollar "closed on Friday at 78 cents against its American counterpart," and if the trend continues, it "would be a very, very good thing for the NHL." That is "by no means where it was five years ago," but it "represents the highest value it has had in the calendar year." The Canadian dollar could "nudge its way up to 80 cents," particularly if the Bank of Canada "increases interest rates this week." An NHL exec said, "It will make a significant difference. It wouldn’t have any effect on this season, but it could make a difference next year" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 7/10).
SUMMER IN THE CITY: NBA Las Vegas Summer League officials "expect" 120,000-130,000 fans to attend this year after "more than 100,000 fans attended" in '16. In N.Y., Kevin Draper noted market research found that 38% of attendees last year were "from Southern California."Meanwhile, ESPN said that its Summer League ratings over the first weekend were up 99% over last year. While Exec Dir Warren LeGarie and co-Founder & VP/Business Operations Albert Hall "operate the summer league through their company VSL Properties and take on the financial risk, the NBA retains the television rights" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/13).
