Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz reach US Open semifinals; San Francisco 49ers welcome back another star player; Expert NFL predictions

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🎾 Good morning to everyone, but especially to …

FRANCES TIAFOE AND TAYLOR FRITZ

For the first time since 2009, an American man will be in a Grand Slam final. No. 20 Frances Tiafoe and No. 12 Taylor Fritz, friends and doubles partners, both sprung US Open quarterfinal upsets, and they will meet one another in the semifinal tomorrow.

• Fritz downed No. 4 Alexander Zverev, 6-7 (2-7), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3). It’s his fourth win against a top-10 opponent at a major this year, most by an American man since Andre Agassi in 1999.
• Fritz spoke with Isabel Gonzalez before the tournament. That’s a must-read, now more than ever.
• Tiafoe advanced via walkover after Grigor Dimitrov retired due to a leg injury. Tiafoe was up 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 4-1, nearing victory when play was halted.

This will be the eighth Fritz-Tiafoe meeting. Fritz has won six of the previous seven. Both players possess a big serve, and this matchup could hinge on Fritz’s. He has won 83% of his first-serve points in the tournament, best of any player, while Tiafoe leads the tournament in second-serve return points won.

On the women’s side, No. 13 Emma Navarro is into the semifinals as well after beating No. 26 Paula Badosa, 6-2, 7-5. Navarro won the final six games of the match, a stunning rally that put her in her second major semi this year.

You can follow all of our US Open coverage right here.

😃 Honorable mentions

🏈 And not such a good morning for …

EVERY TEAM HOPING THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS’ ROCKY OFFSEASON WOULD CARRY OVER

A week ago, two of the 49ers‘ best players had no plans of playing, and opponents were licking their chops at the possibility that the San Francisco machine was nearing an end.

Today, the band is back together again, and opponents are in for a world of hurt. Trent Williams agreed to a three-year, $82.66 million extension that includes $48 million at signing and a $25.69 million signing bonus, ending his hold out. It comes just days after the 49ers agreed to a four-year, $120 million extension with Brandon Aiyuk, who had been holding out.

Williams isn’t just a great left tackle. He’s a guy you can design parts of your offense around, much like Aiyuk or Christian McCaffrey (who returned to practice) or Deebo Samuel or George Kittle. Why do you think the 49ers had one of the best offenses ever — yes, ever — last year?

Let me give you some more perspective. Last year, using expected points added per play …

• With Aiyuk and Williams on the field, the 49ers’ offense was the best in the NFL. The 49ers overall led the league in this category, after all.
• With at least one off the field they were about 10th, similar to the Seahawks.
• With both off the field, they were 29th, slightly worse than the Steelers.

So, sorry, opponents. The 49ers are back and ready to dominate … again. (Though they have many more contracts to deal with soon.)

😐 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 NFL season preview: Power Rankings, Super Bowl picks and more

ONE. MORE. DAY. The NFL is back tomorrow. I don’t know whether to cry tears of joy or run a marathon off nothing but adrenaline or completely shut down until the Chiefs and Ravens kick it off tomorrow night. I think, for now, I’ll just try to do my job.

You know football is in the air when Pete Prisco’s NFL Power Rankings make their triumphant return, and here’s his top five:

1. Chiefs
2. Packers
3. 49ers
4. Bills
5. Bengals

A big reason for the Chiefs’ high ranking — other than, you know, the facts that they have Patrick Mahomes and have won two straight Super Bowls — is that they return so many proven pieces in addition to their offseason acquisitions. They came in first in Josh Edwards’ continuity rankings.

One team I think Pete has too low is the Rams (15th). They lost Aaron Donald, yes, but they still have Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay leading an offense that includes breakout star Puka Nacua and a now-healthy Cooper Kupp. That group gives the Rams a chance in any game, bar none. The non-Donald parts of the defense should be vastly improved, too.

John Breech agrees with me. In our expert bold predictions, he has the Rams winning the NFC West.

OK, now onto the biggest and boldest predictions: Super Bowl winners, playoff fields and final standings for every team. Here are some big takeaways across our panel:

• Only one team got multiple Super Bowl champion picks, and, no, it wasn’t the Chiefs.
• Three teams got division champion picks in both the AFC East and NFC South
• Eight teams were unanimous picks to make the playoffs, and 20 teams overall got at least one vote for a playoff spot.

John also has record predictions for every team and a dark horse MVP pick among his projections.

Here’s more:

🏈 College football rankings, Power Rankings, bowl projections

It’s been only one week (well, two if you count Week 0), but college football is already wild, and the most recent AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll reflect just that. But for now, I’m looking most closely at Brandon Marcello’s College Football Power Rankings, where the top five is …

1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. Texas
4. Ole Miss
5. Notre Dame

That’s a big jump for the Fighting Irish, and Brandon explained why:

• Marcello: “Everything Notre Dame hoped for came true in the opener at Texas A&M. The defense is elite, and the offense found game-changers at receiver. Riley Leonard was fantastic in his debut, too, carrying the team on the ground when required. The go-ahead touchdown drive was filled with big boy plays in front of the most hostile environment of Week 1.”

Also impressing was Miami. The Hurricanes moved all the way up to No. 4 — the final College Football Playoff bye — in Jerry Palm’s bowl projections. (And yes, there’s a long, long way to go.)

Here’s more Week 1 reaction before we move onto Week 2:

🏀 NBA’s 21 most iconic shots of 21st century

We’re in the NBA quiet time with the preseason still about a month away. It’s a perfect time for big projects and lists that are 1) deeply researched and 2) sure to generate plenty of conversation. How else do we pass all this time?

Brad Botkin has nailed both aspects with his 21 most iconic shots of the 21st century. I won’t spoil too much, but I will tell you one that holds a special place in my heart.

• Botkin: “18. LeBron works his Magic (2009) — LeBron James went wild in the 2009 Eastern Conference finals against the Magic by averaging 38.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists. It wasn’t enough as Orlando eliminated the Cavaliers in six, but LeBron still walked away with the signature shot of the series and of his young career with a buzzer-beating 3 to steal Game 2. The shot. The reaction. It’s all etched clear as day in our collective basketball memory.”

I remember going to bed before this happened (I was 12 years old and at a club soccer tournament), waking up the next morning, rushing to the hotel lobby TV and seeing dozens of other people watching the shot over and over again. When you’re 12, those kinds of moments stick with you.

If nothing else, this will send you down a YouTube rabbit hole full of fun (speaking from experience) and give you something to talk about with your NBA-loving friends. What could be better?

📺 What we’re watching Wednesday

🎾 We’re watching the US Open. Here’s how.
🏀 Sparks at Fever, 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
⚾ Guardians at Royals, 7:40 p.m. on FS1
⚾ Yankees at Rangers, 8:05 p.m. on Prime Video