Wimbledon 2025: Emma Raducanu to face Mimi Xu in first round as British women handed nightmare draws
Should Raducanu get through that, it will be an extremely tough second-round test, with either 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova or McCartney Kessler, who won the Nottingham Open last week, waiting for the winner.
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The Independent
13 minutes ago
- The Independent
Jannik Sinner won't say why he fired two team members right before Wimbledon
Jannik Sinner confirmed that he recently fired two members of his team — fitness coach Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio, who themselves were replacements for people involved in the player's doping case — but declined Saturday to explain the reason for the change ahead of Wimbledon. Sinner, who has been ranked No. 1 for more than a year, said that he decided shortly after losing in the second round of the grass-court tournament in Halle, Germany, this month to make the change. Sinner has not yet found substitutes for Panichi and Badio, who both used to work with Novak Djokovic. 'Nothing seriously bad happened. They did great work for (the past) three months. Sometimes, things happen,' Sinner said at his pre-tournament news conference. 'The timing obviously isn't the best, but having done a lot of work (together) before, it won't affect this Grand Slam a lot. I feel well physically and mentally and ready to compete.' Play begins Monday at the All England Club, where Sinner was a quarterfinalist in 2024. He will play Luca Nardi in an all- Italian matchup on Tuesday. Last year, Sinner tested positive twice for a trace amount of an anabolic steroid in March; the case wasn't made public until August, shortly before the U.S. Open, which he ended up winning for the second of his three Grand Slam titles. He initially was completely cleared, based on the defense that he accidentally was exposed to the banned substance, Clostebol, via a massage from his then-physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi. Sinner said his fitness trainer at the time, Umberto Ferrara, purchased a product in Italy and gave it to Naldi for a cut on Naldi's finger. Naldi then treated Sinner while not wearing gloves. The World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the exoneration, and Sinner agreed to serve a three-month ban that ended right before the Italian Open in May. On Saturday, Sinner was asked repeatedly in English and Italian what led him to part ways with Panichi and Badio. 'There's not one specific thing,' Sinner said. He was the runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz at the French Open three weeks ago, wasting a two-set lead and three match points in a final that lasted 5 1/2 hours. As for adding new team members, Sinner said Saturday: 'I haven't thought about replacements. It's not the time to think about my options. But there are a lot of options.' ___ Howard Fendrich has been the AP's tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: More AP tennis:
Daily Mirror
20 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Wimbledon release statement with tournament ready to implement new rule
Wimbledon 2025 begins on Monday, June 30, when thousands of tennis fans will descend on SW19 in sweltering temperatures caused by the second heatwave of the summer Wimbledon is likely to see a little-used rule implemented this year, with London experiencing its second heatwave of the summer. Amber weather alerts are in place for much of England and the Met Office is forecasting temperatures to reach 34 or 35 degrees in London on Monday, making it the hottest day of the year so far. The All England Club is more used to dealing with rain at Wimbledon, but is prepared for the sweltering heat. The first two days of the Grand Slam are forecast to be the hottest of the two-week tournament – and records could be broken. The Met Office says the hottest day recorded during the Wimbledon fortnight came on July 1 in 2015, when temperatures soared to 35.7°C at nearby Kew Gardens. That year, a ball boy collapsed in the heat and Bernard Tomic required medical attention after suffering from dizziness. Wimbledon will take precautions this year, with 10-minute breaks set to be used when temperatures are over 30.1°C. "Adverse weather is a key consideration in our planning for The Championships, and we are prepared for the predicted hot weather, with comprehensive plans in place for guests, players, staff and the BBGs," the All England Club said in a statement. Championships referee Denise Parnell explained: 'The heat rule will apply to all singles events at the Qualifying and Main Draw for The Championships 2025. These are the Gentlemen's Singles, Ladies' Singles, Boys' Singles, Girls' Singles, Gentlemen's Wheelchair Singles, Ladies' Wheelchair Singles, and Quad Wheelchair Singles. 'It allows a 10-minute break when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is at or above 30.1 degrees Celsius. It applies to all matches including those which have already started. Only one of the players participating in the match needs to request the break for the rule to be implemented. 'The rule will apply after the second set for all best of three set matches, and after the third for all best of five set matches. Players may leave the court during the break, but they may not receive coaching or medical treatment. 'The heat index is a measure, which factors together the air temperature, the humidity and the surface temperature and is measured by a heat stress monitor. The WBGT readings are taken 30 minutes prior to the start of play and then at 14.00 and 17.00. 'If there is a change in weather conditions and the rule is lifted, those matches already in progress will be completed with the rule in place. 'The heat rule will not apply to matches played under the roofs. In addition, if a match is carried over to a following day when the heat rule is in place, then it will not apply to any best of three set match that has completed one set, or to any best of five set match that has completed two sets.'
BBC News
32 minutes ago
- BBC News
'I completely lost it in Paris - the lesson is learned'
Aryna Sabalenka is the world number one and serial Grand Slam finalist who by her own admission can "lose control" of her emotions when the biggest prizes in tennis are on the therefore presents Sabalenka not only with an opportunity to chase a fourth Grand Slam title, but also the chance to turn a humbling experience into a turning 27-year-old has reached the Australian Open and French Open finals this year but has lost both title matches, and after falling to defeat by Coco Gauff in Paris three weeks ago she spoke in unflattering terms about her conqueror that she later acknowledged had been "completely unprofessional".Her immediate verdict was that Gauff was able to win "not because she played incredible" but because of Sabalenka's own misses from "easy balls".Sabalenka labelled her own performance "just a joke" and said of Gauff: "Honestly, sometimes it felt like she was hitting the ball from the frame. Somehow magically the ball lands in the court, and you are kind of on the back foot."The comments were widely seen as not giving Gauff sufficient credit for the American's second Grand Slam title - and the second to come at Sabalenka's expense, after their 2023 US Open final also went Gauff's way.A statement and a written apology to Gauff followed, and look to have done the trick. If there was ever any tension between the pair, it was not evident in the lead-up to Wimbledon as they performed a TikTok dance together on Centre Court. "I've always been really good with Coco," Sabalenka said."I didn't really want to offend her. I was just completely upset with myself, and emotions got over me. I just completely lost it."I did what I did. I get what I deserve, I believe. It was a tough time for me. The lesson is learned."This time the emotions took over me. In the finals or semi-finals, sometimes I can get over-emotional. I would like to improve that."I would like to stay to the same mentality I have during the tournament, because I believe I get over-emotional at the last stages of the tournaments because I have this desire of winning."Sabalenka is a long way clear of the field in the WTA rankings, but she has lost four of her past six finals. She has not yet won Wimbledon and starts this year against Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine."Honestly, I'm kind of glad what happened to me at Paris, because I was able to learn a lot," said Sabalenka. "I was able to sit back and be open to myself, not just to ignore some things. I really hope it will never happen again."She said she would "love to face" Gauff in the Wimbledon final. They are the number one and two seeds so cannot meet until then. Gauff holds a 6-5 advantage in their career head-to-head record."If she's going to be there, I'm happy because I want to get the revenge," Sabalenka added. 'Things happen when blood is running hot - it's not easy to suppress' Switching emotional gears is a major challenge for sporting rivals, particularly when the stakes are Djokovic has become expert in handling the biggest occasions, and even in defeat he usually finds the right it was not something that necessarily came easily to the 24-time Grand Slam therefore understands how difficult it might be for Sabalenka to find composure when the adrenaline has been pumping."We are all human beings that have difficult emotions that they have to handle right after they lost a big match," Djokovic said."Grand Slam finals, for example, as she did against Coco. Things happen when you're so heightened with emotions, your blood is running hot."It's not always easy to suppress that and put diplomacy ahead, even though I feel like it's important to pay respect and acknowledge the success of your opponent that just beat you."Sabalenka tapped up Djokovic for pre-tournament support after a practice session."It's amazing to hear opinions of such a legend," Sabalenka said. "We were just chatting about stuff that I'm struggling with a little bit. I'm really thankful for the advice he gave me."
