Griekspoor triumphs in Mallorca with Wimbledon looming
SANTA PONSA, Spain, June 28 (Reuters) - Tallon Griekspoor won his third career title on Saturday, defeating Corentin Moutet 7-5 7-6(3) in the final of the ATP 250 Mallorca Championships.
The 28-year-old Dutchman needed nearly two hours to prevail on the grass courts in warm weather at Santa Ponsa, near Palma, the capital of the Balearic Islands.
Frenchman Moutet carved out several break chances and managed to capitalise on key moments in the opening set, but it still was not enough to shift the momentum his way as Griekspoor held his nerve and good volley game to seal the win.
For 26-year-old Moutet, the frustration was visible as he fell short in a second career final, having also lost against Andrey Rublev in Doha back in 2020.
Griekspoor, making his return from an injury that had forced him to withdraw from his fourth-round clash with Alexander Zverev at the French Open, made a strong statement ahead of Wimbledon, showcasing his form on grass.
The Wimbledon tournament starts on Monday and will run to July 13.
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Daily Mirror
39 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
McEnroe's verbals, Cliff Richard and Andy Murray - 10 iconic Wimbledon moments
Ahead of the most recent round of Pimm's and strawberries and cream, we pick out some of the most memorable Wimbledon moments from down the years Wimbledon is back for another year of thrills, spills and exhilarating tennis. As one of the most prestigious events in the British sporting calendar, Wimbledon has played host to countless iconic moments on and off court. Ahead of the latest fortnight of action from SW19, we've narrowed them down to 10 of the best from down the years... Virginia Wade, 1977 The Queen was not known for her love of tennis but in her Silver Jubilee year, she made a rare visit to Centre Court and watched as Virginia Wade made history. The 32-year-old was a two-time major winner but Wimbledon was a nut she just couldn't crack, with four quarter-final and two semi-final exits along the way – sound familiar? Yet it all came together in 1977, a summer of street parties, bunting and patriotism. She beat Bette Stover to become champion and remains the last British winner of the Venus Rosewater Dish. John McEnroe, 1981 If you asked people to deliver the most famous quote in tennis, it would likely be John McEnroe's words they use. The words conjure up an image too: a mess of curls, sweat band around his head, short shorts, wooden racket, and visible, seething anger. McEnroe was serving to Tom Gullikson in a first-round encounter in 1981 when his serve was called out. 'You can't be serious man. You cannot be serious. That ball was on the line, chalk flew up, it was clearly in. How can you possible call it out?' And so on and so on, with McEnroe barely composing himself before double faulting. The American eventually won the match and the men's singles title for the first time. Pat Cash, 1987 It's got a name and a handy gate now but when Pat Cash clambered up to the player's box on Centre Court, he was the first to complete the 'Champions Climb' The Australian had reached new heights with a first Grand Slam victory but decided he wanted to go even higher after defeating Ivan Lendl 7-6 6-2 7-5 in the men's singles final. After jumping into the stands, Cash worked his way to the commentary box, giving it a tap to check its sturdiness before clambering up onto its roof and then into the arms of his father. Since then, many a champion have recreated the move, but he will always be the first to do it. Martina Navratilova, 1990 One of the best to ever do it, Martina Navratilova broke more records than you can keep track of. But the one that really mattered to her was a ninth Wimbledon title as she took the outright record for women's singles wins. 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Cliff Richard, 1996 Rain stopping play is not a remarkable occurrence at Wimbledon but being serenaded by Cliff Richard and 'the Racquettes' is. When the men's quarter-finals were halted in 1996, the microphone was handed to Sir Cliff by Wimbledon officials and the popstar duly entertained. Beginning slightly ironically with Summer Holiday, Richard went through a string of hits with the likes of Pam Shriver, Virginia Wade and Martina Navratilova on backing vocals. After 20 minutes of songs including Living Doll and Congratulations the rain cleared and the real entertainment could begin. Richard returned in 2022 to sing again, but let's just say the feedback was less positive this time. Steffi Graf, 1996 There must have been something about the audiences at Wimbledon in 1996 with another iconic moment coming from that year. This time it is with Steffi Graf, the seven-time women's singles winner as she claimed her final title. Graf was facing Kimiko Date in the semi-finals, and was just preparing to serve when a voice from the crowd shouted 'Steffi, will you marry me?' The German allowed herself a laugh before she responded to the proposal with a question of her own. 'How much money do you have?' was her reply, and it must not have been enough with Graf going on to marry fellow tennis player Andre Agassi. Venus Williams, 2000 The turn of the millennium was a time of predictions of what a new era would look like, but no one could have imagined what was about to happen to women's tennis. Venus Williams reached her first Grand Slam singles final in 1997 with sister Serena winning her first Grand Slam two years later. But it was in 2000 when the signs of what to come first became clear. Venus was taking on fellow American Lindsey Davenport in her first Wimbledon final, clinching the trophy in a second set tie break. 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Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
How to master the unofficial dress code for Wimbledon
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You could honour the official colours of Wimbledon – green and purple – à la the Princess of Wales, who's worn a regal Safiyaa London dress, a zesty lime Self Portrait number and a mint-green Balmain blazer in previous years. Helen Mirren, meanwhile, went for a forest-green midi and silver brogues last year. If you want to add a colourful spin but don't want to commit to full-on blocking, a bright and bold accessory can do the trick nicely; for an infinitely uplifting investment option, turn to the queen of playful bags, Lulu Guinness. The final category to consider when dressing for Wimbledon is prints. Pippa Middleton made the case for pretty florals last year in a Beulah London dress, proving that this will always be a fail-safe option. But this year, there's likely to be an influx of another pattern currently enjoying a moment in the spotlight: polka-dots. These have an enduring legacy at Wimbledon; the Princess of Wales wore them consecutively in 2017 and 2018, while two stars got the look spot on last year – Margot Robbie in head-to-toe Alaïa and Sienna Miller in a cropped shirt and pleated skirt set by Prada. For those looking to put their spin on the trend, there are a host of dotty options out there on the high street at the moment. Just add sunglasses, strawberries and – knowing the great British weather – a lightweight waterproof. Get the look…
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Welsh tennis ace now mega rich with own yacht business after famous win over Wimbledon star
Welsh tennis ace now mega rich with own yacht business after famous win over Wimbledon star Welsh star Ian Flanagan was once hailed as one of the UK's brightest tennis players, yet after injury curtailed his career at just 22 he has built a business that is on its way to being worth £1billion Ian Flanagan beat Mark Philippoussis in 2004 (Image: Getty ) Ian Flanagan, once a rising star in British tennis, is now at the head a burgeoning business with a projected value of £800million. Originating from Graianrhyd, Wales, his potential as a future Grand Slam contender was cut short by injuries at 22. Flanagan has since founded a Manchester-based yacht accounting software firm. His enterprise, Voly, started in 2016 and is renowned as a financial management solution for superyacht owners, but Flanagan's career trajectory could have diverged significantly. He was a junior tennis prodigy at age 15, with his gold medal victory at the Youth Olympics in 1996 cemented his budding status. Yet it was his upset over Wimbledon 2003 finalist, Mark Philippoussis, at Queen's Club in 2004 that truly put the limelight on Flanagan. The now 43-year-old has recently shared insights about his transition from tennis professional to a high-flying business guru, reports the Express. "I got injured and had to stop, but I'd always been somewhat entrepreneurial," he told Insider recently. "Even as a kid, I loved figuring out ways to make money." Today, Voly stands distinct as a robust brand, and what began as an eight-person team has expanded to a workforce of 130, addressing clients globally. Flanagan's current ambition is directed towards propelling Voly to the prestigious £1billion mark. Article continues below He explained the origins of his enterprise, adding: "We recognised a gap in the market to professionalise yacht management, knowing that while captains are experts at navigation, they aren't CFOs or finance directors." Despite beating ex-Romanian star Victor Hanescu, after the huge victory over Philippoussis, Flanagan was sensationally denied a wildcard into Wimbledon in 2004. "It was unbelievable that I didn't get a Wimbledon wildcard. The LTA [Lawn Tennis Association] need to take a good hard look at themselves,' he told the BBC at the time. Flanagan made a splash early on in his tennis career (Image: Getty ) Nevertheless, Flanagan has come to view his past achievements with a sense of fulfillment, acknowledging that he's "been there, done that." Yet he credits the traits honed on the tennis courts as the driving forces behind his current success. "The most important factor that got me here and helped me build the company is a relentless need to win," he added. "I hate losing. I don't even let my kids win when we play football, tennis, cricket, or even Dobble. The day they beat me, they'll know it's because they did it fair and square. Article continues below "That competitive streak has pushed me through setbacks like failed investments and business ventures which haven't worked out. In professional tennis, you don't win every match. You lose, lose, win, win again, lose again, then win. It's a cycle, and business is similar." And he managed to squeeze in a tennis analogy while expressing his ambition to excel in business. "If you sit back and say, 'That's a great business, I'll rest on my laurels,' you end up losing," he added. "Take Carlos Alcaraz this weekend. If he stops training for six to 12 weeks, he's not going to win Wimbledon. He won't be in shape, he won't be ready."
