Former Grand Slam finalist and one half of tennis power couple looks devastated at he retires at Wimbledon
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS retired down two sets to love to French qualifier Valentin Royer.
The former world No3 was in a rotten mood throughout and pulled the plug down 6-3 6-2 due to a back issue.
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The Independent
13 minutes ago
- The Independent
Emma Raducanu books spot in Wimbledon second round with routine win over Mimi Xu
While defending champion Carlos Alcaraz became ensnared in a five-set epic against the maverick Fabio Fognini, over on Wimbledon 's second show court, another former US Open champion was showing him how first-round matches at grand slams are supposed to go. In fact, his future doubles partner: Emma Raducanu. The pair's paths have diverged quite considerably since breakout seasons as teenagers, Raducanu winning a maiden major in Flushing Meadows in 2021, Alcaraz following suit the year after. The Brit has never been able to replicate the highs of that stunning major win, but is back in the world's top 40 after a more consistent first half of the season, and back in the British No 1 spot. The opponent she faced on Monday evening at SW19 may have reminded her somewhat of herself at a younger age. 17-year-old Mimi Xu has recalled watching Raducanu's US Open win, surrounded by friends she trained with at the LTA academy in Loughborough, and cites the 22-year-old as a 'role model' for her. The Swansea teenager was awarded a wildcard into the main draw at Wimbledon this year, after a brilliant rise to the cusp of the world's top 300, including beating two top-100 players on grass this summer. Her reward was a first-round encounter with Raducanu, and primetime billing on Wimbledon's second-biggest court. It was quite the step up for someone mid-A levels, who - excellent season notwithstanding - largely competes on the ITF circuit. And initially Xu looked a little star-struck. Raducanu opted to receive first and immediately piled pressure on the teenager's serve, breaking at the first time of asking. The 22-year-old often cuts a fired-up figure on court, and Xu's quiet racquet-shakes to herself were drowned out by Raducanu's frequent shouts of 'Come on!' as she raced into the lead. But after the first couple of games whizzed by, and the crowd began to fear a whitewash, Xu seemed to let herself relax. A shout of 'Come on Britain!' offered the reminder that, with this being an all-British affair, the crowd – at least – was guaranteed to be supportive. Xu switched up her game, drawing Raducanu into the net, and after saving another break point, got herself on the board for 2-1. It was to be a fairly brief respite, as Raducanu immediately reminded Xu – and everyone watching – why this was such a lopsided match. The teenager swung for the ball on a lethal body serve and missed completely, before slipping over at the baseline chasing the ball down. Raducanu held to love and despite Xu showing glimpses of her quality – a fine forehand, easy power – she more often than not miscontrolled, and could not keep pace with the clean, destructive groundstrokes of her more experienced opponent. Another error from Xu handed over the first set, 6-3 in 37 minutes. Someone in the crowd popped a bottle of champagne behind Raducanu's seat, the cork flying over her head and landing in the service box. But the excitable punter may have been celebrating a win too early, and Raducanu would require digging into the well of that experience in a topsy-turvy second set. Xu left the court to regroup and it was clear Raducanu fancied getting through proceedings quickly, practicing serves while she waited for her to return. A swift hold to love, followed by a break of the Xu serve after a mammoth game, may have signalled the beginning of the end – but as so often with underdogs, Xu had other ideas. She began swinging freely, at the same moment as Raducanu began to falter. Three blistering aces helped the British No 1 to a 40-0 lead, before Xu fought back to deuce. A clean winner brought up break point, and the wallflower of the first set disappeared as Xu broke, gesturing to the crowd to make some noise. Thrilled at seeing the fightback, they duly obliged. Four breaks in succession meant there was little to separate the pair, but Raducanu has been here several times before, and the depth of her experience told. From 40-0 up on serve at 4-2, she was pegged back to 40-30, disrupted by a spectator's alarm repeatedly blaring. But she dug her heels in to back up her break, and did so again as she slipped to 0-30 serving for the match at 5-3. Xu shanked the ball into the net to bring up match point; a blistering serve was thumped into the tape, and that was that. There were no hugs at the net, no warm words between the apprentice and her role model, just a businesslike handshake. But Raducanu was all smiles afterwards – as well as perhaps heaving a sigh of relief at how she avoided getting entangled in a lengthy epic, Alcaraz-style. The back issue that has troubled her in recent weeks also appeared pleasingly absent. 'I'm super pleased to have come through, it's so difficult playing another Brit first up,' she said afterwards. 'I had some really good patches and I had some moments where I lost my focus. I'm really happy with how I toughed it out and won the important points today.' Tougher tests will await, but this was a good one to tick off.
The Guardian
22 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Emma Raducanu too strong for teenager Mimi Xu in British battle
'Come on Britain!' echoed through the sweltering 31C heat on No 1 Court as Emma Raducanu defeated Mimi Xu in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. The all-British clash featured two players, similarly attired in matching outfits and golf visors, who uniquely captivated the home crowd. Raducanu has been a fan favourite since her fairytale 2021 US Open triumph, while the grand slam debutant Xu, ranked world No 300, has impressed in junior circuits and shown significant promise on the senior tour. However, in their inaugural tour meeting, the gulf in class was evident from the outset. Raducanu's powerful forehands down the line, blistering serves, and astute court craft allowed her to seize control immediately. Xu's opening service game began with a double fault, foreshadowing a series of errors that led to Raducanu breaking in the very first game. A stunning ace from the more experienced player left Xu rooted to the spot, followed by a backhand winner that secured the British No 1's first service game to love, winning eight of the first nine points of the match. For the 17-year-old Xu, this match was a cascade of firsts. The Welsh player, who watched Raducanu clinch the US Open title as a 13-year-old, understandably struggled early on, exhibiting weak serves and even slipping on court twice in the fourth game. Despite an assured hold to get on the scoreboard, Xu's attempts at tricky drop shots often backfired, allowing her opponent to establish a 4-2 lead. Raducanu secured another break before a strong service game from Xu that included a scorching 116mph serve. None the less, she was consistently playing catch-up, battling hard to hold her own serve but ultimately failing to break Raducanu, and conceded the first set 6-3. The second set started as more of the same, with Raducanu asserting her authority. A backhand beyond Xu's reach and a double fault contributed to the younger Briton facing three break points. Xu saved two, including one with a service winner, and clawing her way to deuce. A well-executed smash at the net even prompted a rare moment of frustration from Raducanu. However, the fleeting momentum shifted back when Xu netted a drop shot, forced by an 80mph return from Raducanu. Back at deuce, Xu saved a fourth break point with an ace, but Raducanu responded with two formidable forehands – one down the line, one cross-court – both beyond Xu's reach, finally converting the break for a 2-0 lead. Raducanu then consolidated with three back-to-back aces in her subsequent service game with pinpoint accuracy. But against the run of play, and down 0-40, Xu remarkably broke back. She forced deuce with a forehand winner, then capitalised on a long lob from Raducanu to snatch the game. The turning point felt short-lived for a moment, with Raducanu breaking straight back before racing to a 30-0 lead on her serve again only for Xu to capitalise on a weak first serve. Xu's backhand winner claimed another break point before finishing the game on a high with a forehand high and hard across court, well out of her opponent's reach. Yet as much as Xu's confidence began to grow in the second set, Raducanu never wavered, breaking back once again with a forehand down the line to make it 4-2 and conclude five breaks of serve in a row between the two. Raducanu, seemingly wanting to wrap things up, holds with a lucky clip of the net but Xu, coming forward with confidence on new balls, managed to hold after a neat, serve-and-volley combination. The British No 1 ultimately managed to fend off the late threats and recovered from 30-0 down in the final game to serve out the match.
The Guardian
30 minutes ago
- The Guardian
From Russo to Katoto: six contenders to be top scorer at Euro 2025
Russo is coming into this tournament in the form of her career. Her 12 goals in the Women's Super League played an integral role in the Gunners' second-place finish and earned her a share of the Golden Boot, alongside Manchester City's Khadija Shaw. She was also Arsenal's top scorer in their run to securing the Champions League. Her productivity in front of goal has been the biggest improvement to her game. If Euro 2022 was Russo's breakout tournament and the 2023 World Cup the one where she came of age, this summer is a chance for the 26-year-old to stamp her authority as one of the best strikers on the continent. Her game is about much more than just her finishing ability, with her strong hold-up play, aerial presence and pressing ability all assets. She sets the tone for England from the front and has become a quiet leader in the squad. The 27-year-old Schüller is an instinctive striker and her form for club and country this season has made her one to watch. She amassed 16 goals in all competitions as Bayern Munich claimed their first domestic double with the striker scoring a hat-trick in the DFB Pokal final against Werder Bremen. Schüller is a constant in the international setup and has been part of the squad at the last four major tournaments. She was Germany's top scorer when they claimed the bronze medal at last summer's Olympics and was similarly prolific in their latest Nations League campaign. Her five goals in the group stage played a key role in helping Christian Wück's team to this autumn's semi-finals. In a team full of attacking talent, she provides the focal point up front, supported by Klara Bühl, Jule Brand and Laura Freigang. In a team full of stars, Pina is threatening to shine the brightest. The 23-year-old has taken the headlines this season with some sensational performances. Pina's potential has never been in doubt, with her natural technical ability and eye for goal clear. At the age of 13 in 2014-15 she scored 100 goals in 20 appearances for Barcelona's Infantin-Alevín youth side (a season in which her team scored 279 goals in 21 games), and she made her senior debut at 16. Her 24 goals in all competitions this season helped Pere Romeu's team secure a domestic treble, while she finished top scorer in the Champions League. Her 25-minute cameo in the first leg of the semi-final against Chelsea, in which she registered two goals and one assist, was particularly memorable. She returned to the national setup in 2024 after a two-year absence. She was one of 'Las 15' – the group of players who demanded better conditions from the Spanish football federation in 2022 – and subsequently ruled herself out of the 2023 World Cup. Her recent gamechanging double against England sent Montse Tomé's side into the Nations League semi-finals. Over the last two seasons, Beerensteyn has started to realise her potential, finding the kind of form many expected from her when she first broke into the Dutch setup. In the absence of Vivianne Miedema, she has stepped up to lead the line. She finished as the Netherlands' top scorer in Euro 2025 qualifying and in their recent Nations League campaign. Domestically, she has also been prolific, winning the Frauen Bundesliga Golden Boot with Wolfsburg. It was a disappointing domestic campaign for the She-Wolves, who finished second behind Bayern Munich. Beerensteyn's 16 goals, however, meant she matched Hoffenheim's Selina Cerci at the top of the scoring charts. The pacy 28-year-old can play anywhere across the front line. An injury towards the end of the season is a slight concern but the Dutch coach, Andries Jonker, seems confident she will be fit for the summer. González's four goals in her last four games for Spain have put her in the frame to be their first-choice No 9 this summer. The 32-year-old is one of a handful of the Spanish squad to play abroad and has taken the National Women's Soccer League by storm since joining Gotham FC in August 2023. She scored the goal that won them their first NWSL Championship a few months after joining and has been prolific at club level in the first half of this season. González has been in and out of the national side since making her debut in 2016. She scored against England in their quarter-final defeat at Euro 2022 and captained the side on a couple of occasions at the 2023 World Cup. She has struggled to nail down a consistent starting role but her impressive recent form might change that in Switzerland. Katoto is one of the most naturally talented forwards in the women's game. Her domestic career to date has been played solely at Paris Saint-Germain. In the decade after making her senior debut, the 26-year-old racked up 180 goals in 223 appearances. She finished as their leading goalscorer in the 2024-25 season, her 12 Première Ligue goals helping them to a second-place finish in what turned out to be her final season at the club before this summer's move to Lyon. The tall striker is now looking to make her mark on the international stage. Her Euro 2022 was heartbreaking – she ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in the group stage – and she failed to recover in time for the World Cup, so last year's Olympics was her first major tournament for the national team. She finished as the Golden Boot winner on home soil despite France's quarter-final exit and will be eager to replicate that form in Switzerland. A special mention should go to Ewa Pajor, who will be captaining Poland in their first major tournament. Being placed in Group C with Germany, Denmark and Sweden is a tough challenge for the newcomers but Pajor's stats cannot be ignored. She finished her first season at Barcelona with 43 goals in 46 appearances and will looking to continue that form as her nation makes history this summer.
