Ireland's issues, Alcaraz v Sinner & the magic of Wimbledon
Conor breaks down the recent French Open final between Alcaraz and Sinner and also delves into the women's game, which is struggling to recapture the attention it commanded during the Williams sisters' era.
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The Irish Sun
15 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Emma Raducanu giggles as she addresses Carlos Alcaraz relationship ahead of Wimbledon
EMMA RADUCANU has put any rumours of a relationship with Carlos Alcaraz to bed. Raducanu and Alcaraz, both 22, have been subject to swirling rumours about a potential romance after they announced they would be 3 Emma Raducanu has cleared up rumours about her relationship with Carlos Alcaraz Credit: PA 3 Raducanu and Alcaraz have announced they will be teaming up as doubles partners for the US Open later this summer Credit: Getty The pair will team up at the Billie Jean King Tennis Centre in August as they both look to add a doubles success to their US Open singles titles. Rumours on social media have suggested that When asked about it in her pre-Wimbledon press conference, the British star said while giggling: "We're just good friends". Raducanu is READ MORE IN TENNIS Recalling when "But for me, when he asked me, I was going to say yes, I just had to kind of go through the formality of asking my coach, so I didn't just make the decision." On how they became friends, "And actually in Wimbledon 2021 it was like kind of the first time I started getting to know him, and I had a good run there and then also again in the US Open in 2021. Most read in Sport 3 Rumours have begun to swirl about the dynamic between Alcaraz and Raducanu Credit: Getty "And I remember he was always playing the day before me and I was playing like the second day of the round. "And I would see him win and then I would have motivation to win and get myself into that position too." Further lifting the lid on "I think for all of us, we really kind of value those connections that we had from when we were young because when you become a bit more known or a bit more successful, you just find yourself reverting back to people you knew from a young age because you're like, that's a real genuine connection. "Because it becomes very busy and you have a lot more friends but the ones that you've known for a long time mean a lot more to you." Raducanu will open her account with a clash against fellow Brit, Mingge Xu. While Alcaraz will launch his defence of his 2024 title against Italian Fabio Fognini. Ladies' singles draw in full Sabalenka v Branstine Raducanu v Xu Vondrousova v Kessler Mertens v Fruhvirtova Li v Golubic Gracheva v Sasnovich Boulter v Badosa Minnen vs Gadecki Todoni vs Bucsa Birrel v Vekic Fernandez v Klugman Stearns v Siegemund Danilov v Zhang Ruse v Keys Paolini v Sevastova Rakhimova v Ito Lys v Yuan Pera v Noskova Haddad Maia v Sramkova Dart v Galfi Wickmayer v Zarazua Putintseva v Anisimova Shnaider v Uchijima Parry v Martic Tomova v Jabeur Kartal v Ostapenko Krueger v Stojsavljevic Pavlyuchenkova v Tomljanovic Osaka v Gibson Siniakova v Zheng Andreeva v Sherif Teichmann v Bronzetti Bapiste v Cirstea Potapova v Frech Krejcikoba v Eala Dolehide v Rus Kudermetova v Zhu Kvitova v Navarro Mucholva v Wang Sonmez v Cristian Lamens v Jovic Hon v Alexandrova Linette v Jacquemot Parks v Bencic Volynets v Maria Cocciaretto v Pegula Swiatek v Kudermetova McNally v Burrage Osorio v Collins Erjavec v Kostyuk Tauson v Watson Kalinskaya v Stojanovic Sakkari v Blinkova Avanesyan v Rybakina Kasatkina v Arango Begu v Juvan Starodubtseva v Jones Joint v Samsonova Kenin v Townsend Bouzas Maneiro v Seidel Azarenka v Zakharova Yastremska v Gauff
RTÉ News
16 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Aryna Sabalenka glad to clear air with Coco Gauff over French Open final reaction
World number one Aryna Sabalenka has been able to clear the air with Coco Gauff after her emotional reaction to losing the French Open final to the American earlier this month. The Belarusian was heavily criticised after attributing the defeat to her own mistakes rather than Gauff's performance, and apologised both privately and publicly for describing the match as the worst final she had played. The two players looked to have put those hostilities firmly behind them in social media clips posted from Wimbledon on Friday, and Sabalenka was contrite in accepting the negative response her comments prompted. She said: "I've always been really good with Coco. Honestly, as I said in the statement and I messaged to her, 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. "Honestly, I'm kind of glad what happened to me at Paris, because I was able to learn a lot. "I was able to sit back and be open to myself, not just to ignore some things. I think I realised a lot of things about myself in those last stages of the tournament. "We spoke with the team. I think we learned something. I really hope it will never happen again." Sabalenka, who is up against Canadian Carson Branstine in the first round, has no qualms about facing Gauff again should the two end up involved in a rematch in the Wimbledon final. "If I make it to the finals, I don't care (who I play), but also I would love to face Coco," she said. "If she's going to be there, I'm happy because I want to get the revenge!". Sabalenka has been limbering up for the tournament by having a hit with both Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner, with the former happy to offer advice drawn from his vast experience. She said: "Novak is the best. First of all, I was able to hit with him, which not every guy would be able to do. Then you can chat with him, he will give his honest advice. "It's amazing to hear opinions of such a legend. We were just chatting about stuff that I'm struggling with a little bit. I'm really thankful for the advice he gave me. "It was a 30-minute chat. If you give opportunity to Novak to talk, he's not going to stop! I wish I could stay there for four hours and just keep chatting, but we all have our schedule. "Honestly, I hit with Jannik for like, I don't know, 10 minutes - I was exhausted! "An hour with I'm recovered. I needed a day of recovery but it was a great experience. When you see someone like Jannik or Novak, you learn from them. You reflect what they do on court. It was great for me."
The Irish Sun
18 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Novak Djokovic gatecrashes Aryna Sabalenka's pre-Wimbledon press conference and awkwardly criticises her
NOVAK DJOKOVIC gatecrashed Aryna Sabalenka 's pre-Wimbledon press conference before offering some constructive criticism. W omen's world No.1 Sabalenka was coming towards the end of her chat when Djokovic surprisingly entered before it was his turn to face reporters in SW19. 5 Novak Djokovic hilariously gatecrashed Aryna Sabalenka's pre-Wimbledon press conference on Saturday 5 Sabalenka, who was in good spirits, asked Djokovic for his opinion on her abilities Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, was told Sabalenka was in the middle of her final response but cheekily informed the press officer that he was going to interrupt his friend's conference. The 24-time Grand Slam winner could be heard whispering: "Come on, let's go, please" with a grin as he shocked Sabalenka with his entrance on Saturday. The pair were filmed during a practice session earlier in the week as Sabalenka looks to win her first Wimbledon and Djokovic goes for an a record-equalling eighth title, alongside Roger Federer. READ MORE TENNIS NEWS Sabalenka, 27, said: "You see guys, come in here then" before asking Djokovic to sit down in her seat, which he refused. The US Open champion then asked Djokovic: "First of all, let me ask a question. What do you think about hitting with me? How do you see my level? Am I good?' Djokovic jokingly responded: "I think you have the potential. You're, like, a really talented player. You have nice strokes, good technique. "Can I be honest? You're lacking intensity on the court . You don't have enough intensity. Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "It's too flat. You've got to lighten up a little bit, put some power in it." Sabalenka, holding in laughter, then said: "Really! That's what you are going to say right now? "Before this guy was my favourite player, but not anymore obviously!" British world No719 qualifies for Wimbledon but is BANNED from claiming £66,000 prize money There could be some truth in Djokovic's words of wisdom, as Sabalenka lost the French Open final to Coco Gauff last month. The Belarusian said it "hurt to show such terrible tennis " in what she described as "the worst final I ever played" after losing in three sets to Gauff. In her runners-up speech, the three-time Slam winner added: "'I think she won the match not because she played incredible, just because I made all of those mistakes." Meanwhile, Djokovic is seeking a record-extending 25 Grand Slam titles, but at 38 years old knows his time is running out amid the rise of 5 Sabalenka is trying to right her French Open wrongs over the next few weeks Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 Djokovic warmed up with Sabalenka and Carlo Alcaraz Credit: Shutterstock Editorial The legendary Serbian said: "'It's great to be back. I love Wimbledon. I've always loved it. I think in the last six editions, I had six finals. "I've been playing very well here, maybe it's been the most consistent Grand Slam for me in the last 10 years. "When I come here, I feel extra inspired to deliver the best tennis . Whether it could be my 'last dance', I'm not sure. My wish is to play for several more years. "I would love to be healthy physically and also mentally motivated to keep on playing at the highest level. That's the goal, but you never know at this stage." 5 Men's singles draw in full Sinner v Nardi Tseng v Vukic Martinez v Loffhagen Navone v Shapovalov Dimitrov v Nishioka Comesana v Moutet Ofner v Medjedovic Monday v Paul Shelton v Bolt Hijikata v Goffin Kovacevic v Fucsovics Monfils v Hubert Nakashima v Ba Schevchenko v Opelka Faria v Sonego Basilashvili v Musetti Draper v Baez Collingnon v Cilic McCabe v Marozsan Munar v Bublik Cobolli v Zhukayev Etcheverry v Pinnington Jones Giron v Ugo Carabelli Gaston v Mesnik De Minaur v Carballes Baena Cazaux v Walton Halys v Holmgren Dzumhur v Machac Michelsen v Kecmanovic De Jong v Eubanks Evans v Clarke Muller v Djokovic Fritz v Mpetshi Perricard Diallo v Altmaier Arnaldi v Van de Zanschulp Holt v Davidovich Fokina Popyrin v Fery Darderi v Safiullin Kopriva v Thompson Bonzi v Medvedev Cerundolo v Borges Harris v Hurkacz Mochizuki v Zeppieri McDonald v Khachanov Berrettini v Majchrzak Quinn v Searle Carreno Busta v Rodesch Rinderknech v Zverev Rune v Jarry Tien v Basavareddy Fearnley v Fonseca Brooksby v Griekspoor Lehecka v Dellien Bellucci v Crawford Norrie v Bautista Agut Moller v Tiafoe Rublev v Djere Bergs v Harris Mannarino v O'Connell Royer v Tsitsipas Auger-Aliassime v Duckworth Struff v Misolic Tarvet v Riedi Fognini v Alcaraz
