Lucky loser Sierra's Wimbledon fairytale continues
The 21-year-old squandered a match point and crashed in the final round of qualifying to Australia's Talia Gibson, but went into the main draw at the very last moment when Belgium's Greet Minnen pulled out and she has not looked back since.
After seeing off Australia's Olivia Gadecki and stunning local favourite Katie Boulter, she came through a challenging test against Spain's Cristina Bucsa to win 7-5 1-6 6-1 and dropped to the ground in celebration.
Sierra, who looked at her team in disbelief for several moments as she sat on the turf after match point, will pick up a cheque worth at least 240,000 pounds ($327,336) for her surprise run.
She meets Laura Siegemund or Australian Open champion Madison Keys in the next round.
($1 = 0.7332 pounds)
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Telegraph
32 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Shock player exits and a problem position – the build-up to England's title defence
England's defence of their European Championship title will begin on Saturday but much has changed since their historic victory in 2022. The Lionesses remain one of the strongest teams in the tournament but the standard of those around them has vastly improved. There has also been a high turnover of personnel in Sarina Wiegman's side, with some big-name players having retired while younger talents have been promoted. With just days to go until their campaign kicks off, Telegraph Sport takes a look at how the Lionesses are shaping up ahead of this summer's tournament. Wiegman averts a crisis The words 'new England' were repeated when the 23 players took part in a pre-tournament media day. It is not an inaccurate description of the current squad. Of the 11 players who started every game at Euro 2022, only six remain – Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, Lauren Hemp and Beth Mead. Alessia Russo, who was one of the 'super subs' at the tournament, has replaced Ellen White as the first-choice striker. Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly, who both came off the bench to score in the final, are also challenging for places in the starting team. Four of the Euros starters have retired. White hung up her boots just after that tournament while Rachel Daly, who played at left-back despite her preferred position being centre-forward, stepped back from international football in April last year. The more surprising retirements came just five weeks before the start of England's title defence. It began with Mary Earps making the shock decision to end her international career, as Telegraph Sport exclusively revealed, after being told she would be the second-choice goalkeeper, behind Hannah Hampton, at the Euros. Earps was part of the Euros-winning squad but was arguably more prominent during the Lionesses' run to the World Cup final in 2023. Her campaign to get Nike to sell her goalkeeper shirt coupled with her performances, which included saving a penalty in the final before screaming the words 'f--- off', made her so popular that she went on to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Fran Kirby was next to retire. The forward was told she would not be part of the 23-player squad for the tournament and announced her retirement in the aftermath of England's Nations League defeat in Spain. Less than 24 hours later, Millie Bright became the third withdrawal, though the Chelsea captain has not yet decided whether to retire from international football. Bright had withdrawn from the squad for the Nations League fixtures in May and June, citing mental and physical fatigue. Wiegman had hoped she would be available for the Euros but Bright said she was not able to give 100 per cent. The sudden loss of Earps, Kirby and Bright threw England's preparations into chaos. But the dust has somewhat settled in the last fortnight and Wiegman insisted there was 'no crisis' after naming her squad. Goal threat is key strength England's biggest asset when they won the Euros was their quality in front of goal. They scored 22 across the tournament – a record – and even thrashed Norway 8-0 in the group stage. But goals were slightly harder to come by at the World Cup a year later, with 13 scored in seven games, and subsequent Nations League campaigns have been hit and miss. Still, it is undeniable the Lionesses have the most depth and talent up front. Lauren James, who was a standout player at the 2023 World Cup despite her red card in the quarter-final, has returned from injury. She can be England's best player on her day, but she is not the only exciting member of this squad. Russo jointly won the golden boot with 12 goals in the Women's Super League last season while back-up striker Aggie Beever-Jones was not far behind with nine. The Lionesses also have Mead, Hemp and Kelly to call on while Toone and Grace Clinton can weigh in with goals from midfield. Michelle Agyemang, who scored 41 seconds into her England debut, is also in the squad as a wildcard option. Problem position in defence England had the meanest defence at both Euro 2022 and the 2023 World Cup, with Earps winning the golden glove at both tournaments. But the Lionesses have not looked as solid at the back in the past two years. The left-back position has been a problem area with no player having managed to nail down a regular starting spot. It is likely that Williamson will play alongside Alex Greenwood at centre-back, with Niamh Charles and Jess Carter set to battle it out for the left-back role. Charles plays there for Chelsea but was not a regular starter last season while Carter is primarily a centre-back, her position at the World Cup. Greenwood is the only left-footed defender in the squad and can play there, but Wiegman tends to prefer her in her more natural position. England's other issue is they can often be left exposed when they lose the ball higher up the pitch. Bronze likes to rush forward but there is not always cover behind her, which was the case when the Lionesses conceded against Spain in the World Cup final. At that tournament, Wiegman changed to a 3-5-2 formation and there is an argument that England would be suited to that style of play now. An extra centre-back would help alleviate the issues they face when Bronze gets forward and the weakness at left-back. Wiegman has not tried that formation since she fielded a vastly inexperienced team in a friendly against Switzerland in December but will no doubt have something up her sleeve if her tried-and-tested 4-3-3 is not working. Spain pose biggest threat Spain are most people's favourites heading into this tournament and it would be no surprise were they to reach the latter stages. Should England and Spain both top their groups and progress, they could end up meeting in the semi-finals. Germany, who were runners-up in 2022, are also contenders and will be keen for a better showing than their group-stage exit from the World Cup. Norway and France have continually disappointed on the big stage but could mount a challenge. France are in England's group and have an array of attacking talent while Norway's pool and route to the semi-finals is favourable.
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Wimbledon briefing: Day five recap, Saturday's order of play and Djokovic's ton
The former US Open champion was unable to make it a hat-trick of British victories on day five after impressive wins for Sonay Kartal and Cameron Norrie. Saturday's action will include milestone-chasing Novak Djokovic, reigning women's champion Barbora Krejcikova and men's number one Jannik Sinner. Here, the PA news agency looks back at Friday's action and previews day six of the Championships. Emma Raducanu reminded the tennis world what a special talent she is before her Wimbledon hopes were ended with a narrow loss to world number one Aryna Sabalenka. The 22-year-old played some electrifying tennis under the roof on Centre Court but was unable to apply the finishing touches, eventually going down 7-6 (6) 6-4 after exactly two hours. Sabalenka was impressed, saying: 'She played such incredible tennis and she pushed me really hard to get this win. 'I'm super happy to see her healthy and back on track. I'm pretty sure that she will be back in the top 10 soon.' But home hopes in the singles at Wimbledon are not over. British number threes Sonay Kartal and Cameron Norrie delighted Court One earlier in the day to reach the fourth round. Kartal achieved a career first when she dismantled French qualifier Diane Parry to make the last 16 of a grand slam for the first time. And Norrie followed her lead, knocking out Italy's Mattia Bellucci in straight sets to set up a clash with Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry. For the first time this week, there will be no British players in action in either of the senior singles draws. But there are plenty playing in the various doubles tournaments, plus the junior competitions start with 16-year-olds Hannah Klugman and Mika Stojsavljevic – who both appeared in the women's singles draw this year for the first time – starting their girls' singles campaigns on Court 12. Among the doubles players will be Sonay Kartal, who teams up with fellow Briton Jodie Burrage the day before playing her fourth-round singles tie against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. While the outcome of Novak Djokovic against fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic may be in little doubt, a victory for the seven-time champion on Saturday would bring up a major milestone. Djokovic is one victory away from 100 match wins at the Championships, a feat so far managed only by Martina Navratilova and Roger Federer. The 38-year-old knocked out his Davis Cup team-mate the last time they met – in SW19 three years ago – and has won all three career meetings. And with Djokovic stating that this tournament is likely to be his best chance of gaining the grand slam title he needs for a record-breaking 25th success, Kecmanovic will require an inspired display to be the last Serb standing. Centre Court (from 1.30pm)Jannik Sinner (1) v Pedro MartinezIga Swiatek (8) v Danielle CollinsNovak Djokovic (6) v Miomir Kecmanovic Court One (from 1pm)Mirra Andreeva (7) v Hailey BaptisteBarbora Krejcikova (17) v Emma Navarro (10)Ben Shelton (10) v Marton Fucsovics Overcast, with a maximum temperature of 22C, according to the Met Office.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Wimbledon and BBC legend was saved from drowning in bath by fellow player
Sue Barker was present as British tennis legend John Lloyd recalled how he almost died in a Wimbledon bath before being saved by a fellow player who needed the toilet A British tennis legend almost died following a gruelling five-set loss at Wimbledon. Sue Barker, who presented the BBC's Wimbledon coverage for more than two decades, has retold the alarming story involving former colleague John Lloyd. Barker has made a nostalgic return to the tournament this year after stepping back from her broadcasting role in 2022. In partnership with Emirates Airlines, the ex-French Open champion was tasked with ensuring every corner of the prestigious venue was in tip-top shape ahead of the championship. What the popular presenter doesn't know about SW19 isn't worth knowing. Her book 'Wimbledon: A Personal History', which hit the shelves in 2024, recalls her experiences and anecdotes from the world's most famous tennis tournament. Amongst the myriad of tales, one particularly striking account involves Lloyd, the BBC commentator, former British No.1 and ex-Davis Cup captain. In 1976, Lloyd had a horrifying brush with death following a defeat at Phil Dent. Barker wrote: "One thing Wimbledon does so well is The Last 8 Club, a sort of club within the Club that welcomes all players who have ever reached the singles quarter-finals, the doubles semi-finals or the mixed-doubles finals.. "There are refreshments available all day, a six o'clock happy hour and an annual dinner, which I discovered attracts about 70 former players each year. "It was my first appearance here, and I joined Billie Jean, Rosie Casals, Christine Janes, Tracy Austin and the 1974 finalist Olga Morozova; as well as Mark Woodforde, Jan Kodes, Peter Fleming, Fred Stolle and Chris Lewis, the finalist from 1983. "We had such a laugh at dinner. John Lloyd and I both gave speeches, as did Chris. I told stories from my memoir, Calling the Shots, and Lloydy, who is a great raconteur, told the tale of how he nearly died in the men's locker room at Wimbledon after one cruel defeat. "He had lost a four-hour, first-round, five-set match to Phil Dent - a nightmare result for a Brit fancied to do well at Wimbledon, as he was in 1976 - and then done the exhaustive rounds of media that a home player used to have to endure (these days there are time limits and players can take a shower and have a massage before facing the press). "It was 9pm when he got to the locker room and found it empty. As he tells the story, he ran a deep, steaming hot bath and wallowed in it, going over in his mind all the crucial points of his match, angry that he had lost it. When he reached for the soap, his hand cramped, and soon he had seized up all over with an excruciatingly painful full-body cramp. "'I was sliding down into the water. I was sinking, I was going to bloody well drown in the Wimbledon bath,' he recalled. "And then he had us in stitches. "'It's funny what goes through your mind at such moments,' he said. 'My life should have been passing before my eyes, but my ego took over and I started to imagine the headlines in the newspapers the next day: British player commits suicide in bath after devastating loss.' "Luckily for Lloydy, a former player had dashed into the locker room bursting for a pee after a Wimbledon cocktail party - and the urinals were close to the bath. His distress was noted and he was safely hauled out of the water, and lived to tell the tale." Before Barker's return to Wimbledon, she dismissed the idea of her leading coverage of the grand slam for a different TV channel. CityAM reported that Barker was asked at an event whether she would ever present Wimbledon for a rival broadcaster, which she quickly dismissed.
