Latest news with #AELTC
BBC News
8 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Putintseva wanted man removed for 'political' shouting
World number 33 Yulia Putintseva has shed some light on the security concerns she raised during her first-round defeat at Wimbledon, saying a male spectator was "screaming" between her serves and that it was "political".The 30-year-old said "people nowadays are acting too crazy about many things" and she had wanted the umpire to "take him out" of the on in Monday's match against Amanda Anisimova, Putintseva described the fan as "crazy" and "dangerous" and later warned the umpire that "maybe he has a knife".Asked about the incident following her doubles defeat on Wednesday, she told BBC Sport: "I said it because the guy was saying something crazy. I feel like those people might be crazy, maybe not. Maybe it's just my point of view. But I was just saying 'just take him out'."She confirmed she did not know the on what she had heard him saying, she said: "He was actually talking about, like, political stuff. And I'm really outside of the political so I don't want anyone on my match, when they are coming to see tennis, saying anything political."The chair umpire spoke to members of security after Putintseva voiced her concerns, and a spokesperson for the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) said the matter had been "dealt with".The club's operations manager said security protocols were BBC understands the spectator in question left the stands on court 15 of his own if she thought it had been handled appropriately, Putintseva said: "I just think that people nowadays are acting too crazy about many things, and yeah, I think the security just have to be prepared. "Even [a] normal person can be dangerous at some point when they are struggling with something. So I think it's just important to have security around."
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why Wimbledon is desperate for top billing in the Alcaraz-Sinner arms race
A matter of hours after Friday's draw at Wimbledon, practice sessions were in full swing across the All England Club. Just before 1pm, spotted by an eagle-eyed reporter in the media centre, were the top two players in the men's game: chatting, laughing even, in genuine joviality side-by-side as they walked to their respective courts south of the grounds. It might seem somewhat odd that Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner were in conversation, in such a relaxed manner, just a few days out from the third Grand Slam of the year. After all, it was only three weeks ago that the Spaniard fought back from the brink to defeat the world No 1 in the final at Roland Garros, winning one of the greatest matches of all time. Advertisement As such, you'd think Sinner would be sick of the sight of his Spanish adversary. Apparently not. This blossoming, intoxicating rivalry on the court takes place in an environment of impressive mutual respect. In fact, their genuine admiration for one another is as authentic as their will to win on court. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz could face off in the Wimbledon final, just five weeks on from their incredible French Open final (Getty) Alcaraz, by virtue of his superior head-to-head record over Sinner (8-4 – and Sinner has not beaten him since 2023) and his two previous titles in SW19, is the clear favourite heading into Wimbledon 2025. The Spaniard is on a sensational 18-match winning streak and has not lost a match since 20 April. Unequivocally, he is the man to beat. Yet Sinner's dominance for the vast majority of the five-and-a-half hour epic in Paris should give the Italian a huge amount of confidence and belief, should the pair meet in a fortnight on Centre Court. It is the final showdown that the whole world wants to see again. And Wimbledon is desperate for top billing in the Alcaraz-Sinner arms race. Advertisement Much has been made in the build-up to this year's Championships of the decision to move the start time of the singles finals from 2pm to 4pm. AELTC chief executive Sally Bolton insists the move is to make sure the 'champions are crowned in front of the widest possible audience'. No doubt the move – which sees the final now take place at a more convenient time of 11am (ET) in New York – has been encouraged by a lucrative American television deal. But it also represents the wider significance of the final being the best of the best, in front of as many eyeballs as possible. After Paris, there's no doubt who those two are. Alcaraz and seven-time champion Novak Djokovic have put on tremendous finals in the last two years, but even the Serb reaching the final this year ahead of Sinner would feel like a let-down, such was the captivation of the French Open showpiece. In this regard, the Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry evokes memories of Roger Federer's battles with Rafael Nadal. Their showdowns in major finals took place across all surfaces, in the final of the Australian Open (twice), Roland Garros (four times) and Wimbledon (three times). Advertisement The height of their rivalry was the 2006-2008 period, in which they squared off at Roland Garros and Wimbledon three years running, with the crescendo of that sensational 2008 final in near-darkness. Wimbledon would be desperate for an equivalent contest as the sun sets on 13 July. Roger Federer lost arguably the greatest match of all time to Rafael Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon final (PA) It is not the only way the two rivalries are alike; their contrasting playing styles made for tremendous matchups. 'Off the court, we are quite similar,' Sinner said last year of Alcaraz. 'On the court, we are different. 'He is the one who brings the firepower, the hotshots, he involves the crowd. He's a bit different. I am more the solid player, quite calm. It's like fire and ice a bit, but it's a nice combination.' Advertisement From a British perspective, the only exception to the Alcaraz-Sinner final narrative is the explosive emergence of Jack Draper, who enters his home Slam at a career-high No 4 in the world. The 23-year-old's progression in the last 12 months has been astonishing; he has focused on marginal gains, such as employing a breathing coach in Ann Coxhead, and devoting all aspects of his life to the sport. As he rather bluntly summed up on Saturday: 'I suppose it's just been growing up.' Jack Draper enters Wimbledon at a career-high of No 4 in the world (PA) So, can Draper follow in Andy Murray's footsteps – in the first Wimbledon since the Scot's retirement – and win the sport's most prestigious tournament? He's been dealt a tough hand in Friday's draw, with major winner Marin Cilic and the in-form Alexander Bublik (who beat him at Roland Garros) potentially lying in wait in rounds two and three respectively. Advertisement Even if he can navigate those tasks, he's seeded to play Djokovic in the quarter-finals. As daunting a challenge as that would be, it will tell us a huge amount about Draper's mentality and future potential if he is able to reach the latter stages, with the home crowd right behind him along the way. Onwards we go then to Monday, when Alcaraz opens up proceedings on Centre Court in what should be a fun encounter against journeyman Italian maverick Fabio Fognini. The Spaniard could face Oliver Tarvet, the British No 33 and world No 719, in what would be a dream occasion for the San Diego University player, in round two. Overall, there are 13 Brits in the men's draw, with an all-British clash between Dan Evans and Jay Clarke in round one worth keeping an eye on too. The winner would be set to face Djokovic. Sinner was the last man to beat Alcaraz at Wimbledon, back in 2022 (Getty) Yet beyond the home wildcards, the compelling narrative remains the top two. Sinner actually beat Alcaraz at Wimbledon three years ago over four sets in the fourth round, when the pair were just emerging onto the world stage. It means Sinner was the last man to beat Alcaraz at the All England Club. And, to a large degree, it feels very much like the Italian is the only man who can stand in the way of the Alcaraz three-peat.
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Campaigners call for Wimbledon to end partnership with Range Rover
Anti-SUV campaigns have called for Wimbledon's organizers to stop shuttling tennis players and their entourages around London in Range Rovers and instead force the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Emma Raducanu to take the tube or a bus to travel to and from Centre Court. In an open letter sent to the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) today, the SUV Alliance demanded the immediate termination of its 10-year partnership with the British car maker and for it to encourage players to use 'London's world-renowned public transport network'. The letter says 'dangerous supersized' Range Rover hybrid SUVs deployed for tennis pros during the competition pose a 'huge danger for children, pedestrians and cyclists' in the capital. The group - in a separate statement - linked its concerns to the death of two eight-year old-girls, Selena Lau and Nuria Sajjad, who were killed outside their primary school in July 2023 just streets away from where the Championships were taking place at the time. Claire Freemantle, 48, crashed her Land Rover Defender into a crowd gathered for an end-of-term tea party at the nearby The Study Preparatory School, costing the lives of the two children and injuring 10 others. Medical examination had originally shown that she had suffered an epileptic seizure, resulting in the loss of control of the £80,000 vehicle and was not charged. However, Freemantle was rearrested in January on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, with a full investigation ongoing. The AELTC today responded to the letter, saying it requires larger vehicles to transport players, their entourages and their 'considerable luggage, kit bags, equipment, and racquets'. In the open letter addressed to the chair of the AELTC, Ms Deborah Jevans CBE, and Usama Al-Qassab, its marketing and commercial director, the campaign group said: 'We the undersigned are once again writing with dismay about the use of large SUVs as the official vehicle of the Wimbledon Championship, and the wider sponsorship of Wimbledon by Jaguar Land Rover as a leading manufacturer of these vehicles. 'Research has shown that heavy and large SUVs, like the Range Rover, are especially dangerous to children and people walking, wheeling and cycling. 'The use of these vehicles stands in direct contradiction to the sport-positive message of the Championship and ignores the concerns of Londoners.' It referenced a recent YouGov poll of 1,000 London adults (conducted between 5 and 7 April 2025) that found that 61 percent of parents in the capital are concerned that bigger cars make it more dangerous for children to walk and cycle. 'The probability of someone walking or cycling being killed increases by 44 percent when struck by an SUV compared to a small car, increasing further to 82 percent for children. This is due to the extra weight of an SUV and design features such as a taller bonnet,' the letter goes on. 'Many of us are parents and grandparents ourselves and feel the dilemma of wanting to encourage our children to walk, wheel, cycle and play outdoors - for health, mental health and their own autonomy - but at the same time fearing what could happen if our children share the streets with supersized SUVs.' The letter also raised issue with the local air pollution impact of AELTC using Range Rover Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) cars - which can be driven for around 75 miles in electric-only mode if the battery is fully charged - to transport players, their entourages and VIPs to and from the event. Organizers last year said the plug-in electric hybrid Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Velar vehicles used are charged at the club 'using 100 percent renewable electricity for near-silent running throughout The Championships'. However, the anti-SUV group said the vehicles will 'still emit particulate pollution from tyre wear, a leading source of pollution in London, which is made more severe by the Range Rover's weight'. The letter carries on: 'We must also be clear that this sponsorship is a form of advertising. The endorsement of large SUVs through partnerships like JLR and the AELTC drives an unnecessary aspirational culture for ever larger vehicles, at the expense of public space and safety for others. 'Excessive advertising and marketing has contributed to SUV ownership surging in the UK, from just 19 percent of sales 10 years ago to 62 percent of new car sales last year.' Instead of using Range Rover's supplied fleet of PHEV models, the campaign group suggested organizers make its 'large volumes of players and entourages around the tournament' instead use 'London's world-renowned public transport network' and 'shared transport and active travel options' to 'set an example and to deliver the Championship's fundamental sporting message'. It adds that 'where cars are necessary' the organizers should only supply small electric vehicles while considering alternative vehicle partners. In a further statement, Oliver Lord, head of the Clean Cities campaign group - which is part of the SUV Alliance - said: 'It's astonishing how Wimbledon insists on deploying large SUVs in our crowded capital despite excellent public transport and mounting evidence of the dangerous risk they pose to children. 'Why can't guests use public transport like most Londoners, at the very least, more normal sized cars that don't crowd us off the roads or endanger people walking and cycling?' Wimbledon organizers respond JLR (formerly Jaguar Land Rover and the parent group of Range Rover) was approached by This is Money to respond to the open letter, with a spokesperson telling us that it 'defers to the All England Lawn Tennis Club for comment'. This is Money also contacted the AELTC for comment. A spokesperson for the All England Club told us: 'JLR has been an important partner to The Championships since 2015, specifically with Range Rover this year. 'We have worked closely with them on the inclusion of a significant number of lower emission plug-in hybrid vehicles in our fleet which, are being charged on-site with 100 percent renewable electricity. 'Given the length of Grand Slam events – three weeks from the start of practice to the conclusion of the competition – players generally prefer to stay in residential rather than hotel accommodation during their time at Wimbledon. 'This is a great boost for the local area as players become part of the local community, but it does require a vehicle fleet to shuttle players between their accommodation and the grounds.' The spokesperson added: 'Players regularly travel with at least three guests, (typically coach, physio, or family members) and often arrive directly from other tournaments without going home for weeks or even months. ' We work closely with these elite athletes and their teams to guarantee appropriate space, including head room for them and their entourage, who also often have considerable luggage, kit bags, equipment, and racquets. 'Our objective is therefore to accommodate each player and their team within one vehicle versus the need for two separate vehicles. 'Our focus this year remains for as many journeys as possible to be delivered in EV mode. Trip distances all take place within a seven-mile radius, but the average trip length is less than five miles, meaning the majority can be delivered on the EV range of the hybrid Range Rover vehicles which we are using.' Large SUVs under the spotlight The alliance's attack on Range Rover comes weeks after an environmental think tank dubbed SUVs a 'growing threat to public safety' It claimed their higher bonnets means drivers are unable to see children as old as nine standing directly in front of them. This, it said, is a particular risk when motorists are leaving a driveway or parking space, or when traveling in stop-start traffic outside schools. Transport & Environment, which produced the report, said average bonnet heights for newly-sold cars in the UK is increasing by half a centimeter a year - reaching 83.8cm in 2024 - due to the ongoing popularity of SUV-style vehicles. It pointed the finger squarely at the demand for JLR models in Britain for accelerating this increase in bonnet height. It claimed that the front of SUVs typically strike adult pedestrians above the center of gravity, often first hitting vital organs in the body's core, with a higher likelihood of knocking them forward and down, and a greater risk of driving over them. This is deemed far more dangerous than conventional hatchback and saloon cars with lower bonnets, which tend to hit pedestrians' legs, giving them greater chances of falling towards the vehicle, or of being deflected. However, JLR (formerly Jaguar Land Rover and the parent company of Range Rover) hit back at that report, saying it fits all its new models with the 'latest in advanced safety technology features' to mitigate such scenarios. This includes pedestrian detection, 3D surround cameras, and autonomous emergency braking. Claire Freemantle, the driver of the Land Rover Defender that collided with and caused the death of the two schoolgirls on 6 July 2023, was originally arrested at the scene. Following an initial investigation, the Crime Prosecution Service (CPS) said Ms Freemantle had suffered an epileptic seizure behind the wheel, which caused her to lose control of the vehicle that then drove through a fence and into the school playground. As a result this meant she would not be charged, it said. At the time, her solicitor said her epilepsy had 'never previously manifested itself' and Ms Freemantle 'had always enjoyed good health'. However, in January, Freemantle was released on bail after being rearrested earlier that month on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. She was arrested for the second time after the Met Police said it reviewed its investigation following the CPS's decision last June not to charge her. The Met Police said a specialist crime review group had 'identified lines of inquiry which required further examination'. Speaking in response to the tragic incident, a JLR spokesperson today told This is Money: 'Our deepest sympathies remain with all those affected. 'The Police investigation is still ongoing and therefore it would be inappropriate for us to provide further comment.'
News18
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Priyanka Chopra Can't Stop Adoring Nick Jonas, Makes Stylish Appearance At Wimbledon 2025
Priyanka Chopra was also seen posing with John Cena as she attended Wimbledon 2025. Priyanka Chopra made a glamorous appearance on Wednesday as she attended Day 3 of Wimbledon 2025. In the photos that surfaced on social media, the global icon was seen posing in a stunning white high-necked dress that cinched at the waist, exuding effortless elegance. By her side, Nick Jonas looked sharp in a navy blazer and cream chinos as the couple turned heads inside the AELTC's Parkside Suite at No.1 Court at The Championships 2025. The two were all smiles as they posed for the cameras. PeeCee and Nick also looked lost in each other's eyes. Adding to the celebrity sparkle, Priyanka was also seen sharing a warm exchange with WWE superstar and actor John Cena at the UK's most iconic tennis tournament. The two are seen together in their new movie, Heads of State, which released in theatres on July 2. Directed by Ilya Naishuller, the Amazon Prime Video film features Priyanka as a fierce MI6 operative. The plot follows the British Prime Minister (Elba) and the U.S. President (Cena) who find themselves at the centre of an international conspiracy and must work together to survive. Priyanka's character is on a mission to save the powerful duo, setting the stage for a high-octane ride full of action and humour. News18 Showsha gave the movie 3/5 stars and wrote, 'For Indian audiences, Priyanka Chopra's role as MI6 agent Noel Bisset is a huge reason to hit play and thankfully, the payoff is real. The movie opens with her high-octane action sequence at Spain's Tomatina festival, setting a thrilling tone. Though she disappears for a while, she returns midway with commanding presence, fluid fight choreography and whip-smart one-liners." First Published:
Independent Singapore
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Independent Singapore
‘Take him out': Yulia Putintseva demands fan's removal over knife scare at Wimbledon
WIMBLEDON, LONDON: Wimbledon player Yulia Putintseva recently requested the removal of a spectator during her match at Wimbledon, suspecting that the fan was carrying a knife. This incident happened during the changeover in the first set of Putintseva's play against Amanda Anisimova, where she eventually lost. The World No. 33 described the spectator as 'dangerous' and 'crazy,' and she refused to continue playing until the individual was escorted out of the game. 'Can you take him out? I'm not going to continue playing until he leaves… These people are dangerous. They are crazy. Take him out, because maybe he has a knife,' the athlete told the umpire. Furthermore, Putintseva pointed out the spectator's location in the crowd and described the colour of his clothes to make sure that the right person would be removed from the premises. The umpire was then seen consulting with the security personnel before play finally continued. Sally Bolton, the AELTC chief executive, explained concerning the situation: 'We're well-versed in [security] measures that need to be put in place so players can go about playing here in the confidence they're being well looked after.' The match resumed, with Anisimova securing the win with a final score of 6-0, 6-0. Putintseva did not speak to the media after the match, but Anisimova believes that the spectator said something when Putintseva was about to serve. Stalkers in tennis matches This is not the first time that a female athlete has experienced uncomfortable encounters with spectators. Emma Raducanu was also given additional security at this season's Indian Wells tennis tournament with protection from a former U.S. Secret Service agent. This was due to the disturbing stalking incident she faced in Dubai. At the time, Raducanu spoke about the incident, saying, 'I was obviously very distraught… I saw him in the first game of the match and I was like, 'I don't know how I'm going to finish'…I literally couldn't see the ball through tears. I could barely breathe.' She added, 'There were two instances… It was the second one that I just got freaked out by… The first one was more like a normal fan approaching you, except for the fact that he told me he followed me everywhere…And then he kind of watched me in the coffee shop for a while. The second incident was really worrying.' See also Watch out for return of injured Neymar With the current incident at Wimbledon, the athlete said, 'Wimbledon and everyone did an amazing job… 'I got a notification, the police contacted me and told me everything was OK.' 'I know that I am not the first athlete to go through this, and I probably won't be the last–not just as an athlete, but females in general,' she remarked.
