Latest news with #CourtNo1
Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Wimbledon: Ben Shelton requested for extra time off for his ‘lucky charm' sister in his on-court interview, Morgan Stanley obliged
When you make a request for your sister to get a few days off, at a stage as grand as Court 1 at Wimbledon, chances are that the powers-that-be would hear it. USA's rising tennis star Ben Shelton, cheekily enough, must have been aware of what he was doing when he name-dropped his sister Emma Shelton after his third-round win on Saturday. 'I've been playing well this week. It's not just been me here. I have a great team. My parents are here. My girlfriend's here. Also, my sister's here. She's been here for every match that I've played this tournament so far. She's been the lucky charm,' said the 10th-seeded Shelton, a 22-year-old American who has appeared in two Grand Slam semifinals. 'But she has work back in the U.S., starting on Monday. She works for Morgan Stanley.' That drew some boos from spectators as Emma covered her face with her hands. If any of you all have some connects and get her a couple extra days off so she can stay, we can keep this rolling.' The camera panned to Emma in Ben's box in the stands, and she covered her face with her hands. There were a few boos heard around from the Court No 1 crowd too, who were enjoying the freewheeling interview from Ben. Turns out, Emma had nothing to worry about as she is set to stay back in London. In an Instagram story posted by Shelton on Saturday, Ben is heard asking her, 'You got the week off or what?' Emma jumps up and down with her arms raised and a wide smile, and as the camera pans back to him, Ben says, 'Shoutout, Morgan Stanley.' Emma re-shared the Instagram story with an added caption that read: 'Thank you MS, return flight: cancelled.' After his 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory over Marton Fucsovics of Hungary on Saturday, Ben Shelton is set for a stiff Italian test on Monday in the fourth round against Italy's Lorenzo Sonego. In a fascinating coincidence, the odds of which must be pretty high mathematically in a field of 128 players of the main draw at a Major, Shelton and Sonego will face each other for the third straight Grand Slam this year. Shelton won both the previous encounters, in four sets at the Australian Open quarterfinal and five sets at Roland Garros in the opening round. While Shelton is yet to drop a set at SW19 this week, Sonego has taken the scenic route, coming through a five-hour, four-minute epic against another American Brandon Nakashima 6-7(5), 7-6(8), 7-6(2), 3-6, 7-6(10-3). While Shelton's request for his sister to get extra days off from Morgan Stanley worked, his hope of playing at Center Court did not. 'I had a lot of fun today. It is always special playing here at Wimbledon,' Shelton had said. 'This is my third time playing on Court 1. It is a special atmosphere. I am trying to make my way to Centre, Court, maybe I will get there one day.' But it won't happen on Monday, as he has been scheduled to play on Court No 1 once again. He played his first two matches on Court No 2. However, if the lucky charm keeps working and Shelton's form holds, the Center Court beckons soon.
The Guardian
06-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Ben Shelton overpowers Fucsovics to equal best Wimbledon run
As a statement of intent, Ben Shelton's opening service game on Saturday was quite something. His first serve thundered through at 145mph; on the third point, he upped it to 146mph and on the fifth, he bashed one down at 147mph. If Marton Fucsovics had picked up his rackets there and then and left the court, people would surely have understood. As it was, the Hungarian, ranked 105 having dropped from a high of No 31 in 2019, battled hard to compete but Shelton was a man on a mission, his 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory putting him through to the last 16, equalling his previous Wimbledon best. A hammer of a forehand gave Shelton the first break for 3-1 in the opener and when Fucsovics had the temerity to force a break-back point in the next game, he slammed down a serve at 148mph. That would have equalled the fastest-ever serve at Wimbledon had Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard not raised it to 153mph earlier this week. 'I had a lot of fun,' Shelton said. 'It's always special playing at Wimbledon. This is my third time playing on Court No 1. Hopefully I get a few more matches on one of these two big courts. I'm trying to make my way to Centre Court. Maybe I'll get there one day.' If he keeps playing this well, that's an inevitability. Though the second set was tight all the way through, Shelton pulled away to take the tie-break 7-4 and an early break in the third set him on his way. As his powerful all-court game flowed, he raced to a 5-1 lead and though Fucsovics got one break back, the left-hander broke again to clinch a convincing victory that sets up a clash with Lorenzo Sonego of Italy. 'He's a great player,' Shelton said of the Italian. 'I played him tight in Australia this year, I played him tight in Roland Garros so it's only fitting we do it in Wimbledon. Grass is a good surface for him, it'll be difficult, but I like my chances right now, the way I'm playing, the way the crowd is helping with my energy.' Sonego will need to find some energy somewhere after he edged out Brandon Nakashima 6-7 (5), 7-6 (8), 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (3) in five hours and four minutes, the longest match of the tournament this year. The Italian won 45 of his 76 points at the net as he matched his previous best performance here. This time last year, Alex de Minaur was due to face Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals only to withdraw before the match because of a hip injury that disrupted the rest of his year. On Saturday, the Australian ensured he will get another crack at the seven-time champion as he ended the run of the unheralded Dane August Holmgren 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-3. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion 'It's funny how life works,' De Minaur said. 'Here we are a year later, and I'm going to get that match-up. It is a round earlier. It was a brutal time for me last year having to deal with all of those emotions. But here we are a year later feeling good, ready to go, and I'm going to get my chance again. So I'm excited for that.' Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov captured his 100th grand slam singles win, beating Sebastian Ofner of Austria 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (0) to reach the fourth round for the third year in a row, a performance that earned him a shot at Jannik Sinner, the top seed. Another Italian, Flavio Cobolli, reached the last 16 of a slam for the first time thanks to a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win over the Czech Jakub Mensik and the veteran Croat Marin Cilic followed up his surprise win over Britain's Jack Draper by beating Jaume Munar of Spain 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 to reach the fourth round of a slam for the first time since 2022.
The Guardian
05-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Ben Shelton overpowers Fucsovics to equal best Wimbledon run
As a statement of intent, Ben Shelton's first service game here on Saturday was quite something. His first serve thundered down at 145mph; on the third point, he upped it to 146mph and on the fifth, he bashed one down at 147mph. If Marton Fucsovics had picked up his rackets there and then and left the court, people would surely have understood. As it was, the Hungarian, ranked 105 but a man who has been as high as No 33, battled hard to compete with Shelton but the American was a man on a mission, his 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory putting him through to the last 16, equalling his previous Wimbledon best. A hammer of a forehand gave Shelton the first break for 3-1 in the opener and when Fucsovics had the temerity to force a break back point in the next game, he slammed down a serve at 148mph. To give that some context, that would have equalled the fastest ever serve at Wimbledon had Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard not raised it to 153mph earlier this week. 'I had a lot of fun,' Shelton said. 'It's always special playing here at Wimbledon. This is my third time playing on Court No 1. Hopefully I get a few more matches on one of these two big courts. I'm trying to make my way to Centre Court. Maybe I'll get there one day.' If he keeps playing this well, that's an inevitability. Though the second set was tight all the way through, Shelton pulled away to take the tie-break 7-4 and an early break in the third set him on his way. As his powerful all-court game flowed, he raced to a 5-1 lead and though Fucsovics got one break back, the left-hander broke again to clinch a convincing victory that sets up a clash with Lorenzo Sonego of Italy. 'He's a great player,' Shelton said of the Italian. 'I played him tight in Australia this year, I played him tight in Roland Garros so it's only fitting we do it in Wimbledon. Grass is a good surface for him, it'll be difficult, but I like my chances right now, the way I'm playing, the way the crowd is helping with my energy.' Sonego will need to find some energy somewhere after he edged out Brandon Nakashima 6-7 (5), 7-6 (8), 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (3) in five hours and four minutes, the longest match of the tournament this year. The Italian won 45 of his 76 points at the net as he matched his previous best performance here. This time last year, Alex de Minaur was due to face Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals only to have to withdraw before the match because of a hip injury that disrupted the rest of his year. On Saturday, the Australian ensured he will get another crack at the seven-time champion as he ended the run of the unheralded Dane August Holmgren 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-3. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion 'It's funny how life works,' De Minaur said. 'Here we are a year later, and I'm going to get that match-up. It is a round earlier. It was a brutal time for me last year having to deal with all of those emotions. But here we are a year later feeling good, ready to go, and I'm going to get my chance again. So I'm excited for that.' Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov captured his 100th grand slam singles win, beating Sebastian Ofner of Austria 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (0) to reach the fourth round for the third year in a row, a performance that earned him a shot at Jannik Sinner, the top seed. Another Italian, Flavio Cobolli, reached the last 16 of a slam for the first time thanks to a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win over the Czech Jakub Mensik and the veteran Croat Marin Cilic followed up his surprise win over Britain's Jack Draper by beating Jaume Munar of Spain 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 to reach the fourth round of a slam for the first time since 2022.
The Guardian
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Sonay Kartal reaches Wimbledon fourth round for first time after sweeping past Parry
Sonay Kartal reached the fourth round at a major for the first time with a dominant 6-4, 6-2 victory over the French qualifier Diane Parry. Kartal started the third-round match on No 1 Court aggressively, putting Parry on the defensive, and unleashing an overhead smash winner to lead 30-15 in her opponent's opening service game. Parry rallied with a beautiful forehand down the line before Kartal brought the game to deuce and earned a break point. Parry, undeterred, saved it with a well-placed volley winner and ultimately held serve after a hard-fought six-minute game. The world No 103 then broke in Kartal's first service game. The British No 3 fired down two successive aces before seeing her efforts negated by a double fault, pushing the game to deuce. Parry's willingness to approach the net paid off handsomely, as a deft backhand volley winner earned her a break point and she secured it with a forehand into the corner. Parry held serve to 30 in the third game, with an inch-perfect slice from her single-handed backhand, putting the pressure firmly on her opponent. The Frenchwoman continued to dominate at the net, executing a brilliant stretch volley winner off a backhand pass. However, after 21 minutes of play, Kartal finally got on the board, holding serve to 30, much to the appreciation of the Court No 1 crowd. The tide began to turn in the sixth game of the first set with Kartal holding serve with an ace to finish the job. The atmosphere on Court No 1 was tense as she then surged to a 0-40 lead in the next game, earning three break points. Parry bravely saved the first two but the crowd roared their encouragement for the home player. Cue a tense, cat-and-mouse rally: Kartal attempted a drop shot, Parry dug out a shot to the baseline, and Kartal, opting for a down-the-line backhand instead of a lob, netted the shot. Parry's second double-fault of the match presented Kartal with a fourth break point and her low slice forced Parry to net a forehand, and secured the break back. At this juncture, Kartal's groundstrokes began to find their mark, landing close to the lines. She consolidated the break by holding serve to 30. Suddenly, it was Parry's unforced error count that was climbing, reaching 15 for the set as Kartal levelled at 4-4. An extra bounce in her step and increased confidence in her shot-making were palpable. Momentum swung. Kartal dug deep, battling back from deuce, to break Parry once more, taking a 5-4 lead following a fourth double fault from her opponent. Serving to take the set that initially looked like slipping through fingers, Kartal hit two unreturned serves before Parry hit a forehand and backhand long in succession. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion Frustration began to mount for the French player in the second set with a meekly sliced backhand into the net, offering Kartal two immediate break points. The British No 3 then sliced a backhand to Parry's forehand, which she flicked long, securing the break. At 40-0 on her own serve, Kartal attempted a cheeky serve-and-volley, a bold move that, while ultimately not coming off, showed her growing confidence. She held serve nonetheless with a whipping a high topspin forehand into the corner for a decisive winner. Parry, clearly frustrated did manage to hold serve twice and force Kartal to serve for the match. And she did just that with a forehand winner and a blistering ace. One of the Brit's 14 tattoos reads: 'The show must go on.' And on it goes to a match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova who defeated former champion Naomi Osaka in three sets.
Telegraph
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Live Wimbledon 2025: Live updates from Cameron Norrie v Frances Tiafoe
1:21PM Norrie 1-1 Tiafoe* Tiafoe takes the first two points comfortably and then sends Norrie the wrong way with a lovely backhand pass for 40-love. He tries a drop shot after a quick rally but it falls short. 15-40. Norrie replies in kind with a more successful drop shot, which the American reaches, but Norrie finishes at the net. Norri gets the next serve back but is forced wide by the Tiafoe slice and the American wins the game with a shot into the open court. Tiafoe holds serve. 1:16PM Norrie* 1-0 Tiafoe Tiafoe puts one of those white sleeves on his arm, the sort we have seen Jacob Fearnley wearing. But it doesn't help him return any of four serves he has to face, the first of which he sends wide, the next three of which he crashes into the net. Love game. Good start by Norrie. Norrie holds serve. 1:05PM Players on court Tiafoe is making his way through the newly-built tunnel that leads from the changing rooms to Court No 1. He has big headphones – and game face – on. He knows he's in for a battle, against a redoubtable opponent and the 12th man that is the home crowd. He is suddenly joined in the tunnel by Norrie, who appears magically from off camera, as though he has been hiding behind a pot plant. Mind games early on. Good to see. The players are now walking out on court. Tiafoe wins the toss, calls tails, and elects to receive. We will soon be under way. 12:50PM Norrie and Tiafoe evenly matched Norrie vs Tiafoe promises to be a fascinating match-up as neither player had a particularly eye-opening build-up to Wimbledon. Norrie crashed out early at both Queen's and Eastbourne, while Tiafoe lost his only match on grass – his least favoured surface – at Queen's. That said, they both returned to winning ways in the first round here, which is no mean feat considering the rate at which seeds have tumbled out already. Tiafoe came through in three sets against Elmer Moller, while Norrie claimed the scalp of an in-form Roberto Bautista Agut in four. The British No 3 produced 18 aces with a 71 per cent first serve percentage. He attacked the net 36 times and won 27 of those points, while concerting four of seven break points. If he reproduces that form Norrie will be more than a match for the American, who has won two of their three previous meetings, but has never faced the British No 3 grass. 12:36PM Wimbledon limbo It's a curious kind of limbo for the ground staff at the moment as the weather fails to make up its mind. I can see a gang of them gathered indecisively on Court 14. The covers are off but the net-posts aren't in yet. My suspicion is that we won't see a lot of play until No1 Court starts under the roof at 1pm. 12:29PM Play to get under way shortly The announcer at Wimbledon has just said that there will be no match play before 12.45pm, which one assumes is their way of saying that play will get under way at 12.45pm. Either way Norrie v Tiafoe will definitely get under way at 1pm on No 1 Court and you can follow it blow by blow right here. 12:19PM Bloodbath among the seeds Not three days in and it has been quite the Championships so far. There are 10 British players in the second round, which is virtually unheard of, while 23 seeds have crashed out in the first round. Coco Gauff and Paula Badosa have gone on the women's side, while Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Matteo Berrettini, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Holger Rune an Francisco Cerundolo are just some of the men who have also packed their bags already. Alexander Bublik's exit is also quite a surprise. The Kazak, who knocked Jack Draper out of Queen's, was fancied by many to go deep in the competition but Draper can at least relax in the knowledge he won't have to face him again for a while. 11:57AM Play pushed back With the first deadline of 11.45am having been passed for play to get under way on the outside courts, they have now pushed the earliest start time back to 12.15pm. That looks ambitious though. The covers are still on, and although there is some activity among the ground staff, the skies remain leaden. Correction! The covers are now being rolled back. This is England. We don't worry about grey skies. It's 22C out here. Positively tropical! 11:49AM Norrie v Tiafoe at 1pm Although the rain has stopped coming down as hard now, it is still drizzling lightly and so the covers remain in place on the outside courts. It's a real shame for those fans who have made the effort to get up at the crack of dawn and in some cases, camp overnight, in order to see some of the world's greatest players perform live. It is expected to clear up in the next two hours or so, so their journey won't have been completely wasted. For those lucky enough to have tickets for Centre Court or No 1 Court their viewing will remain unaffected as matches can take place under the cover of their retractable roofs, so it will be business as usual on the show courts, where action gets under way. Aryna Sabalenka, the No 1 seed, is up first against Marie Bouskova of Czech Republic on Centre Court at 1.30pm, while before that, on Centre Court, British No 3 Cameron Norrie takes on Frances Tiafoe of the United States on No 1 Court at 1pm. This promises to be a cracking contest and the first match we will be covering on this blog. The subsequent match between Katie Boulter and Solana Sierra of Argentina will also be covered right here. And as we speak Boulter has just arrived with her coach, carrying her massive Wilson tennis bag, which is almost bigger than her. She looks in great spirits, smiling at everyone as she walks into the players practice area, and why shouldn't she be happy. She played brilliantly in the first round and will be confident of another victory today.
