Latest news with #DanielHarris
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Horrendous moment teen nicknamed 'Rambo' slashes victim's face with deadly machete in case of mistaken identity as he is locked up for six years
This is the horrifying moment a teenager nicknamed 'Rambo' slashes his victim's face with a machete in the street. Daniel Harris, 18, has been sentenced to six years in prison after hiding the deadly weapon down his trousers in the seaside town of Barry, Wales. CCTV cameras saw him bring out the 18-inch blade to slice his victim's face in a case of mistaken identity. The victim had approached Harris after wrongly believing he was a troll who insulted his sister on social media. But the chilling footage showed Harris wielding the machete at his face in fury. The victim knocked the blade and tried to escape - but he was caught up and stabbed by the thug in broad daylight. He suffered a large gash on the face and severed his Achilles tendon - a bone in the leg that plays a significant role in walking and running - which left him with tendon and nerve damage. He also needed 20 stitches and was left with a cut on his shoulder, Cardiff Crown Court heard. It was only when Harris' hood came off that the unnamed victim recognised the thug. The victim said in a statement: 'The assault had an extreme emotional effect on me. The injury still causes me constant pain. 'Every time I look in the mirror, I am reminded of the incident.' Prosecutor Roger Griffiths said the victim has already had four surgeries on his leg, and still needs more operations. Andrew Kendall, defending, said: 'He doesn't want to be known as the sort of person who commits this offence. 'The offence was very much out of character for him'. Harris, of Brynna, South Wales, was found guilty of unlawful wounding with intent. Harris was sentenced to six years detention in a Young Offender Institution after he was found guilty of unlawful wounding with intent. Detective Inspector Phillip Marchant said: ' Tackling crime involving weapons such as machetes and knives is a priority for South Wales Police, and we take incidents like this extremely seriously. 'There is no place for those who carry knives in our community. 'I'm pleased to see this sentence and hope it gives Harris - who is known to others as Rambo - some time to reflect on his choice to carry a weapon. 'While this incident was extremely traumatising to the victim, the outcome could have been significantly worse.'
The Sun
12 hours ago
- The Sun
Horrifying moment thug nicknamed ‘Rambo' slashes at victim with huge machete he stashed in trousers
THIS is the horrifying moment a thug nicknamed "Rambo" slashed at his victim in a brutal attack. Daniel Harris, 18, stashed the weapon in his trousers before launching into the terrifying ambush. 5 5 The victim had approached Harris after wrongly believing the yob had insulted his sister on social media. Chilling footage then showed Harris wielding the 18-inch blade before slashing at the unnamed man in the seaside town of Barry in Wales. The victim staggered away in a bid to escape but Harris loomed over him and continued to stab him. He has now been detained for six years in a Young Offender Institution after he was found guilty of unlawful wounding with intent. Cardiff Crown Court heard the victim suffered a large gash on his face and severed his Achilles tendon. He needed 20 stitches and was also left with a cut on his shoulder and tendon and nerve damage. The victim said in a statement: 'The assault had an extreme emotional effect on me. The injury still causes me constant pain. 'Every time I look in the mirror, I am reminded of the incident.' The court heard he recognised Harris, who he knew as Rambo, when the thug's hood came off during the December 2024 attack. Detective Inspector Phillip Marchant said: "Tackling crime involving weapons such as machetes and knives is a priority for South Wales Police, and we take incidents like this extremely seriously. "There is no place for those who carry knives in our community. "I'm pleased to see this sentence and hope it gives Harris – who is known to others as Rambo – some time to reflect on his choice to carry a weapon. "While this incident was extremely traumatising to the victim, the outcome could have been significantly worse." 5 5 5
DW
12 hours ago
- Politics
- DW
World White Hate – DW – 07/23/2025
Racist and right-wing extremist networks are coalescing, worldwide. They carry out terrorist attacks on minorities and democratic institutions. Authorities in the USA and Europe consider this movement to be more dangerous than Islamist terrorism. Right-wing extremist groups are networked worldwide. Driven by the ideology of white supremacy, they spread their propaganda via digital platforms. Social media and encrypted messaging services such as Telegram make it possible to disseminate content in real time and recruit new followers. 18-year-old Payton Gendron killed 10 people, most of them African-Americans, with an assault rifle in a supermarket in Buffalo in the US state of New York. Before committing this crime, he was influenced and then radicalized by right-wing extremist videos posted by British teenager Daniel Harris. Harris has written entire books about his white supremacist beliefs, and published them online. It's a problem with global dimensions: Armed with a machete and Molotov cocktails, a 17-year-old attempted to storm a school in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo. He was wearing a swastika armband. These are just a few of the cases documented in the film, which clearly show how dire the threat of right-wing terror has become. Germany is also a flashpoint for right-wing terror, with attacks in Hanau, Halle and Munich. Many perpetrators are inspired by Brenton Tarrant, who murdered 51 people in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, and by the Norwegian assassin Anders Breivik, who shot dead 69 young participants at a Labor Party youth camp on the island of Utøya near Olso. Previously, he had detonated a bomb in the government district of Oslo, murdering eight people. He justified his actions in a video and a 1,500-page manifesto that went viral. As with the Australian Tarrant, who also wrote a manifesto entitled 'The Great Replacement', Breivik's message is about the superiority of the white race, which is supposedly being targeted and replaced by migrants. It's a view that is also shared by an increasing number of people outside extremist circles. As a result, hatred and racism are spreading worldwide like a virus. In a major raid in Germany in December 2022, 25 right-wing extremists were arrested, including members of the so-called 'Reichsbürger' or 'Citizens of the Reich' movement, conspiracy theorists, retired military officers and a former member of the Bundestag. According to the German Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, the group had been plotting to overthrow the democratic system. In this context, UN Secretary-General Guterres spoke of the greatest threat to our democracy and its institutions. Filmmaker Dirk Laabs' research shows that soldiers and veterans pose a particularly great danger - in the USA, France, Germany, Spain and Russia. Former and active soldiers network globally and are potential assassins. Right-wing extremist mercenaries also represent a danger. This group is potentially even more threatening - due to their combat experience, access to weapons and professional networks. WORLD WHITE HATE unveils the parallels and overlaps between these very different right-wing extremist groups. But how can this hatred be countered? How can right-wing terror be stopped? What can be done to protect democratic society, people and state institutions from right-wing terror? Filmed in the USA, western and eastern Europe, the UK, Scandinavia and Brazil, WORLD WHITE HATE charts the development of the threat posed by right-wing terror, a danger that has been underestimated for far too long. It is exacerbated by populist politicians such as Donald Trump and radical right-wing parties. The documentary WORLD WHITE HATE by Dirk Laabs analyzes the mechanisms of radicalization and discusses possible counter-strategies for democratic societies. The central question remains: "How can we win the digital and real battle against increasing violence from the right?' DW English SAT 09.08.2025 – 10:30 UTC SAT 09.08.2025 – 21:30 UTC SUN 10.08.2025 – 04:30 UTC Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 | Nairobi UTC +3 Delhi UTC +5,5 | Bangkok UTC +7 | Hong Kong UTC +8 London UTC +1 | Berlin UTC +2 | Moscow UTC +3 San Francisco UTC -7 | Edmonton UTC -6 | New York UTC -4
The Guardian
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Wimbledon 2025 semi-finals: Anisimova stuns Sabalenka before Bencic v Swiatek
Update: Date: 2025-07-10T15:17:07.000Z Title: *Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 4-6 Anisimova Content: Updates from SW19 | Fritz has class to upset Alcaraz Mail Daniel | Gallery: joyous disorder at Wimbledon Daniel Harris Thu 10 Jul 2025 11.17 EDT First published on Thu 10 Jul 2025 07.30 EDT 11.17am EDT 11:17 Already, this is the match of championships, a glorious meld of brilliance, tension and import … and look at Anisimova, a wondrously disguised drop making 0-30, then Sabalenka goes long and Anisimova, who made a total mess of serving for the match a few minutes ago, now has three match points! A return sent long ruins the first, a huuuuge second serve is in just and the point eventually ends via swing-volley – that's amazing behaviour from Sabalenka, every shot in that rally attacked like nothing's at stake. But then, out no nowhere, Anisimova spirits a forehand almost from behind her, into a tiny space between opponent and sideline, AND AMANDA ANISIMOVA IS INTO THE WIMBLEDON FINAL! WHAT A MOMENT, WHAT A MATCH, WHAT A PERFORMANCE! 11.11am EDT 11:11 Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 4-5 Anisimova* A service-winner redeems a forehand error; 15-all. But another forehand error after Sabalenka hits a great depth increases the pressure; a return loops long for 30-all. We then go backhand to backhand down the middle of the court … until Anisimova goes long, and now faces break-back point, the opportunity of a lifetime slipping away. But an error on return brings us to deuce, another return goes into the net, and Amanda Anisimova has match point! I've no idea how one holds it together in this situation ad, if we're honest Anisimova doesn't, a backhand that is both careful and careless falling wide. So Sabalenka ups the power, booming forehands followed by an overhead making advantage, and when Anisimova goes long on the forehand, the weight of the years heavy on her head, we're back on serve in the decider! How's that goldfish memory now?! We shall find out! 11.04am EDT 11:04 *Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 3-5 Anisimova Serving to stay in the championships, Sabalenka makes 15-0, then nails a high-kicking service-winner out wide. Anisimova then misses a backhand down the line, and the game is secured when another goes long. She will have to serve for the match and for the final, the entirety of her life having led to this moment. How is she feeling? I can barely feel my fingers! Updated at 11.05am EDT 11.02am EDT 11:02 Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 2-5 Anisimova* A double opens the game and tension ratchets up yet another level; we wind up at 15-30. But Sabalenka then nets a forehand, howling in anguish at the oversight, and when Anisimova plays a gorgeous approach and drop, she's on hand to pat away an overhead, before a helpful net cord takes her to within a game of the final! Naturally, she raises an arm, but in celebration and supplication not apology; this means way too much to bother with pretence. Updated at 11.02am EDT 10.58am EDT 10:58 *Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 2-4 Anisimova In any tournament, you want exciting matches early doors, but when enshrines one as a classic is laster-stagers epics. and Anisimova is ready to become the hero of this iteration, hitting beautifully to make 0-30 – her timing is sensational, almost every ball coming off the middle of the strings. Sabalenka, though, quickly makes 30-all, then she somehow sticks in a rally Anisimova should finish, before stomping in to somehow flicks a backhand winner down the line. But no! The ball was, we're advised, two millimetres wide, and at 30-40the underdog has a point for a double-break; an effective match point. Sabalenka, though, saves it when her opponent nets, she closes out from there, and, in the process, removes the anvil dangling above her head, relocating it above the head of Anisimova. 10.52am EDT 10:52 Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 1-4 Anisimova* Sabalenka makes 0-15, then Anisimova goes wide with a backhand, and the tension is something, clouding the court in miasma. And though a forehand into the net halves the deficit, another sensational point from the world no 1, a forehand return to the corner backed up by a drop and backhand, raises two break-back points. The first is burnt via netted forehand … and the second via netted backhand; that's 10 of 12 Anisimova has now saved. Gosh, and our players then become embroiled in a battle at the net then, just as it loos like Sabalenka has won it, a backhand on to the outermost fibre of the line means that in fact she's down advantage. This match is quickly graduating from thriller to epic, all the more so when Sabalenka saves game point, only to be wrong-footed by a forehand winner that follows a rally-changing backhand. And from there, Anisimova endorses the break, a flat forehand winner, unleashed cross-court, taking her to within two games of the final. This is fantastic behaviour – from both players. 10.45am EDT 10:45 *Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 1-3 Anisimova Eesh, with Anisimova on the run, Sabalenka goes long with plenty of empty court at which to aim; 15-30. And when she has to let go a second serve, you fear for her, but she kicks it so high the return sails long, then hits the line with a serve and invents an absurd angle to annihilate a forehand winner cross-court from sideline to sideline. She can't, though, close out, beaten by the sweetness of Anisimova's ball-striking, and when a forehand goes into the net, the American has a point for a second consecutive break. Sabalenka, though, finds the colossal big first serve she needs … but when she's offered a forehand putaway form close to the net, she unloads the suitcase when doesn't need to, the ball flies long, and Anisimova leads by a break! P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E! Updated at 10.56am EDT 10.39am EDT 10:39 Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 1-2 Anisimova* I say goldfish memory, but recognising the axiom that 'that was then, this is now,' is also crucial to therapeutic thinking and, during her time away from the game, Anisimova exposed herself to plenty of it. I can't say for sure that it gave her perspective, but my best guess is that it did, all the more so when she responds to a Sabalenka winner for 30-all with one of her own that raises game point. And, though she then delivers a second serve that sits up and begs to be assaulted, the return goes into the tape, and I've not a clue who's going to win this. Updated at 10.40am EDT 10.35am EDT 10:35 *Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 1-1 Anisimova Sabalenka looks the more confident player now, but she finds herself at 30-all and a really good return puts her under pressure. She responds well, though, winning the point, and is now keeping Anisimova on her bike, which means she can't plant feet and release power. But another brutal return takes us to deuce, and when Sabalenka directs a backhand into the net, she faces break-back point … which she must negotiate with a second serve. Shonuff, it sits up to be hit, but Anisimova can't manufacture a winner and a forehand of unimpeachable depth helps restore deuce, only for a backhand into the net to cede another opportunity to break this time, Sabalenka rams a forehand cross wide, and we're back on serve in the decider! That's brilliant work from the American, who probably felt a way about losing her serve so comprehensively but, like the best sportsfolk, deployed her goldfish memory to forget the past and move on. Updated at 10.36am EDT 10.29am EDT 10:29 Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 1-0 Anisimova* Here comes what should be a decider of horrific intensity; both players will be so desperate to win it. An error from Anisimova hands over 0-15, then a terrific point from Sabalenka, finished with a backhand into the corner takes her to within two points of a break. And when Anisimova nets a forehand, it feels like momentum is inexorable, and shonuff, when sent to the corner once more, the American can't respond, broken to love. She's in big trouble. 10.22am EDT 10:22 *Sabalenka 4-6 6-4 Anisimova Sabalenka makes 15-0, but a double evidences nerves; Chrissy Evert she ain't though, in fairness, Chrissy Evert all of us ain't. We wind up at 30-all and the tension is palpable, all the more so when the first-serve spot is missed, but a forehand return into the net means set point, and a service winner ensures we and this match have the decider we and it deserve. Bring it on! Updated at 10.34am EDT 10.17am EDT 10:17 Sabalenka 4-6 5-4 Anisimova* At 30-15, Sabalenka finds a glorious forehand, cut cross to break the sideline; she's two points away from forcing a deciding set. And when she hits the line with a return, Anisimova nets, then, facing set point, she serves long. And though Sabalenka doesn't get after her second delivery in the expected manner, allowing her opponent a forehand winner down the line, and excellent backhand raises another opportunity … but this time, facing a second serve, she nets her forehand return – to her immense consternation. Then, totally out of the next rally, set nashing to the corners, she forces Anisimova to play an extra ball, lashing a shoulder-high backhand cross, when the backhand smash doesn't do enough; that's the shot of the match so far to finish the rally of the match so far, and she salutes the crowd but can she convert the opportunity? She cannot, directing a backhand long, and though Anisimova burns an advantage of her own, she then closes out with the help of yet another disconcertingly violent backhand. Sabalenka must now serve for the second set. 'As a Brit who has lived in the S. for 30 years,' says Gregory Phillips, 'I can confirm 'often' is a word here, but many Americans, especially older Americans, tend toward the folksier 'oftentimes', especially in speech.' So are we saying it's a deliberate thing aimed at creating a particular feeling? Updated at 10.22am EDT 10.07am EDT 10:07 *Sabalenka 4-6 5-3 Anisimova But Sabalenka is soon down 0-30; a service winner and another biggun, backed by a brace of forehands, restore parity, and from there, the consolidation is secured. For the first time, Sabalenka is in the ascendancy, Anisimova about to serve to stay in the second set. 10.05am EDT 10:05 Sabalenka 4-6 4-3 Anisimova* A beautiful wrong-footing forehand gives Anisimova 30-0, and I think this is the best I've ever seen her play, in the biggest match of her life – she made the last four of French Open in 2019, aged 17, but this is different as she now knows what it's all about. All the more so when two errors hand over 30-all, the scream she emits in the process of making the second indicating the mounting tension; I'd love to hear her internal monologue now, and as I type, she drills a forehand into the net so must now defend break point … and she sends down a double! Sabalenka breaks without having to hit a winner, and we saw it coming: Anisimova is a very good player, but we can't expect her to play at her to level for an entire match, especially with Sabalenka on the other side of the net. Updated at 10.13am EDT 10.00am EDT 10:00 *Sabalenka 4-6 3-3 Anisimova A backhand guided down the line makes Anisimova 15-all; Sabalenka doesn't like it because her opponent makes a noise before the ball is past her. So when the American goes long next point, Sabalenka hollers like she's anguished … only to net a ball herself that means 30-all. And from there, she closes out, greeting the ace that seals the deal with another loud geschrei. Geschrei, what a word that is. 9.54am EDT 09:54 Sabalenka 4-6 2-3 Anisimova* But Anisimova handles it well, sich that when Sabalenka hooks a backhand return wide for 40-0, she hiwls in anguish, then again when she returns into the net to complete a 75-second hold. So far, every question is being answered emphatically. 9.52am EDT 09:52 *Sabalenka 4-6 2-2 Anisimova A backhand down the line and into the corner makes 15-0, but a similar shot missed means 15-all. No matter: Sabalenka wins the next three points, the last of them with an ace, and this upcoming game feels like an important one. Updated at 9.53am EDT 9.49am EDT 09:49 Sabalenka 4-6 1-2 Anisimova* A couple of Anisimova errors hand Sabalenka 15-30, then she takes pace off at 30-all … so Anisimova punishes a forehand winer. But we wind up at deuce, the world no 1 again looking to take pace off, then down advantage it's the trusty weapons-grade forehand that looks set to save her … only for her to overhit her clean-up down the line. So Anisimova holds, but there's a sense that Sabalenka is beginning to solve the problem. 9.44am EDT 09:44 *Sabalenka 4-6 1-1 Anisimova At 15-all, Anisimova goes long with a backhand return, something of a missed opportunity. Another then goes into the net, and a forehand down the line secures the hold. Sabalenka needed that, but there remains a sense that she's playing reactively and waiting for her opponent to err or drop her lveel, not the kind of match she's used to playing. 9.42am EDT 09:42 Sabalenka 4-6 0-1 Anisimova* There's a flinty badman eyedness about Anisimova here and I sense Sabalenka is becoming frustrated. She holds to 15 and if I was the underdog – which, for avoidance of doubt, I'm not – on return, I'd be looking to get balls into court and make the world no 1 play. Updated at 9.45am EDT 9.38am EDT 09:38 Sabalenka takes her bag and disappears. She's got some thinking to do, because this match is going as Anisimova wants it to. She needs to get at Anisimova's backhand and get her moving – a problem if her drops aren't working, but sending her side to side will also be helpful. Updated at 9.42am EDT 9.36am EDT 09:36 *Sabalenka 4-6 Anisimova A second serve gets the treatment is deserves, carted cross for a winner, then another invites the same but this time the return is too close to Sabalenka, who makes 15-all when her opponent errs. But an overhit backhand takes us to 30-all and Anisimova to within two points of the set … so Saba sends her out wide with the serve, and though the return is deep, she hits what's almost a half-volley, a backhand winner deep towards the opposite corner. But if you keep doing the right things you get your rewards, and another fine return sets up a putaway for deuce; again, Anisimova is within two points of the set. And, though a service winner gives Sabalenka advantage, a rally-ball into the backhand is quickly assaulted for a winner which restores deuce. Another service-winner then raises another game point but Anisimova again saves it, then hits yet another superb return, again well-handled by Sabalenka, who deflects it for a winner. Gosh, it's hard to keep up with this: Anisimova saves game point, a backhand winner raises set point … but she frames a return and back to deuce we go, then again when Sabalenka makes advantage and sees her second serve brutalised once more. And have a look! A flat, shrieking backhand cross earns Anisimova advantage and a second set point, Sabalenka serves a fault and, perhaps spooked by the treatment meted out to her second delivery, she goes for the back of the box, misses, and the American leads by a set! She is totally comfortable attacking the power game that's too much for almost everyone else, and Sabalenka needs to find another way! Updated at 9.38am EDT 9.23am EDT 09:23 We're good to go again. 9.23am EDT 09:23 In the meantime, does the word 'often' exists in American English, or is it always 'oftentimes'? 9.22am EDT 09:22 Ah, there's another situation in the crowd. This time, the pause is a proper tester for Sabalenka, who now has no margin for error. Updated at 9.36am EDT 9.20am EDT 09:20 Sabalenka 4-5 Anisimova* At 30-all, Anisimova nets a forehand, but an ace out wide, the ball sneaking under Sabalenka's racket, raises game point, and a gorgeous backhand winner, inside-out while backpeddling, to break the sideline, means her opponent must now serve to stay in the first set. 9.17am EDT 09:17 *Sabalenka 4-4 Anisimova So far, this looks like a meeting of equals, not two versions of similar with one noticeably better than the other. And look at that! Sabalenka serves a kicker out wide … and Anisimova retorts with a squash-shot drop-shot on the stretch for a clean winner! I'm not sure why Sabalenka wasn't chasing in, but she redeems the situation with an ace that gives her 30-all, and from there she secures the hold. Increasingly, it looks like this set will come down to a point or two in a tiebreaker. Updated at 9.24am EDT 9.11am EDT 09:11 Sabalenka 3-4 Anisimova* Anisimova is a milimetre long on the forehand, then a double means she's down 0-30 and her riposte to a fine return, which lands close to the baseline, falls long. Three break points Sabalenka! But Anisimova saves the first two, then astonishes a backhand winner down the line and makes advantage with an ace. But a second double of the game follows, Sabalenka's first decent drop of the game raises a fourth break point … only for her to net her return. But from there, Anisimova closes out for the hold, and she looks really composed out there. 'I just witnessed the biggest shock of the Wimbledon Wheelchair Tournament so far,' informs Chris Page. 'No 3 seed, Li of China, just sent Diede de Groot, defending champion and six-time women's singles champion, out of the tournament 7-6 6-4. Absolutely staggering. My money's now on Japan's Yui Kamiji for the title. 9.05am EDT 09:05 *Sabalenka 3-3 Anisimova And that time to stew really affected her. A big serve followed by a vicious forehand makes advantage, then another big serve is returned long, and we're back level in the first. 9.03am EDT 09:03 After a little over five minutes, we're good to resume, Sabalenka serving at deuce. 9.01am EDT 09:01 *Sabalenka 2-3 Anisimova Sabalenka goes long for 0-15, then a double ups the ante; she takes her time after sending down a third consecutive fault and her her delivery sits up and begs to be spanked; Anisimova will be disappointed she hits the net on return. But have a look! She cracks a backhand winer cross, raising two break points, and this feels like a potential inflection point, but a return into the net and a forehand that's just long bring us to deuce, Anisimova slipping on to haunches in frustration as the missed opportunity. So to deuce we go, at which point there's a pause as someone in the crowd has a situation; Sabalenka takes over some water, then both players sit under their respective umbrellas, left in limbo at a pressure moment. That's better news for Anisimova, able to relax while her opponent stews. Updated at 9.05am EDT 8.53am EDT 08:53 Sabalenka 2-3 Anisimova* We also mentioned earlier that the players might try to turn their opponent's strength against her, and Anisimova goes long on the backhand for 15-all, then hits a terrible forehand wide from mid-court. At 15-30, Sabalenka has a sniff, but she frames a return to release pressure … then does likewise when sent a second consecutive body-serve. A return then falls long, and Anisimova will be happy with her start. 8.50am EDT 08:50 *Sabalenka 2-2 Anisimova We said just before that the second serve might be something for Anisimova to target, an we've just been told that no one – man or woman – hits them back as hard as she does. Of course, it's no sooner said than Sabalenka nails an ace down the T for 40-0, and from there, she too secures a love hold. This is developing into an intense contest, both players bringing it. 'Wimbledon has a history of clashing with other sports,' writes Krishnamoorthy V. 'My best memory is from 2019 - we were returning from a road trip and my mobile was tuned to the OBO of the cricket World Cup and the car radio was tuned to the epic Federer - Djokovic . The former went to the superover and the latter to a tie break after 12-12 in the fifth set. We pulled over to a food court mall and there were two big screens with live telecast of both the matches. Surreal.' I can't remember the 2019 World Cup. What happened there? Updated at 8.51am EDT 8.47am EDT 08:47 Sabalenka 1-2 Anisimova* Sabalenka hasn't found her range or her head yet, an attempted drop she oughtn't to have played hitting the net for 30-0. From there, Anisimova serves out a love hold, and she's started nicely. Updated at 8.50am EDT 8.44am EDT 08:44 *Sabalenka 1-1 Anisimova Sabalenka smites a forehand winner down the line, then a return flies long; 30-0. But a poor second serve allows Anisimova to attack and incite the error – look out for that as a feature, because that facet of Sabalenka's game is a relative weakness – then at 40-15, a terrible drop allows the American to make a cup of tea prior to swatting a backhand winner. But a big serve takes care of the next point, so we're level at a game apiece. 8.40am EDT 08:40 Sabalenka 0-1 Anisimova* (denotes server) A confident start from Anisimova, who makes 40-15, but scurrying in to net after a squash-shot return dips, she flicks long, inviting minor pressure. No matter: Sabalenka nets a forehand, and the underdog is into the match. 8.38am EDT 08:38 Anisimova to serve; ready … play. 8.37am EDT 08:37 Our players are out on Centre. Anisimova actually leads the head-to-head 5-3, so won't be feart, but Sabalenka has won three of the last last four. My feeling is that she controls her power slightly better, but she's also more prone to collapse and likely to be the less chill of the two. 8.30am EDT 08:30 I did not, I must say, expect Bencic to bin Andreeva yesterday. Partly, Bencic is someone on whose performance I've never felt able to rely, but mainly, I felt like Andreeva was ready to win – as much as anything because, for the first time, those were the vibes she and her coach were exuding. Which isn't to say I expected her to, but I did think it'd take Swiatek or Sabalenka to stop her. Bencic, though, played the big points superbly, and if she can do that against Swiatek, she's a chance. 8.22am EDT 08:22 As it did last year, Wimbledon clashes with the Lord's Test – unhelpful for people working on the former with tickets for the latter. Pray for them. Both venues encapsulate some of the worst of this country – fussiness, coldness, formality – and some of the best – tastefulness, attention to detail, beauty. There are few venues, if any – in any sport – which envelop you in their history so absolutely, that feel an honour to attend, that so enrapture those lucky enough to play at them. I love both despite myself. 8.11am EDT 08:11 Two years ago, Swiatek men Bencic in the round of 16, winning in three, but both are better now than then; my sense, though, is that it's the former who's taken the bigger strides. On grass, she's a very different player to the one she was then and as a consequence, her on-court persona is very different too. 8.00am EDT 08:00 Most likely, Anisimova will look to hit at Sabalenka's backhand, while Sabelenka looks for her forehand. But sometimes, players seek to turn an opponent's strength against them, and if either one finds their money shot malfunctioning – and these big weapons have little margin for error – I'd not be surprised to see it targeted. 7.53am EDT 07:53 On BBC, they're saying Sabalenka needs this more than the other three semi-finalists, which I understand: she was so disappointed to lose the French Open final to Coco Gauff, and as world no 1, winning things is what she's meant to do. But Anisimova and Bencic will see this as the chance of their lives and have not a clue when they'll be this close to glory again, whereas Sabalenka will be there or thereabouts next year and for many more to come. 7.48am EDT 07:48 It's really hot in London today, but these are some supremely fit athletes, so I doubt the temperature has much effect on the outcome. Updated at 8.01am EDT 7.46am EDT 07:46 So who's going to win today? It's hard to look beyond Sabalenka and Swiatek; I'd actually be more inclined to back a shock if the matches were reversed, because the match-ups as they are seem to favour the favourites. Anisimova, I fear, does what Sabalenka does, just less well, while Swiatek might need hitting off the court, something Anisimova is better capable of than Bencic. But both are live dogs. 7.37am EDT 07:37 Also going on: 7.30am EDT 07:30 Wotcha one and all and welcome to Wimbledon 2025 – day 11! We're at that point, aren't we? On the one hand, we're buzzing for what promises to be another belter of a go-around; on the other, we're fearful that all of this is nearly over. So it goes. Aryna Sabalenka is, to use the sportsperson's parlance, not just a freak of nature but an absolute freak of nature. Her easy power is like nothing we've seen before, the joy she takes in unleashing it equal parts terrifying and affirming. But neither she nor it are infallible. Sabalenka has reached the last three grand slam finals but lost the last two, while at Wimbledon she's found ways to lose both semi-finals she's made, from a set up. Amid all the pyrotechnics and giggles, there's a fragility inherent within her style and character that is both humanising and undermining. She is fascinating, but she is beatable. And in Amanda Anisimova, she finds one of few opponents with the same one-shot kill capacity, surging after a restorative mental-health break. Though it is hard to forget her flummoxed surrender in the final at Queen's, we might put that down to Tatjana Maria's unique style and, while Sabalenka represents a colossal step-up in class relative to her previous opponents, this will be her kind of match – and she's ready for it. Following them on Centre we've Belinda Bencic and Iga Swiatek – both on the road back, for very different reasons. Bencic began the year ranked 497 in the world after giving birth to her daughter Bella in April 2024, and has gradually worked her way to a peak. When it hits, her risky, aggressive game is nasty proposition for anyone, all the more so now it's fired by the perspective of having a child and the thrill of unexpectedly reaching the last four. She is under no pressure whatsoever. The same is not so of Iga Swiatek who, even in the moment of victory yesterday, noted the weight of expectation coming from home – all the more so given the poor year she's endured. She lost to Jessica Pegula in New York and Madison Keys in Melbourne, had her French Open title ripped from her by Sabalenka, and has not won a tournament of any description since Roland Garros. However there've been signs these last few weeks that her form is returning and her game – on the face of it a decent fit for a grass court – is finally at one with the surface. Her confidence is back and her swagger looks not far behind; two more wins and we might look at this fortnight as the start of an epoch. Play: 1.30pm BST
News.com.au
04-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
House of the week: Palatial rural retreat
A rural retreat with a sprawling home built around a courtyard with pool is on the market in the Top End, and it also has an airconditioned workshop, bar and granny flat. The fully-fenced 1.97ha property at 10 Emanuel Rd, Girraween, is set up for private family living and entertaining. Selling agent Daniel Harris, of Real Estate Central, said the well-constructed home was a commanding residence of palatial proportions. Designed by architect Savvas Savvas, the house has 735 sqm under roof with 3.1m high ceilings, a slate feature wall and an abundance of louvres and sliding doors throughout. '(There is) a seamless flow of indoor to outdoors from all corners of the home, leading out to the truly remarkable pool, the centrepiece of the home,' Mr Harris said. The home completely wraps around the central courtyard with pool, deck and verandas. There is a big carport at the front of the home and a formal entry area leading to the oversized family room and open plan dining and kitchen area. The kitchen has Caesarstone benchtops, soft-closing doors and a 6m long butler's pantry. The home theatre is perfect for movie night and features a 3D projector screen, surround sound and under floor lighting. The main bedrooms has a massive walk-in robe and an ensuite with shower, tucked-away toilet and dual basins. Two more bedrooms share a two-way bathroom and have direct access to the central courtyard, while the fourth bedrooms with walk-in robe and pool access is right near the family bathroom and the second double carport. In the central courtyard, the pool has frameless glass fencing and LED lights, and is surrounded by a deck. A big rumpus room overlooking the pool has a timber ceiling, fully-equipped kitchen, bar and TV. The block comes with a lined 9mx12m shed with plumbing, water tanks, two split-system airconditioners and roller door access. There is also two bedroom demountable with bathroom, kitchen, living space, store room and veranda. The property has a quality bore, water tanks, shade sails, garden beds and citrus trees. PROPERTY DETAILS Bedrooms: 6 Bathrooms: 4 Carparks: 6 Price guide: $1.7m
