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Telegraph
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Heather Watson vs Clara Tauson: Latest updates from Wimbledon with more British hopes in action
*Denotes server Latest updates Richard Aikman live updates 01 July 2025 11:36am 11:36AM Tauson 2-5 Watson* Watson takes the first point but goes long with a forehand down the line, which probably should have been hit with her backhand. 15-all. Watson backs up a good first serve out wide by coming to the bet and executing another drop shot. 30-15. Watson comes to the net again and plays another drop shot. This time Tauson reaches it but misses with a forehand pass. Tauson nets and that's another game for Watson. Watson holds serve. 11:32AM Tauson* 2-4 Watson Perfect drop shot by Watson after a good return on Tauson's second serve. Soft hands there. 0-15. Return winner down the line from the Watson backhand. She's in her groove at the moment while Tauson is looking slightly out of sorts. 0-13-. A rare good first serve is netted, 15-30. Brilliant cross-court back-hand return from Watson, love over the net. Tauson nets and there are two more break points up for grabs. 15-40. Big serve is netted by Watson. 30-40. Another clean backhand winner down the line and Watson has won three games on the trot. Watson breaks serve. 11:28AM Tauson 2-3 Watson* Watson goes 30-love up with two well-constructed points. She doesn't have a big serve and so is reliant on her movement and ground strokes to get ahead. That's a superb cross-court forehand winner that clears the net by about a millimetre and lands plum on the line. 40-love. Tauson goes too deep on her backhand and that's a rare, comfortable game to love for the Briton. Watson holds serve. 11:25AM Tauson* 2-2 Watson A lovely cross-court winner by Watson into the corner will give her confidence. 0-15. As will the Tauson double-fault. 0-30. Tauson is struggling on serve but Watson fails to punish her weak second serve and sprays a backhand into the tramlines. 15030. The Dane hits a winner down the line. 30-all. Poor execution by Tauson as she goes long on a simple put-away and break points emerges for Watson: 30-40. A good return of the second serve prompts Tauson to go too big on her approach. Game Watson. Watson breaks serve. 11:20AM Tauson 2-1 Watson* You join us with the match level after two games and going with serve. After losing the first point with a passing shot down the line, which is a shade long, Watson puts pressure on herself by double-faulting. She then goes long again with a regulation forehand to give her opponent two break points. A meek second serve is punished by the Tauson backhand – a searing cross-court drive that beats Watson all ends up. Tauson breaks serve. 11:10AM Brits warming to the conditions SW18 is still at the epicentre of a heatwave today with Annabel Croft, a veteran of British tennis, claiming on the BBC earlier today that she can 'never remember Wimbledon being so hot'. Yesterday was the hottest opening day at the All England Club on record, with temperatures reaching 32C, but that didn't affected the British performances. Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal and Emma Raducanu breezed through to the second round yesterday, among seven British winners on the same day. The mercury may climb even higher today. 10:56AM Great Dane on the rise Watson's opponent is strongly fancied to win this one. Tauson claimed her first main-tour title in Auckland in early January and went on to finish runner-up to Mirra Andreeva in the Dubai 1000 series tournament. She has won 24 matches and lost 13, rising to No 22 in the world. The redoubtable Dane, who was tipped for big things as a teenager breaking through, reached the quarter-finals of Nottingham and the round of 16 at the Bad Homburg Open last week, where she lost to Mira Andreeva in three sets. She also has 11 years on her opponent. In short these are two players whose career trajectories are heading in opposite directions. But Watson will have the backing of home support, which has got to count for something, right? Right? 10:42AM Elementary, my dear Watson Welcome to live coverage of Wimbledon where we bring you Heather Watson's first-round encounter Clara Tauson of Denmark. At 33 years of age Heather Watson is in the autumn of her career and as such could be contesting her final Wimbledon, not least because results have hardly been stellar in 2025. The girl from Guernsey has won 14 matches and lost 14 so far this year and lies 143rd in the world rankings. There are some shards of optimism to be gleaned from a spirited showing at Queen's where Watson came through two rounds of qualifying before dispatching Yulia Putintseva until Elena Rybakina stopped her in her tracks. Nottingham and Eastbourne were less encouraging, however, as Watson didn't even make it through qualifying. She has also fallen at this first-round hurdle in her last two appearances at the All England Club – it does not augur well for today.
Telegraph
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Emma Raducanu vs Ann Li: Score and latest updates from Eastbourne Open
* denotes server Latest updates Richard Aikman. 24 June 2025 3:19pm 3:19PM Raducanu 4-5 Ann Li* This is a intriguing battle between both players – the American holds to love. The British No 1 is now serving to stay in the opening set. Can Raducanu keep her composure? 3:16PM Raducanu* 4-4 Ann Li Raducanu's back seems to be holding up – as she serves up an ace and races ahead 30-0. This would only happen at Eastbourne, her next serve is interrupted when a seagull flies across the court in Raducanu's eyeline. The crowd seem to have enjoyed that comical moment and both players raise a smile. However, Raducanu keeps her composure and holds serve to 15. 3:13PM Raducanu 3-4 Ann Li* The British No 1 has really raised her game here – she steps into Li's serve and sends an undefendable return. But the American is un-phased and sprints to the net. She puts Raducanu under pressure – the British No 1 goes wide with her forehand on the next point. Li is really struggling with her second serve which Raducanu's punishes – it is deuce. But then the American is able to hold as Raducanu's lob attempt is blown out of the court by the wind. A brilliant battle between both players. 3:08PM Raducanu* 3-3 Ann Li Raducanu's confidence is building here – as she goes for bigger and more powerful shots. However, she nets her forehand allowing the American to draw level at 30-30. A brilliant serve out wide from Raducanu – takes her to game point and she fistpumps once again to the Eastbourne crowd – they are loving this. Li goes wide with her backhand return and we are all square in this opening set. 3:03PM Raducanu 2-3 Ann Li* The British No 1 is overcoming her inauspicious start to this match. She sprints to net and chases down the American's drop shot and returns it past Li. Li then finds the net with her backhand and the British No 1 roars with a fistpump as she races ahead 30-0. What a shot from Raducanu – a sublime backhand winner earns the Briton another break point. Can she make this count? Yes she can, as Li nets. 3:00PM Raducanu* 1-3 Ann Li The Eastbourne crowd are delighted, as Raducanu produces the first ace of the match with a brilliant serve – Li had no chance of returning that. Things are looking a lot brighter for the British No 1, as she holds to 15 and is starting to assert herself in this match. 2:57PM Raducanu 0-3 Ann Li* The British No 1 starts well and races ahead 40-0 on the Li serve. Here we go, three break points for Raducanu – a well-timed backhand drop shot. However, two mishit cross court shots from the British No 1 means she wastes the first of two break points. Raducanu finds the net and it is deuce – she will be kicking herself. The American rescues the game with a forehand winner and she has taken real control of this opening set. 2:52PM Raducanu* 0-2 Ann Li A comfortable break for Li – her forehand is proving to be a real weapon but Raducanu is giving the American too much on time on it. An extended rally won by the American after well-time backhand drop shot – the crowd at Eastbourne goes silent as Li is on her way to three break points. She takes the second as Raducanu goes long with her forehand return. 2:46PM First set: Emma Raducanu 0-1 Ann Li* (*denotes server) A positive start from the British No 1, who forces Li to deuce as the American goes long with her backhand after a lengthy rally. Brilliant ball striking from both players – but Li gets some luck as her forehand catches the net and it drops dead for Raducanu. Then, the British No 1 goes wide with her forehand on the next point and Li is able to hold. 2:33PM Raducanu on court Now the focus turns to Raducanu and Li! Raducanu's performance at Queen's was certainly encouraging and she should have enough to get past Li, against whom she has never played. Li, the world No 64, started the year well with wins over Daria Saville and Anna Kalinskaya en route to a finals run in Singapore and says grass is her favourite surface, but she has a win-loss record of 15/13. The players have just been introduced and we will be underway shortly at Eastbourne.
Telegraph
05-04-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Premier League: Scores and latest updates including Crystal Palace vs Brighton
Latest updates Richard Aikman live updates 05 April 2025 3:03pm 3:01PM Who will win 'derby' bragging rights? There is always a bit of spice in the 'A23 derby' but there is more than just historical antipathy riding on this match. Brighton can move to within two points of fourth place with a win against the Eagles, who are seven points further back despite their recent good form, which hit a bump in the road where they could only salvage a late point against lowly Southampton. 2:57PM Can Bournemouth bounce back? The Cherries had been flying up the table in January and February, their 5-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest seemingly a harbinger of European prospects. Since beating Southampton on February 15 however their form has dropped off a cliff. The Cherries have gone five matches without a win and they have succumbed to four defeats in that run. The loss of Justin Kluivert has not helped their cause. West Ham have not exactly been pulling up any trees themselves. They have mustered only two wins in nine matches but fortunately are 14 points clear of the relegation zone. They have nothing to lose though so perhaps Graham Potter can encourage the likes of Mohammed Koudous, Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen to take the handbrake off and play with a bit of freedom. 2:46PM Relegation six-pointer Ipswich vs Wolves is the ultimate relegation six-pointer. Wolves lie 17th, nine points ahead of Kieran McKenna's side, so a win would all but secure another season in the Premier League with seven matches remaining. A win for the hosts though would give them hope, as the Tractor Boys would close to within six points of their opponents. Confidence will be up after beating Bournemouth in midweek, thanks to Nathan Broadhead's opener and Liam Delap's 11th goal of the season. Wolves also won, though, with a narrow 1-0 victory over West Ham and, with the onus on the hosts to won, you imagine they will sit back and look to hit Ipswich on the break. 2:35PM All-square at Goodison And the final whistle has blown on Merseyside where Arsenal and Everton battled out a scrappy 1-1 draw. Leandro Trossard's opener was cancelled out by an Iliman Ndiaye penalty. It's no real surprise that the Arsenal struggled considering their defenders have been going down like flies. They also have an abysmal record on Merseyside, where they have mustered only three wins in 27 attempts in all competitions. Their minds will now squarely be on getting as many players as possible fit for Tuesday's visit of Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final first leg. Their season rests in Europe now. 2:14PM West Ham vs Bournemouth teams West Ham have made four changes to the line-up that lost 1-0 at Wolves on Tuesday. Mohammed Kudus, Tomas Soucek, Edson Alvarez and Jean-Clair Todibo return as Kostas Mavropanos, Luis Guilherme and Evan Ferguson are benched with Aaron Cresswell not involved. West Ham: Areola; Kilman, Todibo, Alvarez; Wan-Bissaka, Paqueta, Ward-Prowse, Soucek, Scarles; Bowen, Kudus. Subs: Fabianski, Carlos Soler, Coufal, Fullkrug, Mavropanos, Guilherme, Rodriguez, Emerson, Ferguson. The hamstrung Justin Kluivert misses out again for Bournemouth, who make one change. Tyler Adams replaces the injured Ryan Christie. Bournemouth: Kepa; Kerkez, Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Smith; Cook, Adams; Scott, Ouattara, Semenyo; Evanilson. Subs: Dennis, Senesi, Brooks, Julio Soler, Jebbison, Araujo, Hill, Silcott-Duberry, Winterburn. 2:11PM Ipswich vs Wolves teams No change for either the Tractor Boys or Wolves, which is understandable as both sides won last time out. Ipswich: Palmer, Burgess, Townsend, O'Shea, Tuanzebe, Enciso, Johnson, Broadhead, Morsy, Cajuste, Delap Subs: Woolfenden, Davis, Phillips, Taylor, Philogene, J Clark, Chaplin, Hirst, Walton The visitors have brought Goncalo Guedes and Rodrigo Gomes on to the bench. Wolves: Sa, Doherty, Agbadou, T Gomes, Semedo, Andre, Munetsi, J Gomes, Ait-Nouri, Bellegarde, Strand Larsen Subs: Bueno, Djia, R Gomes, Hee-Chan, Doyle, Guedes, Sarabia, Forbs, Johnstone 2:08PM Palace and Brighton line-ups Here are the line-ups for today's 3pm kick-offs. With Chrs Richards out Palace have moved Jefferson Lerma to centre-back, while Daichi Kamada comes into midfield. Crystal Palace: Henderson; Munoz, Lerma, Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell, Kamada, Wharton, Sarr, Eze, Mateta. Subs: Turner, Ward, Nketiah, Franca, Clyne, Hughes, Esse, Chilwell, Devenny Danny Welbeck leads the line as Fabian Hurzeler rings four changes to the side beaten 3-0 by Aston Villa last time out. Brighton: Vertbruggen, Hinshelwood, Dunk, Van Hecke, Estupinan, Baleba, Gomez, O'Reily, Mitoma, Minteh, Welbeck Subs: Rushworth, Gruda, March, Pedro, Adingra, Cashin, Ayari, Wieffer, Tasker 2:03PM One hour until kick-off Good afternoon and welcome to our coverage of today's Premier League action. There are three 3pm kick-offs today including West Ham vs Bournemouth, Ipswich v Wolves and the 'A23 derby' between Crystal Palace and Brighton at Selhurst Park. Then at 5.30pm seventh-placed Aston Villa host third-placed Nottingham Forest, with only four points separating Villa from fourth place. You can also follow the progress of Everton vs Arsenal with Rob Smyth and football correspondents Sam Wallace and Chris Bascombe following proceedings. It's 1-1 at Goodison Park.
