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Straits Times
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Former champion Elena Rybakina crashes out of Wimbledon
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina in action during her third round match against Denmark's Clara Tauson. LONDON – Former champion Elena Rybakina became the latest star to suffer a shock Wimbledon exit, losing to Denmark's Clara Tauson 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 on July 5. Rybakina, the Kazakh 11th seed, won her maiden Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2022 and had reached the semi-finals last season. But the 26-year-old's hopes of another strong run were ended by 23rd-seeded Tauson in a third-round tie on Court Two. 'Before this grass season started, I had never won a match on grass. I'm super happy and proud of the way I played today,' said Tauson. 'Me and my coach, who's also my boyfriend... We worked so hard the whole year and the end of last year. Every one of my friends and people who came to support have been amazing. I've worked so hard towards this. I'm super pleased.' Rybakina, who reached the Australian Open final in 2023, joins a long list of high seeds to crash out of the women's tournament. Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Jasmine Paolini, Zheng Qinwen and Madison Keys all suffered upsets earlier in the week. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Asean needs 'bolder reforms' to attract investments in more fragmented global economy: PM Wong Singapore CPF members can make housing, retirement and health insurance plans with new digital platform Singapore CPF's central philosophy of self-reliance remains as pertinent as ever: SM Lee Asia Dalai Lama hopes to live beyond 130 years, much longer than predicted Sport Liverpool will move on after Jota's tragic death, but he will never be forgotten Singapore Tan Cheng Bock, Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership; party launches 'renewal plan' Singapore Rock climbing fan suddenly could not jump, get up from squats Life Japanese food in Singapore under $20: 5 hawker stalls serving restaurant-quality sashimi and donburi World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is the last of the top six seeds still standing at the All England Club. Rybakina's defeat continues a disappointing year for the former world No. 3, who has failed to make it past the last 16 at the three Grand Slams. Tauson is through to the fourth round of a Grand Slam for only the second time, and the first time since last year's French Open. The 22-year-old, a former junior world No. 1 whose promising career has been hampered by injuries, had lost in the first round on her three previous main draw appearances at Wimbledon. Meanwhile, seventh seed Mirra Andreeva outclassed American Hailey Baptiste 6-1, 6-3 under the Court One roof to equal her best Wimbledon run by reaching the last 16. In a first week littered with fallen seeds, 18-year-old Andreeva has made reaching the business end of the tournament look like a breeze and is yet to drop a set. 'Honestly, today I was so focused today,' she said. 'I knew it would be tough because she creates a lot of different stuff on the court and has a rocket of a forehand. With every match I play I feel my level is rising.' In the men's draw, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner eased through his third-round clash against Spain's Pedro Martinez 6-1, 6-3, 6-1. The Italian, a three-time Grand Slam champion, is seeking his first Wimbledon title. On July 4, his main rival Carlos Alcaraz made hard work of beating Jan-Lennard Struff to reach the last 16. The Spanish second seed eventually overcame German world No. 125 Struff 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to stay on track for a third straight Wimbledon crown. But he will have to cut out his errors if he is to become just the fifth man in the Open era to perform that feat. Alcaraz, watched by former England captain Gary Lineker and former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, made 28 unforced errors in an inconsistent display on Centre Court. But he conjured enough moments of magic to eventually subdue Struff and book his place in the fourth round, where he will meet Russia's Andrey Rublev on July 6. Off the court, scorching temperatures at this year's Wimbledon have led to a spike in hat sales while the tournament's famous towels are top of players' shopping lists. The grass-court Grand Slam, often known for its soggy conditions, began in roasting weather and the sun has mostly shone ever since. Dan Ashmore, head of retail, merchandise and licensing, said baseball caps were flying off the shelves, with more than 45,000 sold so far compared with 75,000 over the whole two weeks last year. Baseball caps are priced at £35, with Panama hats (£120) and raffia hats (£70) also selling well. 'Days one and two this year were a scorcher,' said Ashmore. 'Baseball caps were selling very, very quickly. We're about 25 per cent further ahead on baseball cap volume than we were at this time last year.' Players are also keen to stock up on Wimbledon merchandise and towels are top of their list. 'We had 175 players come through the Number One Court shop across the pre-championships weekend, and they are buying a cross-section of products,' added Ashmore. 'The towels are our No. 1 bestseller, and they are with the players as well.' AFP, REUTERS

Straits Times
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
California's biggest wildfire of the year spreads to 28,000 hectares
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A firefighter works to tackle the Madre Fire near New Cuyama, California, on July 3. LOS ANGELES - A massive wildfire raging in California for the past three days has ravaged more than 28,330 hectacres, as hundreds of firefighters fought to bring it under control. The 'Madre Fire' broke out on July 2 in San Luis Obispo, a rural county in the heart of the US state. Around 200 people were ordered to evacuate, with dozens of buildings threatened by the flames. The fire has engulfed 28,700 hectares since July 2, and more than 600 personnel and 40 fire engines have been deployed to contain it, Cal Fire, the state's fire service, said in an update on July 4. It is the largest blaze so far this year in California, which was scarred by wildfires that destroyed swaths of Los Angeles at the start of the year. This summer is the first since President Donald Trump announced plans to gut federal agencies tasked with fighting climate disaster. On July 4, California Governor Gavin Newsom said 15 new fires had ignited on federal land in the past 24 hours, and called on the president to prioritize funding for firefighting resources. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Asean needs 'bolder reforms' to attract investments in a more fragmented global economy: PM Wong Singapore CPF members can make housing, retirement and health insurance plans with new digital platform Singapore CPF's central philosophy of self-reliance remains as pertinent as ever: SM Lee Asia Dalai Lama hopes to live beyond 130 years, much longer than predicted Sport Liverpool will move on after Jota's tragic death, but he will never be forgotten Singapore Tan Cheng Bock, Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership; party launches 'renewal plan' Singapore As her muscles weaken, 26-year-old leans on best friend for strength and support Life Japanese food in Singapore under $20: 5 hawker stalls serving restaurant-quality sashimi and donburi 'Trump needs to WAKE UP and start funding federal firefighters and land-management teams in these rural communities – instead of giving tax cuts to billionaires,' Mr Newsom, a Democrat, wrote on X. 'Trump's incompetence is endangering lives.' A separate statement from the governor's press office said July 4 that the Madre Fire 'remains in a very isolated location – away from homes'. It comes after several other blazes, raising fears of a difficult summer ahead for the state already traumatized by the wildfires that killed 30 people in January. Southern California had an unusually dry winter and spring, and vegetation is already parched, UCLA extreme climate events specialist Daniel Swain has said. Intense and widespread heat this summer, and dry brush 'will heavily factor into burning conditions later this season,' he added. Since returning to the White House in January, Mr Trump has ordered budget and personnel cuts at the Forest Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and FEMA, the federal agency that coordinates disaster response. On July 2, Mr Newsom accused the Republican president of not funding enough wildfire prevention projects. 'We need an equivalent commitment of resources – not rhetoric,' Mr Newsom told reporters, noting that more than half of the land in California is under federal jurisdiction. AFP