Latest news with #TennisAustralia
Forbes
2 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
U.S. Open Announces 14 Teams For $1 Million Mixed Doubles Championship
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 09: Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe of Team United States speak to the ... More media after winning the 2023 United Cup at The Royal Botanic Gardens on January 09, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo byfor Tennis Australia) The USTA on Tuesday announced 14 of the 16 teams now confirmed to compete in the 2025 U.S. Open Mixed Doubles Championship. The 14 confirmed teams – eight receiving direct entry via combined singles ranking, and six receiving wild cards – feature some of today's biggest stars, legends of the game, current or former singles and doubles world No. 1s and Grand Slam singles, doubles and mixed doubles champions. The reimagined US Open Mixed Doubles Championship will be played on Tuesday, August 19, and Wednesday, August 20, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, with $1 million in prize money being awarded to the winning team. The 14 confirmed teams announced include: 2025 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship – Confirmed Teams DIRECT ENTRANTS Emma Navarro and Jannik Sinner Paula Badosa and Jack Draper Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz Amanda Anisimova and Holger Rune Belinda Bencic and Alexander Zverev Jessica Pegula and Tommy Paul Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev WILD CARDS Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe Olga Danilovic and Novak Djokovic Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz Taylor Townsend and Ben Shelton Venus Williams and Reilly Opelka Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori The full Mixed Doubles field will be 16 teams. Two remaining wild card teams will be announced at a later date. This week's ATP and WTA singles rankings were used to determine the eight teams receiving direct entry. Belinda Bencic entered with a protected ranking of No. 15.
Wales Online
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Tennis star crowned 'sexiest alive' who suffered Wimbledon heartbreak now unrecognisable
Tennis star crowned 'sexiest alive' who suffered Wimbledon heartbreak now unrecognisable Pat Rafter was one of the biggest stars of the tennis circuit in the 1990s, winning two Grand Slam titles and reaching the final of Wimbledon twice - plus earning a unique title Pat Rafter found love with model Lara Feltham after becoming tennis' resident heartthrob (Image: Getty Images ) Pat Rafter has long abandoned the ponytail style that helped earn him the title of 'Sexiest Athlete Alive' almost three decades ago. The Australian emerged on the tennis circuit during the 1990s. He secured his place in the sport's record books with a landmark season in '97, capturing his first Grand Slam title at that year's US Open. Beyond the court, he became quite the heartthrob. His flowing hair, which he would tie back during matches, combined with his stubbled jaw and toned physique, was sufficient to earn him recognition from People magazine as the planet's most attractive sporting figure that same year. Like the rest of us, Rafter, who reached the Wimbledon final twice, hasn't escaped the effects of time. Though now 52, he continues to cut a dapper figure. His public outings have been sparse in recent years. He has occasionally worked as a pundit in his home country, while also taking on administrative roles with governing body Tennis Australia. However, he appeared at the Brisbane International tournament in December, participating in an exhibition match at the arena bearing his name. After removing his cap following play, he was spotted with a swept-back hairstyle whilst signing autographs for spectators, his hair no longer reaching his shoulders as it once did. Article continues below Rafter achieved iconic status by breaking his country's drought for a major title, successfully defending his US Open championship in 1998. "I was at a time where there weren't a lot of players around," he reflected in 2017. Rafter no longer has his ponytail aged 52 (Image: Getty Images ) "I came on the scene, I won a couple of Slams and then I was revered a little bit more than if I had won that back in the 70s. You would have just gone, 'There's another good tennis player from Australia.' Maybe the personality of the media made me into something bigger than what I actually was. That's OK." He narrowly missed out on victory at SW19, taking the lead against Pete Sampras in the men's final of 2000 before, by his own admission, "choking" after losing the second set tie-break. Sampras went on to win three sets to one. The Aussie icon was twice a Wimbledon runner-up (Image: Getty Images ) A year later, he once again made the final, this time facing Goran Ivanisevic. The Croatian triumphed in a five-set nail-biter, leaving Rafter once again as the runner-up. Article continues below After hanging up his racket in 2003, he settled down with former model Lara Feltham, tying the knot the following year. The couple have two children, Joshua and India, who are now grown up. These days, they can chuckle at how their father, who dated a string of Dutch models before finding love with their mother, was once so in demand. He famously joked: "You know what, it is exhausting being this good-looking."
The South African
12-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Donald Ramphadi's Wimbledon final run overshadowed by daily difficulties off-court
South African Donald Ramphadi and Great Britain's Gregory Slade secured a first for the pair – a place in a grand slam final. But behind the jubilation lies a daily battle that Ramphadi faces every single day. It was a closely fought match of tight margins, starting with a first set tie-break won 7/5 by Ramphadi/Slade. Their opponents, world No 2 pair Ahmet Kaplan from Turkey and Sam Schroder from the Netherlands, had a change of strategy in the second set, playing well on the slice, changing the rhythm, and winning 6-1 in 47 minutes. The chemistry between the South African and the Brit pairing was palpable, with open communication and camaraderie throughout. After the match, the team spoke to the press, with Slade summarising that the third set decider (clinched 7-5) was about committing to the shots to create more pressure on their opponents. Ramphadi was still in disbelief when Amisha Savani spoke to him post-match. 'I still can't believe it to be honest; we played one of the best in the world'. His partnership with Slade is a new one – the two partnered up just two weeks ago, but have clearly hit it off instantly. Savani asked the South African star how life-changing his progress to the final felt, in addition to his bronze Paralympic medal, and 2023 grand slam wheelchair quad doubles title at Roland Garros. 'I thought it was gonna change my life, but now I'm just doing it for me, and not having a lot of expectations'. A visibly emotional Ramphadi elaborated: 'I'm getting emotional, sorry, because as a young kid, growing up, starting to play tennis you know that one thing you wanna achieve is to get a grand slam, you wanna get a medal at the paralympics, that will change your life. 'But I can tell you right now, my life is still the same, there's not really a lot that is happening. 'Funding – it's expensive, I'm paying flight tickets by myself, accommodation.' The financial help he receives, is insufficient for the 18-22 tournaments Ramphadi has to travel to each year. 'I've lost hope, I don't think it's gonna really change a lot on my side, but I've been, trying to attract people to see the struggle, to see how much I want this'. Referring to his mental breakdown last year, he said: 'I just felt like I've done everything but still, nothing is changing and it's really hurtful.' Looking ahead, Savani asked Ramphadi about his thoughts on fellow South African and CEO of Tennis Australia, Craig Tiley's recent funding launch – the Stellenbosch Racquet Centre. Tiley's project aims to bring about more investment in African tennis. Unaware of this new project, Ramphadi was heartened with this news, speaking of the positive changes that Tiley had already made with Tennis Australia. 'I didn't know about that, that's great news… that's wonderful, I think Tiley is a good person to try and help develop that'. Despite his daily struggles off-court, Ramphadi was positive: 'I just end up telling myself that I'm gonna do this for myself'. UPDATE: Donald Ramphadi and Gregory Slade lost 6-0, 6-2 to world No 1 Quad doubles pairing Guy Sasson and Niels Vink in the final. Amisha Savani is reporting exclusively for The South African from the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Age
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Diplomatic immunity! Trump appoints loudmouth Aussie ex-local councillor as US envoy to Malaysia
Then there's Adams' boycott of confectionary manufacturer Mars after it released 'feminist M&Ms'. Trump certainly took the Alpha Male seriously, appointing Adams to the board of the Woodrow Wilson Centre during his first term, and making him an official campaign surrogate during the 2024 election. And now, Adams is off to Kuala Lumpur. How his often lewd online persona is going to fly in Muslim-majority Malaysia is anyone's guess. He might give the concept of diplomatic immunity a workout before long. Jayne, set match Jayne Hrdlicka 's treasured time as chair of Tennis Australia will draw to a close at year's end. But there are still treats to be had – such as an invitation to attend Wimbledon centre court and sit in the Royal Box within the orbit of Queen Camilla. Hrdlicka ascended to that most hallowed hospitality ground on Wednesday. The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club's Royal Box is the most exclusive hospitality zone in global tennis, seating about 85 people, as this newspaper has reported. There are only two ways to get in: a) an invite from the All England club's chair, Debbie Jevans, or b) a royal bloodline. On Wednesday, Hrdlicka lucked in: Queen Camilla made an unexpected visit to the tournament. The hospitality enclosure attracted global headlines after cameras filmed actor Hugh Grant, who attended with his wife, Anna, dozing in his seat, mere minutes after speaking with the Queen. Loading Another guest was Australia's High Commissioner, His Excellency Professor The Honourable Stephen Smith, who brought along Aled Miles, chief executive of digital company Intellistack, who once had Smith on his podcast as a guest. Also present were ex-UK prime minister Sir John Major and wife Dame Norma. We checked in with Tennis Australia who told us that the chairs of the Grand Slam tournaments are 'traditionally' invited to the Royal Box. It was back in October 2024 when CBD reported Hrdlicka's third term on the board would finish at the end of this year. In December, at the organisation's annual general meeting, 'senior business leader and strategist' Chris Harrop will become chair and gain the keys to the O lounge. O, Tennis Australia's prestigious private hospitality suite in Rod Laver Arena that leads directly to the best seats on centre court, is where Hrdlicka held her own court for so many years. On January 1, Hrdlicka starts as chief executive of Endeavour, owner of Dan Murphy's, BWS and a pub chain, which has more than 30,000 employees. Hrdlicka will earn annual salary of $2 million, with short-term and long-term incentives totalling $7 million. 'Endeavour Group has much to play for,' Hrdlicka said when her job was announced in April. As always, tennis was on her mind. State versus mate The rugby league State of Origin decider resulted in an all-too-familiar Blues (that's the NSW team) choking at the hands of the Maroons who simply tried harder. High above the action on the turf, the biggest game in town played out at Accor Stadium's version of the Royal Box, where the King of Sydney Peter V'landys (technically chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission and Racing NSW chief executive) sat beside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Or rather, Albanese sat next to V'landys. Last year, Albo signed a deal to bring an NRL expansion team to Papua New Guinea in an act of footy diplomacy to counter Chinese influence that was the subject of furious lobbying by V'landys. His new Labor mate, NSW Premier Chris Minns, was a notable absence from the box, the devout Doggies fan prioritising family over footy (huh?) and enjoying a holiday in New Zealand. Meanwhile, Queensland Liberal National man of the people, Premier David Crisafulli, Instagrammed the heck out of the event. Back in the king's court, federal Opposition Leader Sussan 'I'm here with my tall skinny mate' Ley, mingled with Liberal prime minister emeritus John Howard, still sporting that massive bruise on his eye we first told you about months ago. Ley was fresh from revelations she had once quoted the 'skinny mate' line while waving a gun at a male bushie who had once laid down next to her outback sleeping bag – clearly not with the intent to discuss quota policies for female MPs. Loading News Corp boss Michael Miller stepped out with a huge new white beard, serving Castaway and eccentric tech guru vibes. One jumping for joy spectator was ex-Queensland premier turned Rugby League commissioner Peter Beattie. Stout Queensland loyalist Beattie, along with his wife, Heather, now calls Sydney's Balmain home. Funny old world, sometimes.
Sydney Morning Herald
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
From Ashfield Council to Trump's man in Malaysia
But Trump took the Alpha Male seriously, writing glowing forewords to a few of his books, appointing Adams to the board of the Woodrow Wilson Centre in Washington, DC, during his first term, and making him an official campaign surrogate during the 2024 election. And now he's off to Kuala Lumpur. How Adams' often lewd and sexually charged online persona is going to fly in Muslim-majority Malaysia is anyone's guess. It will be interesting to see if diplomatic immunity gives the Alpha Male free rein to do as he pleases. Jayne, set, match Jayne Hrdlicka's treasured time as chair of Tennis Australia will draw to a close at year's end. But there are still treats to be had – such as an invitation to attend Wimbledon centre court and sit in the royal box within the orbit of Queen Camilla. Hrdlicka ascended to that most hallowed hospitality ground on Wednesday. Loading The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club's royal box is the most exclusive hospitality zone in global tennis, seating about 85 people, as this newspaper has reported. There are only two ways to get in: a) an invitation from the All England club's chair Debbie Jevans; or b) a royal bloodline. Hrdlicka lucked in as Queen Camilla made an unexpected visit to the tournament and exchanged pleasantries with seven-time champion Novak Djokovic, and sat next to Jevans in the royal box. The hospitality enclosure attracted global headlines after cameras filmed actor Hugh Grant, who attended with his wife Anna, dozing in his seat minutes after speaking with the Queen. Another guest was Australia's High Commissioner Stephen Smith, who brought along Aled Miles, chief executive of digital company Intellistack, who once had Smith on his podcast as a guest. Also present were ex-UK prime minister Sir John Major and wife Dame Norma as well as opera singer Sir Bryn and Lady Terfel. Tennis Australia says Grand Slam chairs are traditionally invited to the royal box. Back in October 2024 CBD reported Hrdlicka's third term on the board would finish at the end of this year. She starts as chief executive of pub and bottle-o group Endeavour in January, where she'll earn a $2 million salary, with short-term and long-term incentives totalling $7 million. Mate against mate We'd rather not talk about the State of Origin decider, which saw an all-too-familiar Blues choke at the hands of those wicked creatures from the north. High above the dismal action on the turf, the biggest game in town played out at Accor Stadium's version of the royal box, where king of Sydney Peter V'landys (technically chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission and Racing NSW chief executive) sat beside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Or rather, Albanese sat next to V'landys. Loading Last year Albo signed a deal to bring an NRL expansion team to Papua New Guinea in an act of footy diplomacy to counter Chinese influence that was the subject of furious lobbying by V'landys. PVL's new Labor mate, Premier Chris Minns, was a notable absence from the box, the devout Doggies fan prioritising family over footy (huh?) and enjoying a holiday in New Zealand. Meanwhile, Queensland Liberal National man of the people premier David Crisafulli Instagrammed the heck out of the event. Winners are grinners. Back in the king's court, federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley mingled with Liberal prime minister emeritus John Howard, still sporting that massive bruise on his eye we told you about months ago. Ley was fresh from revelations she had once quoted the 'I'm here with my skinny mate' line while waving a gun at a male bushie who lay down next to her outback sleeping bag – clearly not with the intent to discuss quota policies for female MPs. News Corp boss Michael Miller stepped out with a huge new white beard, serving Castaway and eccentric tech guru vibes. One spectator happy about the result was former Queensland premier turned rugby league commissioner Peter Beattie, who along with his wife Heather, was jumping for joy. Beattie now calls Balmain home, proving once again the truth of Paul Keating's famous words that if you're not living in Sydney, you're camping out.
