Category: 6. Sports

  • Iga Swiatek sends US Open message and Jasmine Paolini’s response says it all

    Iga Swiatek sends US Open message and Jasmine Paolini’s response says it all

    Iga Swiatek defeated Jasmine Paolini in the final of the Cincinnati Open to claim her first title at the event and the No. 2 ranking in the world, and the two exchanged kind words

    02:28 ET, 20 Aug 2025Updated 02:29 ET, 20 Aug 2025

    Iga Swiatek shared her feelings on Jasmine Paolini and the US Open(Image: X: @TennisChannel)

    Iga Swiatek revealed her genuine emotions toward Jasmine Paolini and delivered a heartfelt message before the US Open, right after the Italian sensation was left stunned following a complaint to the umpire.

    During the Cincinnati Open final, Swiatek defeated Paolini 7-5, 6-4 in a confident and impressive performance, to claim the title for the first time, propelling her to the No. 2 ranking globally while further establishing herself as one of tennis’s rising superstars.

    The victory also marked her 11th career WTA-1000 championship, overtaking Victoria Azarenka for second-most in history and trailing only all-time great Serena Williams, who has 13.

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    While the champion celebrated her latest triumph, she paused to praise Paolini, particularly following a challenging contest that awarded only a small portion of what Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz received.

    “And congrats for the whole tournament. As usual, you’re playing great and hopefully we’re going to play the final of the US Open in the next two weeks.”

    This comment sparked an enormous reaction from the audience, who applauded both players as they wound down from their battle.

    Iga Swiatek won the Cincinnati Open in warm-up for the US Open
    Iga Swiatek won the Cincinnati Open in warm-up for the US Open(Image: Getty)

    Swiatek continued: “But most importantly, thanks for being such a positive person in the locker room. There’s not many of us who are so positive on a daily basis, so it’s always good to see you and thanks for that. And congrats to your team for amazing effort and work. It was a pleasure.”

    The 24 year old also expressed gratitude to her team for “forcing” her to become a superior player and for instructing her on how to compete on different surfaces. Swiatek was additionally “super happy” to receive backing from her family and friends worldwide, which made things easier for her.

    “It’s really been amazing and as Jasmine said, everybody is so happy here and it makes the tour much, much better,” she continued. “It’s not easy to be a tennis player, but coming back to places like that, it’s always a pleasure. So for sure next year, we’re going to be super excited before the tournament.

    “And yeah, thank you to my sponsors, everybody who believes in me and is constantly supporting me through ups and downs.”

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    Despite losing to Swiatek in the championship match, Paolini also praised the Polish sensation for her outstanding performance. “I want to congratulate Iga,” she said, according to The Tennis Letter.

    “You’re playing amazing. You really deserve this title. Congrats to you and your team.

    “I want to say thank you to my team also…and the Italian tennis federation who supported me these two weeks and is supporting me throughout the year. I’m really glad. I’m kind of without a coach so Federico is here through the federation. I called them and told them I need support. They are there for me. Thank you very much.”

    She expressed her gratitude, saying: “Special thanks to Sara Errani. She’s not here, she’s playing mixed doubles tomorrow at the U.S. Open. She supported me as well with Federico. I have learned so much from her. Thank you very much.”

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  • Sinner withdraws from US Open mixed doubles competition

    Sinner withdraws from US Open mixed doubles competition


    CINCINNATI:

    Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the U.S. Open mixed doubles event, where he was going to partner Katerina Siniakova, a day after illness forced the world number one to retire five games into his Cincinnati Open final.

    Sinner, the reigning Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion, looked uncomfortable in sweltering conditions on Monday at Cincinnati where he retired after falling behind 5-0 to Carlos Alcaraz in the first set.

    “Yesterday I didn’t feel great and I’m really sorry to disappoint you. Thank you so much to everyone supporting me on-site and from home, your support means the world,” world number one Sinner posted on X on Tuesday.

    “Congrats to @carlosalcaraz and his team, you’re having an incredible season and I wish you all the best for what’s ahead. Now it’s time to rest a couple of days before getting back to work.”

    The reimagined mixed doubles competition, a two-day event featuring 16 teams, began on Tuesday but the official draw and order of play no longer featured the Sinner-Siniakova entry.

    Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison replaced the Sinner-Siniakova partnership in the draw and will play Belinda Bencic and Alexander Zverev in the first round.

    The main singles draw at the U.S. Open is scheduled to begin on Sunday.

     

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  • Mo Salah wins record third PFA Player of the Year award | Football News

    Mo Salah wins record third PFA Player of the Year award | Football News

    The Liverpool star is the first three-time winner of the annual award, given to the best player in English football, as adjudged by the Professional Footballers’ Association.

    Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was named the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Player of the Year on Tuesday, with the Egyptian becoming the first player to win the award three times.

    Salah, who joined Liverpool in 2017, was the Premier League’s top scorer last season, with his 29 goals, along with 18 assists, playing a key role in the club winning the league title, finishing 10 points ahead of runners-up Arsenal.

    The 33-year-old had already clinched the Premier League Player of the Season award, the Golden Boot for most goals scored and the Playmaker award for most assists, making him the first player to win all three awards in the same season.

    Salah first won the PFA award in 2018 after his first season at Liverpool, and again in 2022, and this year came out on top of a six-man shortlist, voted for by PFA members from the 92 Premier League and Football League teams.

    That shortlist included his Liverpool teammate Alexis Mac Allister, along with Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.

    Salah signed a two-year contract extension with Liverpool in April, ending months of speculation linking him with a move to the Saudi Pro League.

    Aston Villa and England midfielder Morgan Rogers was voted Young Player of the Year, after the 23-year-old scored eight league goals in his 37 starts last season and netted four goals in the Champions League including a hat-trick against Celtic.

    Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey was named Women’s Player of the Year. The Spaniard scored nine league goals in her first season with the club, along with eight goals in the Champions League where Arsenal beat her former club Barcelona to win the trophy.

    Canadian 21-year-old forward Olivia Smith, Liverpool’s leading scorer last season across all competitions with nine goals, picked up the Young Player of the Year award.

    Smith has since joined Arsenal for a reported fee of one million pounds ($1.35m), making her the first female player to break the seven-figure barrier.

    Liverpool had four players from last season, including Salah, named in the Premier League team of the year, along with new signing from Bournemouth, Milos Kerkez.

    Premier League Team of the Year:

    Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest); Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth), William Saliba (Arsenal), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal); Declan Rice (Arsenal), Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool); Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Alexander Isak (Newcastle United), Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest).

    Salah led the Premier League in goals (29) and assists (18) in 2024-25, breaking the record for the most combined goals and assists in a 38-game season with 47 [File: Dylan Martinez/Reuters]

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  • Two-time Olympic figure skater Keegan Messing announces stunning comeback

    Two-time Olympic figure skater Keegan Messing announces stunning comeback

    Canada’s two-time Olympic figure skater Keegan Messing has come out of retirement with the aim of competing at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games.

    “During the Stars On Ice tour I realised I was skating at a high level again and that sparked my decision to return,” Messing said on Tuesday (20 August) via Skate Canada.

    “I’ve put in the work, regained my jumps and rediscovered the fire within myself to train.

    “My focus now is to be stronger than when I retired and to secure a spot on the Olympic team.”

    A fan favourite around the world, Messing retired in May 2023 having skated at the 2018 and 2022 Olympic Winter Games, where he finished 12th and 11th, respectively.

    Messing will be 34 when Milan Cortina rolls around. He will reunite with his old coach Ralph Burghart as he reboots for the fast-approaching Olympic campaign.

    Messing’s first competition back remains to be seen. He will attend Skate Canada’s High Performance Camp later this month when he will be assessed for domestic qualifying events and international assignments.

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  • ‘Rugby gives me a really empowering outlet after becoming a mum’

    ‘Rugby gives me a really empowering outlet after becoming a mum’

    Harriet Robinson

    BBC News, West of England

    Trish Brown Trish Brown in a blue rugby shirt and blue helmet smiling, holding her baby son, who is also smiling and wearing a blue hoody. They are on a rugby pitch.Trish Brown

    Trish Brown got back on the pitch six months after her son was born

    A global community of rugby players, who are also mothers, have come together to support each other through parenthood.

    Mums who Play Rugby was co-founded by Bath Ladies player Trish Brown after she struggled with maintaining such a physical hobby while having a young son.

    “I think when I found out I was pregnant I cried,” she said. “It was quite overwhelming.”

    More than 600 people from across the UK, and as far away as the Philippines and New Zealand, have now joined her online community and they are putting a team into their first tournament later this month.

    “We’re really excited. There’s just been a real galvanisation of really good energy of lots of people wanting to see mums succeed in playing a brilliant, physical sport as well as juggling being a parent,” said Ms Brown.

    Trish Brown playing a rugby match. She is in a blue and white Bath Ladies outfit with a blue helmet. She is holding the ball and is about to be tackled by a player from the other team.

    When Ms Brown found out she was pregnant her team had just won the league

    “I’d never really thought in too much detail what would happen after I got pregnant, after I had a baby,” said the front row forward.

    “Most of the people that I knew, if they had a baby they would then just stop playing.”

    Ms Brown continued training up until she gave birth to her son and returned to the pitch six months after he was born. But it was a big change.

    “Logistics are really hard,” she said, remembering sometimes having to breastfeed her son during games.

    “The sleep deprivation’s really hard,” she added. “That’s the same for any parent. It’s tricky then balancing that with quite a physical hobby.

    “But I wouldn’t change anything because it’s such a release for me to be able to go and do something with my body that’s really empowering after I’ve had a baby.”

    Two women, one about to catch a rugby ball, playing with three young children. One is in a rugby kit, the others are in casual outfits. They are standing on a rugby pitch with people training in the background.

    Some of the members brought their children to train with them in Bath

    Ms Brown was inspired to set up the group on Facebook after hearing about professional players Abbie Ward and Vickii Cornborough having children and getting back on the pitch.

    It quickly grew its members, with people sharing experiences and challenges of being a rugby-playing mum, including childcare, affording membership and the lack of clear information around postpartum recovery and return to play.

    Though Ms Brown said a recent toolkit by the Rugby Football Union was useful for providing some of this information.

    Samantha Castley-MacDonald in a blue Bath Ladies vest, holding her daughter who is in a small blue and black rugby kit. They are both smiling and there are people training behind them.

    Samantha Castley-MacDonald moved from Canada to the UK to teach and play rugby

    “I think I was one of the first people to join [the group],” said Samantha Castley-MacDonald, who lives in Trowbridge.

    “Every time I go on it’s like ‘welcome to these 50 new mums in the group’,” she added.

    While her wife gave up the sport after giving birth to their daughter, Ms Castley-MacDonald said she continued playing while juggling childcare, work and rugby.

    “Playing for the Championship One Division we travel really far for our matches,” she said, explaining she could be out of the house for 12 hours on a Sunday.

    “But it’s important for me I have that thing that makes me me.

    “It’s just really great to see how many women are prioritising themselves and getting out and being social and being fit and just doing things that are great for them.”

    Jade Hutton with her hair tired back wearing a blue Yate RFC top. She is standing on a rugby pitch with women training behind her.

    Jade Hutton said it was amazing to find other like-minded mums via the group

    Jade Hutton, from Yate, has also played rugby for most of her life, including in the Army.

    After taking a break while she had children, she is now back on the pitch.

    “Being pregnant and going through everything is such a daunting experience,” she said, adding that groups like Mums who play rugby were “so important”.

    “You can’t beat rugby family. My team, the girls, have done immense [things] for my mental health, everything,” she said.

    Natalia Reilly, from Bristol, who has an adult daughter, only got into rugby six months ago, but also loves the community.

    She said: “I think a lot of mums… they’re not sure whether they’re too old, too young, whether their bodies are right for rugby.”

    Ms Reilly said the group was “amazing” to show women they will always be welcome, adding rugby was the most inclusive and supportive sport she had ever taken up.

    Trish Brown A group of women rugby players all in green vests except Trish, whose is pink and says 'Baby on Board' on itTrish Brown

    Ms Brown continued to train while pregnant

    The group has now formed a team called the MaaMaas, as a nod to the better known BaaBaas [The Barbarians], and will enter their first invitational tournament at Yeovil on 30 August.

    A crowdfunding page has also been set up by the group to help support mums with the costs associated with rugby.

    Meanwhile, the group continues to attract rugby playing mums from around the world.

    “It’s quite exciting because one day, when we go on a world tour, we’ll have lots of places to choose from,” added Ms Brown.

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  • Scotland’s first skatepark to be dug up by archaeologists

    Scotland’s first skatepark to be dug up by archaeologists

    Jonathan Geddes

    BBC Glasgow and West reporter

    Iain Urquhart Young people in 1978 wearing helmets and other safety gear skateboarding at Kelvin Wheelies skatepark Iain Urquhart

    The skatepark was hugely popular in the late 70s and early 80s

    For five years it hosted the country’s finest and keenest skateboarders, witnessing flips and tricks as a new subculture boomed in popularity.

    Now Scotland’s first ever outdoor skatepark is to be resurrected by a team of archaeologists hoping to preserve the site’s legacy.

    The University of Glasgow team will work with volunteers and students to undertake excavation and survey work at the former Kelvin Wheelies park in Kelvingrove Park.

    Dr Kenny Brophy of the university said the project represented a chance to make sure the skatepark did not become forgotten or lost to history.

    Members of the public are being asked to share memories, video and photographs of the Kelvin Wheelies, helping to create an online archive.

    The skatepark – which at the time was considered state of the art – opened in May 1978 and featured bowls, a slalom run and a half-pipe, all with names like Jaws, Torpedo and Bazooka.

    Sessions cost £1.80 for three hours and the venue was initially a huge hit, hosting the 1978 Scottish Skateboard Championships – the country’s first ever national skateboarding competition.

    However, concern about maintenance costs and safety led to the park’s closure and then burial in 1983, just five years after opening.

    See Scotland’s first skatepark in its 80s heyday

    Jamie Blair, the owner of Glasgow-based skateboarding shop Clan Skates and a former member of the Kelvingrove skateboard team, said he was thrilled that skaters have a chance to rediscover it again.

    He recalled: “When Kelvin Wheelies opened in 1978, skaters from all over the UK flocked to this radical new facility.

    “A park team was formed and for the next few years Glasgow was the dominant force in Scottish skateboarding.

    “Sadly, a dip in skateboarding’s popularity in the early 1980s and the construction of a rival skatepark in Livingston saw a decline.”

    Elements of the original site remain visible near the modern skatepark in Kelvingrove Park.

    However, there is currently no information available to explain the significance of the site to Kelvingrove visitors or users of the modern skatepark.

    Dr Kenny Brophy A man in an orange jacket and baseball cap pointing at an area of grass and dirt, where a skatepark used to beDr Kenny Brophy

    Some of the original skatepark’s features remain visible

    Dr Kenny Brophy, senior lecturer in archaeology at the University of Glasgow and project leader, called the revival a unique opportunity.

    He said: “There is a very real danger that this skatepark, a place that was so special for hundreds of young people just decades ago, will become forgotten and lost.

    “Contemporary archaeology allows us the opportunity to explore even fairly recent events and places to jog memories.

    “In the case of Kelvin Wheelies, this is a unique opportunity for a generation of skateboarders to relive the excitement of their youth and excavate their own memories of a place that was so special to them.”

    The fieldwork will last from 25-29 August and is being supported by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, which provided a £1,102 grant.

    Skateboarding has risen again in popularity during the past 30 years, fuelled by popular computer games.

    The sport made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, and featured again at the Paris Olympics last year.

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  • Here’s How Much Pakistan’s Cricketers Will Earn Under the New Central Contracts

    Here’s How Much Pakistan’s Cricketers Will Earn Under the New Central Contracts

    The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) announcement of new central contracts has sparked plenty of debate among fans and experts alike—for some very obvious reasons. For the first time since central contracts were introduced, no player was awarded a Category A deal, which many attributed to the team’s recent performances.

    While demotions and promotions will be parsed endlessly online, the PCB has included a significant pay rise for players in Categories C and D, sources confirmed on Tuesday.

    According to details, cricketers in Category C will now receive PKR 2.5 million per month, a jump of PKR 500,000 from last year’s PKR 2 million. Meanwhile, those in Category D will take home PKR 1.5 million monthly, reflecting an increase of PKR 300,000 from the previous PKR 1.2 million.

    Players in Category B, however, have not been given any raise under the latest update but will still take home PKR 3 million per month.

    The 30 contracted players have been evenly divided—10 each in Categories B, C, and D—with 12 fresh faces joining the list. The new entrants include Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Moqim.

    On the flip side, eight cricketers have missed out entirely after holding contracts last season: Aamir Jamal, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Usman Khan—all of whom were previously in Category D.

    While the debate will rage on over the PCB’s criteria for awarding central contracts, the new pay structure reflects an effort to offer better financial incentives to a wider talent pool. With team management focusing on separate squads for each format, this structure may well be carried into future contracts.


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  • Mbappe converts penalty kick as Real Madrid beats Osasuna 1-0 in Spanish league opener | Football News

    Mbappe converts penalty kick as Real Madrid beats Osasuna 1-0 in Spanish league opener | Football News

    Kylian Mbappe got off to a scoring start in his second season with Real Madrid, leading the team to a 1-0 victory over Osasuna in their Spanish league opener Tuesday.

    Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their first goal(REUTERS)

    Mbappé, the leading scorer in his debut with Madrid last season, converted a 51st-minute penalty kick to give the hosts the victory. A nice run by Mbappé through the right side of the area, followed by a neat cutback move, prompted the foul.

    The goal gave new coach Xabi Alonso a winning debut in his first full season with the club. The former Madrid player arrived before the Club World Cup to replace Carlo Ancelotti, who left to take the Brazil job.

    “It was special to be back here as a coach, unforgettable,” Alonso said. “Hopefully it was the first of many victories celebrated here.”

    Alonso started the match with three of the club’s new signings for the season — left back Álvaro Carreras, right back Trent Alexander-Arnold and central defender Dean Huijsen. Teenage forward Franco Mastantuono came off the bench to replace Brahim Díaz in the 68th, being loudly cheered by the crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

    Some fans had not been happy after the former River Plate player praised Lionel Messi — the fellow Argentine who was a star at rival Barcelona — during his introductory news conference.

    The 18-year-old Mastantuono had a chance to score in the 89th, but his shot from inside the area was saved by the Osasuna goalkeeper.

    “They all did well,” Alonso said of the newcomers. “They are players who will be helping us for years. None of them felt the pressure of the Madrid jersey or of the Bernabeu.”

    Osasuna defender Abel Bretones was sent off in stoppage time with a straight red card for a high arm to block Madrid forward Gonzalo García.

    “They dominated, we knew it was going to be like that,” Osasuna midfielder Rubén García said. “We played a good game but couldn’t get too close to their goal. In the end, they deserved the victory.”

    Madrid forward Rodrygo stayed on the bench the whole match, intensifying speculation of a possible transfer. Alonso downplayed Rodrygo’s lack of minutes, saying he still counts on the Brazil international for now.

    “It was only a match,” he said. “If in three months he still isn’t getting these minutes, then it’s different.”

    The game was played Tuesday instead of last weekend along with the rest of opening matches because Madrid’s players needed more rest following the team’s participation at the Club World Cup. Madrid’s attempt to delay its debut even further was denied by the league.

    Madrid controlled possession — more than 70% — but struggled to break through the tight Osasuna defense early, threatening with a few long-range shots.

    “There were positives, beginning with the result,” Alonso said. “We still need a few things that will give us stability to keep progressing.”

    Mbappé, with the No. 10 jersey this season, had one of Madrid’s best first-half chances with a curling shot from inside the area that just missed the top corner, but finally broke through with the winner early in the second half as Madrid continued to press forward. He sent a low shot from the spot into the right side of the net as the goalkeeper dived the other way.

    “You can tell that Mbappé wants more,” Alonso said.

    Barcelona began its title defense with a comfortable 3-0 win at nine-man Mallorca on Saturday, while Atletico Madrid squandered a late lead in a 2-1 loss at Espanyol on Sunday.

    Madrid was runner-up to Barcelona in the Spanish league last season. Osasuna finished ninth.

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  • Extended Force training squad confirmed for Super Rugby U19s

    Extended Force training squad confirmed for Super Rugby U19s

    The Western Force have named a 41-player extended training squad for the upcoming Super Rugby Men’s U19 Championship starting next month.

    The group largely consists of emerging Under-19 talent from the RugbyWA Fortescue Premier Grade clubs, including eight from the Fortescue Academy as well as two selected from the east coast.

    The team will be competing in the Super Rugby Men’s U19s that runs from September to October, in conjunction with the new Super Rugby AUS competition.

    Nine members of last year’s U19s squad earn selection again in Felix Cooper, William Crew, Kade Davis, Zavier Hawira, Billy Krsticevic, Peni Naqau, Tamarangi Tunui, Alius Tutai and Zane Wesley.

    Four members from last year’s U16s squad have also graduated into the 2025 U19s group in Associates winger Chase Bunce, Nedlands back Fatani Fatanitavake, Kalamunda front-rower Dozion Laupama and Kalamunda back Michael Turukawa.

    Eight Fortescue Academy members are in the squad including exciting winger Wallace Charlie who debuted for Australia in the HSBC SVNS earlier this year. Academy members Zane Wesley, Manaia Te Tana, Nate Gallagher, Luke Holt-Brown, Brodie Mainwaring, Naqau and Tamarangi Tunui are also included.

    WA Fortescue Premier Grade clubs Wests-Scarborough and Wanneroo both provided seven players each. There’s also six members from Cottesloe, five from Southern Lions and four from Nedlands.

    Fortescue Academy Manager Damian Steele will lead the side as head coach, supported by two Fortescue Premier Grade head coaches in Mike Panoho (Nedlands) and Greg Jackson (Southern Lions) as assistant coaches. Inaugural Force midfielder Junior Pelesasa will be the team manager.

    The group has commenced training ahead of the season, with sessions running on Monday and Wednesday evenings at UWA Sports Park, switching to Tuesdays and Thursdays in September.

    The Force will play two home games at Palmyra RUFC’s Tompkins Park against the ACT Brumbies (Sunday 21 September, 12pm) and Queensland Reds (Sunday 28 September, 12:30pm) as part of the competition, with full fixtures to be confirmed soon.

    The Force thanks partners Fortescue, UWA, Goodyear, ADD Business Group and Elan as well as RugbyWA for their support of the U16s and U19s programs.

    All home games will be free entry. All games will be streamed live on rugby.com.au’s YouTube channel with highlights on Stan Sport.

    Forwards

    Front-rowers

    Cajun Arnfield (Wildfires, NSW), Shammah Auvaa (Nedlands), Charles Cairns
    (Wests Scarborough), Lachlan Cook (Cottesloe), Charlie Groom (Wests Scarborough), Zavier Hawira (Palmyra), Billy Krsticevic (Wests Scarborough), Dozion Laupama (Kalamunda),
    Josh Pulu (Perth Bayswater), Carter Tagaloasa (Endeavour Hills, Vic), Zane
    Wesley (Wanneroo)*, Axel Wood (Hale)

    Locks

    William Crew (Southern Lions), Hugh D’Alessandro (Hale), Ashford Taumoepeau
    (Cottesloe), Manaia Te Tana (Wanneroo)*, Xavier Vaauli (Wanneroo)

    Back-rowers

    Felix Cooper (Associates), Nate Gallagher (Cottesloe)*, Luke Holt-Brown (Perth
    Bayswater)*, Connor Hulme (Wests Scarborough), Kaiya Rihia (Cottesloe), Rohan
    Viskovich (Wests Scarborough)

    Backs

    Half-backs

    Tom Lister (Scotch College), Brodie Mainwaring (Wanneroo)*, Cruz Remi
    (Cottesloe), Xavier Short (UWA), Tamarangi Tunui* (Wanneroo), Conan Thiedeman
    (Southern Lions),

    Centres & back three

    Chase Bunce (Associates), Wallace Charlie (Southern Lions)*, Kalani Chong Sue
    (Cottesloe), Kade Davis (Wanneroo), Fatani Fatanitavake (Nedlands), Chris
    Jansen (Wanneroo), Iziah Lolohea (Nedlands), Nathaniel Misa (Southern Lions),
    Peni Naqau (Southern Lions)*, Jock Parkinson (Wests Scarborugh), Michael
    Turukawa (Nedlands), Alius Tutai (Wests Scarborough)

    Unavailable

    Jasper Asi (Wanneroo)*, Luke Megson (Associates)*, Berakah Tuifaasisina
    (Wanneroo)*, Mack Wrigley (Associates)*

    *2025 Fortescue Academy squad members


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  • US Open: Francesca Jones begins qualifiers with win

    US Open: Francesca Jones begins qualifiers with win

    Top seed Francesca Jones took the first step to reaching the US Open main draw by winning her opening qualifier, but Heather Watson was among four Britons to lose on Tuesday.

    British number four Jones beat Slovakia’s Viktoria Hruncakova 6-3 6-4. She will face Ekaterine Gorgodze of Georgia on Wednesday as she looks to reach the US Open main draw for the first time in her career.

    Jones has never received direct entry to a Grand Slam through her ranking and narrowly missed out this time, despite having climbed to a career-high 86th in the world since the US Open cut-off point.

    The 24-year-old served six aces in a match lasted one hour 22 minutes and notched an 87% win rate on her first serves.

    Meanwhile, former British number one Watson was defeated 6-3 3-6 4-6 by Gorgodze as she failed to reach the main draw for a fourth successive year.

    British women’s number seven Harriet Dart edged out Romanian Anca Todoni – who sits 112 places above her in the rankings – 7-5 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (10-6).

    British men’s number five Jan Choinski lost 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 to Argentina’s Andrea Collarini, but Oliver Crawford beat Alex Bolt of Australia 5-7 6-4 6-4.

    George Loffhagen was beaten 4-6 5-7 by Jason Kubler, while 22-year-old Jack Pinnington Jones lost 6-3 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (14-12).

    Jodie Burrage began her qualifying campaign with a win on Monday, but British number five Dan Evans was eliminated and will miss out on the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time since 2018.

    There are six Brits in action on Wednesday in the second round of qualifying:

    • Jodie Burrage v Arantxa Rus

    • Jay Clarke v Arthur Cazaux

    • Billy Harris v Mikhail Kukushkin

    • Harriet Dart v Ayana Akli

    • Oliver Crawford v Garrett Johns

    • Fran Jones v Ekaterine Gorgodze

    Players must win three matches in qualifying to advance to the main singles draws for the tournament, which begins on Sunday.

    Jack Draper, Cameron Norrie and Jacob Fearnley have direct entry into the men’s singles, with Emma Raducanu, Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal in the women’s.

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