Category: 6. Sports

Watson was particularly unhappy with her serve as she suffered her ninth first-round exit at Wimbledon.

“I was just so frustrated because I don’t think I’ve ever missed that many first serves and I didn’t feel bad,” she added.

“I was trying to change things up, trying to find the court, take a bit of pace off, but just nothing seemed to work.

“Every time I walked up to that line I was like ‘this is going to be the one, this is where it’s going to change’ and it just never did.

“I just think that sort of stress built up as the match went on; it was just frustrating that I couldn’t find it, especially because that’s the one shot I’m actually in control of.”

WIMBLEDON — The opening two days of Wimbledon weren’t just marked by record-setting temperatures. As the All England Club melted in 35-degree heat, a slew of seeds wilted in their first-round matches.

Wimbledon: Scores | Order of play | Draws

Across both draws, an Open Era record of eight Top 10 seeds — four WTA and four ATP — fell in their first-round matches. It’s also the first time in the Open Era that two of the WTA’s Top 3 seeds lost their openers, with Coco Gauff exiting to Dayana Yastremska and Jessica Pegula lasting just 58 minutes against Elisabetta Cocciaretto.

To add to the unpredictability, four of this year’s six grass-court champions also lost in the first round of Wimbledon. An arduous clay-court swing may have meant some players hadn’t adjusted to grass yet, but even affinity and form on the surface was no guarantee of advancing.

What are the ramifications for the draw? Who’s gone, and who could take advantage? We break it down below.

First quarter

Out: [9] Paula Badosa, [32] McCartney Kessler (Nottingham champion)

The top quarter largely survived the upset bug unscathed. Badosa, the highest-ranked player to exit, came into Wimbledon under an injury cloud, and fell to two-time grass-court titlist and home hope Katie Boulter. Kessler fell to former Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova, who claimed the Berlin title two weeks ago, in a first-round contest between two of this year’s grass-court champions.

Result? The quarter was stacked to start with, and seems even more so now.

Two reigning major champions, No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 6 Madison Keys, both survived tricky first rounds, though Keys only just got by Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-7(4), 7-5, 7-5. Two of this year’s grass-court titlists won their openers, and both are in Sabalenka’s section — Vondrousova and ‘s-Hertogenbosch champion Elise Mertens, the No. 24 seed. Two more former Wimbledon semifinalists are in this quarter, too — No. 14 Elina Svitolina and No. 22 Donna Vekic. And in addition to all the above, 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu — who plays Vondrousova on Wednesday — and 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez could be dangerous too.

Second quarter

Out: [5] Zheng Qinwen, [20] Jelena Ostapenko, Ons Jabeur (two-time Wimbledon finalist)

The second quarter’s upsets had been on the cards. Zheng, who has never gone beyond the third round at SW19, fell in the first round for a second straight year to Katerina Siniakova, an opponent who has now beaten her in three out of three grass-court meetings. Ostapenko came into Wimbledon under an injury cloud after turning her ankle in Eastbourne, and fell to home hope Sonay Kartal. Jabeur was forced to retire against Viktoriya Tomova due to breathing difficulties.

No. 4 seed and last year’s runner-up Jasmine Paolini — who had to come from a set and a break down to survive Anastasija Sevastova — is the only player remaining in this quarter who has previously made a Wimbledon semifinal. Should the Italian falter, two big hitters in her sixteenth with deep grass-court runs under their belts this year could take advantage: No. 13 Amanda Anisimova (Queen’s runner-up and 2022 Wimbledon quarterfinalist) and No. 30 Linda Noskova (Bad Homburg semifinalist).

There’s real opportunity in Zheng’s sixteenth now. No. 12 seed Diana Shnaider is the highest-ranked player who has yet to make a Slam quarterfinal, and she’s now the favorite by ranking to do so here. Indeed, the only player in this section who has previously made the last eight at Wimbledon is Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the 2016 quarterfinalist. All eyes will also be on four-time major champion Naomi Osaka, the only player remaining in this section who has been ranked in the Top 10. Osaka has yet to make the second week at Wimbledon in four previous main-draw appearances.

Could Siniakova or Kartal ride their opening upsets to a deep run? For doubles No. 1 Siniakova, a major singles quarterfinal feels overdue on her resume. The Czech has only made the fourth round of a Slam once, at Roland Garros 2019 — and she did so by defeating then-World No. 1 Osaka, her next opponent at Wimbledon this week.

Third quarter

Out: [3] Jessica Pegula (Bad Homburg champion), [15] Karolina Muchova, [25] Magdalena Frech, [27] Magda Linette, Tatjana Maria (Queen’s champion), Petra Kvitova (two-time Wimbledon champion)

A new Wimbledon quarterfinalist is guaranteed following the losses of Pegula (to Elisabetta Cocciaretto), Muchova (to Wang Xinyu) and Maria (to Katie Volynets). The only player remaining in this sixteenth who has made any major quarterfinal before is Belinda Bencic, who has done so three times at the US Open (including a semifinal run in 2019). Bencic’s first-round win over Alycia Parks was her first since returning from an arm injury that forced her to miss Roland Garros.

Also primed to take advantage is Wang, who defeated Coco Gauff en route to her first WTA final in Berlin and who continued her strong form to take out Muchova. The Chinese 23-year-old is the highest-ranked unseeded player in the draw at No. 32, and reached the fourth round of Wimbledon last year. She next faces Zeynep Sonmez, the first Turkish woman to win a match at Wimbledon in the Open Era.

Meanwhile, No. 18 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova is the second-highest ranked player who has yet to reach a major quarterfinal (following Shnaider). The 30-year-old’s grass-court credentials are solid — she’s a two-time titlist in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and made the fourth round of Wimbledon last year for the first time. A potential third-round showdown between Wang and Alexandrova could be crucial. 

Cocciaretto, Pegula’s conqueror, is also back in form after struggles with pneumonia set her back last year. The Italian says grass is her favorite surface, and was a semifinalist in ‘s-Hertogenbosch three weeks ago.

Three top names survived the upsets in this quarter. No. 7 Mirra Andreeva is looking to rebound after a disappointing Roland Garros quarterfinal loss to Lois Boisson; No. 10 Emma Navarro and No. 17 Barbora Krejcikova both came through tricky openers against Kvitova and Eastbourne finalist Alexandra Eala respectively. Defending champion Krejcikova is the only player in this quarter who has previously made a Wimbledon semifinal, and she’s on course to face Navarro in the third round.

An unexpected danger in this section is teenage Canadian sensation Victoria Mboko. A last-minute lucky loser to replace Anastasia Potapova, the 18-year-old took advantage to upset Frech for her first career Top 30 win. Mboko could face Andreeva in the third round.

Fourth quarter

Out: [2] Coco Gauff, [26] Marta Kostyuk, Maya Joint (Eastbourne champion), Victoria Azarenka (two-time Wimbledon semifinalist)

Only one player remaining in the fourth quarter has previously made a Wimbledon semifinal — 2022 champion Elena Rybakina. Only two more have been to the last eight at SW19 before — No. 8 Iga Swiatek (2023) and No. 16 Daria Kasatkina (2016).

Former World No. 1 Swiatek, who reached her first career grass-court final in Bad Homburg last week, remains on course for a fourth-round meeting with Rybakina. The pair have not played on grass before; Swiatek leads the head-to-head 5-4, including an escape from 6-1, 2-0 down at Roland Garros last month.

Opportunity abounds at the very bottom of the draw. Kasatkina, who won her first grass-court title at Eastbourne 2024, will be looking to return to a major quarterfinal for the first time since Roland Garros 2022. She could face big-hitting No. 19 seed Liudmila Samsonova, a two-time grass-court titlist, in the third round. Samsonova, who defeated Joint in straight sets in her opener, is the third-highest ranked player who has yet to reach the last eight of a Slam, following Shnaider and Alexandrova. The 26-year-old has four last-16 showings under her belt, including at Wimbledon 2021.

2024 Australian Open semifinalist Yastremska will have her eye on inheriting Gauff’s seeding advantage after out-hitting the No. 2 seed in straight sets. The Ukrainian was a finalist in Nottingham two weeks ago, made the Wimbledon fourth round on her debut in 2019 and has a first-strike game tailor-made for fast courts. No. 28 seed Sofia Kenin will pose a threat, too. The 2020 Australian Open champion is seeking to return to the second week of a major for the first time since Roland Garros 2021.

 

The ISU, the international governing body for figure skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating, joins a growing community of sport organisations that have entrusted the ITA with the delivery of their anti-doping programs. As an Olympic International Federation with a global footprint, the ISU’s decision marks a significant moment in the advancement of clean sport and independent anti-doping governance.

Under this agreement, the ITA assumes full operational responsibility as of July 2025 for all areas of the ISU’s anti-doping program, ensuring it is delivered with the highest standards of compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code and connected International Standards. The ITA will oversee risk-based test distribution planning and the execution of both in- and out-of-competition testing for international level skating athletes throughout the season and at major international competitions. Testing will be conducted by a global network of trained and ITA-accredited sample collection personnel, guided by an intelligence-led approach to maximise effectiveness and deterrence. A first focus of the program will lie on preparing ISU athletes for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, ensuring they compete under robust and independent anti-doping measures on the road to the Games.

The ITA will also manage the ISU Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) program, providing longitudinal monitoring of selected biomarkers to detect potential doping over time. Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) will be processed through the ITA’s International Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee (iTUEC), a panel of independent medical specialists who ensure athletes with legitimate medical needs receive fair and transparent treatment within the anti-doping framework.

In the event of potential anti-doping rule violations, the ITA will carry out all results management proceedings with full independence, ensuring procedural fairness and due process. In parallel, the ITA will integrate intelligence and investigative (I&I) capacities into the ISU’s anti-doping efforts, supporting more sophisticated and targeted program implementation and the detection of non-analytical anti-doping rule violations. The ITA had already begun to support the ISU with I&I activities in the past months.

A central pillar of the collaboration is a dedicated education program, jointly developed by the ITA and ISU. It will include the creation of a multi-year education plan, the delivery of tailored activities such as webinars and in-person education at key ISU events, and ongoing support for athletes and support personnel. Monitoring and evaluation tools will also be used to measure the effectiveness and reach of these initiatives, reinforcing the importance of values-based learning and long-term athlete development.

In addition, a dedicated doping control program will be established for eligible neutral athletes (AIN) from Russia and Belarus in view of their progressive reinstatement into ISU competitions and, ultimately, participation in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. This program will ensure that these athletes are subject to rigorous, intelligence-driven testing conducted exclusively by independent sample collection personnel with all samples analysed in WADA-accredited laboratories outside of Russia. This approach reinforces the ITA and ISU’s joint commitment to neutrality, transparency, and the integrity of the global anti-doping system.

“We are honoured to welcome the International Skating Union to the ITA’s community of partners,” said ITA Director General Benjamin Cohen. “Skating is a cornerstone of the Olympic Movement and a sport that inspires millions worldwide with its combination of precision, power, and artistry. We were pleased to note that the ISU already has a very robust anti-doping program implemented over the years by skilled professionals and committed experts. With this partnership, the ISU is making a strong and meaningful statement: that integrity, good governance and clean sport are at the heart of skating’s future. Athletes in all skating disciplines will now benefit from an anti-doping program grounded in independence, scientific expertise, and fairness. We look forward to working hand in hand with ISU’s experts and anti-doping advisory bodies and commend the ISU’s leadership for taking this important step.”

ISU President Jae Youl Kim stated: “With a legacy spanning more than 50 years in Anti-Doping, the ISU has long been recognized as a pioneer in promoting clean sport and protecting athletes. From establishing one of the sport’s first in-house Anti-Doping programs to being an early adopter of the Athlete Biological Passport, the ISU has consistently demonstrated its commitment to securing a safe sport environment. Our partnership with the ITA marks a pivotal step forward, ensuring full independence, transparency, and global expertise in the delivery of our Anti-Doping program. As we prepare for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, and continue to advance the ISU Vision 2030, we remain dedicated to upholding fairness and safeguarding the future of ice skating.”

The collaboration between the ITA and the ISU came into force in July 2025, with both organisations working closely to ensure a smooth operational transition. This collaboration reinforces both organisations’ shared mission to protect the health of athletes, ensure a level playing field, and preserve the integrity of sport at every level.

With the inclusion of the ISU, the ITA now independently manages the anti-doping programs of four Olympic Winter International Federations, including the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), the International Luge Federation (FIL) and the International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) — a testament to the growing trust in the ITA’s independent, expert-led approach to clean sport in the Olympic winter sports community.

The highly anticipated India-Pakistan showdown in the ACC Asia Cup 2025 is likely to take place on September 7 in Dubai, with Indian media on Wednesday revealing tentative dates and venue details for the tournament.

Despite India being the official hosts, the tournament is expected to be shifted to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to ongoing political tensions between the two arch-rivals.

Reports suggest that the Asia Cup 2025 is likely to begin around September 4 or 5, with the final pencilled in for September 21.

The recurring deadlock between the BCCI and PCB has led to the “fusion formula,” under which both boards reportedly agreed not to visit each other’s home soil for multi-nation events for the next three years.

Instead, their matches would be staged at neutral venues. That’s why the 17th edition of the continental event will see the arch-rivals clash in Dubai.

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It’s worth noting that the Asia Cup 2025 will be played in the T20 format and is expected to see India and Pakistan face off at least twice, first in the group stage, and potentially again in the Super Four round, depending on results.

Six teams will participate in the tournament: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and the UAE. The structure will follow the traditional format of a group stage leading into the Super Four, similar to previous editions.

An official announcement from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) regarding the final schedule is expected in the second week of July.

Meanwhile, promotions are already in full swing, with teasers airing on Indian television and circulating across digital platforms.

It is worth noting that India are the defending champions, having crushed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the ODI-format final of the previous edition.

READ: Shubman Gill drops major hint on India Playing XI for second Test

The 2025 edition of the Asia Cup is expected to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with Indian media reporting that the tournament will begin around September 4 or 5 and conclude on September 21.

According to the reports, the group-stage fixture between India and Pakistan is likely to be held on September 7 in Dubai. The 17th edition of the tournament will be played in the T20 format and will follow the established format of group stages followed by a Super Four round.

There is a strong possibility that India and Pakistan could face each other more than once, depending on results, with a potential second meeting in the Super Four stage.

The participating teams are expected to include India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and the UAE.

While the Asian Cricket Council has not yet issued an official schedule, an announcement is anticipated in the second week of July. Promotional teasers for the event have already started airing on Indian television and circulating across social media.

Speculation that India might withdraw from the tournament due to political tensions was dismissed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which confirmed that no such decision had been made.

Media sources indicated that both countries are expected to continue participating in ICC and ACC tournaments without any official restrictions on fixtures against each other.

India are the defending champions, having won the previous Asia Cup—held in the 50-over format—with a comprehensive 10-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the final.

Yanagita Hiroki – Rising son

Yanagita is from Gunma, a sleepy prefecture to the north of Tokyo. His parents were in track and field, and he followed suit when he was in elementary school – but more as a long jumper than a sprinter.

The awakening, ironically, began for Yanagita during the global pandemic. As meets were cancelled, he began running more to stay in shape which gradually made him faster and faster.

After placing third at the 2022 national championships (10.19), Yanagita made his World Championships debut that year in the 4x100m relay but was disqualified in the heats.

The following season led to better results. He was runner-up at the nationals (10.13) then won his first Asian championship in Bangkok, where he recorded his PB of 10.02.

Yanagita got as far as the semi-finals at the World championships in 2023, when he also helped Japan finish fifth in the 4x100m. At Paris 2024, his first Olympic Games, he ran the heats in the relay but was not picked for the final (Japan wound up fifth).

Yanagita has been on a roll this year, winning the Golden Grand Prix and then defending his Asian title in Gumi, Republic of Korea. He perhaps faces his sternest test yet at these Japanese championships starting on Thursday (4 July), and seems to be fully aware of the mounting challenges lying before him.

His goal is to reach the 100m final at the National Stadium in September – something only Abdul Hakim Sani Brown has done for Japan at the World championships – but first things first.

“You can bet the house everyone will bring it this summer,” Yanagita said. “I have to keep working and start with making the team for Worlds.”

Speaking on The Game Plan Podcast on YouTube, Kamran Akmal expressed his frustration over the Pakistan Board’s decision, stating, “I just don’t understand the logic behind this decision. It’s exactly like the time PCB made Mickey Arthur director of cricket while allowing him to continue working with a county team. I couldn’t understand it then, and I can’t understand it now.”

Since 2021, Azhar Mahmood has been the seventh head coach appointed by PCB, succeeding yet another interim coach in Aaqib Javed, who had previously taken over from Australian cricketer Jason Gillespie. Akmal criticised the PCB for its erratic decision-making, asserting that these appointments have caused long-term problems.

“Lack of seriousness”

Akmal further took aim at PCB’s decision, saying, “That role (Mickey Arthur) has continued, and it has brought many issues into Pakistan cricket. The same thing is now happening with the interim coaching setup. Before this, it was Aaqib Javed, then Mohammad Hafeez and now Azhar.”

“These decisions reflect a lack of seriousness. When the PCB starts thinking seriously and acting professionally, it won’t have to make such compromises or temporary appointments”

Arthur returned to the Pakistan setup in 2023 as team director while still coaching Derbyshire in England, a dual arrangement that Akmal believes led to structural problems in the team. Mahmood, now acting as Test coach, is not expected to retain his role as white-ball assistant coach during this tenure, and he was notably absent from the coaching staff during Pakistan’s recent white-ball series against Bangladesh.

Kamran Akmal finally emphasised the situation by stating, “Everyone has been appeased, and now Azhar has also been rewarded. If you’ve made him head coach, then give him the full time and responsibility. Otherwise, what’s the point?”