Category: 6. Sports

Another 2025 Grand Slam, another upset by Laura Siegemund.

The No. 52-ranked 37-year-old came through a wildly entertaining Court 5 barnburner to put out No. 20 seed Diana Shnaider — last week’s Monterrey champion — 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3 in 2 hours and 32 minutes.

US Open: Draws | Scores | Order of play

Siegemund has now notched a Top 20 upset in the first week of three of this year’s four majors after defeating Zheng Qinwen at the Australian Open second round and Madison Keys in the Wimbledon third round. She’s the fourth player this decade to accomplish such a feat, following:

• Sorana Cirstea in 2021 (d. Petra Kvitova, Australian Open R2; Johanna Konta, Roland Garros R1; Victoria Azarenka, Wimbledon R2)
• Alizé Cornet in 2022 (d. Garbiñe Muguruza, Australian Open R2; Jelena Ostapenko, Roland Garros R2; Iga Swiatek, Wimbledon R3; Emma Raducanu, US Open R1)
• Marketa Vondrousova in 2023 (d. Ons Jabeur, Australian Open R2; Veronika Kudermetova, Wimbledon R2; Ekaterina Alexandrova, US Open R3)

Siegemund’s tenacity, touch and tactics have all become familiar on the major stage this year, and all of them were on show against Shnaider. The German came from a break down in both the first set, in which she trailed 4-2, and the decider, in which momentum shifted back and forth before she ran through the last three games in a row. She won 22 out of 28 points at net, conjured a series of breathtaking lobs and painted lines as she went toe-to-toe with Shnaider in several electrifying exchanges.

Shnaider played her part in the quality, too. The 21-year-old might have been forgiven for suffering a post-title let-down, given that just three days ago she had been battling through a three-set final in Mexico — over 3,000 km, eight hours’ flight and two time zones away. But Shnaider’s shot-making and scrambling were both superb for most of the contest — a leaping backhand hooked smash early in the decider might have been the shot of the match — and only faded in the home stretch.

Remarkably, the result was Siegemund’s first singles win at the US Open since 2019, and just her fourth in nine main-draw appearances. She improved to 3-0 overall against Shnaider.

There was no hint of a Monterrey hangover for beaten finalist Ekaterina Alexandrova. The No. 13 seed also faced a tricky opener after her arduous journey — 2018 semifinalist Anastasija Sevastova, whose comeback from maternity leave and an ACL injury this year has seen her notch wins over Jelena Ostapenko and Jessica Pegula. But Alexandrova was dialled-in throughout, and needed just 68 minutes to advance 6-4, 6-1. She will next face Wang Xinyu, who overcame Caroline Dolehide 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. Alexandrova and Wang’s last meeting was a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(6) barnburner in last year’s Wuhan quarterfinals, won by Wang.

Elsewhere, surprise Roland Garros semifinalist Lois Boisson fell 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-2 to Viktorija Golubic in the Frenchwoman’s first Grand Slam main-draw appearance since her fairytale run in Paris. Boisson backed up her Roland Garros success by capturing her first Hologic WTA Tour title in Hamburg in July, but in her first two tour-level hard-court tournaments this month she has gone 0-2.

Golubic was initially overpowered by Boisson’s heavy topspin, but the stylish Swiss player began to find creative ways through it in the second set. She took control of the tiebreak with smart forays to the net, and continued her momentum in the decider with several fine passing shots — including one breathtaking angle with her single-handed backhand. Boisson took a medical timeout in which her blood pressure was taken trailing by a break at 2-1, and was undone by mounting double faults and cheap errors in the home stretch.

The result was 32-year-old Golubic’s first main-draw win in Flushing Meadows. She made her debut in 2016, but lost in the first round in each of her first seven appearances until this year. She will next face No. 18 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, who avenged a loss in Indian Wells to Sonay Kartal by defeating the Briton 6-3, 1-6, 6-1.

Elsewhere, No. 8 seed and Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova eased past Kimberly Birrell 6-3, 6-2. She will next face another Australian, 19-year-old Maya Joint, who came from 5-1 down in the second set and saved two set points to defeat Andorran qualifier Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva 6-4, 7-6(6).

West Ham boss Graham Potter has admitted the Hammers are “in pain” but called for unity after captain Jarrod Bowen had to apologise for trying to confront fans.

The forward was held back by stewards at the final whistle following the Hammers’ 3-2 EFL Cup defeat at Molineux – late goals consigning them to a third-straight loss.

Bowen had gone over to the travelling fans to salute them, only to react as something seemed to be said in the stands.

Defeat – after a late Jorgen Strand Larsen brace – condemned the winless Hammers to another loss at the start of an already turbulent season.

Potter said: “We’re all in pain so we need everybody to help, we need everybody’s support, we need to push forward and on to the next match.

“The team’s suffering at the moment, we all are, we’re all hurting. I can assure you no-one’s happy.

“I have no idea what was said or anything. Our supporters have been fantastic, they are hurting because of the results we’ve had and Jarrod obviously cares about the club and the team. It’s just an exchange of views by people who care.

“Everyone is hurting, rightly so because we haven’t had the results we’d like. Jarrod has been a fantastic captain and servant for the club.”

The loss at Molineux added to the pressure on Potter, who has won just five of his 22 games in charge since replacing Julen Lopetegui in January.

The Hammers have conceded 11 goals in their three defeats – including last week’s 5-1 thumping by Chelsea – and go to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday.

Bowen was the player who went closest to the away supporters to applaud them but then became incensed. However, within 45 minutes of the final whistle he had apologised for his reaction.

“Apologies to the fans for tonight’s reaction,” the England forward wrote on Instagram.

“I’m someone who is passionate and will fight every time I step on the pitch. But I need to set a better example and you fans know how much I love you and this club.

“We ride through the bad times together and I’ll see you all Sunday.”

The following day, on Thursday, July 17, UFC athletes Jared Gordon and Brandon Royval hosted a youth meet and greet with the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), a non-profit organization that engages underserved youth through community-based education, mentoring, enrichment, and employment readiness programs to help them develop skills and strengthen ties to family and community.

During the event, both athletes conducted a Q&A panel over lunch with members attending the organization’s summer educational program. The panel highlighted areas pertaining to the importance of arts, education, and career development. 

“We are so grateful to UFC for their incredible partnership,” said Melissa Sawyer, CEO of YEP. “Our young people were inspired by Brandon Royval and Jared Gordon—two remarkable UFC athletes who opened up about their journeys and the challenges they’ve overcome to reach their dreams. Their words truly resonated and encouraged our participants. Hearing their stories showed our young people that no dream is out of reach. The UFC team was gracious, professional, and their visit brought an energy and sense of possibility that will stay with our young people long after the event.”

Founded in 2004, YEP services more than 1,000 local youth across 13 parishes throughout New Orleans.

Keiffer Moore came off the bench to snatch a dramatic late win for Wrexham as they beat Preston 3-2 in the Carabao Cup.

The 33-year-old took advantage of a mistake from Jack Walton in stoppage time to send the Welsh outfit into round three for the first time since 1981.

Debutant Lewis Dobbin opened the scoring for Preston after seven minutes before Ryan Hardie’s sensational equaliser.

The home team deservedly regained the lead just on 29 minutes through Liam Lindsay but Harry Ashfield levelled again just before the hour.

Daniel Jebbison slipped in Theo Carroll early on but the 18-year-old blazed over as he was closed down.

But Carroll almost immediately teed up another chance for Dobbin, who curled a delightful finish into the far corner from just inside the box.

Wrexham were level within a matter of minutes as Hardie lobbed Walton with an audacious cross-cum-shot to get off the mark for the campaign.

Pol Valentin forced Wrexham’s Arthur Okonkwo into an 18th-minute stop at his near post after good work from Dobbin. Okonkwo had to stay alert shortly after to keep out Alfie Devine.

Pressure eventually paid off as Lindsay met Devine’s corner and headed home from close range.

Okonkwo was forced into his best save on the stroke of half-time, tipping over Devine’s free-kick. Dobbin then slipped Jebbison through but the former Bournemouth man’s dink came back off the post.

Ashfield had tried his luck from miles out in the first half but found more luck from slightly closer range in the 59th minute, sneaking a shot past Walton from just outside the box via a deflection.

Preston had to fend off periods of pressure but nearly went ahead again in the 85th minute as substitute Michael Smith’s curler forced Okonkwo into acrobatics.

But Wrexham won it in the dying embers as Walton fumbled a ball into the box and Moore prodded home.

Information from PA was used in this report.

Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic suffered an embarrassing exit from the Champions League play-off round after they went down in penalties against Kazakh side Kairat Almaty. After both legs ended in goalless draws, the tie was taken to the penalty shootout, where Kairat emerged victorious 3-2 and progressed to the league stage. The Kazakh club will be placed in Pot 4 during the draw.