Category: 6. Sports

WIMBLEDON — Back in February, 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva won the title in Dubai becoming the youngest player ever to capture a WTA 1000. A few weeks later, she won another one in Indian Wells and found herself in the Top 10.

Teenagers can be volatile, of course, and there was a disappointing loss to wild card Lois Boisson in the Roland Garros quarterfinals — one stage earlier than she achieved the year before — followed by a first-round loss in Berlin to Magdalena Frech several weeks ago.

Wimbledon: Scores | Order of play | Draws

Here at the All England Club, Andreeva has collected herself nicely. On Thursday she was a 6-1, 7-6 (4) winner over Lucia Bronzetti, advancing to the third round. She’ll play the winner of the later match between Hailey Baptiste and lucky loser Victoria Mboko.

Andreeva has already won 34 matches this year — only Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula have more. Bronzetti, ranked No. 63, was the 12^th player outside the Top 50 that Andreeva has beaten this year. Her only such loss was to Boisson. 

Andreeva served well, winning 46 of 63 points, but perhaps more importantly, she took 19 of Bronzetti’s 30 second-serve points. Andreeva’s forehand slice, it should be mentioned. was a constant bother to Bronzetti, who has now lost all 10 career matches to Top 10 players.

Watching the No. 7-seeded Andreeva fluidly playing and thinking her way through points, it’s easy to forget that at 18 she’s the youngest player in the PIF WTA Tour Top 75. Of the six teenagers in the main draw, she’s the only one left standing.

The first set was an example of Andreev’s rapidly improving tennis IQ and keen sense of timing. She didn’t face a break point in that frame, but the two times Bronzetti had her in a 15-30 hole, Andreeva responded with an ace — and ultimately closed out the set in 23 minutes.

After Bronzetti raced out to a 5-2 lead in the second set, Andreeva slowly reeled her in — calmly saving two set points in the process — to level it at 5-all.

Andreeva opened the tiebreak with a gorgeous running crosscourt backhand winner and followed it up with another backhand winner. She closed it with a sweet forehand stab volley that Bronzetti couldn’t run down.

LAHORE: Pakistan’s first-ever international gold medallist wrestler Din Mohammad passed away after a prolonged illness. He was over 100 years old.

Hailing from Lahore’s Bata Pur area, Din Mohammad earned the honour of winning Pakistan’s first gold medal in the 1954 Asian Games held in Manila.

Representing the country in wrestling, he defeated opponents from the Philippines, India, and Japan to claim the top podium spot.

Besides the Asian Games gold, Din Mohammad also brought home a bronze medal from the Commonwealth Games and represented Pakistan in numerous international events, raising the national flag with pride.

Punjab Sports Board spokesperson confirmed his passing and recalled that it was Din Mohammad who gave Pakistan its first-ever gold at an international event.

Punjab Sports Minister Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar expressed deep sorrow at his death, saying: “Din Mohammad’s services to the nation and wrestling are unforgettable. He lifted Pakistan’s flag in international arenas and is a true national hero.”

Punjab Director-General of Sports Khizar Afzal Chaudhry also conveyed heartfelt condolences, saying: “May Allah grant him the highest place in Jannah. Wrestler Din Mohammad made the nation proud and his contribution to Pakistani sports will always be remembered.”

Both officials extended prayers and sympathies to the bereaved family, terming Din Mohammad a source of pride for the nation and an inspiration for future generations.

Stand-in captain Tammy Beaumont has challenged England to “come out fighting” in the third T20 against India at The Oval on Friday, as the hosts look to overturn a 2-0 deficit and avoid a series defeat at the earliest opportunity.

Beaumont, who has been recalled to the T20 side under Charlotte Edwards after being out of favour with preceding coach Jon Lewis, has been named as captain because Nat Sciver-Brunt has a groin injury.

Sciver-Brunt spent time off the field as England fell 2-0 down in the five-match series in Tuesday’s second T20, and will have a scan to determine her availability for the rest of the series.

“It’s not the ideal circumstances, being 2-0 down, and with our captain and best batter out of the team,” said Beaumont, 34.

“But the worst thing we could do right now is panic. We certainly believe we can come back and win, and we’ll come out fighting.”

England are already without another key batter in previous skipper Heather Knight, who has a hamstring injury which has ruled her out of the entire summer.

Maia Bouchier, who was dropped by England after the Ashes defeat at the beginning of the year, has been called up as cover for a batting line-up which is under significant pressure to perform.

Bouchier has been in good form for Hampshire this season, and is the seventh-highest top-scorer in this season’s Women’s T20 Blast with 242 runs.

Sciver-Brunt was a class apart with her 66 in England’s 113 all out in the first T20 at Trent Bridge, while Beaumont top-scored with 54 at Bristol.

Specialist batters Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey have contributed just 19 runs between them in the two matches so far.

The loss of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva “doesn’t make any sense”, says Cristiano Ronaldo, who is among those to have paid tribute to the pair after their deaths in a car accident on Thursday.

Ronaldo and Jota were teammates for the Portugal national team.

“Doesn’t make any sense. Just now we were together in the national team, just now you were married,” Ronaldo, who captains his country, wrote on Instagram.

“To your family, to your wife and children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. R.I.P. Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you.”

Liverpool forward Jota and Silva, who was also a professional footballer, were killed in the early hours of Thursday morning when their car came off the road in the province of Zamora, in north west Spain.

Tributes from across the football world are pouring in for both.

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who signed him from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020, said he was “heartbroken” by the news.

“This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can’t see it,” he said on Instagram. “I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother Andre.

“Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father! We will miss you so much! All my prayers, thoughts and power to Rute, the kids, the family, the friends and everyone who loved them! Rest in peace — Love.”

Jota’s Liverpool teammate Darwin Nunez wrote on Instagram: “There are no words of comfort for so much pain. I will always remember you with your smile, as a good companion on and off the field.

“I send all my strength to his family, from where he is I’m sure he will always be with you, especially his wife and three children.”

Liverpool player Stefan Bajcetic posted a picture of him training with Jota on Instagram and wrote simply: “You will be remembered my friend.”

Former Liverpool player and manager Kenny Dalglish said: “Football is not important at this sad time. You feel helpless, knowing there’s so little we can do to ease the pain for his wife of just two weeks, his three beautiful children.”

Liverpool said they were “devastated” by the “unimaginable loss” of their forward, while heartfelt tributes were also paid by Jota’s former clubs, Wolves, Porto, Atletico Madrid, Pacos de Ferreira and Gondomar.

Pacos, where the brothers both spent time as youth players, described them as “two extraordinary people who stood out for their humility, responsibility and immense dedication to the club”.

Pacos’ statement continued: “Diogo Jota has become a reference for this club. An athlete with a champion’s attitude who has reached the highest levels of professional football.

“Since his arrival, he has been an example for the many athletes we welcome into our training camp every year and who dream of one day winning on the world’s biggest stages.”

Silva also played for Gondomar and Porto as a youth player, and was a forward for Portuguese second division side Penafiel, from the Porto District.

In a statement, Penafiel said: “The loss of two young lives linked to the world of football fills us with pain and consternation.

“At this difficult time, Futebol Clube Penafiel extends its most sincere condolences to the family, friends and all those who shared moments of life and passion for sport with André and Diogo.”

The Portuguese Football Federation said their deaths “represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football”, and added: “We will do everything we can to honour their legacy on a daily basis.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he was “deeply saddened” by the news, saying Jota had a “fantastic career” while Silva was “thriving” at Penafiel.

“They will both be so sorely missed by all those who knew them and by the worldwide football community.”

Ruben Neves, Jota’s former teammate for Wolves and Portugal, was among the first professional players to react to the news, posting on Instagram: “They say we only lose people when we forget them. I will never forget you!”

Jota helped Liverpool to last season’s Premier League title and also won the FA Cup and League Cup in five seasons at Anfield.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice wrote on X: “So, so sad. Heartbreaking! RIP to Diogo and his brother Andre. Sending love and condolences to his family.”

Mikel Merino, also of Arsenal, wrote: “Rest in peace Diogo and Andre. All the strength for the family and friends.”

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said: “Devastating news about Diogo Jota & his brother Andre this morning. Thoughts are with everyone of their family & friends, especially his wife Rute & their three lovely kids.”

Steven Gerrard, also formerly of Liverpool, wrote on X: “RIP Diogo. Condolences to his family during this incredibly sad time.”

As the football world came together in mourning, there were tributes from the Premier League, the Professional Footballers’ Association, the Football Association and clubs from across the English top flight and Europe.

Liverpool’s Merseyside neighbours Everton said they were “deeply saddened” by the news, while a statement from Manchester United read: “Our deepest condolences are with the loved ones of Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre, and everyone connected with Liverpool FC following today’s heartbreaking news.”

Jota was recently married to Rute Cardoso in his home city of Porto, in northern Portugal, around 300km to the west of Zamora. The couple have three children.

Outside of football, tennis legend Rafael Nadal and the NBA’s LeBron James were among the sporting stars to send their condolences to the pair’s family and friends.

UEFA, the European governing body, announced a moment’s silence would be observed at all Women’s European Championship matches on Thursday and Friday.

There were also tributes from the world of politics.

British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “Let me start with Jota because this is devastating news. I am sure I speak for everyone in saying our first thoughts are going to be with his family and his friends in particular.

“There are millions of Liverpool fans but also football fans and non-fans who will also be shocked by this.

“It is devastating and really important we bear in mind just how difficult a period this will be for his friends and for his family.”

Luis Montenegro, Portuguese prime minister, said: “I leave the family my deepest condolences. It’s a sad day for football and for national and international sport.”

(Top photo of Jota and Klopp: Laurence Griffiths/POOL/AFP via Getty Images))

Completing last year’s podium was Remco Evenepoel, who achieved an impressive third place on his race debut.

Belgium’s double Olympic champion, who won road race and time trial golds at Paris 2024, carries Soudal-QuickStep’s hopes following a fourth-place finish at the Dauphine, but he has yet to hit his very best form since suffering multiple injuries in an accident while on a training ride in December.

And, while he demonstrated his time trial abilities in winning stage four, the former Vuelta a Espana winner finished more than four minutes behind Pogacar overall.

The 25-year-old was pipped to the podium there by Florian Lipowitz of Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe, who are expected to prioritise Primoz Roglic in their hunt for a general classification podium place.

The team’s head of performance Dan Lorang admitted to cycling website Velo, external this month that the rider’s fellow Slovenian Pogacar “is one level above”, adding: “We have to accept that’s how it is, and we cannot negotiate it.”

Nevertheless, Roglic, left devastated when compatriot Pogacar snatched Tour de France glory from him on the penultimate stage in 2020, has excellent Grand Tour pedigree as a five-time winner of cycling’s multi-week races (four Vuelta a Espana titles and one Giro d’Italia victory).

But after winning the Volta a Catalunya in March, Roglic crashed out of this year’s Giro and it remains to be seen whether the 35-year-old can recover in time to compete with the best at the Tour.

Should he struggle, the team could decide to unleash exciting 24-year-old German Lipowitz, who has also placed second overall at Paris-Nice and fourth at the Tour of the Basque Country in 2025.

Even the world’s best tennis players aren’t immune to getting star struck.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka said she made her best efforts not to cast her eyes towards a star-studded Royal Box on Wednesday at Wimbledon, which included A-listers like singer Olivia Rodrigo, professional wrestler John Cena, Foo Fighters musician Dave Grohl, and actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas and her husband, singer Nick Jonas.

“I was trying not to look today,” she told reporters after a 7-6(5), 6-4 win over Marie Bouzkova to reach the third round.

“I’m really glad that I wasn’t looking there, I would be like this the whole match,” she continued, doing her best impression of the heart-eyes emoji. “I was just trying to focus on my game. Later on I’m going to open the social media, be, ‘OK, who was there?’”

Another thing that the top seed has avoided in the early days at Wimbledon? Losing. The other four Top 5 seeds all were beaten in the first two rounds — a first since 2018 — and she was two points away from dropping the first set against Bouzkova three different times in the first set before coming through.

Afterwards in her Centre Court interview, Sabalenka said she has been keenly aware of what’s been going on around her.

“I hope it’s no upsets anymore in this tournament, if you know what I mean,” she quipped, alluding to the fact that any loss by the player who holds the top ranking is considered an upset on paper.

“I’m just trying to focus on myself,” Sabalenka added in her press conference. “Of course, I know about all of these upsets. I think it’s really important to focus on yourself and to take it one step at a time, do not really look at the draw. This is something what can create a lot of nerves and a lot of doubts and stuff.

“I’m just trying to take it one step at a time. As I said earlier, I know if I’m focused, if I’m there, if I’m fighting, I know I’m going to have my chance in each match. I’m just trying to take it one step at a time.”