ROGER FEDERER and Serena Williams hope to defy the doubters when they get their Wimbledon campaigns underway on 'Super Tuesday' at the All England Club where a backlog of matches needs to be cleared after the opening day downpours.
Serena, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, is still one shy of Margaret Court's Grand Slam singles record of 24.
Williams remains in the top 10 in the world but bowed out early in the French Open and the days of her holding a psychological edge over players appear to have gone.
Eight-time winner Federer, like Williams edging closer to his 40th birthday, had a disappointing second round exit at Halle - his traditional warm-up for Wimbledon which he has won 10 times.
He starts against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino who has reached the fourth round at Wimbledon three times.
Federer says his longevity was not something he planned.
"Truthfully, I don't think my goal was to play till, whatever, 39 or 40 or more," he said.
"It was maybe more like 35 I was thinking, which was already a high number at the time."
Federer lost an epic final to Novak Djokovic two years ago despite holding two championship points.
Last year he underwent two knee surgeries.
'Big X on my back'
Williams faces Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus on Tuesday (29).
The American has never lost a first round match at Wimbledon, posting a 19-0 record.
Indeed, she has only ever lost one opening round match in 78 major appearances.
The American puts players generally being able to play longer down to technology.
"I think technology has played a huge role in that," she said.
"The way we view the game, the way we recover, the way our shoes are made, the way the equipment is made.
"Because normally people retire at 29, 30, before - 29, 30, 32 was the max.
"I feel like there's several players at that age who are just hitting their stride."
Williams, though, acknowledges that with her legend status every player who faces her ups their game.
"I've had a big X on my back since '99, since I won the US Open," she said.
"When players play me that hard every single tournament, every single match, every single Grand Slam, it just doesn't matter where, you just get better.
"Yeah, it's been difficult mentally when someone might beat you and they lose directly in the next round almost every time."
One of the big barriers to Williams's goal of equalling the controversial Court's record will be Ashleigh Barty.
The 25-year-old world number one has the honour - in the absence of 2019 champion Simona Halep - of opening on Centre Court against Carla Suarez Navarro.
The 32-year-old Spaniard is likely to have the crowd on her side after being diagnosed and then beating Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Barty will be seeking to add senior Wimbledon glory to her 2011 junior title with the added symbolism of it being 50 years since her fellow indigenous Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley won her first Wimbledon title.
Barty will be wearing an outfit inspired by Cawley's iconic scallop dress she wore when she won in 1971.
"It's a really special anniversary for a lot of Australians, but for indigenous Australians in particular," said Barty of the 50th anniversary of Cawley's triumph.
With Wimbledon getting off to a soggy start, only 32 of the scheduled 64 singles matches were completed on Monday (28).
Tuesday's bumper programme also includes second seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev, fresh from his first grass court title in Mallorca, facing Jan-Lennard Struff.
The German player defeated Medvedev in Halle earlier this month.
Coco Gauff, who made the last 16 in 2019 as a 15-year-old qualifier, is seeded 20 and faces British wildcard Francesca Jones.
Venus Williams, the five-time winner, faces Romania's Mihaela Buzarnescu while French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova tackles Clara Tauson of Denmark.
Also on the schedule is Australian crowd-pleaser Nick Kyrgios who plays France's Ugo Humbert.
Veteran skydiver Felix Baumgartner has died aged 56 in a paragliding accident in Italy
He reportedly lost control of his glider before crashing into a campsite in Le Marche
Baumgartner had posted about strong winds shortly before the incident
A woman was also injured but her condition is not believed to be serious
Baumgartner famously broke the sound barrier in freefall during a 2012 space jump
Pioneering skydiver killed in freak mid-air incident
Extreme sports icon Felix Baumgartner has died following a paragliding accident in Le Marche, central Italy. The 56-year-old Austrian daredevil reportedly lost control of his paraglider after taking off from near Fermo and crashed into a campsite swimming pool. Emergency responders said he went into cardiac arrest and could not be revived. A woman injured in the crash was taken to hospital, though her injuries were not life-threatening.
“Too much wind”: Last social media post before fatal flight
Hours before the crash, Baumgartner had shared a video of himself paragliding with the caption “too much wind”. The footage showed him circling over a field, raising concerns that conditions may have been unstable. Italian media reported that he felt unwell before take-off, but the exact cause of the accident remains unclear.
The man who fell from space
Baumgartner rose to international fame in 2012 when he jumped from a helium balloon at the edge of space, plummeting 114,829 feet (35 km) above New Mexico. The feat saw him reach speeds of 843 mph, becoming the first person to break the sound barrier in freefall. Spectators on the ground even reported hearing a sonic boom. He set three world records during the mission, including highest freefall, fastest freefall speed, and highest manned balloon flight.
Career of world-firsts and boundary-pushing feats
Baumgartner began skydiving at 16 and went on to set 14 world records. He was the first person to base-jump from global landmarks including Kuala Lumpur’s Petronas Towers, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, France’s Millau Viaduct, Sweden’s Turning Torso and Taipei 101. In 2003, he became the first person to cross the English Channel in a wingsuit.
In a 2012 interview, he spoke candidly about the dangers of high-altitude jumps, saying, “The parachute could malfunction or you could flat spin, which pushes all your blood into your skull… at a certain RPM, your blood only has one way out – through your eyeballs.”
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Zafar Gohar of Middlesex bowls during the Vitality Blast Men's T20 match between Kent Spitfires and Middlesex at The Spitfire Ground on July 13, 2025 in Canterbury, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens - ECB/ECB via Getty Images)
FORMER Pakistan international Zafar Gohar has been signed by the Oval Invincibles for the upcoming edition of The Hundred. The left-arm spinner was one of 32 players selected in the Vitality Wildcard Draft, the final round of player recruitment for the tournament.
Gohar, 30, was born in Lahore and played one One-Day International for Pakistan against England in 2015 and a Test match against New Zealand in 2021.
He represented Gloucestershire as an overseas player between 2021 and 2024 before joining Middlesex ahead of the 2025 season as a local player, having obtained a British passport, a statement said.
Now eligible to play for England, Gohar will take part in The Hundred for the first time. The competition runs from August 5 to 31.
Gohar said his move to Middlesex and aim to qualify for England were motivated by opportunities in domestic cricket. “I have put myself forward for the drafts in previous years but hadn’t been picked up before, so to now have the chance to play in The Hundred is very exciting,” he said.
Gohar is one of two British Asian players selected in this year’s Wildcard Draft, alongside fast bowler Ajeet Singh Dale, who has been picked by Welsh Fire.
Six other British Asian players were selected in the main draft earlier this year, including Rehan Ahmed, Jafer Chohan, Mahika Gaur, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid and Saif Zaib.
The Wildcard Draft offers opportunities to players who were not selected earlier, based on their performances in the Vitality Blast.
Notable signings in this year’s Wildcard Draft include England fast bowler James Anderson, selected by Manchester Originals, and Rocky Flintoff, who joins Northern Superchargers. Flintoff, 17, will play under the coaching of his father, Andrew Flintoff.
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News of Braman's death has prompted tributes from across the NFL community
Diagnosed with rare and aggressive cancer earlier in 2025
Part of the Philadelphia Eagles' historic 2018 Super Bowl-winning team
Remembered for his generosity and commitment on and off the field
Who was Bryan Braman?
Bryan Braman was a professional American football linebacker best known for his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons, beginning his career in 2011. Braman was renowned for his prowess on special teams and his resilience as a player.
Braman reached the pinnacle of his sporting career during the 2017 NFL season, when he helped the Eagles secure their first Super Bowl title since the 1960s. Although he joined the team late in the season, his contributions were recognised and valued during the Eagles' victorious playoff run.
What happened to Bryan Braman?
Braman was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer in February 2025. He underwent an intensive 12-week treatment programme in Seattle, Washington. His illness was publicly acknowledged through a GoFundMe campaign organised by his friend William Jones, which aimed to raise funds for medical expenses, housing, and essential supplies.
Despite an initial target of $25,000, the fundraiser received overwhelming support and raised over $89,000. Among those who donated was former teammate and fellow NFL star J.J. Watt, who contributed $10,000 and shared a public tribute, writing: "Rest in Peace brother. Gone far too soon."
How has the football world responded?
News of Braman's death has prompted tributes from across the NFL community. His agent, Sean Stellato, shared a deeply personal statement, describing Braman as selfless and generous. "He gave me his bed every time I came to Philadelphia. He would threaten me if I didn’t stay with him. That’s how unselfish he was," Stellato told NBC affiliate KPRC.
The Houston Texans, where Braman spent a significant portion of his career, posted on social media: "We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Bryan Braman. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Braman family during this difficult time."
What is his legacy?
Beyond his achievements on the field, Braman was admired for his character, loyalty, and kindness. He was known among peers as someone who always put others first. His passing leaves a gap not only in the football world but also among those whose lives he touched off the field.
Braman is survived by his two daughters, Blakely, aged 11, and Harlowe, aged 8.
Further details regarding his illness and funeral arrangements are expected to be shared by his family in due course.
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Sophia Dunkley of England bats during the 1st Women's Metro Bank ODI match
England Women post 258/6 in first ODI at The Rose Bowl
Sophia Dunkley top-scored with 83, sharing a 106-run stand with Alice Davidson-Richards
India Women reach 34/0 after 6 overs, needing 225 more to win
Smriti Mandhana and debutant Pratika Rawal remain unbeaten
Kranti Goud and Sneh Rana take two wickets each for India
England build solid total after winning toss
In the first match of the three-game ODI series between England Women vs India Women, the home side posted a competitive total of 258/6 at The Rose Bowl, Southampton, after choosing to bat first.
England’s innings was anchored by Sophia Dunkley, who struck 83 runs off 92 balls, including timely boundaries and smart rotation of the strike. She shared a crucial 106-run fifth-wicket partnership with Alice Davidson-Richards, who added a steady 53 from 73 deliveries.
Earlier in the innings, Emma Lamb provided a solid platform at No. 3, scoring 39 from 50 balls, while captain Nat Sciver-Brunt contributed 41 off 52 deliveries. Their top-order consistency ensured that England kept the scoreboard ticking throughout.
Dunkley’s knock came to an end on the final ball of the innings, bowled by Amanjot Kaur, as England closed at 258/6 in their allotted 50 overs.
India share the wickets
India’s bowlers delivered a disciplined performance, with Sneh Rana (2/31) and Kranti Goud (2/55) leading the attack. Both bowled their full 10-over spells, containing the scoring while picking up key wickets.
Amanjot Kaur and Shree Charani chipped in with one wicket apiece, with Amanjot dismissing the dangerous Dunkley at the death. Despite the strong partnership in the middle overs, India managed to restrict England to under 260.
India’s chase begins solidly
In reply, India got off to a calm and composed start. At the end of 6 overs, the visiting side reached 34 without loss, requiring 225 more runs from 264 balls at a required run rate of 5.11.
Smriti Mandhana, batting at her fluent best, is on 14 off 12 deliveries, while young debutant Pratika Rawal has shown early promise with 12 runs off 18 balls. The pair has rotated the strike well and punished loose deliveries, including two boundaries from both batters.
Mandhana's elegance was on display when she clipped Lauren Bell off her pads for four in the fifth over and followed it up with a crisp drive. Pratika too showed confidence, threading a boundary through cover-point off Kate Cross in the fourth over.
Match situation: India well placed in early chase
With a healthy scoring rate and all wickets intact, India appear comfortable in their pursuit of 259, though they will need to navigate the upcoming middle overs cautiously. The England pace attack of Kate Cross, Lauren Bell, and Sophie Ecclestone will look to break the opening stand early and expose India’s middle order.
As of the latest update:
India Women: 34/0 in 6 overs
Smriti Mandhana: 14 (12)
Pratika Rawal: 12 (18)
Kate Cross: 0/18 (3 overs)
Lauren Bell: 0/16 (3 overs)
Match details
Fixture: 1st ODI – England Women vs India Women
Venue: Utilita Bowl (The Rose Bowl), Southampton
Date: 16 July 2025
Toss: England Women won the toss and opted to bat first
Series: 3-match ODI series
Playing XIs
England Women: Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones (wk), Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Sophia Dunkley, Alice Davidson-Richards, Charlotte Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross, Lauren Filer, Lauren Bell
KING CHARLES met and consoled Indian cricketers at Clarence House on Tuesday, a day after their narrow defeat to England in the third Test at Lord's.
The King hosted the Indian team less than 24 hours after they lost the match by 22 runs in the final session of the last day. India, chasing a target of 193, were bowled out before the close.
The last wicket fell when Mohammed Siraj tried to block a delivery from Shoaib Bashir, but the ball spun back and dislodged the bail.
Charles told India captain Shubman Gill that he had watched the final moments of the game on television. Referring to the ball that dismissed Siraj, he said: "really annoying just to touch the bails".
India now trail 2-1 in the five-match series. The fourth Test is scheduled at Old Trafford next week, followed by the final match at The Oval in London.
Gill said, "He did tell us that the way our last batsman got out was quite unfortunate – the ball rolling on the stumps, and he was just asking us how did we feel after that.
"And we told him it was an unfortunate match for us, but it could have gone either way and hopefully we'll have better luck in both the next games."