Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

So easy for Serena as she rolls into quarter-finals

Seven-times champion Serena Williams prevailed in a Centre Court mothers' meeting on Monday, roaring past Russian qualifier Evgeniya Rodina into the Wimbledonquarter-finals.

The 36-year-old American was untroubled in a 6-2 6-2 victory -- her 90th singles match win at the All England Club.


Rodina, who like Williams combines a tennis career with motherhood, looked overawed at first as she went 3-0 down.

She steadied herself, though, and had a break point when Williams served at 4-2, but her chances were few and far between as her opponent continued to charge through a draw blown wide open by an exodus of seeds.

Rodina left the court for a few minutes at the end of the first set but when she returned Williams continued her domination with an early break in the second.

With her easy power game in sync Williams looked serene as she cruised to victory to set up a clash with Italy's Camila Giorgi, the fifth unseeded player she will have faced in a dream draw on her Wimbledon return.

"I faced a thousand and three seeds in my life, so I'm okay wit that," Williams responded when asked if she would have preferred stiffer tests.

None of the top eight women's seeds have reached the quarter-finals for the first time since seedings were introduced in 1927 -- although Williams' 25th seeding is misleading.

The way she is striking the ball and moving in her second Grand Slam back after childbirth she would arguably be favourite for the title even with the likes of Garbine Muguruza and Simona Halep still in contention.

She is unbeaten at the championships since 2014, winning the title in 2015 and 2016. She missed last year because of her pregnancy but is on an 18-match winning run at the All England Club.

As easy as she is making it look, however, the American is not satisfied with her level.

"There's a lot to improve on. This is only my fourth tournament back," she said.

"I feel like I'm getting to where I want to be. For me, there's so much further I want to go to get back where I was, and hopefully go beyond that.

"I'm always striving for perfection. There's a lot of things that I don't know if you can tell, but I really need to work on. Hopefully, I can get there."

More For You

Archer-Getty

Playing his first Test in over four years, Archer dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal with just his third ball. (Photo: Getty Images)

Bumrah claims five at Lord’s as Archer strikes early on Test return

JOFRA ARCHER made an early breakthrough on his return to Test cricket at Lord’s on Friday, while India captain Shubman Gill was dismissed for a low score on the second day of the third Test.

Playing his first Test in over four years, Archer dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal with just his third ball. Later, Gill, who had scored 585 runs in four innings in the series including three centuries, was caught behind for 16.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Alcaraz

Alcaraz has won 35 of his 38 matches on grass, including 20 in a row at Wimbledon since losing to Sinner in the fourth round in 2022.

Getty Images

Alcaraz beats Fritz to enter third straight Wimbledon final

 

Highlights:

 
     
  • Carlos Alcaraz defeated Taylor Fritz in four sets to reach his third Wimbledon final in a row.
  •  
  • The match was played in extreme heat, with on-court temperatures nearing 32 degrees Celsius.
  •  
  • Alcaraz extended his winning streak to 24 matches, the longest of his career.
  •  
  • He is aiming to become the fifth man in the Open era to win three straight Wimbledon titles.

CARLOS Alcaraz reached his third consecutive Wimbledon final on Friday with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) win over American fifth seed Taylor Fritz.

Keep ReadingShow less
sachin-lords1-pti

The portrait was created by Stuart Pearson Wright, based on a photograph taken by the artist at Tendulkar’s home in Mumbai 18 years ago. (Photo: PTI)

Lord’s honours Tendulkar with portrait, cricketer says ‘full circle’ moment

SACHIN TENDULKAR said "life has truly come full circle" after a portrait of him was unveiled at Lord's on Thursday.

Tendulkar, widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen, scored 34,357 runs across Tests, one-day internationals and one T20 match for India during his international career from 1989 to 2013.

Keep ReadingShow less
Iga Swiatek

Swiatek broke early in the match, racing to a 3-0 lead and never allowed the 35th-ranked Bencic to settle. (Photo: Getty Images)

Swiatek cruises past Bencic to set up Wimbledon final with Anisimova

Highlights:

 
     
  • Iga Swiatek storms into her first Wimbledon final with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Belinda Bencic
  •  
  • Swiatek will face Amanda Anisimova, who beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka
  •  
  • Anisimova reaches her first Wimbledon final and will break into the top 10 rankings
  •  
  • Sabalenka exits in the semi-final for the second time, despite a strong 2024 season
  •  
 

IGA SWIATEK reached her first Wimbledon final on Thursday with a dominant 6-2, 6-0 win over Belinda Bencic in just 71 minutes on Centre Court. The 24-year-old, seeded eighth, will face Amanda Anisimova in the final after the American defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set semi-final.

Keep ReadingShow less
Indian sprinter Animesh Kujur sets sights on Olympic glory

Animesh Kujur

Indian sprinter Animesh Kujur sets sights on Olympic glory

AN Indian sprinter who recently broke a national record has said he wants to win an Olympic medal to inspire young athletes to pursue similar dreams.

Animesh Kujur, 22, last Saturday (5) smashed the 100-metre national record with a stunning 10.18 seconds at the Dromia International Sprint and Relays Meeting in Greece.

Keep ReadingShow less