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Thursday, 31 July 2025
ANTHONY JOSHUA VS. JAKE PAUL 'BIBLICAL FIGHT CAN HAPPEN ' AS WEMBLEY PLAN AND DATE REVEALED
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| Anthony Joshua could face Jake Paul(Image: AFP via Getty Images) |
Anthony Joshua's next match inside the squared circle could be against Jake Paul with Wembley Stadium being lined up as a potential venue for the farcical fight
Anthony Joshua could face Jake Paul early next year with Wembley Stadium being lined up as a potential venue for the farcical fight.
The two-time heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medallist is seriously considering taking on the motormouth YouTube star in a real fight.
The British Boxing Board of Control would come under serious fire if they sanctioned a bout between such an experienced fighter and Paul, who has beaten only old former boxers in Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr as well as MMA fighters and other novices.
Paul, 28, lost to Tommy Fury when they boxed in Saudi Arabia back in 2023. Yet after 35-year-old Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn insisted his man was really considering taking on the YouTuber, Paul’s man Nakisa Bidarian told Sky Sports talks are underway.
He said: “I think the fight can absolutely happen. I'm looking at it as Jake versus Joshua, which is quite biblical, and it's quite impactful in many ways.
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| Jake Paul has only really faced boxers passed their prime(Image: Getty Images) |
"I think size wise, we can get comfortable with it, and I think experience wise, Jake is learning very fast and growing, and Joshua is a little long in the tooth. So it could be a very interesting matchup, and we're actively discussing it with Matchroom.”
Joshua is currently rehabilitating after elbow surgery and not ready to return until December at the earliest. Hearn says he’s still intent on facing Tyson Fury and a Paul fight would be a warm-up.
Yet there seems little benefit other than financially of facing someone with 13 pro fights and no amateur experience before taking on Fury.
Saudi boxing power broker Turki Alalshikh said he would be interested in staging the fight and financially backing it as he is not a fan of the fights Paul has and wants to rid him from the sport. That’s why the Middle East is also on the table as a potential host.
Bidarian added: “I think we're looking at it happening at the start of 2026. It's public that AJ was taking a little time away, I think he had a little surgery. “So once he's ready, and once Jake is ready, we're going to squarely focus on that.
"It's a fight that Jake wants to do, and that's a discussion we've had at length, and he feels very confident about where he is in his career and his chances of upsetting Anthony Joshua.
“Wembley's definitely a possibility. Jake said he'd like to do it there. He likes the idea of going in and hearing 90,000 people booing him!"
- Chris McKenna
RENOWNED BOXING COACH TOMMY BROOKS HAS PASSED AWAY
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| Tommy Brooks and Mike Tyson pictured in 1999Credit: Reuters |
We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of renowned boxing coach Tommy Brooks.
Brooks coached Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.
+DAZN
31 YEARS AGO SINCE JOS VERSTAPPEN'S CAR CAUGHT FIRE AT THE GERMAN GRAND PRIX AT HOCKENHEIM
31 years ago today, a terrifying moment for Jos Verstappen and his team during what was supposed to be a regulation pit stop at the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.
Fuel sprayed onto the Benetton driver and his car as the crew fumbled in attaching the refuelling rig. A split second later, the car was engulfed in flames but marshals acted quickly to extinguish the blaze. Verstappen and the pit crew only suffered minor burns.
- Autosport
BRAZIL VS. ITALY | WORLD CUP USA 94' | FINAL | PASADENA
Brazil vs Italy, World Cup USA94 Final Match at Pasadena!! 🇧🇷🇮🇹
DINO ZOFF | GOALKEEPER QHO HAS CONCEDED LESS GOALS IN FOOTBALL HISTORY
The goalkeeper who has concededed less goals in football history is Dino Zoff! He holds an incredible record of 1,142 minutes without conceding a goal in selection, set between 1972 and 1974. This is really impressive!
Dino Zoff is considered one of the best goalkeepers of all time. He won the World Cup with Italy in 1982 and was European Champion with Juventus. He is also the oldest World Cup winner, having lifted the trophy at the age of 40 years, 4 months and 13 days 1.2.
Other goalkeepers also have impressive records, such as Peter Shilton who has played 125 games for England without conceding a goal, or Iker Casillas who has won the Champions League three times with Real Madrid. But Dino Zoff remains the least goalkeeper in football history 1-2!
VON DIESEL TURNS HEADS AFTER HITTING 'CAREER-HIGH' WEIGHT FOR SURPRISING NEW ROLE
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| Image via Universal |
Vin Diesel has been hitting the gym and is fully committed to his latest transformation.
In a series of recent Instagram posts, the Fast & Furious star gave fans an inside look at what his training routine is looking like these days. And though he's always been known for his jacked physique, his latest posts show he's pushing even harder in the gym.
In one post shared earlier this week, he's seen sitting on an incline bench mid-workout, his arms pumped as he recovers from a heavy set of presses. In the same post, he shares a video of himself pedaling an exercise bike while throwing boxing punches, visibly drenched in sweat.
In a more recent training clip, posted yesterday, Vin Diesel takes on a brutal hybrid move. He starts in a high plank, performs a plank pull through, presses the dumbbell overhead, lands the weight, and drops into a pushup.
"After writing several scripts… and completing the body transformation for Theo…Now I grind for the iconic characters return. Thanks for inspiring me. Hope to make you proud…," he captioned the post.
Vin Diesel is currently training for his role as Theo Kojak in the upcoming movie reboot of the classic detective series Kojak, which originally ran from 1973 to 1978.
"I actually had to gain a lot of weight before this portion of the project. And I actually peaked to 270, which is a career high for me," he said in a video shared to social media on July 17. "I can't tell you how rewarding it is as an actor."
- Kelsey Kryger, C.P.T. Men's Fitness
Wednesday, 30 July 2025
FRENCH STAR MARCHAND ENHANCES LEGEND WITH RECORD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP
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| Léon Marchand broke the world record for the men's 200m individual medley in the semi-finals at the 2025 world swimming championships in Singapore. (AFP - FRANCOIS-XAVIER MARIT |
French swimming sensation Léon Marchand set a world record on Wednesday as he powered into the final of the men's 200m individual medley at the world swimming championships in Singapore.
The 23-year-old, who won four gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, finished in one minute, 52.69 seconds to slash more than a second off Ryan Lochte’s exploit of one minute and 54 seconds which the American set in July 2011 at the world championships in Shanghai.
Marchand said: “I knew I was going to get close to my personal best because I felt really good today, and the preparation has been pretty good, so I was really excited to race. But one minute and 52 is unbelievable for me."
Marchand emerged as one of the stars of last year's Games in Paris after winning the 200m and 400m individual medleys as well as the 200m breaststroke and 200m butterfly.
His decision to concentrate on the individual medleys and target world records at the world championships raised eyebrows.
Vindication though came from the heats of the 200m individual medley where he was the fastest swimmer with a time of one minute, 57.63 seconds.
And he anointed himself as hot favourite for Thursday's 200m individual medley final with his semi-final exploit.
“Focusing on the medleys was probably the right decision," Marchand added. "So, I’m grateful for my coaches and all the staff behind me. It’s been a really hard season for me, but I’m happy to be here and do that.”
After Thursday's final, Marchand will take part in the heats for the 400m IM on Sunday morning.
First gold for Italy
In finals on the fourth day of competition, Simone Cerasuolo took the men's 50m breaststroke to furnish Italy with their first gold in the pool.
The 22-year-old touched home in 26.54 seconds ahead of the Russian Kirill Prigoda and Haiyan Quin from China.
Luca Urlando from the United States won the men's 200m butterfly in one minute 51.87 seconds. Krzystof Chmielewski from Poland was second and the Australian Harrison Turner from was third.
Mollie O'Callaghan claimed the women's 200m freestyle. The 21-year-old Australian finished in one minute, 53.48 seconds. Bingjie Li from China was second and the American Claire Weinstein finished third.
- Paul Myers
GERMAN ATHLETE LAURA DAHLMEIER HAS DIED IN A CLIMBING ACCIDENT IN PAKISTAN, OFFICIAL SAYS
PESHAWAR, Pakistan — German biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier has died on a mountain peak in northern Pakistan following a climbing accident, and efforts are underway to retrieve her body, a local government spokesman said Wednesday.
Dahlmeier, an Olympic gold medalist, was climbing Laila Peak in the Karakoram mountain range on Monday when she was struck by falling rocks. Rescuers on Wednesday confirmed Dalhmeier’s death on the mountain, said Faizullah Faraq, a spokesman for the regional Gilgit-Baltistan government.
Her body will be brought to the city of Skardu when it is retrieved by rescuers, Faraq said.
Military helicopters were on standby to assist but have been unable to deploy because of bad weather, Faraq said. Climbers including two Americans have been attempting the same ascent done by Dalhmeier to try to join the rescue operation, he said.
Authorities launched the rescue mission Monday after receiving a distress signal from Dahlmeier’s climbing partner, Marina Eva, who managed to descend to base camp with help from rescuers Tuesday.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier offered his condolences to Dahlmeier’s parents, writing that she “was an exceptional sportswoman.” He recalled that he presented her with the highest honor on German sport, the Silver Laurel Leaf, shortly after she won her first Olympic gold medal in 2018.
“Laura Dahlmeier was an ambassador for our country in the world, a role model for peaceful, cheerful and fair coexistence across borders,” he said.
Dahlmeier was injured at an altitude of about 5,700 meters (18,700 feet) around noon Monday, according to her management team in Germany. German broadcaster ZDF reported she suffered serious injuries in a rockfall.
Dahlmeier won seven gold, three silver and five bronze medals at Biathlon World Championships, along with 20 World Cup races and the overall World Cup in the 2016-17 season, according to her website.
She won gold medals in the sprint and pursuit races at the Pyeongchang Olympics in 2018 and the bronze medal in the individual competition.
Dahlmeier ended her biathlon career in 2019, when she was 25. She grew up in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the German Alps and turned to mountaineering challenges after ending her biathlon career. She had been a state-certified mountain and ski guide since 2023 and volunteered for the Garmisch-Partenkirchen mountain rescue team.
Hundreds of climbers try to scale mountains in northern Pakistan every year and accidents are common because of avalanches and sudden weather changes.
The region has also been battered by above-normal seasonal rains, triggering flash floods and landslides. Since last week, at least 20 Pakistani tourists have been missing after floodwaters swept them away near the northern district of Chilas.
Copyright © 2025 The Washington Times, LLC.
- Riaz Khan, Associated Press
VALKYRIES VS.. DREAM GAME DELAYED BY SEX TOY NIGHT'S CLIMAX PUT ON PAUSE!!!
A WNBA game on Tuesday night was delayed several minutes ... because of a flying sex toy.
Seriously.
The wild scene -- click here if you wanna see it -- unfolded late in the fourth quarter of the Valkyries vs. Dream matchup at the Gateway Center in College Park, Ga. ... when a fan decided to hurl a neon green dildo onto the court as the two teams were tied at 75 with one minute to play.
Video from the game's broadcast shows the pleasure product came crashing onto the floor from high up in the stands as Golden State was trying to make a basket.
Initially, refs allowed play to go on while the item lay on the hardwood ... but once a timeout was called, they halted the action to clean it up.
A police officer appeared to be the one tasked with mop-up duty -- and after several moments of chatting about it with people sitting courtside, she eventually hauled it away from the area in a towel.
It's shockingly not the first time a thrill stick's made its way onto a professional playing surface -- it was once a staple of Bills vs. Patriots games.
As for the Atlanta vs. Golden State tilt ... it was the Valkyries who came away with the happy ending -- as they won, 77-75.
- TMZ Sports
OLEKSANDR USYK AGREES TO JAKE
Jake Paul and Oleksandr Usyk had an unexpected face-off following the Ukrainian’s win over Daniel Dubois.
Usyk once again became undisputed heavyweight champion by claiming a dominant fifth round knockout win over Dubois, reclaiming the IBF belt in the process and adding it to his WBC, WBA and WBO titles to cement his status as the best heavyweight on the planet.
Attention has already turned to who Usyk may take on next following the win, and despite most people expecting the likes of Tyson Fury and Joseph Parker to be linked, YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul has thrown his name into the ring.
Paul was last in action in June when he defeated former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in a cruiserweight bout, and has also been linked to a heavyweight showdown with Anthony Joshua in recent weeks.
It seems that Paul could now be targeting a shock battle with Usyk though, after facing off with the Ukrainian and posting a message on social media outlining his one condition for the potential match-up.
“Congrats to one of the greatest heavyweights of all time Usyk on a huge win. I respect you a lot. Now we do an MMA match for the world.”
Whilst team Usyk also agree that a boxing match could ‘never’ happen, they do agree that a bout inside the Octagon would be ‘perfect’.
“Well Jake Paul, you know, when it comes to Jake Paul we’re not talking about the boxing because we would be probably put in the jail for murder … we all understand we can’t put Jake Paul and Oleksandr in the ring for boxing, there is no way, and Oleksandr will never do that, but of course because Jake Paul was a wrestler and what I heard he was a good wrestler when he was growing up, he knows how to wrestle, he knows how to fight a little bit. I think MMA would be the perfect thing to do.”
While Paul may have become one of the biggest names in the sport, a fight with Usyk is likely not one that many fight fans would want to see next, but as has been proven in combats sports for a number of years, anything can certainly happen.
- Toby Morgan
'REAL FEMALE ROCKY'DIES AT 47 AS TRIBUTES PAID TO SIX-TIME WORLD CHAMPION BOXER
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| Former Argentine boxer Alejandra "Locomotora" Oliveras has died |
A six-time world champion boxer, who described herself as a "female Rocky" has died at the age of 47 after suffering a stroke just two weeks ago
A six-time boxing world champion who described herself as “a female Rocky but for real” has died aged just 47 a fortnight after suffering a stroke.
Medics at a hospital in the Argentinian city of Santa Fe where Alejandra Oliveras had been admitted on July 14 confirmed the sad news overnight. Three days of mourning have been declared in the province of Santa Fe, where Alejandra moved into politics after hanging up her gloves in 2017.
Argentinian president Javier Milei, whose right-wing politics the former boxer championed, was among those who paid tribute to her.
Referencing Alejandra by her famous nickname La Locomotora which in English translates as Locomotive, he said alongside a photo of them together: “Goodbye Locomotora. Always on the correct side, rest in peace.”
Alejandra competed from 2006 to 2015, gaining a place in the Guinness Book of World Records with different world titles in different categories and federations.
She won six world titles, including the WBC female super bantamweight title from 2006 to 2008; the WBA female lightweight title from 2011 to 2012; the WBO female featherweight title from 2012 to 2013; and the WBC super lightweight title from 2013 to 2014. She retired with 33 professional wins, two draws and three defeats.
During the Covid pandemic Oliveras, who had 1.6 million Instagram followers, intensified her philanthropic work by creating an organisation called Team Locomotora which engaged in social work and collected food to support soup kitchens.
She also gave low-income youngsters the chance to explore the sport she used to practice professionally by running several boxing schools.
Alejandra, a teenage mum who turned to boxing in her native north-west Argentinian province of Jujuy to escape poverty and domestic violence, switched her focus to politics in 2021 when she made a failed attempt to become an MP with right-wing party called UNITE.
In 2024 she was appointed to head up a programme designed to prevent violence in youth sport after joining the electoral team of a then-candidate to the Argentine presidency.
The stroke she suffered had left her paralysed on the left side of her body and medics at Santa Fe’s Jose Maria Cullen Hospital where she died had described her condition as “critical” when she was admitted.
One fan paying tribute to her online said late yesterday: “A born fighter and an example of motivation and persistence. She deserves a tribute and recognition as a national and world champion.”
Another said: “Fly high champ. You were authentic and genuine. A great warrior.”
The WBC said in a tribute, describing Alejandra as an inspiration to others: "She had a remarkable boxing career, becoming a multiple-time world champion.
"In May 2006, she knocked out Jackie Nava to become the WBC super bantamweight world champion—a title she successfully defended three times.
"She held the WBC featherweight world title from 2012 to 2013. That same year, she stopped Lely Luz Flores in seven rounds to capture the WBC super lightweight world championship. Alejandra retired from professional boxing in 2017.
"Outside the ring, she found a new way to inspire others. She built a community on social media where she shared motivational messages, especially aimed at women, people in vulnerable situations, and those who felt alone. Her words were often intertwined with boxing themes.
"At the World Boxing Council, we deeply mourn the loss of our champion. Her legacy will live on in our minds and hearts."
- Natalia Penza
BROOK HOGAN ASKS TO TAKEN OFF JER DAD'S WILL, EXPECTED TO NOT RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM THE HULK ESTATE
While still mourning the passing of her father, wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, Brooke Hogan has made it clear she wants no part of the battle over her dad’s estate.
According to sources close to the Hogan family, Brooke actually took steps last year to have her name removed from Hulk’s will. In 2023, she reportedly contacted his financial manager to ensure she wouldn’t be involved in any legal or financial drama when the time came, citing a deep mistrust for the people surrounding her father in his final years.
Brooke had long expressed concerns about those in Hulk’s inner circle and believed he was being taken advantage of. After years of failed attempts to convince him otherwise, she made the decision to step back entirely.
Though hurt that her father may not have fully trusted her intentions, Brooke never sought a payout. She will reportedly receive a small amount from a life insurance trust, of which she’s a listed beneficiary, which is money she plans to use for her children’s college funds.
As of now, it remains unclear who will take control of Hulk Hogan’s estate, including his trademarks, intellectual property, and other assets. Brooke, for her part, has already moved on from the money and is focused on honoring her father’s legacy in her own way.
- Sha Be Allah
YORK OWNER BOLD SUPER LEAGUE PROMISE AS EXPANSION ADDRESSED
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| York Knights owner Clint Goodchild (inset) insists the club are ready for Super League. |
York’s owner Clint Goodchild has insisted the Knights’ plans have not changed following news of Super League expanding to 14 clubs and their goal remains the same – to be inside IMG’s top 12-ranked clubs by October.
The Championship leaders are one of several sides pushing for promotion to the top-flight, though it remains up for debate whether the Knights’ chances have actually increased following the decision that an independent panel will handpick the two extra teams who are invited into Super League when it expands in 2026.
Sources at numerous Super League clubs have suggested Bradford Bulls and London Broncos are considered to be much stronger bets to win through that process – meaning the Knights may well have to finish 12th or higher in the IMG gradings to stand a chance of making it among the elite for the first time.
Goodchild insists that is a scenario York have been preparing for over the summer and they intend to build a full-time squad for Mark Applegarth that will ‘compete at a high level’ in Super League.
He told Love Rugby League: “The odds of us being in Super League may have increased. In many ways it feels a half-step closer to what we’ve set out to achieve. Our immediate plans don’t change at all. We’ve made the decision to get ready for Super League and Monday’s news doesn’t change that.
“On the field we’ve taken a step to becoming a top-end Championship team this year. We need to stay at the top of that table to remove any doubt about what people may think.
“We keep our cards very close to our chest from a recruitment standpoint. A lot of our recruitment for next year is already done and we’ll continue to keep that private until the appropriate time. The recruitment has been designed towards competing at a high level in Super League, I can say that much.”
Goodchild was coy to comment too much on the specifics of the expansion plans, instead insisting they are solely focussed on getting to a position where they are automatically picked for Super League.
But he did confirm the Knights would put a proposal together for the independent panel in the eventuality they were outside the top 12: despite nobody knowing yet what criteria every club will be judged on.
He said: “Although some things have changed in the last 24 hours the outlook remains the same; focussing on cracking that top 12 and building our IMG grading. Until someone tells me otherwise, that’s our focus.
“If it is out of our hands there’s no good being nervous about it. We’ve a great deal of faith and confidence that we’re seen as a positive story in the game.
“York is ready, we’re ready. Our relationship with the majority of Super League clubs has always been positive and they see what I see in terms of what York bring to the table.
“We’ve been preparing for Super League for months now. Nothing changes.”
'WOUND HIM UP A BIT': GWS COACH ADAM KINGSLEY 'TAKES RESPONSIBILITY' AFTER TOBY GREENE SUSPENSION
GWS coach Adam Kingsley has said he will "take responsibility" after Toby Greene found himself in hot water following last Friday's game against Sydney.
The fiery skipper was involved in a few incidents against the cross-town rivals, with an elbow to the head of Isaac Heeney resulting in a one-week suspension.
Greene also copped scrutiny for kicking Dane Rampe in the groin, but was subsequently cleared by the AFL after it was deemed he didn't make contact with the Swans star.
The 31-year-old is a combative player at the best of times and taking on the Swans in a local derby brought that side of his game to the forefront last weekend.
But according to Kingsley, who fronted media on Wednesday morning, his messages during the lead-up to the clash could have been a factor in Greene's outbursts.
"I'd wound him up a little bit during the week," the coach said.
"I need to be better with how I articulate that to him and what I'm asking him to do, being a little bit more explicit around the actions that I require and not some of the stuff which happened. I'll take responsibility for that and be better next time.
"We need him to channel his aggression in a little bit more productive action."
Greene is the most fined and suspended active player in the competition, but received support from Kingsley, who is adamant the skipper won't repeat his performance.
"I'm not concerned in the slightest about Toby Greene," he said.
"He crossed the line on Friday night, I don't think it'll happen again. I have full confidence in that. I have full confidence in him. He just lost his mind for a little bit."
The gun forward will miss Thursday night's crucial clash with the Western Bulldogs and admitted on the Ausmerican Aces podcast that he wishes he acted differently.
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| Toby Greene tussles with Dane Rampe via Getty Images |
"If I had my time back, I would love it back, but that's not possible," Greene said.
"There was a bit going both ways and I probably let that get the better of me in terms of getting emotional and pretty wound up. I've been guilty of it previously in my career and it was certainly a slip-up and something I'd like to have my time back.
"I thought I was almost past that, but clearly not ... [there is] a bit to work on."
GWS are sitting in sixth spot on the ladder heading into the business-end of the season.
- Liam O'Loughlin
BARCELONA GOALKEEPER MARC-ANDRE TER STEGEN UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL BACK SURGERY
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| The German needed the operation to address persistent lower back problems. |
March-Andre ter Stegen missed nearly all of last season because of a tendon rupture in his knee, and in 2023 he missed about two months because of another back operation.
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen underwent successful back surgery on Tuesday, the club said. Barcelona did not say how long Ter Stegen will be sidelined, but the player had said the recovery time would be about three months. Ter Stegen needed the operation to address persistent lower back problems. The 33-year-old German missed nearly all of last season because of a tendon rupture in his knee, and in 2023 he missed about two months because of another back operation.
Barcelona added Espanyol goalkeeper Joan García to its squad last month. Iñaki Peña was the team's reserve goalkeeper last season.
- NDTV Sports
ZVEREV MAKES WINNING TORONTO RETURN AFTER A MONTH OFF COURT
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| Top seed Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates a victory over Australian Adam Walton to reach the third round of the ATP Canadian Open (MATTHEW STOCKMAN) |
Alexander Zverev made a storming return after a month away from tennis on Tuesday, with the top seed pounding out a 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 win over Adam Walton to reach the third round of the ATP Toronto Masters.
The German top seed, who lost in the Wimbledon first round, has spent the last weeks dealing with mental burnout and also made a trip to Rafael Nadal's Mallorca academy for consultations and perhaps some career advice during his time away.
The ATP world number three came from 4-1 down in the opening set tiebreaker and did not face a break point until he found himself down 0-40 as he tried to serve out victory leading a set and 5-3.
Though he lost that game, the German immediately broke back, with his Australian opponent double-faulting on a Zverev match point.
His victory included a massive 52-shot rally, with the triumph putting Zverev on 499 wins for his career.
"Sometimes it's just about winning," Zverev said. "It was not the prettiest match, though."
The 2017 champion in Canada will now play Italian Matteo Arnaldi, who defeated qualifier Tristan Schoolkate 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Third-seeded Lorenzo Musetti and number five Holger Rune both eased into action with comfortable straight set wins. The pair began after byes and wasted little time in advancing into the third round, with Musetti hammering Australian qualifier James Duckworth 7-5, 6-1.
Rune dispatched big hitter Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 7-6 (9/7), 6-3.
Number eight Casper Ruud put out Roman Safiullin 6-3, 6-3 for another seeded win.
The event is missing the absolute cream of the player field, with both number one Jannik Sinner and second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz out with injury and fatigue issues.
Musetti, a former semi-finalist at both Wimbledon and Roland Garros, was ruthless with Duckworth, advancing in 82 minutes.
He broke for a set and 5-1 on his opponent's double-fault and finished up a game later with an ace.
The Italian is coming back into form after losing his only grass match of the summer (Wimbledon) and then going down last week in his Washington opening match. His last victory came in early June in the Roland Garros quarters.
Musetti had 17 winners while Duckworth was undone by more than 30 unforced errors.
The Italian next faces American Alex Michelsen, a 7-6 (9/7), 6-3 winner over Chilean qualifier Tomas Barrios Vera.
Rune, who was back in action a month after a first-round Wimbledon defeat, handed French Mpetshi Perricard a fourth career loss against top 10 players.
Denmark's four-time finalist at the Masters level produced his first hardcourt win since last March at Indian Wells.
"It was a very tricky first match for me, he's a big server and (there was) not a lot of rhythm in the match," Rune said after his 75-minute win.
"I had to really take care of my own serve, and then just look for the opportunities.
"It was about finding a way to win at the end of the (first set) tiebreak.
"In the second set I was pretty good when it mattered. I think I was serving very well today."
World number nine Rune limited his unforced errors to just 10 -- less than half of those struck by his opponent.
Elsewhere, 11th seed Karen Khachanov beat Juan Pablo Ficovich of Argentina 6-4, 6-2.
Last year's winner in Canada, Alexei Popyrin, defeated local wild card Nicolas Arseneault 7-6 (9/7), 6-3.
Canadian Denis Shapovalov continued his unlucky home streak taking a 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 loss to Learner Tien and extending a losing run dating to 2019 at home.
Tenth-seeded former champion Daniil Medvedev got through his opening match and will next face Popyrin after a 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 win against Czech lucky loser Dalibor Svrcina, ended with more than 40 unforced errors.
- AFP
Tuesday, 29 July 2025
BREAKING NEWS: DEION SANDERS WAS BATTLING BLADDER CANCER
BREAKING: Colorado coach Deion Sanders announced he has been battling bladder cancer this offseason. He had successful surgery to remove his bladder and is now cancer free, according to his physicians.
- Yahoo! Sports
F1: THE MOVIE HAS GROSSED OVER $500M
Joseph Kosinski's 'F1: The Movie' (2025), starring Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem, has now crossed $500 million at the global box office on a budget of around $200 million.
SHELLY-ANN FRASER-PRYCE REVEALS THR INSPIRATION BEHIND HER SON ZYON
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce reveals the inspiration behind her son's name Zyon 😁🧑🍼
Read more 👉 https://www.tiinyurls.com/tillo
Monday, 28 July 2025
FORMULA 1 WORLD CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP | 1975-2024
Formula One World Constructors Champions (1975 - 2024).
#FerrariF1, #MaxVerstappen, #LewisHamilton #LandoNorris, #Ferrari, #Max, #FBLifestyle
LIV GOLF LEAGUE TO MAKE SOUTH AFRICA DEBUT IN 2026
LIV Golf will venture to Africa for the first time next year when it begins a multiyear commitment with a visit to Steyn City, South Africa.
The event will take place from March 20 to March 22, LIV Golf announced Saturday.
The news was music to the ears of South African Louis Oosthuizen, the winner of the 2010 Open Championship.
He also serves as the captain of the Stinger GC team, an all-South African squad that features 2011 Masters winner Charl Schwartzel, Dean Burmester and Branden Grace.
"It's always special to compete at home, and I'm incredibly proud to bring LIV Golf to South Africa for the first time," Oosthuizen said. "For Branden, Charl, Dean and I to play in front of our fans, friends, and families will be an unforgettable experience.
"South African sports fans love their golf, and I am sure they will turn out in large numbers ... South Africa has given so much to us, and now we get to give something back."
- Field Level Media
SECRET DOCUMENTS AND A RALLYING CRY HOW LEWIS HAMILTON IS TRYING TO REVIVE FERRARI
Hamilton endured a ‘weekend to forget’ in Spa but the seven-time world champion remains determined to end his F1 career on a high – and is already eyeing change for 2026
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| Lewis Hamilton remains without a podium in his first 13 races for Ferrari (Getty Images) |
Prior to a Belgian Grand Prix weekend to forget for Lewis Hamilton, whose last F1 win came here a year ago with Mercedes, the question posed to the Ferrari driver without a podium to his name this year was an innocuous one. His answer, however, was an unyielding message to his beleaguered Ferrari team.
Asked whether he’d been at the Maranello factory in the last few weeks, Hamilton replied that he had. A “couple of days each week,” he detailed. Then, untriggered, the British driver, often so reticent to reveal the inner workings of his mind, went into full disclosure mode.
“I’ve called on lots of meetings with the heads of the team, so I’ve sat with John [Elkann], Benedetto [Vigna] and Fred [Vasseur],” Hamilton said, referring to the Ferrari chairman, CEO and team principal – the three-pronged executive team who lured the 40-year-old to the Scuderia.
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| Hamilton was vocal about Ferrari’s issues in a press conference prior to the Belgian GP (Getty) |
“I’ve sat with the head of our car development, with Loic [Serra], but also with the heads of different departments, talking about the engine for next year, talking about front suspension for next year, talking about rear suspension for next year.
“I’ve sent documents, I’ve done [that] through the year. After the first few races I did a full document for the team, then during this break I had another two documents that I sent in and so they would come in and want to address those.”
Quite aside from the somewhat amusing hypothetical image of seven-time world champion Hamilton sitting astutely at a desk, hunched over a laptop firing off emails to decision-makers and engineers, his words speaks volumes as to the current state of the once-great Italian outfit.
Because the Brit, having spent 18 seasons at McLaren (one title) and Mercedes (six titles), knows a thing or two about successful motor-racing teams. And it goes beyond the simplicity of a quick driver in the cockpit or rapid machinery at his fingertips. It is the whole organisation, working in perfect harmony, towards a common goal.
Hamilton spoke of “structural adjustments” within the Ferrari F1 team, alongside issues with the car which need to be changed for 2026, when new engine and chassis regulations come into play. An era in the sport which is likely to be Hamilton’s last. And one in which his former team Mercedes – alongside their engine partners McLaren and Williams – seem best-placed for a revival, in contrast to Ferrari.
Of course, 13 races into a 2025 season dominated by McLaren, Hamilton already has all his horizons set on next year. Ferrari brought their last major upgrade of the season to Spa – a new rear suspension – and while Charles Leclerc salvaged a respectable podium in Sunday’s grand prix, Hamilton had a torrid few days in the Ardennes Forest.
In practice, he impeded a number of drivers at the top of Eau Rouge. Then, in sprint race qualifying, he spun on his final lap, at the final chicane, due to a rear brake issue. Hamilton, baffled in the media pen afterwards, insisted that such an issue had “never happened to him before” in his 19-year F1 career.
It meant the Saturday sprint race was a write-off, finishing 16th, before an error in qualifying, taking his car outside the remits of the white lines, meant he was eliminated in Q1 for the second day running. By this stage, Hamilton was already writing this one off as a “weekend to forget.”
But on Sunday, sparks of life. Starting in the pit-lane, Hamilton stormed up the field, as the first driver to make the correct call and switch to dry tyres, and made up 11 places to finish seventh. He was voted driver of the day. But calls from the pit-wall to “lift and coast” – curtailing his ability to go full throttle on straights – highlight more issues for this SF-25 Ferrari car.
All of this has placed Vasseur under immense pressure at the start of this season. Asked by The Independent about the morale of the team and Hamilton on Sunday evening, Ferrari’s team principal replied: “It’s not the result we were expecting with Lewis, but it’s part of the life of a racing team to react collectively very well.
“It was a good recovery for him. For sure, we have to do a better job, to score podiums or wins you can’t let one session get away. We have to make a step next week, but we are all pushing in the same direction.”
The numbers, however, make for grim reading for Hamilton. In his first year in red, it is his worst-ever start to an F1 season. While Leclerc has picked up five top-three finishes this year, Hamilton’s best-result remains fourth. In the 11 remaining races, Hamilton will be desperate not to become the first Ferrari driver since Kimi Raikkonen in 2014 not to record a podium all season. It is not just about the car, either. Hamilton admits his qualifying displays, much like his final season for Mercedes, have not been up to scratch.
Yet the bigger picture – as is the consensus up and down the paddock for every team other than McLaren – is that this season no longer matters. Next year will give the first indications of who will dominate the next generation. And as Hamilton acknowledged pre-race in Spa, in something which amounted to a rallying cry for the thousands of Ferrari personnel in Maranello, it is “crunch time” for the Brit in his deep-rooted quest for an eighth world championship.
“I feel that it’s my job to challenge absolutely every area,” he said. “If you look at the team over the last 20 years, they’ve had amazing drivers. Fernando, Sebastian, all world champions. However, they didn’t win a world championship and for me, I refuse for that to be the case. I’m going the extra mile.”
But beyond that call to arms, his most telling statement was as follows: “I’m very fortunate to have had experiences in two other great teams and things are for sure going to be different.
“I think sometimes if you take the same path all the time… you get the same results. So, I’m just challenging certain things.” And as a headline in Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport read three weeks ago, it’s now time for Ferrari to listen to Lewis Hamilton.
- Kieran Jackson
LIONESS WIN EURO 2025 AFTER DRAMATIC PENALTY SHOOTOUT WITH SPAIN
England have won their second UEFA European Women's Championship trophy in a row.
The Lionesses defeated Spain on penalties after a tense final in Switzerland on Sunday.
It's the first time that any England team have won a major trophy abroad, after Euro 2022 was won at home in England.
For fans, this victory may feel extra special following the Women's World Cup in 2023 when they lost out to Spain in the final.
What happened in the final?
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| Alessia Russo equalised with this header in the second half / REUTERS/MATTHEW CHILDS |
The match was played at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, with 34,000 fans in the stadium.
Needless to say, the atmosphere was electric, as two of the world's most-decorated women's football teams faced each other yet again for an international showdown.
England's manager, Sarina Wiegman, was looking for her third European title.
A goal from Spain's Mariona Caldentey in the first half may have caused more concern for England if they hadn't already proved themselves to be the comeback queens.
They had already snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in their quarter-final match against Sweden, which ended on penalties, and their semi-final against Italy which ended in extra time.
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| Chloe Kelly scored the winning penalty for the Lionesses / MICHAEL BUHOLZER/EPA/SHUTTERSTOCK |
In the second half, Alessia Russo equalised with an assist from Chloe Kelly.
Spain and England battled it out through extra time to penalties yet again.
And it was déjà vu for the Lionesses, as Chloe Kelly delivered the winning goal in the shoot out - she had scored the winning goal in England's Euro 2022 final against Germany.
.What's the reaction been?
Both Prince William and Princess Charlotte were watching the match - sometimes through their hands - from the stadium.
They said they "couldn't be prouder" of the Lionesses - with Prince William shaking the team's hands at the end of the match.
The King also added his congratulations, saying "there are no setbacks so tough that defeat cannot be transformed into victory, even as the final whistle looms".
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| Prince William shook the hands of all the England players at the end of the match / MICHAEL BUHOLZER/EPA/SHUTTERSTOCK |
Prime Minister Keir Starmer was watching from the stands too, and said the team were "history makers".
He confirmed there were plans to host the team at his office No. 10 Downing Street when they returned to the UK.
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| Defender Lucy Bronze celebrates after the match / NICK POTTS/PA WIRE |
A big shock reveal after the match was that defender Lucy Bronze had played the whole tournament with a broken leg!
"I actually played the whole tournament with a fractured tibia, but no-one knew," said Bronze.
England team-mate Ellen White told BBC Sport: "I mean this in the nicest way but she is not human.
"To say she has just won a major tournament on a fractured tibia, that is not normal. That pain must have been insane and she smashed that ball in for the Sweden game."
- CBBC
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