4 h. ago ‘I’m really sorry’ – Former Wimbledon champion pulls out of Australian Open an hour before first match

A FORMER Wimbledon champion apologised after pulling out of her Australian Open match an hour before taking to the court. Marketa Vondrousova won her only Grand Slam at the All England Club in 2023. She has struggled for form and fitness in the two-and-a-half years since. And her problematic shoulder issues that have plagued her...

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53 h. ago ‘I was still breastfeeding in the first tournaments I played’: Belinda Bencic on getting back to her best

The Tokyo Olympic champion has climbed more than 1,200 places back to the world top 10 following the birth of her daughter, Bella“I definitely think I’m a better player now than I was before my pregnancy,” Belinda Bencic says as she reflects on climbing more than 1,200 places up the world rankings since returning to competitive tennis as a new mother. In October 2024 Bencic had plummeted to a lowly spot as world No 1,213 when she stepped back on to court feeling secure that baby Bella was being looked after by her husband, Martin Hromkovic – who is also her strength and conditioning coach.On 11 January, 14 months since her comeback began, Bencic played Iga Swiatek in the final of the United Cup in Sydney. The world No 2, and current Wimbledon champion, won the first set but Bencic played supreme tennis as she swept Swiatek aside 6-0, 6-3 in the next two sets to seal her ninth consecutive victory of the week for Switzerland. Her imperious performance also meant that Bencic was back i...

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64 h. ago ‘Chess Wimbledon’ starts with world champion challenged by rising stars

India’s Gukesh Dommaraju takes on Candidates qualifiers and stars who missed out, plus a talent for the 2030sThe annual “chess Wimbledon” at Tata Steel Wijk aan Zee in the Netherlands is unusually interesting this year. Its 14-player field matches the reigning world champion, India’s Dommaraju Gukesh, against a range of rivals who include four of the eight Candidates who will meet in March to decide his 2026 challenger, another three grandmasters from the world top 10, the controversial US star Hans Niemann, plus a 14-year-old Turk who is breaking age records.Gukesh’s unimpressive recent results mean that the world Nos 5 and 8, Arjun Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, will aim to finish ahead of him. Germany’s world No 4, Vincent Keymer, had a good 2025, while the home nation’s world No 6, Anish Giri, often performs well in this event. Continue reading...

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3 d. ago Roger Federer backs Carlos Alcaraz to complete ‘crazy’ achievement

Alcaraz is a two-time champion at Wimbledon, the French Open and the US Open but has never advanced beyond the quarter-final stage of the Australian Open

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2 w. ago Emma Raducanu mystery injury sparks Australian Open concern as she suddenly pulls out match

Emma Raducanu was due to take on Naomi Osaka in Great Britain's first tie at the United Cup, but the former US Open champion was forced to withdraw from that match hours before it started

Events

2 w. ago Emma Raducanu sparks major Australian Open concerns as she withdraws from first match of 2026 just HOURS before she was due on court

The 23-year-old was due to play for Team GB in United Cup action in Perth this week as she begins her pre-Australian Open tune-up, but withdrew from the match at the eleventh hour.

Events

2 w. ago Aston Villa defy gravity again as winning run rolls on at Chelsea | Jonathan Wilson

Villa keep coming from behind, keep winning by the odd goal and keep confounding the numbers. At some point it must stop – but not yetIt can’t go on. It makes no sense that it goes on. And yet it goes on.Aston Villa went into Saturday’s Premier Leage game at Chelsea having won 10 games in a row, looking to match a record set in 1897 and 1914. For an hour there seemed no chance they would achieve it, as Chelsea outplayed them, took the lead and could have had several more. But Chelsea are vulnerable with a lead, especially at home, and Villa have developed a baffling habit of winning away games having gone behind.This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email soccerwithjw@theguardian.com, and he’ll answer the best in a future edition. Continue reading...

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3 w. ago Wimbledon champion reveals true thoughts on Kate Middleton after calling royal a 'doll'

A tennis legend has opened up about meeting the Princess of Wales at Wimbledon in 2012, though he was careful not to say too much

Politics