30/06/2025

SPORTS MONDAY | JUNE 30, 2025

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Coco ‘tired of talking’ about Sabalenka French Open spat COCO GAUFF is keen to move on from the fallout of her French Open final victory over Aryna Sabalenka as the American looks to follow in the footsteps of Serena Williams at Wimbledon. Aryna,”said Gauff at a press conference yesterday. “We got along pretty well anyways before all that happened. It wasn’t very hard to accept that apology.”

SHORTS Fritz defends Eastbourne title THREE-TIMES champion Taylor Fritz came out on top in an all-American decider, beating lucky loser Jenson Brooksby 7-5, 6-1 in the Eastbourne Open final yesterday to retain his title. Fritz has never lost a final at Eastbourne, also beating fellow Americans when winning in 2019 and 2022 and, having been taken to three sets in his three previous matches at this year’s edition, the final was a more straightforward affair. “There’s something about Eastbourne,” said Fritz. “I just love it here. Every year I come here and it’s such a good week. “This year it’s been different and I’ve had to fight through my matches. I feel like I’ve really upped my level.” The 27-year-old Fritz will now go to Wimbledon full of optimism, having also won the Stuttgart Open earlier in June, and his tournament begins against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Monday. “I’m going to be ready to go. I’d much rather go into the tournament with confidence and a title,” Fritz said. Pegula eases past Swiatek TOP SEED Jessica Pegula contained Iga Swiatek’s heavy topspin game on grass to earn a 6-4, 7-5 victory and lift the Bad Homburg Open title. The American held serve throughout and gave up just one breakpoint in the match, denying the Pole her first career title on grass, just two days before the start of Wimbledon. Swiatek has not won a singles title since her 2024 French Open victory. “I know you say you can’t play on grass but you are very, very good on grass,” Pegula said, addressing Swiatek after the match. “It was a special week.” For Swiatek, who shed tears while waiting for the trophy ceremony, it was still a successful week after reaching her first career final on the surface. “You have an amazing game and you showed it throughout the tournament,” Swiatek told Pegula. “Hopefully we will have many more finals together.” “I feel it is going a good way and thank you for the opportunity to play here. This tournament shows there is hope for me on grass,” Swiatek said. Joint ends Eala’s history bid AUSTRALIAN teenager Maya Joint saved four match points to clinch the WTA title at Eastbourne with a dramatic victory over Alexandra Eala that ended the Filipina’s history bid yesterday. Joint survived a tense clash lasting two hours and 26 minutes, emerging with a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (12-10) win to seal her second WTA Tour title. “I’m very happy right now, feeling very relieved as well. It was a very difficult match, I’m proud of myself for coming back and staying in the match,” Joint said. “I’m glad I was able to find a way back. Alex played really well today. She definitely tested me and after the first set she got very aggressive. “What an amazing crowd, you guys came and supported me every day so thank you.”

and emotions got over me. I just completely lost it,” said Sabalenka at a pre-Wimbledon press conference. “I believe I get overemotional at the last stages of the tournaments because I have this desire of winning. “Sometimes it (gets the better of) me and I can lose control over my emotions. So I would love to improve that at the last stages of the tournament. “But honestly I’m kind of glad what happened to me at Paris because I was able to learn a lot. I was able to sit back and being open to myself, not just to ignore some things. “I think I realised a lot of things about myself in those last stages of the tournaments.” – AFP

Despite a backlash against Sabalenka in the US media, Gauff said it was not hard to hold her tongue and resist the temptation to respond. “I’m not someone that supports hate and things like that. So I thought it would be a good idea for that (the Tik Tok video) just so people can really see it and kind of move on because I think we’re both tired of talking about it, to be honest.” Sabalenka is hoping her outburst will prove a turning point in maintaining her emotional control in the biggest matches. “I was just completely, like, upset with myself,

Gauff won a tense three-set clash in stormy conditions in Paris to land her second Grand Slam earlier this month. However, the aftermath of the match was dominated by Sabalenka’s comments that Gauff didn’t play “incredibly well” and instead won “because I made all those mistakes”. The Belarusian has since apologised and the two showed they have put the spat behind them by posting a dance video together on TikTok on the Wimbledon grass. “It was just water under a bridge. I know

Last dance for Novak? Wimbledon offers Djokovic ‘best chance’ to make Grand Slam history N OVAK DJOKOVIC admits Wimbledon offers him the “best chance” to make history as he chases a results I had, because of how I feel, how I play in Wimbledon, just getting that extra push mentally and motivation to perform the best tennis at the highest level,” Grand Slams. After losing to Sinner in the recent French Open semifinals, Djokovic arrives at Wimbledon in the unusual position of no longer being regarded as the All England Club title favourite.

Garros and was coy about a potential Wimbledon farewell. “Whether it could be my last dance, I’m not sure, as I’m not sure about Roland Garros or any other Slam that I play next,” he said. “My wish is to play for several more years. I would love to be healthy physically and also mentally motivated to keep on playing at the highest level. That’s the goal, but you never know at this stage.” After battling for years with Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, Djokovic is the last of that star quartet still playing. The former world No. 1 has been usurped by Alcaraz and Sinner over the last two years and he is happy to admit his only remaining goal is to make Grand Slam history. “In a sense you’re always hunting because you’re always going for the titles – in my also privileged position – the records and more history,” he said. “I would say it’s slightly different for me now in terms of I don’t chase the rankings anymore in that regard. I’m trying to play the best tennis in Grand Slams and trying to win Grand Slams.” – AFP

record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title in the twilight of his glittering career. Djokovic is dreaming of putting an exclamation point on his incredible career by becoming the most successful singles player in tennis history. The 38-year-old has been tied with Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam titles since winning his most recent major prize at the 2023 US Open. With Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner emerging as the sport’s dominant forces by winning the last six Grand Slams between them, Djokovic believes his most

Djokovic told reporters at the All England Club yesterday. Djokovic lost to Alcaraz in the

The Serb would draw level on a record eight men’s Wimbledon singles titles with Roger Federer if he wins the grass-court tournament for the first time since 2022. But Djokovic, who won his 100th tour-level title in May in Geneva, has been dogged by questions about when he will retire

2023 and 2024 Wimbledon finals and has failed to make the title match in any of his last three

since fulfilling his long-held desire for O l y m p i c singles gold in Paris last year. He hinted after the

realistic hope of a historic 25th title lies on the lush lawns of south-west London. “I would probably agree that

French Open in June that he might not return to Roland

Wimbledon could be the best chance because of the

Novak Djokovic. – REUTERSPIC

Sinner plays down split with team

PARTING company with two of your team days before Wimbledon might not sound ideal but world No. 1 Jannik Sinner has played down any negative impact as he prepares for the grass court Grand Slam. The 23-year-old Italian surprisingly split with Marco Panichi and Ulises Badio, his trainer and physiotherapist respectively, after the Halle tournament and was asked about the situation yesterday. “Nothing major happened. Nothing big happened. I parted ways not long ago but it’s not affecting me. I feel ready to compete. I feel free. “I feel me and my team, we are ready to do the best we can,” Sinner, who is bidding to win his first Wimbledon title, told reporters.

He won one match at Halle before losing to Alexander Bublik, but said he was mentally prepared for Wimbledon where he hopes to become the first Italian singles champion. “Honestly, I feel ready to play. I feel ready. We are practising very well. What happened in the past is in the past already,” said Sinner, who faces fellow Italian Luca Nardi in the first round. “I feel good. Especially mentally I feel in a very good spot. Halle was a little bit different. Now it’s gone and I see also the reactions of other players and people, they talked the level (of the French Open final) was very high. “I feel like that I’m playing great, great tennis on grass. Hopefully I can show this also in the match court.” – Reuters

“We’ve reached incredible results in the past with them, so obviously huge thanks to them. We made some great job, but I decided to do something different.” Panichi and Badio had been part of Sinner’s team since September 2024 and helped him to win this year’s Australian Open to take his career Grand Slam haul to three. He also reached the French Open final this month but lost a thriller to Carlos Alcaraz. “Look, in this sport things can happen. Sometimes a player feels something different, and that’s my case.” Sinner suffered a crushing disappointment at Roland Garros where he lost to Alcaraz having led by two sets.