16/07/2025

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | JULY 16, 2025

29 Swiatek’s back, Draper needs time Father time catching up with Djokovic and what else we learned at Wimbledon W IMBLEDON is over for another year after title wins for Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner. Here’s a looks at six things we learned from the 2025 Championships. Alcaraz had threatened to make it a one-sided duel having won their last five meetings, including last month’s epic five-setter in the French Open final. Draper a work in progress It has been a great season so far for Jack Draper, with Britain’s number one climbing into the world’s top four, but he is still searching for how best to impose his game on grass. faces more uncertainty on that front with Petchey unwilling to give up his media career. Raducanu thrives with people she trusts around her so finding a stable set-up must be the priority.

But Sinner got his revenge for that, dethroning the two-time champion for a first Wimbledon title and a fourth grand slam crown, one behind the Spaniard. The US Open promises to be a fascinating next instalment. Novak nears end of line Novak Djokovic was forced to admit age is catching up with him after falling to Sinner in the semifinals, signalling the final throes of the drawn out changing of the guard in men’s tennis. The 38-year-old had suffered a fall late on in his quarterfinal win over Flavio Cobolli, and his aching limbs simply could not cope with the power and athleticism of the 23-year-old world number one. The 24-time grand slam winner did vow to be back next year, but there is an inescapable feeling that Wimbledon, who always make a good job of paying tribute to its former champions, could be hosting Djokovic’s farewell party.

Technology out of line Wimbledon rolled out electronic line calling for the first time after dispensing with line judges, and it was not without its teething problems. The most high-profile mistake came during Sonay Kartal’s fourth-round defeat to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, when the system was inadvertently turned off and did not flag that a shot from the British player was out. There was another embarrassing malfunction during Taylor Fritz’s quarterfinal victory over Karen Khachanov, when “fault” was incorrectly announced after the American’s forehand landed well inside the baseline. Raducanu and Draper had earlier questioned the technology’s accuracy, while Khachanov even said the absence of line judges made him feel “lonely” on court. Champs open up on drug bans at dinner JANNIK SINNER and Iga Swiatek discussed their respective drugs bans after clinching title success at Wimbledon over the weekend, according to the Italian. Sinner lifted the Wimbledon trophy for the first time after overcoming Carlos Alcaraz in four sets in the men’s final on Monday, with Swiatek thrashing Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in the women’s final a day earlier. Sinner was handed a three-month ban in February following two positive doping tests after reaching an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada). Swiatek, meanwhile, accepted a one-month suspension last November after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine. The duo have now won 10 Grand Slam titles between them. Sinner spoke to BBC Sport to discuss his Wimbledon triumph and reflecting on his chat with Swiatek, he explained: “Well, me and Iga, we actually talked yesterday about this and we’ve been celebrating, in a way, even more because it was a very difficult time for her and also for me. “There are always going to be some people who believe in you and who (do) not, but this is in everything. “So yeah, in a way it’s very special, because it was very, very stressful, the time on the last four or five months.” After being slapped with his sanction, Sinner released a statement earlier this year which stated:“This case had been hanging over me for nearly a year. “I have always accepted that I am responsible for my team and realise Wada’s strict rules are an important protection for the sport I love. “On that basis I have accepted Wada’s offer to resolve these proceedings on the basis of a three month sanction.” Swiatek, meanwhile, was given her sanction after the International Tennis Integrity Agency acknowledged that her positive test was due to contamination via medication. And she explained in a video statement afterwards: “It was a blow for me, I was shocked and this whole situation made me very anxious. “At first I couldn’t understand how that was even possible and where it had come from. “It turns out testing revealed historically lowest levels of trimetazidine, a substance I’ve never heard about before. “I don’t think I even knew it existed. I have never encountered it, nor did people around me. So I had a strong sense of injustice, and these first few weeks were really chaotic.” Addressing her fans, she added: “So now, I have fought the toughest battle of my life, and I hope you will stay with me and keep supporting me.” – Express Newspapers The Independent

As the 23-year-old said after losing to former finalist Marin Cilic in the second round: “I think there’s a bit of a misconception, just because I’m a 6ft 4in lefty, I must be incredible on grass.” Cilic gave Draper a lesson in how to play on the surface but the British number one lacks nothing in attitude or professionalism and will surely crack the code at some point. Raducanu still riding rollercoaster Unlike Draper, Emma Raducanu knows exactly how to get the best out of her game on grass and she again performed strongly at the All England Club. A second-round victory over former champion Marketa Vondrousova was very impressive and she was unfortunate to lose out to world number one Sabalenka in one of the matches of the tournament. A key feature of Raducanu’s success was her close partnership with coach Mark Petchey, but she

Iga is eager again Iga Swiatek has positioned herself back among the top three in the women’s game with Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff. The Pole did not feature on many lists of potential champions after her clay-court struggles but unexpectedly found comfort and joy on what had been her least favourite surface. And even Swiatek at her most dominant has never won a French Open final 6-0, 6-0 – the fate of poor Amanda Anisimova, whose maiden grand slam decider turned rapidly into a nightmare. Sinner turns the tables as rivalry grips It was a thrilling fortnight with shocks throughout but all roads eventually led to a Sinner versus Carlos Alcaraz final, the latest chapter in an increasingly gripping rivalry which looks likely to endure for years.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (left) and Lewis Hamilton arrive ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix on June 26. – REUTERSPIC

Reason Hamilton, Leclerc can’t be friends

TENSIONS are natural when a driver joins a new team, and per haps even more so when that new arrival is a seven-time world cham pion. So one could understand if Charles Leclerc didn’t want to be too chummy with Lewis Hamilton after he moved to Ferrari this year. And Frederic Vasseur isn’t push ing for his star duo to get too close, either. Many team bosses may like the idea of their drivers being best buds on and off the track, but the Ferrari chief believes a bit of inter nal rivalry is necessary. Leclerc, 27, has been Ferrari’s poster child since 2020 and the driver around whom their cars have been modelled since then. But rumours are afoot that Formula

1 icon Hamilton, 40, will take a stronger lead in developing their blueprint for the 2026 design. It’s the kind of news that would threaten to sour any existing ten sions that may reside between the Ferrari duo. But Vasseur, who has been linked with the Ferrari exit, has sug gested in the past he’s fine with a bit of bite between colleagues. “They are getting along very well, super focused and motivated, with great mutual understanding,” he told Belgian outlet RTBF earlier this year. “But there has to be com petition. “I don’t want them to be best friends. Nor enemies, but above all, they must be rivals. It must stay that way; they should always push to outperform each other and be

at Ferrari.

driven by that. In any case, their mindset is healthy and positive.” To Hamilton’s credit, the seven time world champion has been nothing but genial to his driving partner since arriving at Maranello, at least from the outside. And he demonstrated early on the respect he holds for Leclerc. “Charles is massively talented,” he said during testing at the Bahrain International Circuit. “Getting to see him work oppo site the table and watching him in the garage, it’s been really, really great.” Hamilton added he even looks forward to learning off Leclerc, 13 years his junior. But the warm and fuzzy feelings between the pair could turn frosty if Leclerc gets the sense he’s no longer the focal point

Former F1 star Jacques Villeneuve suggested Hamilton’s sprint win at the Chinese Grand Prix earlier this season may have made Leclerc jealous. Those feelings could intensify if Hamilton becomes the new lead for their 2026 car, though Leclerc has taken a mature response on that matter. “I don’t think that’s the problem, and I just want the fastest car possi ble next year,” he said at Silverstone when asked about the prospect of Hamilton taking lead in developing the new build. “That’s exactly what Lewis wants, and then wherever we are next year, I’ll set up the car in a way that I like, and Lewis will do just the same.” – Express Newspapers