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Osaka: Grand Slam Comeback Ends In 1st-Round Loss To Garcia, Gauff Advances At Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia – Naomi Osaka returned through the players’ tunnel after her Grand Slam return ended in a first-round loss, where her name is prominently displayed alongside prior Australian Open champions.
On Monday night, three matches into her return from 15 months off the tour and six months after the birth of her daughter, Shai, Osaka was defeated 6-4, 7-6 (2) by 16th-seeded Caroline Garcia in a tight match at Rod Laver Arena.
“The competitive side of me is really frustrated that I’m not winning these matches, of course,” Osaka said at a post-match press conference. “So I wouldn’t say, like, this comeback is how I thought because I’m delusional enough to think I could have won the tournament.”
She grinned before saying, “I think my delusion is what allows me to win the tournaments.”
Osaka won the U.SU.S.en in 2018 and 2020 and the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021. This was her first loss in the first round since her debut in Melbourne in 2016.
After losing in the first round of the French Open and the United States Open in 2022, she took a break from tennis to care for her health. For now, she has no plans to take any additional breaks.
Osaka: Grand Slam Comeback Ends In 1st-Round Loss To Garcia, Gauff Advances At Australian Open
“Yeah, I think I just have to keep living day by day and training hard and playing a lot more matches,” she said. “And hopefully, my dreams will come true.”
The big-serving Garcia did not offer Osaka a chance at a breakpoint during the match. Most rallies were brief, with only three lasting more than nine strokes. The majority were less than four. Most of the service holds were comfortable, except Osaka’s one dropped game in the first set. That made all the difference.
“I have a lot of respect for Naomi as a person and as a player — 15 months she’s been away,” Garcia said. “I’m pleased to have her back. Six months after giving birth, she’s already playing well. We must exercise caution.”
Osaka was one of three former Australian Open champions who returned to Melbourne Park as mothers, including 2016 winner Angelique Kerber and 2018 champion Caroline Wozniacki.
The Australian Open began on Sunday and will be played across 15 days for the first time, with the first round divided over three days to reduce late-finishing matches.
Osaka: Grand Slam Comeback Ends In 1st-Round Loss To Garcia, Gauff Advances At Australian Open
Nonetheless, it was 1:39 a.m. local time when Felix Auger-Aliassime completed a 4-hour, 59-minute victory over 2020 U.SU.S.en winner Dominic Thiem, 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 5-7, 6-3. A ball kid had to chase a bird off the court at Margaret Court Arena during the fourth set, which caused the audience to chuckle briefly. It then flew over the stadium briefly before play resumed.
Auger-Aliassime’s victory snapped a string of three consecutive first-round exits at majors.
Coco Gauff, the US U.S.en champion, defeated Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-3, 6-0 in the first match on Rod Laver Arena.
After receiving guidance from Andy Roddick, the 19-year-old Gauff, who won her maiden major at the U.S. U.S. in September, claimed she felt more confident in her serve.
Fourth-seeded Gauff only dropped one game on her serve in the second set and praised Roddick, adding, “He’s probably one of the best servers in history.”
Marketa Vondrousova, the Wimbledon winner, was eliminated in the first round after losing 6-1 and 6-2 to Dayana Yastremska while dealing with a hip issue.
Mirra Andreeva, a third 16-year-old, advanced to the second round after defeating 29-year-old Bernarda Pera 7-5, 6-2. She will face sixth-seeded Ons Jabeur, a three-time Grand Slam runner-up.
Alina Korneeva and Brenda Fruhvirtova, both 16, advanced after winning their maiden Grand Slam main draw matches on Sunday.
“I’m reallyd for this,” Andreeva remarked, playing Jabeur. “I’ve said several times that she’s the player I admire. I absolutely enjoy the way she plays. I’m confident it’ll be a fantastic match.”
Osaka: Grand Slam Comeback Ends In 1st-Round Loss To Garcia, Gauff Advances At Australian Open
Alex de Minaur, Australia’s newest top-10 player, advanced after former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic retired from their match. De Minaur was ahead 6-7 (6), 6-3, 2-0 when the big-serving Canadian quit injured.
Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 and 2022 finalist at Melbourne Park, advanced after his opponent retired from their encounter.
Medvedev had lost the first set but was up 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, and 1-0 when 22-year-old Terence Atmane retired due to cramps.
“When I was feeling tired in the third set, I looked up the other end and saw he was cramping,” Medvedev told reporters. “The conditions were fine, but it has not been hot these seven days, and then it was hot today, so you get more stressed.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final last year, defeated Zizou Bergs 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 to progress.
Adrian Mannarino defeated Stan Wawrinka, the 2014 Australian Open champion, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-0. Djokovic, a 10-time winner, is now the lone Australian champion in the men’s tournament.
Andy Murray, a five-time Australian Open finalist, fell to Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-4, 6-2, 6-2, and claimed it could be his last appearance in the season’s opening major.
SOURCE – (AP)
News
Britain Must Be Ready for War in 3 Years, Warns New Army Chief
The new head of the Army has stated that Britain must be prepared to fight a war within three years.
Gen Sir Roland Walker has issued a warning about a variety of risks in what he calls a “increasingly volatile” environment.
However, he stated that war was not inevitable and that the Army had “just enough time” to prepare to prevent conflict.
He stated that the Army’s fighting capacity would be doubled by 2027 and tripled by the end of the decade.
Gen Walker warned that the Britain was under threat from a “axis of upheaval” in his first speech as Prime Minister on Tuesday.
Among the primary concerns confronting the Britain in the next years, as noted by the general in a briefing, is an enraged Russia, which may seek vengeance on the West for helping Ukraine, regardless of who wins the war.
He stated: “It doesn’t matter how it finishes. I believe Russia will emerge from it weaker objectively – or completely – but still very, very dangerous and seeking some form of retaliation for what we have done to assist Ukraine.”
Britain’s Government Defence Review and Military Challenges
He also warned that China was determined to retake Taiwan, and Iran was likely to seek nuclear weapons.
He stated that the threats they posed may become particularly acute in the next three years, and that these countries had formed a “mutual transactional relationship” since the war in Ukraine, sharing weaponry and technology.
However, he stated that the path to conflict was not “inexorable” if the UK re-established credible land troops to assist its deterrent strategy for avoiding war.
In his speech, he described his force of slightly over 70,000 regular troops as a “medium-sized army” and made no direct call for additional resources or men.
However, he pushed the British Army to adapt swiftly, focussing on technology such as artificial intelligence and weaponry rather than numbers.
His ultimate goal is for the Army to be capable of destroying an opponent three times its size.
This would entail firing quicker and farther, he said, aided by lessons learnt from the Ukraine war.
The general’s speech at the Royal United Services Institute land warfare conference comes only one week after the government began a “root and branch” defence review to “take a fresh look” at the challenges facing the armed services.
Defence Secretary John Healey launched the assessment, describing the existing status of the armed forces as “hollowed-out” and stating that “procurement waste and neglected morale cannot continue”.
According to the most recent Ministry of Defence (MoD) numbers from April 2024, the Britain’s regular Army forces total 75,325 troops (excluding Gurkhas and volunteers).
That figure has been declining in recent years, as recruiting has failed to match retention. The previous Conservative administration lowered the planned headcount from 82,000 to 72,500 by 2025.
Members of the NATO military alliance have agreed to spend at least 2% of GDP on defence by 2024, but several countries are unlikely to fulfil this goal.
The Britain presently spends 2.3% of its GDP on defence. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously stated that the defence review will include a “roadmap” for increasing this to 2.5%, however he has yet to provide a date for this promise.
Source: BBC
News
Katie Ledecky Hopes For Clean Races At Paris Olympics In The Aftermath Of The Chinese Doping Scandal
PARIS — Katie Ledecky is looking for clean Olympic races. On Wednesday, Hope had pretty much reached her limit.
The American swimmer hopes to add to her six gold medals as she competes in the 400, 800, and 1,500 meters at the Paris Games. Her program starts with the heavy 400 on Saturday, featuring Ariarne Titmus and Summer McIntosh.
Katie Ledecky | ESPN Image
Katie Ledecky Hopes For Clean Races At Paris Olympics In The Aftermath Of The Chinese Doping Scandal
The 27-year-old Katie is competing in her fourth Summer Olympics, but the first since a doping scandal involving almost two dozen Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned chemical before the Tokyo Games — yet were permitted to compete with no consequences. The controversy has raised serious worries regarding the effectiveness of anti-doping initiatives.
Katie Ledecky | Vogue Image
“I hope everyone here is going to be competing clean this week,” Ledecky claimed. “But what truly counts is, were they training cleanly? Hopefully this has been the case. Hopefully, there has been worldwide testing.”
The International Olympic Committee has expressed concern over the ongoing US investigation into possible doping by Chinese swimmers. While awarding the 2034 Winter Olympics to Salt Lake City on Wednesday, the IOC urged Utah officials to do whatever they could to stop the FBI investigation.
“I think everyone’s heard what the athletes think,” Katie added. “They seek transparency. They want more answers to the remaining questions. At this point, we are here to race. We are going to race whoever is in the lane next to us.
“We are not paid to conduct the tests, so we trust those who follow their regulations. That applies both today and in the future.
Katie Ledecky | ESPN Image
Katie Ledecky Hopes For Clean Races At Paris Olympics In The Aftermath Of The Chinese Doping Scandal
SOURCE | AP
News
London Heatwave Alert: High Temperatures Set to Soar to 29C Next Week
As the summer holidays begin, London may experience an official heatwave with temperatures reaching up to 29 degrees Celsius.
The Met Office predicts a long period of sunny and dry weather for London after a soggy spring and summer.
After a cloudy day on Saturday, temperatures are expected to reach 27C on Sunday, with lots of sunlight.
On Monday and Tuesday, temperatures are forecast to peak at 29 degrees Celsius. Monday is forecast to offer more sunlight, while Tuesday may see some gloomy weather.
Temperatures are expected to remain in the high 20s next week, with lows of approximately 18C.
According to the Met Office, a heatwave is “an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of year, which may be accompanied by high humidity.”
In the United Kingdom, a heatwave is proclaimed when daily temperatures meet or surpass a certain level for at least three consecutive days.
In London, the heatwave threshold is 28 degrees Celsius.
The Met Office reported that the UK is experiencing hotter and wetter weather on average due to climate change.
The UK experienced its warmest May and April on record this year, despite damp and dismal conditions in many areas.
According to the Met Office’s State Of The UK Climate 2023 report published on Thursday, the UK experienced historic levels of extreme weather last year.
In the United Kingdom, 2023 was the second warmest year on record, bringing storms, flooding, strong heatwaves, and rising sea levels; only 2022 was warmer.
It was 0.8°C higher than the average from 1991 to 2020, and 1.66°C higher than the 1961 to 1990 average.
However, 2023 will be a “cool year” in comparison to 2100, based on the planet’s warming trajectory.
The government’s plan to adapt to the hazards presented by climate change is currently being challenged in the High Court by campaigners who allege the Tory administration’s July 2023 National Adaptation Programme (NAP) fails to adequately address 61 concerns.
Source: The Standard
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