Archive May 29, 2025

French Open 2025

Location: Roland Garros, May 25 – June

In his five-set defeat to home favorite Arthur Fils, French Open champion Jaume Munar has criticised the “circus” created by the crowds and accused them of a “complete lack of respect.”

In their second-round match, the Spaniard rallied from two sets down to defeat 14th seed Fils, but the winner, Court Suzanne Lenglen, fell 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 0-6 6-4.

Fils’ recovery from a back injury was sparked by a boisterous French crowd, who passionately backed him as he battled through it in four hours and 25 minutes.

In his post-game press conference, Munar stated, “I’m going to be very clear on the subject and I’m not going to mince my words.”

“I’m used to it,” I said, “but if they encourage the other player or if they yell, I’m okay.” It’s also very intense in South America.

They sing nonstop, they interrupt continuously, which is what I believe to be a complete lack of respect is. This happens frequently here.

Since Munar previously had a breakup, he had to ask the crowd to remain quiet during the final game.

After removing his shirt and lapping up the atmosphere, Fils managed to win the crowd over with a miraculous victory despite struggling to move at one point.

You have to remember that we are here to do our job, Munar said, “but it seems like a great show for the spectators.”

“It can’t look like a circus, and there are times when it looks like theater,” the statement goes.

They understand sports differently, they say, but the US Open is a show. They can be enthralled and have a sense of spectacle, but they never disrespect the players. It’s comparable in Australia.

French Open 2025

Location: Roland Garros, May 25 – June

In his five-set defeat to home favorite Arthur Fils, French Open champion Jaume Munar has criticised the “circus” created by the crowds and accused them of a “complete lack of respect.”

In their second-round match, the Spaniard rallied from two sets down to defeat 14th seed Fils, but the winner, Court Suzanne Lenglen, fell 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 0-6 6-4.

Fils’ recovery from a back injury was sparked by a boisterous French crowd, who passionately backed him as he battled through it in four hours and 25 minutes.

In his post-game press conference, Munar stated, “I’m going to be very clear on the subject and I’m not going to mince my words.”

“I’m used to it,” I said, “but if they encourage the other player or if they yell, I’m okay.” It’s also very intense in South America.

They sing nonstop, they interrupt continuously, which is what I believe to be a complete lack of respect is. This happens frequently here.

Since Munar previously had a breakup, he had to ask the crowd to remain quiet during the final game.

After removing his shirt and lapping up the atmosphere, Fils managed to win the crowd over with a miraculous victory despite struggling to move at one point.

You have to remember that we are here to do our job, Munar said, “but it seems like a great show for the spectators.”

“It can’t look like a circus, and there are times when it looks like theater,” the statement goes.

They understand sports differently, they say, but the US Open is a show. They can be enthralled and have a sense of spectacle, but they never disrespect the players. It’s comparable in Australia.

In a 37-player training squad for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, Ireland’s Sam Monaghan and Beibhinn Parsons have both been chosen.

On August 24, Scott Bemand’s team’s tournament opener takes place against Japan, with New Zealand and Spain also in the mix.

With the 31-year-old lock missing this year’s championship and the WXV1 campaign due to a knee injury sustained playing for her club Gloucester-Hartpury, co-captain Monaghan has not played international rugby since the 2024 Six Nations.

Olympian Parsons has also been sidelined as a result of an injury, having broken two of her legs in December while competing in Ireland Sevens.

Only Enya Breen, who has 26 Tests to her name, is represented by Parsons’ panel of backs in addition to Bemand’s.

After missing out on the Six Nations, where Ireland finished third with two victories and three defeats, Sarah Delaney, Eimear Corri, and Shannon Ikahihifo are all included.

Only two of the panel’s members are uncapped players, Ivana Kiripati and Alma Atagamen.

Due to injuries from the Six Nations, renowned forwards Dorothy Wall and Erin King have already been forced out of the competition.

Seven days after Ireland’s final team for the competition, the country will have 32 players play warm-up games against Canada in Belfast on August 2 and Scotland in Cork on August 2.

Women’s Nations League: Scotland vs. Austria

After working with the players for the first time with the women’s team, new head coach Melissa Andreatta is more excited about the possibilities that lie ahead for Scotland’s women’s team, believing they can maintain their top-tier Nations League status.

Scotland kick off a so far unfavorable Nations League Group A1 campaign on Friday with a visit to Austria and then four days later, with both games broadcast live on the BBC.

Scotland have struggled among the elite of the Nations League and hasn’t taken a point from their four matches, as they did during their first stint in League A in 2023.

At Hampden, they will need to defeat Austria by two goals to have a shot at preserving League A status through a play-off.

The Josko Arena’s matchday one defeat was 1-0, but those are Austria’s only losses in their modest campaign.

When the former Australia assistant head coach was questioned about whether she believed her new team could avoid falling to the bottom of the Nations League, she responded, “We believe we can do that.”

The 46-year-old continued, “Excited is a good word for me to use. I’m certainly on the ball, but I also want to be evaluated and aware that it will take time and that progress must be made to match our goals and beliefs.

The first few weeks have been more than I had anticipated. I told the players that football speaks for itself and that I’m falling in love with this nation.

Following Scotland’s failure to reach the Euro 2025 finals, Pedro Martinez Losa left and is now in charge of Mexican club Tigres. Andreatta has since assumed his new role.

Given that the 35-year-old will retire at the end of this international window, she will only have two games to work with Rachel Corsie, but she has been impressed by what she has seen.

In her final international camp, the Australian paid tribute to the former captain’s demeanor.

What a legend working with Rachel Corsie has been very humbling, Andreatta said.

“Rachel’s professionalism and willingness to share her experiences with both players and staff is what really stood out,” she said.

On her return to camp, “I think she’s had a really positive impact on the group,” she said, noting that her only interest is her role and what the team needs to do to play the way we want to.

Kathleen McGovern, who has scored 25 goals for the Scottish Women’s Premier League leaders, has received his first callup for Andreatta’s first squad, along with Rangers captain Nicola Docherty and two club-mates, winger Brogan Hay and forward Kirsty Howat.

Andreatta hopes to draw inspiration from Alexander Schreibl, who won his first game against Scotland in February and came out on top with a score of just 1-0.

The last two times they met, and these two have each won once, demonstrating how closely fought Friday’s game will be. These two teams have been separated by one goal each.

Austria have faced challenges since that opening victory, losing 4-1 to Germany and 3-1 to the Netherlands both home and away.

However, they won two of those three games, and Schreibl has deployed additional attacking players to counteract Scotland, who have struggled for goals against teams with comparable or better squad quality.

Nicole Billa, who has 106 caps and has been called up, could start in a front two that has been deployed behind a diamond midfield throughout the Nations League.

Eileen Campbell, a second forward, has recovered from a hip injury.

Jenna Clark (Liverpool), Rachel Corsie (Aston Villa), Nicola Docherty (Rangers), Sophie Howard (Leicester City), Emma Lawton (Celtic), Rachel McLauchlan (Rangers), Amy Muir (Glasgow City), and Kirsty Smith (unattached) are the defenders.

Chelsea Cornet (Rangers), Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea), Lauren Davidson (Brann), Freya Gregory (Newcastle United), Brogan Hay (Rangers), Kirsty MacLean (Rangers), Amy Rodgers (Bristol City), Emma Watson (Manchester United), and Caroline Weir (Real Madrid).