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Archive June 7, 2025

Gauff beats Sabalenka to win French Open title

Images courtesy of Getty
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In a rollercoaster final against world number one Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff fought back to claim her first French Open singles title.

After a tense fight between the WTA Tour’s two leading players in tense circumstances, American second seed Gauff claimed a 6-7 (15-7), 6-2, and 6-4 victory.

Gauff won her second Grand Slam singles title in 2023, also by beating Sabalenka of Belarus. This is her second consecutive Grand Slam success.

You don’t want to be happy with just that one, said 21-year-old Gauff, “I think this Grand Slam win was harder than the first.”

Gauff made it through a difficult first half, where she eventually found her groove and gained from Sabalenka’s enormous mistakes.

“This hurts a lot,” he said. Coco, who was also competing for her first Roland Garros title, congratulated her on being a better player than I did.

In the opening two sets, a stiff breeze wreaked havoc with serve, causing the pair to exchange 12 breaks in a fun if not top-notch affair.

Gauff, who lost in the 2022 final, stayed on her nerve and won’t let up until the final third set, moving on to a breakup.

Before capturing her second championship point, Sabalenka pushed a forehand wide, falling to the ground on her back. She had to survive another break point.

Gauff’s redemption is palpable, from pain to joy.

Gauff’s previous French Open singles performance as a teenager resulted in her sobbing on her chair while covering her head with a towel.

She vowed to come back stronger after losing to Iga Swiatek, but she did so in a defining way.

When I left this place three years ago, I was going through a lot of things, Gauff said.

“I’m just relieved to be back here. I was having a lot of dark thoughts.

After achieving the potential that winning in New York had promised, Gauff made it three years later to compete in the final as a Grand Slam champion.

She arrived in Paris viewed as a sounder bet than defending champion Swiatek thanks to a successful clay-court swing that brought her to the Madrid and Rome finals.

“Three finals… The most important win, in my opinion, is what matters, Gauff said.

Only Sabalenka, who won the title in Madrid, had performed better, so it was surprising that the top two seeds met once more with the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen in play.

Although the challenging circumstances prevented the women from playing their best tennis, Gauff showed unwavering resolve and determination to win.

Coco Gauff looks shocked after winning the French Open titleImages courtesy of Getty

Sabalenka struggles with the clay quest.

Over the past three years, Sabalenka has maintained a consistency unmatched on all surfaces.

She has improved her game to become a force on grass and clay after excelling on hard courts.

Sabalenka became the first player to reach the quarter-finals of 10 Grand Slams in a row since Serena Williams, an American legend, in 2017.

But she was sorely unable to land her first major on the slower clay surface.

At the Australian Open and US Open, she had three previous major victories on quicker hard courts.

After winning the title of best player, Sabalenka cried out in tears and thanked her teammates for “playing a terrible final.”

Sabalenka aggressively and confidently moved a double break ahead, just like she did in her semi-final victory over Swiatek, who is the defending champion.

A point away from a 5-1 lead, Gauff quickly lost her dominance.

Sabalenka continued to be enthralled and regularly chastised herself despite coming back from a 5-3 deficit in the tie-break.

related subjects

  • Tennis

Six games, six wins – but what have England learned?

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Charlotte Edwards was tasked with rebuilding England after a brutal Ashes drubbing which resulted in heavy criticism of the team’s attitude, culture and on-field performances.

The legendary former captain has started her era as head coach with a T20 and one-day international clean sweep over a depleted West Indies side, but this was no surprise.

Ultimately, Edwards and new captain Nat Sciver-Brunt could not have asked for an easier start to their tenure.

Edwards’ predecessor Jon Lewis also began his stint as head coach with a clean sweep over the Windies away from home, creating a sense of optimism and excitement before it all came crashing down with two disappointing T20 World Cup campaigns and the ill-fated Ashes series to start this year.

So this series win comes with a word of caution – we have seen this one before.

England have regularly dominated home bilateral series, and then crumbled on the big stage. Prior to this series, they had won 79.3% of their completed white-ball games at home since 2020, and that number rises to 87.8% when you take out Australia and India.

There are much tougher tests to come, starting with India’s arrival in late June before the very challenging prospect of a 50-over World Cup in India and Sri Lanka at the end of September.

Will the Amy Jones experiment last?

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When she was appointed, Edwards made it clear that 50-over cricket would be her initial priority, saying that England needed a smarter gameplan and to improve their awareness, particularly with the bat.

Her first move was to promote wicketkeeper Amy Jones back to opener alongside Tammy Beaumont, a role she fulfilled in 22 matches between 2016 and 2019.

Jones certainly repaid Edwards’ faith with a player of the series performance – scoring her first international hundred in her 246th match and then backing it up in the second game to finish with 251 runs at an average of 125.50 and impressive strike-rate of 114.61.

But the challenge for Jones mirrors England’s generally – can she step up against higher-quality opposition?

Her average of 55.45 against West Indies is her highest against any team, but that drops to 16.33 against Australia and 19.66 against India.

One aspect to consider is how teams may adapt to her success and how she’ll fare in different conditions in India. How would Jones perform if a side was to start with spin against her, for example?

She averages 36.2 against spin and has a strike-rate of 82, both of which are more than respectable.

The 31-year-old has only faced 35 balls of spin in the 10-over powerplay but is yet to be dismissed.

She can be a slow starter against spin though, being dismissed 10 times by a spinner in her first 30 balls and her strike-rate drops to 78.

Her record with Beaumont suggests they are a natural fit for the top-order rebuild which was needed after Maia Bouchier’s misery in Australia where she averaged six.

Matthews’ class stands apart

Though West Indies generally offered England very little challenge, the most effective way of judging where they are at as a team is to see how they fared against one of the world’s best players in Hayley Matthews.

Without fellow all-rounders Deandra Dottin or Chinelle Henry in the squad, West Indies’ hopes relied solely on their captain and more often than not, she keeps them afloat.

And it is cause for concern that England have not performed well against the one player who can consistently put their bowlers under the pump and provide a significant contest.

Matthews missed the second and third ODIs with a shoulder problem, having made a fluent 48 and taken 2-49 in the first, but was magnificent in the T20s.

She scored a sparkling century in a total of 146 in the opener at Canterbury, fell cheaply in the second at Hove before scoring 71 and taking 3-32 in the third at Chelmsford.

Against India, there are plenty of players capable of such performances – Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur to name a few. It will not be the same case of taking one wicket to define a game, and Matthews’ efforts suggest this is a challenge they are desperately in need of.

“I think we’ve probably created it ourselves in many ways,” Edwards said when asked about whether her side had been put under any pressure during the series.

Smith, Ecclestone or both?

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The world’s number one-ranked bowler Sophie Ecclestone made headlines during the Ashes after her refusal to do a pre-match interview with former team-mate Alex Hartley, who had criticised England’s fitness after their T20 World Cup exit.

The 26-year-old was left out for the West Indies series as part of her recovery from a knee injury, but has since played two 50-over matches and six T20s for Lancashire, and England insisted her omission was not in relation to the winter’s controversy.

She has since taken a break from domestic cricket to prioritise her wellbeing and to manage a quad problem, but remains available for selection for the India series.

In her absence, however, fellow left-arm spinner Linsey Smith has shone with seven wickets in two matches including a five-wicket haul on her ODI debut which has left Edwards with a pretty significant selection headache, but a luxurious one.

There is no reason why England could not play two left-arm spinners, particularly given they offer such different attributes. Ecclestone’s height generates a lot more bounce, while Smith is skiddier and her strength comes from her accuracy.

In the two ODIs she played, Smith would have hit the stumps with a series-high 45.8% of deliveries and her economy rate of 3.15 runs per over was comfortably the lowest.

England’s spin trio of Ecclestone, off-spinner Charlie Dean and leg-spinner Sarah Glenn have played together 25 times in T20s but only twice in ODIs. The World Cup in India, though, could provide further opportunity for Smith when she has previously been kept out of the side because of Ecclestone’s brilliance standing in her way.

Has the team perception changed?

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Fielding has been one of England’s biggest areas for improvement, with six drops seeing them prematurely knocked out in T20 World Cup group stage and seven on day one of the Ashes Test alone.

They took 38 catches in this series but still dropped 13 chances, giving them a 75% catch efficiency. That is up from the 41% at the T20 World Cup in October and 63% in the Ashes, and on par with the 73% in home matches since 2020.

Their body language and demeanour was also criticised, with Lewis’ carefree approach lending itself to accusations of players not caring enough about the results.

Under their new leadership, England do seem re-energised with a buzz in the field and the new or returning faces like Smith and Issy Wong, who played two of the T20s, contributing to that change in energy. Edwards said training “had been great to be at”.

But considering the difference in circumstances – England were losing heavily in Australia and winning by barely breaking a sweat against West Indies – we are still no clearer on whether that will change under pressure.

“We’re under no illusions that we’re going to have tougher times ahead,” Edwards acknowledged.

“But equally I think what we’re seeing already is that appetite for wanting to keep getting better, because they’ve got to, they know they can’t stand still, there’s probably someone in county cricket scoring runs who’s winning games of cricket.

“It’s going to be difficult picking teams going forward, but that’s the place we wanted to be, we didn’t want to be picking for 15 or 16 players, we wanted to be picking from a pool of 25 players which I genuinely think we are now.”

Only Matthews has put England’s bowlers to the sword, but even on those occasions it never felt like they were in danger of losing.

Related topics

  • England Women’s Cricket Team
  • Cricket

‘Your Melody Lives Forever,’ Brain Jotter Pays Tribute To Mike Ejeagha

Highlife legend Mike Ejeagha’s tribute to comedian Brain Jotter, aka Chukwuebuka Emmanuel, was given new life by a viral social media challenge that led to the release of the 1983 film “gwo gwo ngwo.”

Ejeagha passed away on Friday at the age of 95.

Brain Jotter posted a throwback video of the late musician on Instagram on Saturday, saying, “39 years ago, he made magic. 39 years later, we re-danced to it. He is now resting, but his melody will always live. Rest in peace, legend.

After his skit featuring the track Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche propelled the decades-old song into a viral sensation, the comedian had visited Ejeagha at his Enugu home in July 2024.

The veteran musician watched a new generation embrace his timeless work with teary eyes as a result of the encounter.

During the visit, Ejeagha’s son had remarked, “Thank you for returning my father’s legacy.” This is the most attention his music has received in more than 30 years. Additionally, Brain Jotter and his team thanked the family for their support and donation of $2 million.

READ MORE about Mike Ejeagha’s classic Sparks Viral Dance Challenge, “Gwo Gwo Ngwo.”

Obi Mourn, Tinubu, and Atiku

President Bola Tinubu, former vice president Atiku Abubakar, and former governor of Anambra State Peter Obi are pictured together.

The veteran singer passed away shortly after the song went viral, which prompted a wave of tributes. Bola Tinubu, president, set the tone.

Ejeagha was described as “one of Nigeria’s greatest folklorists, songwriters, and musicians in the Igbo language” by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement.

“Mike Ejeagha inspired generations by his unique storytelling style and musical style, preserving and projecting Igbo culture and customs.

The music of Gentleman Mike Ejeagha continues to inspire us that music has the power to rekindle, heal, and direct energy toward good causes that advance our country, said Tinubu.

The president also praised Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah for acknowledging Ejeagha’s contributions while he was still alive, including changing the name of a major Abakpa Nike road to Chief Mike Ejeagha Road.

Governor Mbah formally inaugurates the new Obinagu Road, which was given the name Mike Ejeagha, a musical icon.

Atiku Abubakar, the legendary politician’s former vice president, praised the viral challenge as a source of joy in his final months.

It is heartwarming to note that Brain Jotter’s performance included the encore dance “Gwo gwo gwo ngwo” by highlife legend Mike Ejeagha before the curtain was drawn. Gentleman Mike Ejeagha, “Atiku wrote on X,” is the best in music.

Peter Obi, a member of the Labour Party, described Ejeagha as a “cultural custodian.” His voice will continue to ring out through generations as testaments to wisdom, culture, and truth as he enters a new era, but not his voice.

Governor Mbah and Mike Ejeagha, a musician legend. X/@PNMbah

Obi praised his lyrics, which were full of proverbs and folklore, as moral compasses for both young and old.

Ejeagha was described as “a legend, cultural ambassador, and revered son of Enugu State,” according to Governor Peter Mbah, who also had sentiments.

Mbah promised to make the musician’s memory more immortal, noting that “his death leaves a huge void that will be difficult to fill.”

Reimagined as a violent sensation

Moral lessons were taught in Ejeagha’s music. X@Ben Kalu in photo

The song was first released in 1983 as part of Akuko Na Egwu Vol. A clever tortoise deceives an elephant to win a princess’s favor in marriage, according to the first album.

The comedic reenactment of the elephant chasing the tortoise in Brain Jotter’s skit quickly dominated TikTok and Instagram, generating over 28 million views in a week.

Mike Ejeagha (left) is renowned for his didactical stories and prose-laced narratives.

Two dancers meet, perform an unusual leg shuffle, and then one suddenly vanishes while the other chases, resembling the song’s vivid imagery.

The dance sparked a flurry of nostalgia and excitement all over, including Super Falcons and celebrities.

International participants eventually joined the dance challenge, with many others coming from other countries.

Chris Hughes’ ex confirms pregnancy amid his blossoming romance with JoJo Siwa

Chris Hughes’ ex-girlfriend JoJo Siwa and Love Island co-star JoJo Siwa have a heated relationship, and his ex-girlfriend has revealed that she is expecting their first child.

JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes’s romance is heating up(Image: Chris Hughes Instagram)

Chris Hughes’s professional sport star ex-girlfriend has announced she is expecting her first child – just as his romance with Celebrity Big Brother co-star JoJo Siwa has been confirmed. Professional golfer Annabel Dimmock, 28, shared her happy news via a social media post on Saturday.

The golf star took to Instagram showing herself wearing a pink crop top and a pair of short denim shorts. With her legs dangling into a swimming pool, the star showed her growing baby bump.

In an accompanying caption, she wrote: “New rookie on tour coming soon” alongside pink heart emojis – and thereby announcing her pregnancy. Fans were quick to take to the comments to wish her well – and noted that the star was posing with baby pink baby shoes.

One person expressed their happiness when they saw you. Another phrase was written, “Congratulations you’re going to make the best mother, I’m so excited to meet her.”

Annabel previously enjoyed a 14 month romance with Love Island star Chris which lasted from 2020 until 2022. Chris had previously hinted the split hit him hard.

Annabel Dimmock announced her pregnancy on Saturday
Annabel Dimmock announced her pregnancy on Saturday(Image: annabeldimmock/Instagram)
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“I’m in a good place,” I said. When a relationship is just beginning, he said to The Sun in 2022, “I always struggle a little bit.”

“But I’m working out at the gym and working on my work. I’m a complete stranger in the store. I feel good because I have good friends and family around me, which is also a blessing.

Agent of Annabel had previously told OK! “Annabel wishes Chris the best of luck and I can confirm that they have split,” the magazine said. She then moved on to date Alfie Best Jr., whose businessman father Alfie Best Sr. is credited with making his father, a successful entrepreneur, worth £10 million.

A source told The Sun that “Alfie is a really liked guy and has been a great match for Annabel” when the romance first surfaced in June of 2023. The pair are head over heels for taking their own actions rather than posting their thoughts everywhere.

Chris has since found a new romance, however, with American pop singer JoJo Siwa, 22. The pair fell for each other after appearing on ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother in April this year.

Chris Hughes and Annabel Dimmock were an item between2020 and 2022
Chris and Annabel Dimmock were an item between2020 and 2022(Image: Instagram/Annabel Dimmock)

Viewers watched in surprise as the pair grew extremely close while in the house – despite the fact JoJo had a girlfriend, Kath Ebbs, on the outside world. When the series concluded, Kath sensationally claimed that JoJo had dumped her at the CBB wrap party.

When JoJo and Chris were photographed kissing in a swimming pool during a vacation together in Mexico, they raised eyebrows.

Chris and the younger star later exchange photos of themselves in bed to confirm their romance. JoJo has since opened up about their relationship, telling Lorraine on ITV that Chris and I have a lot of conversations. The head is turning as we enter the kitchen, but that version is the only one we have. The best man is him.

Continue reading the article.

She responded, “It’s so funny to me. I’m not sure what was going on. How innocent people are is hilarious. She claimed that he had given her roses as discount flowers when they were discovered. This adorable clip of him has the sticker on it, but better news is that the flowers are in a blender bottle, which everyone should be aware of. The best is him.

Jeremy Kyle guest who killed girlfriend’s hamster has lifetime animal ban lifted

Over the years, the Jeremy Kyle Show on ITV has drawn controversy, with one guest who accidentally killed his girlfriend’s hamster after discovering out he wasn’t her baby’s father.

Jeremy Kyle said he is proud of his show(Image: ITV)

A former star of The Jeremy Kyle Show has had his lifetime ban on owning animals lifted.

Controversial host Jeremy, 59, confessed that he still feels “immensely proud” of the ITV show, despite it being a factor in the death in one of its guests. The programme showcased a diverse range of individuals to the public, including an elderly escort who happily had sex with over 1,000 men.

However, a previous visitor has since filed a lawsuit to have his lifetime animal keeping ban lifted. A judge granted this right to Stevenage resident Ryan O’Brien, who claimed he had been successful in “turning his life around” and demonstrating his ability to look after a pet.

READ MORE: Jeremy Kyle guest who threatened to ‘knock out’ the host is on road to being drug free

Ryan O'Brien
Ryan O’Brien appeared in court after throwing and stamping on a hamster in 2012(Image: SWNS.com)

After smashing a hamster against a wall and striking it, O’Brien admitted to inflicting unnecessary suffering on an animal in 2012. O’Brien and his girlfriend had a turbulent relationship that had just ended shortly before the incident, according to The Comet, which was occurring at the time of the animal’s death.

After appearing on a contentious ITV program to find out if he was the father of a 13-month-old girl he had been co-parenting with his partner, his relationship abruptly ended. A DNA test revealed that he was not the father of the child while he was on the show, according to the Daily Star.

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O’Brien was initially given a suspended jail term and an indefinite ban on keeping or owning animals after admitting the offence. He has, however, persuaded the court to uphold his reformation, which is a dramatic turn.

Ryan O'Brien
He has now had his ban lifted(Image: Ryan O’Brien)

No fewer than four witnesses defended his transformation when he appeared in court on May 22 to show evidence that he was now fit to care for a pet. His lawyer made a press release revealing that O’Brien’s demeanor had significantly changed since the magistrates had witnessed.

O’Brien, 35, has welcomed a small British bulldog pup named Dotty into his family. He shared his journey of turning over a new leaf while collaborating with The Comet and allowing substance abuse to focus on improving himself.

He proudly reported to the paper that he had just completed a three-year apprenticeship with the construction firm Wates and that he was a qualified electrician, tiler, and decorator. He also volunteers at warm spaces and food banks, giving back to the community.

Jeremy Kyle
The TV host welcomed a variety of guests(Image: ITV)

O’Brien said, “Many things have changed, and I’ve changed.” “My body isn’t breaking a bone right now,” I said. He expressed regret over his past deeds, saying, “My life’s biggest regret is killing the hamster.” I was simply not thinking at the time.

O’Brien acknowledged that despite his best efforts to move forward, the consequences of his past are still present, and public humiliation is a reminder of this. He thanked The Jeremy Kyle Show for revealing the truth about his ex-partner, though.

He shared that he’s been clean since Christmas, steering clear of drugs for the past two years. He admitted reaching a juncture where he was “sick” of his previous lifestyle. Now, with “a good support network of friends”, he’s turned a new page: “I have stopped hanging out with people who were bad for me.”

Continue reading the article.

Kate Middleton and Meghan’s bombshell disagreement as ‘pathetic differences’ exposed

A tense clear the air meeting between Meghan and Kate was revealed by Prince Harry in Spare – and experts have explained how it changed the course of the monarchy

A clear-the-air meeting between Waleses and the Sussexes “ripped the monarchy to pieces”, a royal expert has claimed. Back in June 2018, the Prince and Princess of Wales met with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as tension had brewed between the couples after Harry and Meghan’s wedding. It came after, as Harry recounted in his memoir Spare, his new wife seemingly being at loggerheads with his sister-in-law in the early days of their romance.

He says the two women had a row over bridesmaid dresses in the lead-up to his wedding that left Meghan in tears and that Kate “grimaced” when the duchess borrowed her lipgloss. Both couples decided to have a clear-the-air chat shortly after the Sussexes’ honeymoon.

The two women at Wimbledon

However, things got so tense that Kate’s fingers supposedly went white. Harry describes the moment in his memoir after he and Meghan were invited over to see William and Kate for tea at their Kensington Palace apartment. He recalls how both couples aired their grievances including Kate, who asked for an apology from Meghan as she gripped a leather sofa so tightly her “fingers were white”.

According to Spare, Kate wanted Meghan to say sorry for making a remark about her hormones and having “baby brain” while she was pregnant. The book then recounts how Meghan apologised and explained that is how she speaks to her friends.

But the encounter took a turn when Harry claims William “pointed a finger at Meg”, then allegedly blasted: “Well, it’s rude, Meghan. These things are not done here.” To which he says Meghan responded: “If you don’t mind, keep your finger out of my face.”

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Now in a new Channel 5 documentary, ‘Meghan vs Kate: The Meeting That Changed the Monarchy’, royal experts believe this meeting was a turning point for the Sussexes as set the wheels in motion for Harry and Meghan to dramatically quit their royal roles.

Prince William and Prince Harry with their wives Meghan and Kate
Prince William and Prince Harry with their wives Meghan and Kate(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

According to the Daily Mail’s Richard Kay, this was the meeting that saw “the seed of Megxit sewn” while fellow expert Sarah Hewson said: “Had that meeting been a success, had they been able to put their differences aside, things would have been very different indeed.”

And chief royal correspondent from Newsweek, Jack Royston said: “If only they’d listened. If Meghan had listened what was being said to her, she could have changed way back in 2018. And even if they had still quit the monarchy, they could have saved themselves so much pain and so much conflict.

“What happened in that room back in June 2018 was the defining element of the relationship between the two couples that ripped the monarchy to pieces.”

While respected royal author Valentine Low added: “They had pathetic little differences that should have been sorted out in two minutes. But it helped fuel the flames.”

Harry’s observation in Spare comes after Meghan took aim at Kate during her and Harry’s Netflix docuseries. As she recalled their first meeting she said she was “surprised” by the behind-the-scenes formality of members of the royal family.

Speaking in episode two of the six-part Harry & Meghan docuseries, she said: “When Will and Kate came over, and I met her for the first time, they came over for dinner, I remember I was in ripped jeans and I was barefoot. I was a hugger. I’ve always been a hugger, I didn’t realise that that is really jarring for a lot of Brits.

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“I guess I started to understand very quickly that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside. There is a forward-facing way of being, and then you close the door and go ‘You can relax now’, but that formality carries over on both sides. And that was surprising to me.”

Meghan vs Kate: The Meeting That Changed the Monarchy, airs on Channel 5 on Saturday at 9.20pm.