Archive August 27, 2025

Fearnley overcomes nerves – and heckler – at US Open

Images courtesy of Getty
  • 105 Comments

Jacob Fearnley, a Briton, won the US Open main draw for the first time in his career despite nerves and a heckler.

Before falling to Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut in a late-night fight, Fearnley, 24, struggled with his service game.

16 double faults were caused by a first-service percentage below 50% in the opening three sets, before Fearnley corrected his opening shot in the fourth to help move over the line.

The double faults came at the highest tension points, according to Fearnley, who won the match in three hours and 24 minutes, making it the longest match of his career.

“Those are undoubtedly caused more by nerves than anything else.”

He completely turned when I dominated the third period, which was 5-4, and I couldn’t believe it, said Fearnley.

“I wanted to say something,” He quickly changed. It wasn’t abuse; it was just confusing and loud. He said nothing in response to that.

With Sonay Kartal, Francesca Jones, Billy Harris, Sonay Kartal, and Katie Boulter all leaving, Fearnley was the only Brit to win at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday.

He will now face German third-rounder Alexander Zverev on Thursday in a second round match.

Fearnley completed yet another career milestone.

It’s easy to overlook Fearnley’s lack of experience keeping him at the highest level because his progress has been so quick over the past 15 months.

The former US college student was recently listed among the top 500 players just over a year ago.

After making a stunning ATP Tour debut, he has since moved up the rankings and reached the top 50 in June.

Fearnley has played on some of the most renowned courts in the game and has a habit of drawing famous names at the start of the Grand Slams.

However, his form has been hampered by a nervous tension that is particularly harmed his serve in recent months.

Fearnley responded, “I’m not too sure. I’m looking at ways to solve this.” Knowing that I can win the match even after all those double faults is more important than anything, I suppose.

The double faults have been a problem in recent matches despite the fact that there are good and bad days.

“I’ll be playing Zverev next on a different big court, which will be a high-stakes, high-tense environment,” Zverev said.

A long night seemed inevitable when the British number three finally secured a 62-minute opener due to Fearnley and Bautista Agut not showing up until after 8pm local time.

The world number 47 was moved around when Fearnley used more variety in the second and third sets, which paid off.

Fearnley broke serve early in the third inning to cap a relatively sharp straight-setter, but more double errors allowed Bautista Agut, 37, to win the match.

To get over the line, he retreated admirably in the fourth set, landing more first serves and limiting the double faults.

Fearnley now has won all four Grand Slam competitions, including the first round, resulting in her own total of victories.

related subjects

  • Tennis

Fearnley overcomes nerves – and heckler – at US Open

Images courtesy of Getty
  • 105 Comments

Jacob Fearnley, a Briton, won the US Open main draw for the first time in his career despite nerves and a heckler.

Before falling to Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut in a late-night fight, Fearnley, 24, struggled with his service game.

16 double faults were caused by a first-service percentage below 50% in the opening three sets, before Fearnley corrected his opening shot in the fourth to help move over the line.

The double faults came at the highest tension points, according to Fearnley, who won the match in three hours and 24 minutes, making it the longest match of his career.

“Those are undoubtedly caused more by nerves than anything else.”

He completely turned when I dominated the third period, which was 5-4, and I couldn’t believe it, said Fearnley.

“I wanted to say something,” He quickly changed. It wasn’t abuse; it was just confusing and loud. He said nothing in response to that.

With Sonay Kartal, Francesca Jones, Billy Harris, Sonay Kartal, and Katie Boulter all leaving, Fearnley was the only Brit to win at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday.

He will now face German third-rounder Alexander Zverev on Thursday in a second round match.

Fearnley completed yet another career milestone.

It’s easy to overlook Fearnley’s lack of experience keeping him at the highest level because his progress has been so quick over the past 15 months.

The former US college student was recently listed among the top 500 players just over a year ago.

After making a stunning ATP Tour debut, he has since moved up the rankings and reached the top 50 in June.

Fearnley has played on some of the most renowned courts in the game and has a habit of drawing famous names at the start of the Grand Slams.

However, his form has been hampered by a nervous tension that is particularly harmed his serve in recent months.

Fearnley responded, “I’m not too sure. I’m looking at ways to solve this.” Knowing that I can win the match even after all those double faults is more important than anything, I suppose.

The double faults have been a problem in recent matches despite the fact that there are good and bad days.

“I’ll be playing Zverev next on a different big court, which will be a high-stakes, high-tense environment,” Zverev said.

A long night seemed inevitable when the British number three finally secured a 62-minute opener due to Fearnley and Bautista Agut not showing up until after 8pm local time.

The world number 47 was moved around when Fearnley used more variety in the second and third sets, which paid off.

Fearnley broke serve early in the third inning to cap a relatively sharp straight-setter, but more double errors allowed Bautista Agut, 37, to win the match.

To get over the line, he retreated admirably in the fourth set, landing more first serves and limiting the double faults.

Fearnley now has won all four Grand Slam competitions, including the first round, resulting in her own total of victories.

related subjects

  • Tennis

‘It’s going to be controversial’ – will US Ryder Cup captain Bradley pick himself?

Images courtesy of Getty
  • 308 Comments

While deciding whether to select himself for the US Ryder Cup team, Keegan Bradley uses the words “controversial” and “ridiculous” to describe his plight.

The 39-year-old was always going to find himself in this extremely uncomfortable situation. He is currently one of the top ten golfers in the United States, having surprisingly narrowly missed the Ryder Cup selection.

Bradley was chosen from left field to become the captain. He has only won two Ryder Cups, both of which were losses at Medinah and Gleneagles, and is not yet fully developed.

His unopened kit bag from his debut in 2012 is unknown. He won’t wear those uniforms until he plays for a winning team.

Although his devotion to the American cause is ingrained in his DNA, it’s still uncertain whether his captaincy offers the US its best chance of recapturing the trophy that Rome lost to Europe in the previous year.

Bradley is firmly in contention for one of the six wildcard picks given his playing, including June’s victory over Tommy Fleetwood at the Travelers Championship.

Having placed 11th in the qualifying table, Bradley would have been taken into account.

He is, however, the captain. And Arnold Palmer, who was the Ryder Cup’s 62nd year, was the only player to lead the sport as it became known as the all-consuming behemoth it has become.

At last week’s Tour Championship, Bradley said, “It’s a really strange thing to kind of ponder.” It’s ridiculous to make the picks and consider picking yourself, but it occasionally doesn’t seem like reality.

Whatever the case may be, “We’re going to do everything in our power to make the right decision.” Some people will find it contentious in both ways. That’s something I’m getting used to.

“We’ll see,” I’m confident that whatever decision I make will benefit the team.

The final outcome of the game will determine whether he makes the right call. The US will need to expand its current pattern of home dominance in order for it to be deemed successful.

In 13 years, neither team has won an away game, and only two have won in Europe this century.

Bradley reaffirmed that no one outside the top six spots would be guaranteed a pick throughout the selection process.

Mood music swaying in Bradley’s direction

After placing seventh on the table, Justin Thomas, the winner of two majors, appears certain of being chosen. Everyone else is open to debate.

Collin Morikawa, a two-time major champion and former world number two, placed eighth in qualifying. The 28-year-old Californian has been inconsistent at best since he blew his first chance to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March.

He has never managed to win a championship since that crushing Bay Hill disappointment, posting only two top-10s during that time. He is currently ranked eighth in the world.

The case is stronger for the 14th-place qualifying candidate, Cameron Young. He broke the Bethpage course record in a state championship by breaking the potential rookie record.

Despite finishing 15th in qualifying, Patrick Cantlay should have a strong Ryder Cup reputation to help him win a third consecutive appearance. His Atlanta win last week over Fleetwood shows that he also has current form.

Sam Burns, who almost won the US Open in June, is also hard to ignore. The Louisiana native, age 29, has close relationships with Scottie Scheffler, the world’s top putter.

Since he finished 16th in qualifying, higher-ranked players would have to be disappointed to allow him to continue playing for the US team.

Ben Griffin, who sits ninth overall, has done a lot to support choice. He has won two of his two victories this year in the Zurich Classic, a pairs event that uses the same foursome and fourball formats as the Ryder Cup, and has been top-12 in his previous four competitions.

Although Griffin’s relative lack of experience at this level may have been unfair given that Andrew Novak, his partner for that success, has not likely done enough to merit selection.

Maverick McNealy’s position as a pick was bolstered by his placing in 10th place and third place earlier this month at the BMW Championship.

Brian Harman, a former Open champion in his 12th year, is viewed as too short of a winner for Bethpage Black Course.

What role does Bradley play? He may have been persuaded to play in the Tour Championship’s seventh-place match that featured middle rounds of 64 and 63 last week.

If he views himself as a four-ball player, the mood music has shifted in that direction. Bradley might miss those morning sessions because they will be alternate shot foursomes, allowing him to concentrate on captaincy.

However, he will need to rely heavily on Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, and Jim Furyk, the team’s losing skipper in Paris in 2018. Kevin Kisner and Gary Woodland, the other two assistants, lack experience with the Ryder Cup.

And only Bradley can make the calls that will delight or deceive those who are chosen or excluded. The captain is well-versed in bad news and would typically be eager to play.

Really awful . He views the possibility of delivering bad news in a way that is “really, really awful.”

He is aware of this quandary because he is aware that whatever his vice-captains and he decide will go up in flames until the match itself decides.

Bradley is aware that he will face unique challenges and unprecedented scrutiny if, as expected, he gives himself the nod. 11 years after his last appearance.

Scottie Scheffler, Harris English, JJ Spaun (rookie), Xander Schauffele, and Bryson DeChambeau as qualifiers.

related subjects

  • Golf
  • Ryder Cup

France returns human skulls to Madagascar, 128 years after French massacre

Three human skulls, including one believed to belong to a Madagascan king who was killed by French forces, have been returned to Madagascar after 128 years in a Paris museum.

At a ceremony held on Tuesday at the French Ministry of Culture, it is believed that King Toera and two other Sakalava ethnic people are the subjects of the skull’s ceremonial presentation.

King Toera’s skull was beheaded by French soldiers in an 1897 massacre of locals, which led to his return to France as a trophy and was later deposited in Paris’s national history museum along with hundreds of other remains from the Indian Ocean island.

At the event, French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati stated, “These skulls entered the national collections in circumstances that clearly violated human dignity and in a context of colonial violence.”

Volamiranty Donna Mara, the minister’s representative in Madagascar, praised the handover, claiming that the skull removal “has been an open wound in the heart of our island for more than a century, 128 years.”

They are the invisible and indelible link that connects our present and past, according to Mara, not the work of collectors.

Three traditional-clothed boxes were carried in a solemn procession to the handover ceremony in France’s lavish surroundings by video from the event.

According to Dati, a joint scientific committee said it was possible to “presume” that one of the skulls belonged to King Toera, but that it could only be “presume” that it belonged to him.

Since France passed a law allowing the return of such artefacts in 2023, this was the first time human remains were recovered.

Countries like Australia and Argentina have filed their own restitution requests for the return of ancestral remains, with a third of the 30, 000 specimens at Paris’s Musee de l’Homme being skulls and skeletons from around the world.

French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the Madagascan capital Antananarivo in April as a “bloody and tragic” colony of Madagascar, which proclaimed independence in 1960 after more than 60 years of colonial rule.

On Sunday, the skulls will be buried on an Indian Ocean island where they are scheduled to return.

North Korea blasts South Korea’s Lee as ‘confrontation maniac’

After he urged efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula in a speech in the United States, North Korea has referred to South Korean President Lee Jae-myung as a “confrontation maniac.”

Lee stated in a statement following a meeting with US President Donald Trump on Monday that denuclearization was necessary to “promote the South Korea-US alliance in a “global context” and that it was essential to achieving a permanent peace between the Koreas.

The South Korean leader was attacked by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Wednesday, claiming that his speech had revealed his “true colors as a hypocrite to the entire world.”

In an unsigned commentary, the KCNA used the acronyms for South Korea and North Korea’s official names to demonstrate that the ROK’s [Republic of Korea’s] scheme for confrontation with the DPRK]Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] can never change.

Lee Jae-myung, who serves as Pyongyang’s spokesperson, “also gave unwavering evidence that his remarks about “denuclearization” are a pure sophism,” according to the KCNA, which operates as a spokesperson for the country.

We once more remind him of the unavoidable fact that our position as a nuclear weapons state accurately reflects the changing nature of the world security dynamics and the hostile threat from outside.

According to the KCNA, denuclearization is already “extinct theoretically, practically, and physically,” and Lee’s vision is “less than a naive dream, like trying to catch a cloud floating in the sky.”

After years of strained inter-Korean ties under his conservative predecessor, the impeached ex-President Yoon Suk-yeol, Lee, who took office in June, has pledged to improve relations with Pyongyang.

However, North Korea has repeatedly rejected those efforts.

Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, lambasted South Korean efforts to calm them down in a scathing statement earlier this month, saying, “We do not care about them and are not interested in them.”

Hamas challenges Israeli account of Gaza hospital attack that killed 21

After the Israeli military claimed that it had targeted a Hamas surveillance camera and killed six fighters in its attack on the medical facility, Hamas has claimed that none of the 21 people killed by the Israelis at the hospital were Palestinians.

Hamas challenged the Israeli government’s account in a statement released on Wednesday by the Reuters news agency, which claimed six fighters were killed in the attack. The attack, which has been condemned internationally for involving journalists, medical professionals, rescue workers, and civilians, was the subject of international condemnation.

At least two of the six Palestinians who were given Israeli military names were killed at other times and locations, including one who was killed in Khan Younis’ al-Mawasi, which is close to the hospital, according to Hamas.

The Israeli military claimed earlier that Hamas’s “initial investigation” into its own attack on the southern Gaza hospital revealed that the area’s target was a camera that was set up to record Israeli troop movements.

The Israeli army claimed that in light of this, the force attempted to obliterate the camera.

A Reuters news agency live video feed, which cameraman Hussam al-Masri had been watching, abruptly shut down at the time of the initial Israeli attack on Monday. Al-Masri was killed in the attack.

A second strike, which involved four more journalists who had fled the scene of the initial Israeli strike, was captured on camera shortly afterward.

Ahmed Abu Aziz, Mariam Abu Daqqa, Mohammad Salama, and Moaz Abu Taha were the other four journalists who perished in the attack.

In order to reduce casualties, Israeli forces bombed the facility twice before waiting for emergency personnel and journalists to arrive on the scene.

Israel frequently uses the claim that it is attacking Hamas to justify its deadly attacks on civilians in Gaza.