BBC Sport pundits Todd Woodbridge and Pat Cash explain how Jack Draper has developed a more agressive style of play, similar to that of Rafael Nadal, by trying to win more points closer to the net.
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British Grand Prix
Venue: Silverstone Dates: 4-6 July Race start: 15: 00 BST on Sunday
George Russell says he “doesn’t think I’ll be going anywhere” amid links between his Mercedes team and four-time world champion Max Verstappen.
Mercedes have talked to Verstappen’s management about the possibility of the Dutchman joining them from Red Bull next year.
The 27-year-old Briton is out of contract with Mercedes at the end of this season.
Speaking at Silverstone on Thursday before this weekend’s British Grand Prix, Russell said: “The likelihood I’m not at Mercedes next year, I think, is exceptionally low.”
Verstappen, who is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028 but is said to have contractual mechanisms which could enable him to leave, said he had “nothing to add” on the situation.
“There is no decision at the moment”, he said. “For me, it’s not about ‘ 26 or whatever.
At last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said it was likelier that Russell would be at the team next season than Verstappen, but did not deny he was speaking to the world champion’s representatives.
Russell said:” I don’t take that personally because I made it clear from the beginning. I’m happy to be team-mates with anybody.
“I want to continue with Mercedes into the future. The fact is, Toto has never let me down. He’s always given me his word, but he’s also got to do what’s right for his team, which includes me. But it also includes the thousands of people who work for Mercedes.
” For me, it’s nothing to worry about because I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere. And whoever my team-mate will be, it doesn’t concern me either.
“I know where their loyalty lies. It doesn’t need to be public. It doesn’t need to be broadcast to everybody.
” I feel I’m performing better than ever. And it’s as simple as that really. Performance speaks for everything. “
Russell is fourth in the drivers ‘ championship, nine points behind Verstappen, and won last month’s Canadian Grand Prix.
Williams driver Alex Albon, who is a friend of Russell and a former team-mate of Verstappen, pointed to Russell’s performance as team-mate to Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for three years, as well as the fact he has convincingly been ahead of his new team-mate Kimi Antonelli this season.
Albon said in a BBC Sport interview:” George is somehow underrated. I’m not just defending a friend here, but I don’t know a driver who can beat a seven-time world champion and be not sure of a seat.
“He’s doing a fantastic year this year as well.
” And as much as Kimi’s getting praise, George is still beating him pretty convincingly. So I guess you can sound me standing up for a friend of mine. But even if he wasn’t my friend, I’d still be saying the same words.
“I just hope the delay’s coming from him asking for a lot of money. And if he is, he deserves it.
Wimbledon 2025
Venue: All England Club, June 30 – 13 .
Dan Evans could make his Wimbledon final appearance, but Novak Djokovic, the seven-time champion, outclassed him.
In their second-round match, Evans, who is currently ranked 154th in the world and given a wildcard, defeated 6-3, 6-2, 6-0.
A serving masterclass by Serb legend Djokovic, 38, even caused Evans to shake his head in disbelief at several points.
The 35-year-old home favorite, who was wooed on by a supportive Centre Court crowd, only managed to collect nine of his 58 receiving points (16%) in the match.
Djokovic, who is currently in sixth place this year, also demonstrated why he is still one of the best men’s game breakers by converting six of his 16 break points.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion’s impressive display will help him to bring his record-tying win with Roger Federer’s total of men’s singles titles.
Djokovic, who hasn’t won one of the sport’s most prestigious prizes since the US Open in 2023, is also attempting to land a 25th major on his own.
A Brit in Britain is never easy to face, said Djokovic, who won his 99th match at Wimbledon. “Everyone knew it was going to be a special atmosphere today.
“He’s a good player, has a lot of great talent, a great touch, and it can cause trouble if you’re not at the top of your game,” he said.
“But I believe it was. I succeeded flawlessly. You may experience these “flowing” days.
With a place in the last 16 on the line, Djokovic’s victory secured a spot against Miomir Kecmanovic in the third round.
Djokovic is the last of the “Big Three” to continue playing now that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have retired.
Djokovic, who is aiming to win his 25th Grand Slam title, said he has no idea when he should retire along with his former rivals.
To be honest, I don’t pause to reflect. He said, “I don’t have time.”
“I think that’s going to happen probably when I put the racquet down, drink margaritas on the beach with Federer and Nadal, and then reflect on our rivalry and everything.”
Evans received a lot of rewards when he faced the arguably greatest men’s player of all time on Centre Court once more.
A brief exile outside the top 200 earlier this year was caused by injuries and poor form over the past couple of seasons.
Particularly difficult to deal with is the strain of the aging process and an unavoidable feeling of “letting down” his supporters and family.
In his pre-tournament press conference at Wimbledon, Evans expressed his emotions as he became overcome with emotion.
The ex-world number 21’s celebration of defeating fellow British wildcard Jay Clarke in the first round demonstrated his joy at a new, priceless victory at Wimbledon.
Evans has stated that he has no plans to retire, but he also is aware that his career has not yet accomplished a lot.
When asked if this might be his Wimbledon final, he replied, “I don’t know.” See what the upcoming year will bring.
At the end of the year, I must make a decision. At the end of the year, there will undoubtedly be a discussion about what I want to do.
There couldn’t be a better place to shock than Clarke’s victory on Centre Court, according to Evans, who knew it would be his first at the All England Club since 2021.
However, it quickly became clear that the pair’s class division was excessive.
Evans held on for a while in the first set before finally buckling at 4-3 on the tenth break point, with Djokovic going on to win 13 of the next 15 games to complete the sweep.
The 15, 000 spectators patiently waited for Evans to leave the sport’s most well-known court with a passionate ovation.
“I hoped I could win,” I said. Before the match, I had confidence,” Evans said.
Jack Pinnington Jones and Arthur Fery, two wildcards who were defeated by Italian opponents, were the only three British singles players to leave Wimbledon on Thursday.
Flavio Cobolli defeated Pinnington Jones 6-1 7-6 (8-6) 6-2, making his Championship debut this year.
Meanwhile, Fery was unable to turn around Luciano Darderi after losing 6-4, 6-3, and two sets when the match was suspended on Tuesday.
After the second round, 19 men and 17 women, or 36 seeds, exited Wimbledon.
Shubman Gill’s record-breaking innings finally comes to an end as the India captain is caught by Ollie Pope for 269, leaving India 574-8 against England on day two of the second Test at Edgbaston.
FOLLOW LIVE: Men’s International Test Match Series – England v India
As the hosts attempt to erase a 2-0 deficit and avoid a series defeat as soon as possible, stand-in captain Tammy Beaumont has challenged England to “come out fighting” in their third T20 match at The Oval on Friday.
Due to Nat Sciver-Brunt’s groin injury, Beaumont was called up to the T20 side under Charlotte Edwards after falling out with previous coach Jon Lewis.
In Tuesday’s second T20 match, England lost 2-0 to France, and Sciver-Brunt will need to be evaluated to see if she will play for the rest of the series. She will have a scan to see if she is fit for the series.
Being 2-0 up and with our captain and best batter out of the team, Beaumont, 34, said, “It’s not the best situation.”
“Panic is the worst thing we could do at this time, though. We firmly believe that we can win and fight back.
Heather Knight, a former England captain, has a hamstring injury that has kept her out of the entire summer, and she is already without another key batter.
Maia Bouchier, who England dropped after the Ashes defeat at the beginning of the year, has been given the call to play in a batting line-up that is put on a lot of pressure.
Bouchier has scored 242 runs for Hampshire this season, which ranks him as the seventh-highest top-scorer in the Women’s T20 Blast this year.
Sciver-Brunt had a class-leading 66 in England’s first T20 at Trent Bridge, while Beaumont had a 54 in Bristol.
When Sciver-Brunt left the field at Bristol, Dunkley served as vice-captain. Beaumont says she will lead the way in the future, but the current situation calls for a little more experience.
India have been in excellent form ahead of the 50-over World Cup, which they will host this autumn, so England must take a tough test to turn the series around.
However, Beaumont, who led Welsh Fire in The Hundred, believes that England will benefit from the challenge because much of the narrative surrounding their Ashes hammering and poor World Cup performance was focused on the lack of pressure they encounter in international cricket after those matches.
We have been discussing the need for more challenge for a while. We are aware that our results in major tournaments like the Ashes haven’t been what we want, Beaumont said.
“That won’t get better until we are pressured more severely in bilateral series,” he said. It may have come as a surprise because it occurred relatively early.
As the hosts attempt to erase a 2-0 deficit and avoid a series defeat as soon as possible, stand-in captain Tammy Beaumont has challenged England to “come out fighting” in their third T20 match at The Oval on Friday.
Due to Nat Sciver-Brunt’s groin injury, Beaumont was called up to the T20 side under Charlotte Edwards after falling out with previous coach Jon Lewis.
In Tuesday’s second T20 match, England lost 2-0 to France, and Sciver-Brunt will need to be evaluated to see if she will play for the rest of the series. She will have a scan to see if she is fit for the series.
Being 2-0 up and with our captain and best batter out of the team, Beaumont, 34, said, “It’s not the best situation.”
“Panic is the worst thing we could do at this time, though. We firmly believe that we can win and fight back.
Heather Knight, a former England captain, has a hamstring injury that has kept her out of the entire summer, and she is already without another key batter.
Maia Bouchier, who England dropped after the Ashes defeat at the beginning of the year, has been given the call to play in a batting line-up that is put on a lot of pressure.
Bouchier has scored 242 runs for Hampshire this season, which ranks him as the seventh-highest top-scorer in the Women’s T20 Blast this year.
Sciver-Brunt had a class-leading 66 in England’s first T20 at Trent Bridge, while Beaumont had a 54 in Bristol.
When Sciver-Brunt left the field at Bristol, Dunkley served as vice-captain. Beaumont says she will lead the way in the future, but the current situation calls for a little more experience.
India have been in excellent form ahead of the 50-over World Cup, which they will host this autumn, so England must take a tough test to turn the series around.
However, Beaumont, who led Welsh Fire in The Hundred, believes that England will benefit from the challenge because much of the narrative surrounding their Ashes hammering and poor World Cup performance was focused on the lack of pressure they encounter in international cricket after those matches.
We have been discussing the need for more challenge for a while. We are aware that our results in major tournaments like the Ashes haven’t been what we want, Beaumont said.
“That won’t get better until we are pressured more severely in bilateral series,” he said. It may have come as a surprise because it occurred relatively early.