Category Sports News

During her first-round match at Wimbledon, world number 33 Yulia Putintseva asked for a spectator to be ejected because she had security concerns.

The 30-year-old immediately complained to the umpire about a spectator she described as “crazy” and “dangerous” during her match against Amanda Anisimova on court 15.

The issue has been resolved, according to a club spokesperson.

Putintseva, from Kazakhstan, first expressed her concerns during a change of ends when the game was tied 3-3.

I won’t play until he leaves, so can you take him out? These people are crazy, she said, and dangerous.

The person was later identified as wearing green and pointed her way into a section of the crowd.

Three members of the security staff were speaking with the chair umpire as they entered the court.

Putintseva was allegedly told that the play would resume, but she was later told that she would wait until security had handled it.

She urged people to take him out because they might have knives.

Later in the match, Putintseva became upset, going down 6-0, 6-0, in 45 minutes.

After that, she avoided speaking with the media.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) spokesman told BBC Sport: “The chair umpire informed security and the issue was resolved.

Meanwhile, Anisimova claimed to believe the audience was speaking to him “when Putintseva] was about to serve” and that “we were protected” when she told the BBC.

He made his club world cup debut in 1997, making 1, 378 senior appearances, and is the club’s oldest player.

Brazilian goalkeeper Fabio Deivson Lopes Maciel, who has already had a promising career, is not letting down.

The 44-year-old scored twice against Inter Milan on Monday to advance to the Club World Cup quarter-final, facing either Man City or Al-Hilal.

The 2023 Copa Libertadores champions stunned this year’s Champions League runners-up before celebrating in style with four saves, including a crucial late block with his legs.

Even though both made fun of their years in the 33C heat, he even makes his 40-year-old teammate Thiago Silva seem young in comparison.

Just four days prior, he set a new record for the 507th clean sheet, surpassing Gianluigi Buffon, an international from Italy. Right now, the record is 508.

He will now be looking forward to recording the most appearances in international football, which is even more impressive.

Peter Shilton, a former England goalkeeper, currently holds the Guinness Book of Records record with 1, 390 appearances. Shilton asserts that he has played 1, 387 games.

Even so, Fabio’s actual tally is still questioned.

In his club career, Shilton is credited with having made 1, 249 starts and a record-setting 125 England starts, which equals his total appearances of 1, 374.

So why isn’t Fabio, who won the Under-19 World Cup in 1997 and has spent his entire career there already the record holder? He has never played for his country.

Although it is up for debate whether or not that qualifies as a senior appearance, Fluminense and Fabio are obviously being safe rather than sorry because they passed the 1, 374-foot mark without much fanfare.

It will only be a matter of time, regardless of whether they are pursuing 1, 387 or 1, 390. The record looks certain to be his even though he turns 45 in September and has a new contract up until 2026.

However, that is another thing: how long the record stays with him.

Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, is still playing for the club and country, and he has played in 1, 281 senior games as a professional.

One of the most intriguing storylines at Dundonald Links will be influential author Peter Finch, who has a large social media following.

One of 288 players who will compete in events in Scotland, Burnham &amp, Berrow, Royal Cinque Ports, and West Lancashire, the 38-year-old is one of the 20 spots still open for the final men’s major of the year at Royal Portrush, which will take place from July 17 to July 20.

Finch, who is known for his course vlogs, golfing challenges, and match-ups with professionals on his social channels, expressed that “I’m feeling a little nervous but also quite excited in some ways.”

In this region of the world, Dundonald is a course that I am familiar with and really enjoy. You will see something from me and two European Tour pros, he said.

The Lancashire resident, who is described on the official Open X account as a content creator, golfer, and dream chaser, is well aware that he is a rank outsider in order to advance ahead of other players who have all won on the DP World Tour.

Finch has never and probably never will play that level.

And Lee Westwood’s presence is highlighted by his simultaneous tee-off in the 36-hole competition at 07:50 BST.

Tiger Woods, 52, surpassed him in the world rankings in 2010 and finished with a few second- and third-place finishes in golf’s four major championships.

The Englishman finished in a tie for fourth at Portrush in 2019 after missing out on a place in a play-off in 2009 and last played at the Open in 2022.

Adrian Meronk, a four-time champion on the DWP Tour before switching to the Saudi-backed series, will also be a strong contender to win one of the five positions on offer at the links course in Ayrshire.

While Welshman Jamie Donaldson competed in the 2014 Ryder Cup alongside Johannes Veerman and Angel Hidalgo on their main professional tour of Europe,

Xu, 17, who had earned a wildcard for the Championships, defeated Raducanu 6-3, 6-3, to seal the match.

Xu hopes the experience will motivate her to play in SW19 as the first Welsh player to do so in 20 years.

Xu told BBC Sport Wales, “I loved every second of it.”

“I wouldn’t claim that it was my dream debut because it was undoubtedly my dream debut,” he said.

However, I feel truly honoured and happy that this was my debut.

I don’t believe I could have asked for more than that to play against a fellow Brit who is a Grand Slam champion on a big court.

The atmosphere, the court, and the crowd are all there. It wasn’t for me to stop.

Earlier this month, Swansea-born Xu had won notable titles at the Birmingham, Ilkley, and Nottingham Open.

She defended her 2021 US Open champion, saying, “I’ve come so far even from last year.

“It’s obvious that my game is different from Emma’s, but I genuinely believe I can succeed there.”

“I was telling people that this was my best grass season ever, even before Wimbledon.”

Everything else was a bonus because the last three years I’ve played on the women’s side included only one victory and one defeat in my first competition.

My good stuff is really good, in my opinion. She continued, “It’s just fine tuning and cleaning a few bits here and there.”

“But I sincerely believe that I am so capable that this is what has ignited my inner fire.”

Bayern Munich may consider a Luis Diaz deal, Manchester United could look to Ollie Watkins to lead their line, and Eberechi Eze could be chased by Arsenal.

Ollie Watkins, 29, from England and Aston Villa, is one of Manchester United’s potential striker recruits if Rasmus Hojlund, 22, leaves Old Trafford this summer. (Athletic – A subscription required)

As Bayern Munich searches for a top-notch left winger, they have added Liverpool and Colombian international Luis Diaz, 28, to their shortlist. (Sky Germany)

Eberechi Eze, 27, who has a release clause of £67.5 million, has representatives from Crystal Palace and England’s Eberechi Eze, a spokeswoman. (Guardian)

Tolu Arokodare, 24, who is also being watched by AC Milan and Manchester United, is a target for Fulham‘s summer move. (Sun)

West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus, 24, is a transfer target for Tottenham, who are confident he can find a deal that is well below his $85 million release clause. (Telegraph requires a subscription)

Kudus, who has attracted interest from Chelsea, Newcastle, and Manchester United, would be available for offers of around £60 million from West Ham. (Guardian)

Richarlison, 28, has been given permission to leave Tottenham and is expected to travel to Turkey to join Galatasaray. (Sun)

Chelsea hopes to sell France’s Christopher Nkunku, 27, for about £35 million this summer. (Metro)

Hayden Hackney, 23, and Dutch defender Rav van den Berg, 20, are both wanted by Crystal Palace for a combined £27 million deal to join Middlesbrough. (Sun)

After PSV Eindhoven rejected the possibility to sign the 25-year-old defensive defender permanently after a loan spell, Manchester United are struggling to offload the defender. (Mirror)

Aston Villa are expected to transfer 22-year-olds Kaine Kesler-Hayden and Louie Barry to Championship sides Hull and Coventry, respectively. (Athletic – A subscription required)

Wimbledon 2025

Venue: All England Club, June 30 – 13 .

At either end of a record-breaking day for British tennis players, Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal both won impressive matches.

With a 6-2, 3 6-4 victory over Spain’s Paula Badosa, the former British number one took to Centre Court in the evening.

Before the British contingent’s 14th-ranked player, Kartal won the match against 20th seed Jelena Ostapenko to take the field on day one.

Seven Britons in total made it to the second round of Wimbledon in the Open era, making day one the most successful day for British players.

British number one Emma Raducanu defeated compatriot Mimi Xu, Cameron Norrie, Arthur Fery, Oliver Tarvet, and Billy Harris, to take the stage alongside Boulter, 28.

With so many Brits in the draw, Raducanu, 22, said, “It’s incredible.”

“It’s great for the spectators, too, that so many Brits will follow in the draw,” said I. It gets more and more exciting as we win more games.

Boulter, who will next face Argentine lucky loser Solana Sierra, said: “Centre Court Wimbledon, as a Brit, against a top-10 player, doesn’t get that much better.”

One of the benefits of playing tennis is that I can win matches like that and compete against the best players in the world.

“I do think it’s one of the best wins of my career,” she says.

Kartal defeated the former French Open champion 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 to advance to the second round on a hot day at SW19.

Kartal, 23, was one of 10 British women in action at the All England Club, which is the most since 1992.

On a lively court three, she had to come from behind to win the opening set.

However, following a strong tournament at last year’s Wimbledon, where she advanced to the third round, a dominant deciding set ensured her progress to round two for the second time in her career.

After the win, which was her third over a top-20 player this year, she said, “That was by far one of the toughest matches I’ve played.”

“I would say that I struggle against the big guns,” he said. This year, I’ve made a conscious effort to compete in bigger matches and put myself under the most pressure on the court.

After only defeating a top-10 opponent three times, Boulter has now advanced to the second round of Wimbledon six times in a row. However, this was her best opening-round victory against a difficult opponent.

Badosa, a former world number two, has a chance of recovering from injuries that looked unlikely in the first set she dominated, despite the fact that she is a former world number two.

Due to a back injury, Badosa had to withdraw from the Berlin Open earlier this month in the quarter-finals, which may have been a factor since she twice broke her opponent in the opening match.

However, the second set was different because Badosa attacked Boulter on her serve to level things off, securing two breaks in return.

Badosa, 27, was given a break in the opening game, but Boulter immediately resisted after an absorbing third set had the Centre Court crowd captivated.

In the last 18 months, Kartal has seen a remarkable rise in rankings.

She reached the third round of Wimbledon last year as a wildcard ranked 281 out of the world.

She cut a calm and mature figure on her return this year, which came in 230 places above that.

Ostapenko, 28, was comfortably defeated by Kartal in Eastbourne’s opening round last week, but the Briton maintained her composure as she fell 5-2 behind.

Kartal won the next five games with a forehand from Ostapenko, saving set points 5-4 before moving in the set from the set.

Ostapenko was shocked when Kartal sent a sharp forehand round the net post, but the former Wimbledon semi-finalist made it work and won the match comfortably.

Despite this, Ostapenko continued to grow increasingly irritable throughout the match, yelling profanity and berating herself while yelling at her coaches.

She asked the umpire to let the crowd be quiet before shouting at them, raising her arms in exasperation, and the crowd’s fans received glaring looks as well.

The All England Club’s men’s and women’s singles qualifiers for Wimbledon were the highest total since 1984, with 23 Britons registering for the competition.

Harriet Dart, Hannah Klugman, and Mika Stojsavljevic were eliminated from the women’s draw as Raducanu, Boulter, and Kartal advanced.

Dart defeated Dalma Galfi from Hungary in the first set, but she lost 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Leylah Fernandez, the 29th seed, defeated teenager Klugman, 6-3, in her Grand Slam main-draw debut.

The 16-year-old was one of three British players aged 17 and under in the women’s singles draw at the All England Club last month, becoming the first Briton to reach the French Open girls’ final in almost 50 years.