Archive June 20, 2025

Sabalenka Saves Four Match Points Against Rybakina To Reach Berlin Semis

Elena Rybakina, the former champion of Wimbledon, defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka to earn her place in the semifinals of the grass in Berlin on Friday, saving four match points.

Sabalenka resurrected to reach her eighth semi-final of the season after falling behind to the 2022 Wimbledon champion 6-2 in the final-set tie-break, earning six straight points.

Next, she travels to Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 champion tennis player, who defeated Ons Jabeur from Tunisia 6-4, 6-1 earlier on Friday.

“Elena, she’s a great player, and we’ve had a lot of difficult battles,” said one participant. “I have no idea how I was able to get those final points.” In all fairness, Sabalenka, who currently leads 7-4 in meetings with the Kazakh, believes she has been lucky.

“I’ve been playing games a long time ago when I was just starting, and I remember when I won a lot of matches with match points down,” I recall. Not long ago, I thought it had been a while since I’ve made a crazy comeback, and here I am.

“It’s amazing to win games like that,” he said, “and I’m proud of how I stayed.” I was trying until the very end, fighting.

Read more about the move to Qatar for the Asian Cup qualifiers after the Israeli-Iran War.

The three-time Grand Slam champion gave up the momentum and gave way to Rybakina in the third set after winning in a tiebreak.

In the final set, Sabalenka had a 5-4 lead with serve, but the Kazakh, the world number 11, was forced to come back and force the tie-break.

Sabalenka scored her first match point with a powerful assist, sealing the deal five points later (8-6).

She will square off against Vondrousova, who returned from a break in Wimbledon on Saturday and placed her in the 164th place world.

Vondrousova’s first last-four appearance since Stuttgart in April 2024 will be here.

In a repeat of their 2023 Wimbledon final, which the Czechs won, Vondrusova won.

Both players have experienced injuries and have fallen significantly in rankings since finishing in the top 10 last year.

After losing 6-1 in the first set to Spanish opponent Paula Badosa, China’s Wang Xinyu, who had previously defeated French Open champion Coco Gauff on Thursday, retired to reach the semi-finals.

Wang will face Liudmila Samsono in the semi-finals after the Russian, who is 20th in the world, continued to excel on the grass.

She defeated American Amanda Anisimova of the United States 6-1, 6-1 in just 57 minutes after already defeating defending champions Jessica Pegula and Naomi Osaka this week.

Wakefield pull off shock win against in-form Wigan

SWpix.com
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Betfred Super League

Wakefield Trinity (10) 16

Goals: Jowitt 2

Wigan Warriors (0) 10

At Belle Vue, the Wigan Warriors were deposed by an impressive Wakefield Trinity, which put them one step ahead of Super League leaders Hull KR.

Caius Faatili and Josh Griffin scored tries to give Trinity a 10-point lead at half-time after a brief period of pressure.

The sluggish Warriors struggled to find their rhythm, so Trinity stayed ahead with another score from Tom Johnstone despite Adam Keighran’s four-point lead at the start of the second half.

Through Jai Field, Wigan eventually rallied for a late try, but it was insufficient to prevent a third defeat of the campaign.

The outcome put an end to Wigan’s nine-match winning run and put Daryl Powell’s side in the lead.

The champions immediately put pressure on Trinity, who had come into the game after several defeats, and they spent the majority of the first 15 minutes writing their way back near their goal line.

Josh Griffin, Wakefield TrinitySWpix.com

With Mason Lino’s skillful kicking helping to elicit a number of defensive errors from the Warriors, Johnstone was denied at the last by Liam Farrell, who had already contributed to that score, which gave the Wakefield ranks more confidence.

Prior to the interval, Lino’s kick split the Wigan line, and Griffin eagerly seized the chance, with Max Jowitt adding the extras to make it 10-0.

Before Bevan French set up Keighran to gallop through to the right and dive across, Wigan immediately responded with a successful conversion and won two early penalties before Wigan won the victory.

However, Nsemba made a mistake shortly after, and Jake Trueman’s looping pass to winger Johnstone gave Trinity another set of tackles, giving him the 10-point lead.

After Wigan were fined for obstruction, Jowitt missed a routine conversion earlier in the match and was hit again with a penalty kick.

The Warriors, who had won at Huddersfield last weekend and overturned a half-time deficit to win, were unable to influence the outcome because of how they found themselves in a recovery position.

Jowitt, Walmsley, Hall, Pratt, Johnstone, Trueman, Lino, Cozza, Smith, Faatili, Nikotemo, Griffin, Pitts, and Wakefield Trinity.

Scott, Hood, Vagana, and Croft are the exchanges.

Field, Eckersley, Keighran, Wardle, Wardle, Marshall, Marshall, French, Smith, Byrne, O’Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell, and Ellis are the Wigan Warriors.

Havard, Mago, Leeming, and Dupree are the exchanges.

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Israel’s Gaza actions may breach EU-Israel human rights agreement: Report

A review of the agreement reveals that there are indications that Israel may have violated its human rights obligations under the terms of a pact governing its ties to the EU.

The European External Action Service stated in an EU document released on Friday that Israel’s actions in Gaza were likely to be against the guidelines set forth in the EU-Israel Association.

According to the independent international institutions’ assessments, there are indications that Israel would violate its human rights, according to the EU’s diplomatic service’s audit.

Following months of growing concern in European capitals over Israel’s operations in Gaza and the enclave’s humanitarian situation, the report is released.

The entire Gazan population, which is present in the affected territory, is affected by Israel’s continued restrictions on the provision of food, medicines, medical equipment, and other essential supplies, it said.

According to Reuters, the document includes a section on the situation in Gaza, which includes issues relating to the denial of humanitarian aid, attacks that result in significant casualties, displacement, and lack of accountability, as well as the situation in the occupied West Bank, including settler violence.

According to the document, “facts verified by and assessments made by independent international institutions, with a focus on the most recent events in Gaza and the West Bank” are used.

In a push supported by 17 states and led by the Netherlands, the audit was launched last month in response to the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The report’s findings are expected to be presented to the bloc’s foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, according to Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat.

agreement between the EU and Israel

Under the agreement between the EU and Israel, which came into effect in 2000, the two parties agreed that their relationship would be based on “respect for human rights and democratic principles”.

According to diplomats, it would be nearly impossible to suspend the agreement without the bloc’s 27 members’ unanimous consent.

Diplomats have told AFP that they anticipate Kallas to make recommendations for a possible response to the report at the upcoming foreign ministers’ meeting in July.

Prior to the review’s findings, an unnamed diplomat told the news agency, “The question is how many member states would still be willing to do nothing and still continue to say it’s business as usual.”

They remarked, “It’s really important to avoid falling into Israel’s trap by looking elsewhere.”

With 42. 6 billion euros ($48.2 billion) in goods traded in 2024, the EU is Israel’s largest trading partner. Trade in services reached 25.6 billion euros ($29.5bn) in 2023.

Kieran Trippier marriage update after England star addressed Chloe Ferry rumours

The couple’s relationship, which has been ongoing since 2016, is reportedly set to end in less than a day.

Kieran Trippier ‘to divorce wife Charlotte’ days after addressing Chloe Ferry rumours(Image: Daily Mirror)

They think it’s all over – it is now! Kieran Trippier and his estranged wife are reportedly ready to start divorce proceedings, just days on from the Newcastle United defender being spotted looking cosy with reality TV star Chloe Ferry.

Earlier this week, Trippier, 34, took to Instagram to address rumours after being seen with the Geordie Shore star. The England international, who has 54 caps, shared with his followers that he’s moving forward after parting ways with his wife and the mother of his two children, Charlotte.

And it’s now been claimed that Charlotte has been seeking legal counsel and is “keen to move on with her life” despite now being claimed that there is apparently no chance of a reconciliation.

: England Lion Kieran Trippier with wife Charlotte
‘Charlotte wants to keep things as amicable as possible’(Image: charlottehtrippier/Instagram)

The insider told The Sun, “Kieran is a devoted father, but it hasn’t worked out as Charlotte had hoped” She moved in and made a new home, so divorce was the best course of action. Charlotte wants to keep things as friendly as possible with Kieran.

The Mirror has approached Trippier for comment on this story. Writing on Instagram on Wednesday night, the footballer told fans: “Myself and Charlotte separated over a year ago. I have not commented previously as it is a private matter, and we want to protect our children. We ask the media to respect our privacy in the same way.”

Continue reading the article.

Trippier, who left Atlético Madrid for Newcastle last year, was recently spotted chatting with Chloe, 29, at the renowned Ibiza club Ushuaia, who has since been a fixture on the Geordie Shore since 2015.

Video footage from Cosy Joes, a karaoke bar in Newcastle, was released in May that showed Trippier hoisting 27-year-old blonde call center worker Frankie Carmichael. The defender was unharmed when subsequent photos, taken at a train station, revealed the defender’s wedding ring. The Magpies’ defender was caught again with another blonde during a night out in Newcastle in May.

Chloe posing by a hot tub
Chloe is yet to address the rumours (Image: Instagram)

In 2016 in Cyprus, Kieran and the England footballer wed. Charlotte once referred to herself as “a princess who has found her prince,” despite keeping a low profile typically.

The couple’s lavish £3.8 million family home was put up for sale last year amid reports of marital issues. Despite a long three-year romance with fellow cast member Sam Gowland, Chloe Ferry, who is well known for her role on Geordie Shore, hasn’t engaged yet.

Their relationship ended in 2020 after Sam had departed from the show, but Chloe continues to be a fan favourite. Hailing from Newcastle, she also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017 but faced eviction just a week into the show.

Chloe and Trippier’s relationship is still unknown in its details. Trippier has played for Newcastle before, playing for Burnley for the previous two seasons, clocking in close to 100 games since joining the club in 2022.

Trippier’s loan spell eventually turned into a full-time commitment in 2012. Trippier earned his first England cap while playing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2017 with his quick playing style as a full-back.

Before putting his international boots on last summer, he wore them 54 times. His unforgettable free-kick goal against Croatia in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals made for an unforgettable moment on the pitch.

Continue reading the article.

Liverpool Seal Record Swoop For Wirtz From Leverkusen

Florian Wirtz’s sensational move from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool on Friday was the subject of a potential Premier League record fee.

The Premier League champions will pay an initial $ 100 million ($134 million), comfortably surpassing their own record, according to reports in England.

It would become a record-breaking British company with additional £16 million in performance-related add-ons.

However, reports in Germany suggested that the fee might go as high as 130 million euros (£111 million, $149 million), with additions making it 150 million euros.

Former Leverkusen coach and ex-Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, who is now Real Madrid’s new boss, have hailed Wirtz as one of the “best in the world.”

“I’m really looking forward to a brand-new adventure ahead of me.” According to Wirtz, “I want to have something completely new, to leave the Bundesliga, and to join the Premier League,” he said on the club’s website.

We ultimately want to be successful. Since they won the Premier League last year, my goal is to win it once more and advance to the Champions League. I have a lot of ambition.”

The 22-year-old helped Leverkusen win their first-ever Bundesliga title and the German Cup in 2023/24 without losing a single game while at the club.

In the Europa League final defeat to Atalanta, Leverkusen were denied a memorable treble, which was Wirtz’ only other defeat that year, when he was named the year’s MVP.

Read more about Salah, Palmer, Rice, and other PFA Player of the Year nominees.

Last season, Leverkusen came in second place, and Bayern Munich regained control of the German game, and Wirtz is joining a frenzied departure from the BayArena.

Jeremie Frimpong, a Netherlands defender, recently made a move to Liverpool from Leverkusen.

The Reds are making a splash to help a team that won the 20th English top flight title, which was largely kept dry in Arne Slot’s first season in charge.

Milos Kerkez, a left-back from Bournemouth, is reportedly moving to Anfield in a £40 million deal.

Alexander Isak, a Newcastle striker, and Marc Guehi, a Crystal Palace defender, have also been linked with Liverpool.

It’s still to be seen how Slot’s plans integrate Wirtz’s.

He primarily played for Germany’s central striker at Leverkusen and has since expanded to include other players.

Leverkusen’s 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 games demonstrate that he poses a threat both as a creator and a goalscorer.

Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, and Cody Gakpo, all of whom offer a goal threat, are already a part of Liverpool’s abundance of forward options.

However, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, and Federico Chiesa are now facing even more difficult competition to start in Slot’s starting lineup, which raises the possibility that Liverpool will sell some of that trio to free up additional transfer resources.

Former England striker Carroll leaves Bordeaux

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Andy Carroll, a former England and Liverpool striker, has spent one season in Bordeaux’s fourth division.

Bordeaux claimed that Carroll made the decision to “move closer to his children” when he left.

The 36-year-old signed for Bordeaux from Amiens in September and has now scored 11 goals in 21 league games.

Andy “broughs his experience, physical impact, and professionalism to the table every day, in the dressing room, and in significant games,” the club said in a statement.

He has a remarkable and generous personality that the club’s supporters and employees have enjoyed working with off the pitch.

Bordeaux, a six-time Ligue 1 champion, reverted to professional status after being deducted from Ligue 2 to Championnat National 2 due to bankruptcy last year.

In his time playing for West Ham United, Liverpool, and Newcastle United, Carroll scored 54 goals in 248 Premier League games.

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