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July 2, 2025

Why Raducanu needs to take risk against former Wimbledon champion

25 minutes ago

Being Emma Raducanu, particularly at Wimbledon, is never easy.

And it certainly will not be easy when she plays 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova in a tough second-round match on Wednesday.

Before her triumph two years ago, Vondrousova had barely played on grass but is now one of the best WTA players on this surface.

Raducanu needs to use her forehand aggressively

Since bringing Mark Petchey into her team, Raducanu has done some technical work with him on the forehand and serve.

I think the technical expertise is what he brings to the table. Emma is a clever girl and she likes to know ‘why? ‘ when she is told to do something and wants to understand the reasons behind it.

Mark, who used to coach Andy Murray when he was coming through, is very technical and is able to provide these answers.

Emma Raducanu hits a return against Mimi Xu in the 2025 Wimbledon first round

She has made a few small tweaks on the forehand, and done the same with the serve, and it is a mindset shift of being more aggressive.

In a match like she had against Mimi Xu in the first round – someone younger, someone from the same country, on the big occasion of Wimbledon – the forehand is really put to the test.

The fact it stood up in that tricky situation, and she could be brave behind it, was important.

Typically, if you’re going to be more aggressive you’re going to be hitting closer to the sidelines and playing with smaller margin.

You’re hitting the ball much harder and with that you take more risk. So when you take more risk you have to be prepared to accept you may miss more on occasions.

Why that will help her take control from the baseline

Rather than just being consistent, keeping the ball back in play and risking the opponent being able to attack you, it is about Emma taking control of the baseline.

She is naturally an aggressive baseliner and stands further in on the return.

She does that so well and it is important for her to keep the court position which she has gained throughout the rally.

Against Vondrousova, she will need to get the first strike in the rally.

Vondrousova likes to control the point by being awkward with her leftiness – using the spin, opening up the court and, of course, putting the ball in from the opposite angle to which it usually does.

The threat posed by Vondrousova

When an unseeded Vondrousova won the title two years ago, she was described as one of the unlikeliest Wimbledon champions ever.

That was because she had previously won only four grass-court matches in her career and was ranked 42nd in the world after missing the previous six months with a wrist injury.

Over the past year Marketa has struggled with a shoulder injury, playing only 17 matches this season and dropping to 73rd and dropping outside the top 150 as a result.

But she reminded us all of her ability by winning the grass-court Berlin title last week – beating Australian Open champion Madison Keys, 2023 Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur and world number one Aryna Sabalenka on the way.

That’s an incredible list. But what she does naturally fits so well on to this surface.

Marketa Vondrousova lifts the 2025 Berlin Open trophy

Using the lefty serve and forehand, she really hits on the outside of the ball so she cuts through the sidelines before the ball reaches the baseline and hits with a lot more angle than a lot of the other players do.

She’s happy to come forward, plays a lot of doubles, and is very comfortable coming up to the net.

That is again something you would develop on an indoor hard court and transitions well on to the grass.

With the serve it is all about the angles and opening up the court, but she can also disguise and flatten it out as and when she needs to and keep her opponent guessing.

How has Alexander-Arnold performed?

This was the second time Alonso has deployed his preferred 5-3-2/3-5-2 formation since he replaced Carlo Ancelotti as Madrid coach, and his new charges – including Alexander-Arnold – certainly appear to be adjusting to the new system.

Alexander-Arnold, who impressed his new employers with his Spanish abilities at his unveiling, has played the full 90 minutes in his past two appearances, growing in confidence with each game.

He endured a mixed start on his debut against Al-Hilal, who caught him out of possession on several occasions and almost scored after the former Liverpool man lost possession near the halfway line. He also won only one of his five duels in that match.

He looked vulnerable at times in his second game of the tournament against Pachuca, but in the 3-0 win over Salzburg – his first in the wing-back position – he was involved in Madrid’s third goal late in the second half and has now repaid Alonso’s faith with his first assist for the club.

“It was a fantastic delivery from Trent,” former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel told Dazn. “We know he can do that – even though there are still questions defensively. It’s good to see him settle. We knew it would take him time. “

Ex-Netherlands midfielder Edgar Davids echoed those sentiments, saying: “I think he is a good fit for Real Madrid and he will get better.

“If you want to have attacking full-backs, he is one of the key figures in that position in the world. If you want that and you have the speed in front of you, it is ideal. “

Garcia assist a sign of things to come?

Alexander-Arnold endured a quiet first half against Juventus, spending much of it playing short or backwards passes – rather than the raking balls Liverpool fans grew accustomed to.

He carried more of an attacking threat as the game progressed, however, finishing the match on eight crosses – more than any other Madrid player.

He flashed a delivery across the six-yard box in the first half, which somehow evaded everyone in the area, but his cross for Garcia eight minutes into the second period allowed the 21-year-old to thump a powerful header beyond Juventus goalkeeper Michele de Gregorio.

“He could have had many more assists already,” said Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois. “In training, he is horrible to play against. His corner kicks are another level.

“I don’t think I have seen a guy like this with such quality. As a goalkeeper it is a nightmare, but it will help make me better. “

Former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown, however, says it is unreasonable to expect too much, too soon from the England international.

“He has to adapt into a system that is totally different,” Brown told Dazn. “He doesn’t have Mo Salah right in front of him and needs to be patient, not just cross the ball if no-one is there. It will take time to get used to it. “

But what does the man himself make of his new role under Alonso?

“I enjoyed it [playing as wing-back],” Alexander-Arnold said after the Salzburg game. “Adapting to a new role in a new team is always going to be a challenge, but I enjoy challenges. It gets the best out of me personally.

The new Raul? Garcia lighting up Club World Cup

If you hadn’t heard of Garcia prior to the Club World Cup, you will have now.

The young Madrid forward has led the line in the absence of Kylian Mbappe – who made his comeback from gastroentiritis against Juventus – and has taken his chance with both hands.

With three goals in four games, Garcia is Los Blancos’ top scorer at the tournament and is behind only Benfica’s Angel di Maria in the overall standings.

Aside from a one-year spell away from the Spanish capital with Mallorca in 2018-19, the 21-year-old has been part of the Madrid set-up since the age of 10.

He rose through the ranks and made his first appearance with Madrid’s B team, Castilla, in March 2022.

The Spanish forward made his first-team debut in the November of that year but was still predominantly playing with Castilla, eventually scoring his first senior goal in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals against Leganes in February 2025.

After Real’s 3-0 victory over Salzburg, in which Garcia scored his second goal at the tournament, Alonso likened his attributes to that of the legendary Raul Gonzalez.

“What he’s doing isn’t a surprise. He’s done it many times at Castilla,” he said.

“He’s the typical number nine, who knows how to wait for his opportunity, who moves well.

“He has Raul qualities in his movements. There are no decisions regarding the start of next season. “

Mikel believes Garcia has earned his chance to start, even with Mbappe’s return to fitness.

“Who needs Mbappe when you have Garcia? ” Mikel told Dazn.

“I’m pushing for the young lad, he has been on fire. This is what we love to see – young players getting opportunities. “

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, added: “In December 2024, Rahul – then manager of Real Madrid B – said Garcia should be in the first team. He was part of the youth team that won the treble in 2022/23. He was playing as a nine but also can play as a left winger.

“Real have been looking for a forward, someone who accepts his role behind Mbappe. Now they have got that nine through the ranks, Alonso has got a lot of confidence in him.

Following the success of Louis Theroux’s series called Boybands Forever, the journalist is planning a girl group version, but one iconic group has reportedly shunned his approach

Louis Theroux is planning a new documentary(Image: officiallouistheroux/Instagram)

Louis Theroux is used to interviewing the best in the business. However, one band has reportedly shunned his advances to tell their story.

The popular journalist is creating a new bombshell BBC documentary on girlbands following on from last year’s successful production of Boybands Forever. It’s thought Louis had seen the iconic band as being instrumental in any production.

However, a TV insider has claimed that the quintet – made up of Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton, Melanie C, Melanie Brown MBE and Geri Horner – aren’t prepared to bare all just yet.

While last year’s boyband version saw Robbie Williams open up on his turbulent time in Take That, the source says the Girl Power group aren’t looking to follow suit.

The Spice Girls are reported to have rejected Louis’ approach(Image: Getty Images)

Talking to the Sun, a source said: “The difference is that the Spice Girls are fast approaching 30 years since the release of their debut single Wannabe and have a string of projects in the pipeline.

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“Many of the issues that Robbie brought up on Boybands Forever were wholly justifiable, and most viewers sympathised with his situation when he was in Take That.

“But none of the Spice Girls want to do the same, and they feel it wouldn’t be fair on their loyal fans to spoil the magic of Girl Power so close to their anniversary year. They want 2026 to be a moment when they celebrate the group’s achievements. ”

Robbie Williams opened up on Boybands Forever(Image: BBC/Mindhouse Productions/Harry Truman)

While the Spice Girls are reportedly steering clear of the offering, other groups from the era are expected to feature. With it thought chats will be conducted face to face, members of groups such as Eternal, Atomic Kitten, Girls Aloud, Sugababes and All Saints are rumoured to be taking part.

Boybands Forever, which was released at the back end of last year, was a series that focused on boybands of the 90s and early 2000s. Among those who featured, as well as Robbie Williams, was Simon Cowell.

Brian McFadden also featured on Boybands Forever(Image: BBC/Youtube)

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Prior to its release, Louis said of the series: “It involves some of the icons of modern British pop – and we see them through their highs and lows. ” He added: “It’s how they came together, the experience of sudden fame, the opportunity and temptations that came their way, conflicts within the groups, between the groups, and between the boys and their managers.

“It’s a gripping fable about getting everything you dreamed of, and it not being what you imagined, centred on a generation of young men, and their managers, who were wildly successful and also immensely vulnerable, having the times of their lives and also in some cases cracking up. “

READ MORE: FatFace’s ‘cool’ summer dress that ‘doesn’t crease’ and will ‘pack well for holidays’

July 1, 2025

Djokovic overcomes physical issues to reach second round

By 234Radio in News, Sports News

Getty Images

Harry Poole

BBC Sport journalist at Wimbledon

1 July 2025, 15:32 BST

136 Comments

Updated 56 minutes ago

Wimbledon 2025

Venue: All England Club Dates: 30 June-13 July

Novak Djokovic overcame physical issues to join Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon second round, but third seed Alexander Zverev was stunned by Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech.

Seven-time champion Djokovic, who could meet Sinner in the semi-finals, began his latest pursuit of an outright-record 25th major title by overcoming Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-1 6-7 (7-9) 6-2 6-2 on Centre Court.

The Serb appeared to struggle early in the third set – later confirming that “something was off with the stomach” – but rediscovered his form following a medical timeout to win 10 of the final 12 games.

“I went from feeling my absolute best for a set and a half to my absolute worst for about 45 minutes. Whether it was a stomach bug, I don’t know what it is,” Djokovic said.

“I struggled with that but the energy came back and I managed to finish the match on a good note. “

Contesting his first Grand Slam match since losing one of the all-time great French Open finals to Carlos Alcaraz last month, world number one Sinner lost just seven games in a dominant a 6-4 6-3 6-0 win over fellow Italian Luca Nardi.

But Germany’s Zverev became the fourth top-10 ranked men’s player to exit the tournament across the first two days of action.

Djokovic survives eventful opener

Novak Djokovic thanks the crowd after his victory

Djokovic stated before the tournament his belief that Wimbledon offers his best chance of disrupting the dominance of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to land his 25th Grand Slam title.

The 38-year-old appeared set to cruise through his opener as he won six consecutive games and lost only two points on serve in a scintillating 30-minute first-set display.

But the remainder of the match proved a much sterner test of the former world number one’s resolve.

Djokovic could not find a way past an improving Muller, despite creating 11 break points – including four set points – before he was taken to a tie-break.

He also led that 5-2, only for the battling Muller to produce a stunning recovery in which he won seven of the next nine points to level the match before the roof was closed.

There was concern for Djokovic early in the third set when the sixth seed called a medical timeout amid an obvious shift in his body language.

The assistance he received from the doctor, in the form of a tablet, appeared to have an immediate effect as he wrested back control of the contest, rediscovering his former level to take the third set by winning five successive games.

Muller, who also received a medical timeout to have treatment on his right calf, continued to delight the crowd with his resistance and forced a first couple of break points on Djokovic’s serve at the beginning of the fourth set.

But Djokovic, outstanding on serve throughout, held firm before making his break for the finish line – eventually serving out the match to love less than 30 minutes before the 23:00 BST play curfew.

Sinner makes impressive start

Jannik Sinner celebrates his victory on Court One

After his devastating defeat by Alcaraz in Paris, in which he squandered a two-set lead and three championship points in a five-and-a-half-hour epic, Sinner announced his arrival as one of the title favourites at SW19.

The top seed, a three-time major winner, comprehensively outclassed the 95th-ranked Nardi to complete an efficient victory in one hour and 48 minutes on the UK’s hottest day of the year.

The 23-year-old, who will face Australian Aleksandar Vukic next, reflected on his French Open loss in his post-match interview.

“New tournament, new chances, new challenges,” said Sinner, after demonstrating why he has reached at least the quarter-finals at Wimbledon for the past three years.

“If you don’t enjoy playing on these courts, I don’t know where you will enjoy [it]. I’m very happy to be here and let’s see what is coming. “

Nardi, 21, offered resistance in the first set and managed to escape the first five break points he faced – but it was not long before Sinner asserted himself.

Eventually taking his seventh opportunity to clinch the breakthrough and capture the first set, Sinner carried that momentum into the second as the gulf between the players became increasingly apparent as the match wore on.

Top men’s seeds continue to fall

In a match that finished almost 24 hours after it started, suspended at one set apiece late on Monday night, Zverev came up short against the inspired Rinderknech in five sets.

Zverev twice served to stay in the match in the fourth set, and recovered from a 4-1 deficit in the tie-break to force a decider.

But the 72nd-ranked Rinderknech held his nerve after securing an early break in the fifth to win 7-6 (7-3) 6-7 (8-10) 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 and achieve his first career victory over a top-five player.

Italian Musetti, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, also suffered a surprise first-round defeat, losing 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-1 to qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili, of Georgia.

Those losses came after Danish eighth seed Holger Rune and Russian ninth seed Daniil Medvedev exited the tournament on Monday.

Alexander Bublik, Kazakhstan’s 28th seed and winner of the Halle Open in the build-up to Wimbledon, served for the match in the fourth set against Spain’s Jaume Munar before losing 6-4 3-6 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.