Spanish world number three Carlos Alcaraz says he “passed the test” after earning a straight-set win on his comeback from injury at the Italian Open.
Alcaraz, 22, pulled out of the Madrid Open last month as he dealt with hamstring and groin injuries suffered in the Barcelona Open final.
When announcing the decision in the Spanish capital, the four-time major champion was unsure if he would be fit enough to play at this week’s Italian Open.
It also brought into question his condition going into the upcoming French Open, where Alcaraz is looking to defend the men’s singles title.
Before his opening match in Rome, Alcaraz said he felt “100%” and he looked in great shape – serving strongly and moving well – in a 6-3 6-3 win against Serb qualifier Dusan Lajovic.
“The body is feeling great,” said Alcaraz, who is also the reigning Wimbledon champion.
“I made a few good sprints today without any pain. It was great.
“I think I passed the test. Trying to feel more comfortable on the court, moving without thinking about the injury.”
The metal pergola is currently reduced to less than £250 in the Debenhams sale and is perfect for creating some shade in your garden on hot sunny days
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The Outsunny pergola is currently on sale at Debenhams(Image: Debenhams)
As the summer season rears its head, many are gearing up to make the most of their outdoor space. Depending on which way your garden faces, you might notice varying amounts of sunlight throughout the day.
For those seeking a chic solution to add some shade to their garden, a pergola could be just what’s needed. One particular model, available from Debenhams, has been racking up rave reviews.
The Outsunny 4×3(m) Metal Pergola, currently slashed from £329.99 down to £219.99, boasts a retractable canopy, letting you tweak the level of shade to your liking.
The canopy is treated with a UV-resistant coating for sun safety, and for those worried about longevity, the metal frame is bolstered with a powder coating for extra durability, reports Nottinghamshire Live.
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The Outsunny 4×3(m) Metal Pergola from Debenhams(Image: Debenhams)
However, keep in mind that pergolas demand a semi-permanent spot in your garden, so if you’re after a more temporary structure, a gazebo might be a better fit. There’s no shortage of budget-friendly options out there, including the Home 3m x 3m Pop up Garden Gazebo from Argos, priced at £110. Plus Amazon’s Pop Up Gazebo at £79.99.
The Outsunny pergola is scoring big with customers for its snap assembly and snazzy look, earning praise from one satisfied shopper: “Took four of us to put it together, very sturdy, looks amazing.”
Another happy reviewer wrote: “Easy to order, fast delivery and helpful delivery driver. Price was best on (the) internet. This will be a great addition to our garden.”
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Someone else who snagged the deal shared their thoughts: “Fast delivery and quality product, much cheaper than other stores.”
The Princess of Wales dazzled as she attended a special concert to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day with Prince William, the King and Queen, and one expert spotted the princess make a telling gesture at one of the event’s most crucial moments
The Princess of Wales at the VE Day concert last night (Image: Getty Images)
The Princess of Wales made a subtle gesture in a blink-and-you-will-miss-it moment at a special VE Day concert on Thursday – and it spoke volumes, according to an expert. Kate joined husband Prince William as well as the King and Queen for the historic event on Horse Guards Parade, which brought a close to the commemorations marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War.
She wore her hair half up, half down, pinned back with a large, black velvet bow and was dressed in a white boucle jacket and Self Portrait dress. Kate, who accessorised with a five-strand pearl necklace, and the rest of the crowd were treated to performances by Freya Ridings, Fleur East, Strictly dancers Amy Dowden, Carlos Gu and Kai Widdrington and actor Brian Cox.
William and Kate stand to listen to the King’s speech (Image: PA)
However, the most important part of the concert came when the King delivered an address at 9pm – the exact time King George VI spoke to the nation in a radio broadcast on May 8 1945, to mark the end of the Second World War in Europe.
He called for a global commitment to restoring peace as he paid tribute to the service and sacrifice of the wartime generation. And in a lighter moment, the King joked to the concert-goers that he did not have the energy to “lead you all in a giant conga from here back to Buckingham Palace” as he read an extract from his late mother Queen Elizabeth II’s personal diary.
And according to body language expert Judi James, it was Kate’s reaction at his moment that gave a telling insight into Kate’s royal relationships. She told the Mirror : “Her ‘moment’ came as she watched Charles making his speech.
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The pair smile as they listen to the speech(Image: Getty Images)
“When he came to the quotes from the late Queen, Kate’s smile became one of warm reflection, hinting at the warm relationship she had with the late Queen and also at an empathetic relationship of warmth that she might have with Charles himself, whom she was watching. Her cheeks became rounded, and her hands were clasped in front of her torso in a look of warmth as well as some sadness.”
During last night’s appearance at the concert, Kate was also seen exchanging several tender moments with husband William, who put a protective arm on her back. It comes as the Firm has put on a united front for all of the VE Day commemorations in the wake of Prince Harry giving yet another bombshell interview that would have left royal eyes rolling behind palace doors.
The couple arrive for the concert (Image: PA)
After losing a Court of Appeal challenge over his security arrangements while in the UK, Harry gave an emotional interview to the BBC, where he claimed his father the King doesn’t speak to him and said he could not see a world where he would bring his children to visit the UK and declared he felt he had been “stitched up”.
But it seems there was no hint of Harry being on royal minds last night, as Judi added that William and Kate looked very much like the power couple as they delivered a confident and charming display. She explained: “William walked with an elegant puffing of the chest to accommodate the line of medals while Kate adopted a more youthful look to her upswept, immaculate hair and styling during the daytime service.
“With her hair hanging in loose curls topped with a Gen Z-style large floppy bow that was also a nod to the ‘Pollyanna’ fashion trend of Victoriana soon after the War, Kate teamed a Chanel-style jacket with a full, flowing white lace skirt, ticking another very current box in terms of teaming tweeds with layers of lace and pearls.
“The ‘Disney Prince’ look was totally complimentary with Kate’s girlish froth and curls, and William adopted a rather serious, alpha facial expression on arrival to complement his wife’s more romantic styling and smiles.
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“His brows pulled into a sadder-looking, concerned frown, and, until Kate made him share a smile, he appeared to be taking quiet moments of more serious reflection.
Indian and Pakistani soldiers exchanged heavy volleys of shells and gunfire across their frontier in Kashmir overnight, killing at least five civilians in a growing military standoff.
In Pakistan, an unusually intense night of artillery exchanges killed at least four civilians and wounded 12 others in areas near the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Kashmir, local police official Adeel Ahmad said. People in border towns said the firing continued well into Friday morning.
“We’re used to hearing exchange of fire between Pakistan and India at the Line of Control, but last night was different,” said Mohammad Shakil, who lives near the frontier in Chakothi sector.
In India, military officials said Pakistani troops barraged their posts overnight with artillery, mortars and gunfire at multiple locations in Indian-controlled Kashmir. They said Indian soldiers responded, triggering fierce exchanges until early dawn.
A woman was killed and two other civilians were injured in Uri sector, police said, taking the civilian death toll in India to 17 since Wednesday. Pakistan said Indian mortar and artillery fire has killed 17 civilians in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in the same period.
Novak Djokovic has taken a wildcard to play the upcoming Geneva Open as he looks to find form and match fitness before the French Open.
Djokovic, who is aiming for a standalone record 25th Grand Slam title in Paris, pulled out of this week’s Italian Open.
The 37-year-old Serb has lost his past three matches after early exits at clay-court events in Monte Carlo and Madrid last month.
Djokovic did not give a reason for missing the ATP Masters tournament in Rome – where he is a six-time champion.
It has been a patchy season by Djokovic’s high standards.
A positive start saw him reach the Australian Open semi-finals, although he had to pull out injured against Germany’s Alexander Zverev after losing the first set.
The world number six, who turns 38 this month, lost three matches in a row on his comeback before rediscovering form at the Miami Open.
However, he was overwhelmed by powerful Czech teenager Jakub Mensik in the final, costing him another chance to win his 100th ATP title.
Overall, he has won 12 of his 19 matches this season and hopes to improve that record in Geneva.
Last year, Djokovic reached the semi-finals on his first appearance in the Swiss city.
He went on to reach the Roland Garros quarter-finals, but had to withdraw from his last-eight match against Casper Ruud with a knee injury picked up in the previous round.
Norway’s Ruud, who beat Britain’s Jack Draper in the Madrid final on Sunday, is also in this year’s Geneva field, along with American world number four Taylor Fritz.
Love Is Blind UK presenter Emma Willis made her first major public appearance since undergoing heart surgery to correct a congenital heart condition
Emma Willis makes stunning red carpet return after heart surgery with husband Matt(Image: Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Ima)
TV presenter Emma Willis dazzled on the red carpet last night, making a glamorous comeback in her first public outing since undergoing heart surgery.
The Love Is Blind UK host, 49, arrived at a star-studded event arm in arm with her husband Matt Willis, looking radiant in a tailored red jumpsuit and stylish leopard print heels.
Emma and Busted singer Matt, 42, were all smiles as they attended the British Vogue and Netflix BAFTA TV party in London. The couple looked delighted as they held hands, making their way into the venue.
The happy couple’s date night also served as Matt’s birthday celebration. On Wednesday night, Emma shared a snap of herself and her husband on the way to the swanky event on her Instagram Stories, captioning it: “Happy birthday to my beauty. I bagged a good ‘un.”
Emma Willis celebrated her husband’s birthday as they attended the swanky event (Image: Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Ima)
The TV presenter shared details of her heart surgery with fans last month(Image: emmawillisofficial/instagram)
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Earlier in the day, the mum-of-three shared a snap of herself kissing Matt on her main grid. She wrote alongside the sweet update: “Happy day of your birth babe… in this life time, and every other, I would/will find you… @mattjwillis.”
Emma and Matt’s big night out marked The Voice presenter’s first major public appearance since having heart surgery to fix a congenital condition – a hole in her heart that had remained undetected for almost 50 years.
In April, Emma revealed she had undergone an operation after a “hole” in her heart was discovered. The former host of Big Brother, 49, was treated at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London and said her husband “never left my side”.
Announcing the health news, she shared a selection of photos to her Instagram, including one of her in a hospital bed with wires attached to her chest. She wrote: “A big humongous THANK YOU to the team at the Royal Brompton Hospital for their care and support.
“A few weeks ago, I had keyhole heart surgery, which feels very strange to write, and even stranger when I say it out loud. From investigations last year, to diagnosis and then surgery, they were absolutely incredible. As was @mattjwillis who never left my side.
“Turns out, I’ve been pottering around for 48 years blissfully unaware I had a hole in my heart isn’t it bonkers what’s happening in our bodies that we have no idea about…
“What blows my mind even more is the wonders of modern medicine, and the spectacular people that save, fix and help us every single day.” She also thanked her surgeon, who “was recommended as ‘a spectacular pair of hands’.”
Keyhole heart surgery, also called minimally invasive surgery or endoscopic surgery, is carried out through small incisions in the chest, and the technique has been pioneered at Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals, according to the Guy’s And St Thomas’ Specialist Care website.
In 2024, Emma and her husband presented the show Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones, which saw the couple stop using their smartphones for 21 days along with pupils at a school in Essex. She is also known for hosting The Voice UK, The Circle, and Love Is Blind: UK.
