Ons Jabeur, the two-time Wimbledon champion, retired after suffering with a physical strain on a hot day in London, while Aryna Sabalenka, the world no. 1, triumphed in the first round.
Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion who had a shoulder injury that prevented her from winning the previous year’s event, started the match with a strong 6-1 7-5 victory on Court One.
The Belarusian had previously claimed prior to the match that Branstine was only aware of her opponent because she was “so beautiful” and that Branstine was working as a model to support her tennis career.
She will now be aware that Sabalenka’s second set had access to a very powerful serve, which she was able to use to make things difficult for her.
However, Sabalenka was able to break the deadlock in the eleventh game of the second set as the temperature reached 30C before serving it out to prevent having to spend any more time in the sweltering heat.
Sabalenka, who is aiming for her first Wimbledon title, said, “I’m super happy to be back, to be healthy, and to compete at this beautiful tournament.”
“I couldn’t feel this atmosphere last year because I was so depressed.” Of course, I’m very pleased with how it turned out. I’m so relieved to have finished.
Jabeur’s “sad” after retirement
In the opening set of her match against Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova, the Tunisian former world number two clearly struggled in the conditions and had to wait 14 minutes before being forced to play again.
After looking uneasy for much of the match, Jabeur eventually called it a day, trailing 7-6 (7-5) 2-0, and has since fallen off the list due to injuries. He is now ranked 59th.
Before a physio examined her blood pressure, she had previously looked distressed while sitting in her chair during the changeover, burying her head in her towel, drinking water, and applying an ice towel to her neck.
Jabeur, who did not speak at a press conference and left with a doctor, said, “I wasn’t expecting not to feel good.” “Over the past few days, I have been practicing pretty well, but I suppose these things do.”
Even though this has been a very difficult season for me, I’m pretty sad because it really doesn’t help with my confidence and what I keep pushing myself to do.
She continued, “I’d like to take some time off now and just try to get some rest,” and spend some time with her family.
According to the weather forecast, Monday in south-west London will see temperatures as high as 33C.
Moshood Mustapha, a politician and businessman, and his brother Bolakale Mustapha, the governor of Kwara State, have filed legal claims against them in relation to the alleged disturbance of public order, false declaration, and the upload of an online video that might turn off the general public against the governor. On Monday, Justice Muhammed Abdulgafar appeared in court with the two men and arraigned him in the State High Court. However, they entered a not-guilty plea to the five charges that the governor claimed could have sparked outrage against him and the government.
Senator Natasha Arraigned for allegedly committing cybercrime and received bail.
Despite acknowledging that the Lockheed Martin F-35 jet parts could be used in violation of international humanitarian law, Britain’s High Court has ruled that the government’s decision to allow their export to Israel is legitimate.
Judges Stephen Males and Karen Steyn argued in a 72-page decision on Monday that the issue involved “much more of a focussed issue” than just the jet parts.
The court must decide whether to forbid the UK from participating in a particular multilateral defence collaboration because it is possible that some UK-made components will or may be supplied to Israel and may be used in the commissioning of a grave violation of international humanitarian law in the Gaza conflict, according to the ruling.
According to our constitution, the executive is responsible for that deeply polarizing and political issue, which is ultimately accountable to the electorate and not the courts.
The United Kingdom contributes components to a global defense initiative that produces the bombers at the moment.
However, Al-Haq, a Palestinian organization with a base in the occupied West Bank, filed a lawsuit in January against the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) for exempting the parts when some export licenses were suspended in September of last year.
Palestinians who were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza City are remembered during the funeral procession.
Al-Haq claimed at a hearing in May that sending the jet parts “gives rise to a significant risk of facilitating crime.”
Defence Secretary John Healey predicted that if it was suspended, it would have a “profound impact on international peace and security” the same month.
Despite the outcome of today, the Palestinian people’s voice has been centered on the issue and the decision has garnered significant public support, according to Shawan Jabarin, the head of Al-Haq.
Civil society and human rights organizations have made a significant breakthrough by uncovering serious government shortcomings that led to the international prosecution of Palestinians through their arms exports, he continued. We will continue to persevere in the UK and beyond until governments are held accountable, Israel’s impunity is challenged, and justice for the Palestinian people is realized.
“Knot on effect”
According to Al Jazeera’s Milena Veselinovic, who spoke from London, the construction of an F-35 fighter jet is a part of a “global programme” where many countries build and produce components in various nations.
Veselinovic explained that although Britain produces about 15% of each F-35 jet, it doesn’t specifically produce those parts for Israel.
The UK argued that if they prevented those components from being exported, which could have a negative impact on the entire international programme, it would have an impact on the supply chain, NATO allies, and even Ukraine’s ability, she said, to defend itself from Russia’s invasion.
Al-Haq has argued that the UK’s use of the weapons in Gaza violated international law, including the Geneva Convention, by creating the components for the global pool.
The High Court accepted the UK’s claim that this was a strategic objective despite acknowledging that it might mean the UK might also be breaking international law, Veselinovic continued.
Export authorizations
After a review of whether or not Israel’s use of these items during its war in Gaza was in line with international humanitarian law, Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced in September of last year that the government had suspended about 30 of 350 export licenses.
However, British-made F-35 parts, such as refueling probes, laser targeting systems, tyres, and ejector seats, were not included in the partial ban, according to Oxfam International, a global advocacy group that supported Al-Haq’s lawsuit against the DBT.
Additionally, according to a report released in May by pro-Palestine activist groups, military goods have continued to be exported to Israel despite the suspension.
After Inter Miami’s 4-0 thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the final 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, Lionel Messi’s career is over.
Inter Miami now turns their attention to Major League Soccer (MLS), where their Eastern Conference campaign was postponed while the Club World Cup was taking place in the United States, after their defeat to the European champions on Sunday.
In his third year at Miami, Messi will continue to lead, but questions remain about his future plans for the club and nation.
After Miami’s defeat by PSG, what did Messi say?
In a match that was dominated by PSG, Messi only managed to save one header from the opposition goalkeeper and a free kick that hit the post.
Messi praised PSG for saying the outcome was “expected” despite his frustration with them.
He told the Latin American sports channel DSports, “The match was what was expected.”
They won the previous Champions League and are in excellent shape, according to the players. We anticipated a match like this. We made an effort to make the most of the Club World Cup, and I think we succeeded.
Messi did not score a goal against PSG, much to the dismay of his supporters.
When will Messi play for Inter Miami next?
Miami will return to action in the league on Sunday with a trip to Montreal based on their top-placed finish in the Eastern Conference in 2024.
After his Argentinian compatriot started and finished all of Miami’s games at the tournament, it is unclear whether Messi will start the game or whether coach Javier Mascherano will rest him.
After 2025, will Messi remain with Inter Miami?
The Miami owners are hopeful of extending Messi’s stay, but he has not committed his future to the US team yet. His contract expires at the end of 2025.
Jorge Mas, the club’s co-owner, brother Jose, and David Beckham, a former player, have both expressed hope for Messi’s future.
Jorge told ESPN, “My dream is for the number 10 [Messi] to inaugurate our new stadium in March [2026].
He quickly conceded control of the situation, saying that Messi had no authority over the outcome.
“We wish that Messi’s career ends here,” he said. I suggested that we should hear about that in the summer, but I’m hoping to hear it as soon as possible. We’re just waiting for Lionel Messi to become available to the fans.
[Amanda Perobelli/Reuters] The last 16 match of Inter Miami’s last 16 match, June 29, 2025, was attended by fans sporting Messi shirts.
At Inter Miami, how much money does Messi make?
By far, Messi is the MLS’s highest-paid football player.
The forward is expected to make $ 20.4% in guaranteed compensation in 2025, with a base salary of $ 12 million. He is arguably the greatest football player ever.
Will Messi visit Barcelona again?
The Argentinian, who was 13 years old, signed for the Catalan club as an academy student and left in tears as one of its greatest players in 2021.
Messi claimed he could not join another European club after moving to the US in 2023 and revealed how deeply bonded he was with Barcelona.
Messi stated earlier this year, “I couldn’t see myself playing for another European team that wasn’t Barca” after the World Cup. “It was my intention to return to my home, where everything began. Unfortunately, that was a possibility.
However, according to reports, Barcelona may attempt to entice Messi back to the place he once called “home” with the payment of their $ 7 million debt to him set to close on Monday.
According to Argentinian football journalist Maximiliano Grillo, Barcelona are awaiting Messi’s release from his Miami contract before signing him back after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The potential fairytale return has not been covered by the club nor Messi’s representatives.
Lionel Messi’s final press conference at FC Barcelona on August 8, 2021 [Albert Gea/Reuters]
In 2026, will Messi compete in the FIFA World Cup?
In 2022, the 38-year-old won the third and first FIFA World Cup title in Qatar.
In the run-up to the tournament, Messi has not committed or cut ties with La Albiceleste, despite the South American giants having qualified for the following edition, which is co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the US.
He was a member of the squad when they first started the qualification process, but injuries prevented the team from playing any of their final matches.
Lionel Scaloni, the coach of Argentina, thinks there is “plenty of time” to decide Messi’s future in international football.
We must play one game at a time, because he won’t be heard about for the rest of the year and we need to leave him alone. In March, Scaloni spoke of Messi’s future, “we will see.”
He can decide it however he pleases. Don’t let this make him crazy, please.
However, Messi’s teammates had very clear instructions.
After Argentina defeated Brazil 4-1 in the qualifiers, Julian Alvarez predicted that “we might have scored two or three more goals with Messi.”
Rodrigo de Paul, however, echoed Messi’s sentiments as an Argentinian and international fan when he said: “The best of our teams always happens when the number 10 is playing because he is the greatest of all time.”
Will Messi join Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League?
When Messi left PSG in the early 2023s, his name was first associated with the Saudi Pro League, but his decision to leave was quickly voided as he signed a deal with Miami.
The rumor mill has since surfaced as the player is nearing the end of a new contract.
Saudi Arabia appears to be a distant destination for the great who is getting closer to retiring, given the Messi family’s settled lifestyle in the Sunshine State, his proximity to Argentina, and his country’s upcoming title defense at a FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the US.
When Messi’s then-team PSG faced Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in the Riyadh Season Cup on January 19, 2023, Messi and Ronaldo faced off.
Will Messi retire?
After Inter Miami’s crushing 4-0 defeat to PSG on Sunday and its exit from the competition, Messi did not make a retirement schedule with either Inter Miami or Argentina.
Messi did make a hint earlier in the Club World Cup that his international career might be coming to an end.
England won their first major title at Euro 2022 with Chloe Kelly’s extra-time winner at Wembley thanks to home advantage.
However, three years in the sport is a long time, and Opta’s pre-tournament projections clearly indicate that Spain will win the title this summer despite not having advanced past the quarter-finals for 28 years.
According to Opta’s prediction model, the world champions have a 25% chance of winning Euro 2025 after falling to the Lionesses in the final eight of the year in 2022.
In the event that they do, La Roja would become only the second women’s team in history to triumph in both the World Cup and the European Championships, joining Germany, which won five major tournaments in a row between 2001 and 2009 (three Euros, two World Cups).
England, the reigning champions, have a 17% chance of defending their title, according to Sarina Wiegman’s side, who are expected to have the best chance of defeating Spain.
Who better to guide the Lionesses’ way to the final after almost a third of Opta’s simulations (29%), who has a flawless record at the Women’s Euros, winning 12 of their matches in 2017 and England in 2022, and the Dutchwoman, who won 6 of the 12 in 2017 and 6 in 2022.
However, we won’t be able to watch the 2023 World Cup final against Spain and England, which they will face in Switzerland if both of their groups are defeated.
The Opta predictor predicts that France (39%), France (39%), and England (40%) will almost always be the top two teams in Group D, while Les Bleues are (168%) the second-place team overall in the Euros (16%).
France, which eliminated Wendie Renard as captain and Eugenie le Sommer from their squad for the tournament, have played 26 games and won 11 of those matches, which is the most among nations that have never reached the final.
The Lionesses: Will They Rearrange?
No reigning champion has ever lost their first game at the next tournament (W7, D5), despite the Lionesses having also won each of their previous 14 group-stage matches at major tournaments, including the World Cup and Euros, which is the longest ever run by a European nation.
So, we can anticipate a promising start from England, who are the only team at Euro 2025 to have defeated each of their group opponents in their most recent meeting, and that will help lessen the negative hum that has been brewing in the squad’s pre-tournament.
After losing three key players just one month after the Euros, Wiegman has been put under pressure to calm the England squad.
In Switzerland, Mary Earps, Millie Bright, and Fran Kirby, who were all starting for England, featured no players despite retiring from their first group stage game to the final.
Hannah Hampton now ranks as England’s top player for the tournament, despite the fact that, in fairness, there were indications that this would continue even without Earps’ retirement.
Between the start of 2024 and the 32-year-old’s retirement, the Chelsea goalkeeper started 10 of England’s 16 games while earning only 16 senior caps, compared to Earps’ 53.
The statistics do suggest Hampton is the right choice to be the Lionesses’ first-choice keeper when compared to just competitive games and over the course of the 2023 World Cup.
In that time, Hampton has improved his save rate (67.9% to 63%), kept more clean sheets (five to two), and conceded fewer goals than expected, according to Opta’s expected goals-on-target model (1. 4). On the other hand, Earps conceded more than the model had anticipated (-1.1%).
Not exactly a brand-new situation before a major tournament, there is squad drama. Steph Houghton was axed out of England’s final squad by Wiegman heading into Euro 2022 despite the defender recovering from her Achilles injury.
However, the Lionesses’ victory over Germany in the final did not appear to have altered things, leading them to 20 games without losing in all competitions after that. Before the game 31 versus Australia, Wiegman was beaten as England manager, he didn’t take the job until April 2023.
England have lost seven of their 32 games since the start of the 2023 World Cup, and the results have also significantly worsened.
England are accumulating fewer expected goals (xG) per game, 3.4 down to 2, and scoring fewer goals overall (4. 3 down to 4).
The Lionesses are facing more shots in defense (5.6 to 9.3) and giving their opponents better chances (xGA 0: 1 / 1). They are thus conceding much more frequently (0. 4 to 1.0) per game.
England’s ball possession levels have been comparable throughout Wiegman’s administration, but their off-the-ball numbers have also decreased in a similar way and amount to their defensive numbers.
Since the World Cup, they have 17 low high turnovers per game, down to 13.1, and have 3 lower high turnovers per game than they have, at 1.8%.
players to watch
Alessia Russo, England’s in-form striker, is the subject of a fearful discussion, and she scored the nation’s opening goal against world champions Spain earlier this month, but in a 2-1 defeat.
Russo and Khadija Shaw of Manchester City each won the 2024-25 WSL Golden Boot, and she did so on 20 occasions last term, surpassing all other Women’s Super League players. She also scored 12 goals in the same year.
The most successful Women’s Champions League campaign by an English player to date in a single season since 2009-10 saw seven of those strikes.
Opta
Aitana Bonmati, a Spanish player who won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the past two years, has been honored as the world’s best player without a doubt.
The 27-year-old was the leading chance creator in open play in Europe’s big five (67) and the Women’s Champions League (305) in 2024-25, and he came in second among the two Women’s Nations League (25) editions in that regard.
Coverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app.
The sight of thousands of people queuing in the hope of gaining entry to the grounds is one of the most celebrated quirks of Wimbledon, a tournament renowned for its strong ties to tradition.
While the influence of technology increases in sport, with this the first Championships without the presence of line judges, the sense of community and camaraderie apparent in the queue continues to not only endure, but thrive.
Despite long waits – those at the front of the queue arrived as early as noon on Friday to claim their spot – and soaring temperatures before the first day of action at SW19, there are few grumbles of discontent with the process as more than 10,000 people arrived at Wimbledon Park before the first day of play.
“It’s just nice to be able to take time out of everything else. It’s like being in a parallel universe,” says Vicki Broad, from Neath in Wales, who along with husband Nigel are first in this year’s queue.
“We’ve met people from all over the world, just chatting away and getting to know people.
“It’s a community of people, all with a common goal. There are never any problems in the queue, the stewards run it so well.
Queuing for access to the grounds and the limited show court tickets available – 500 tickets are available for Centre Court, Court One and court two – usually begins in Wimbledon Park the night before each day’s play.
Before the opening day, however, eager fans get into position as much as a couple of days before.
Entry is permitted until the 42,000 capacity is reached and the All England Club advised people to stop travelling once the queue exceeded 10,000 on Monday morning.
Linda Jacobs flew in from Houston, Texas on Thursday night with her friend Aleta to arrive second in this year’s queue, after being fifth last year.
“If you’re going to fly that far, you want to make sure you get a really wonderful ticket!” said Jacobs.
Being able to watch a specific player offers huge motivation for many in the queue.
Jorge, visiting with friends from Madrid, said: “We were here last year to watch Carlos [Alcaraz] in the first round and our motivation for queueing was to see him play on Centre Court on the opening day.
“It’s an incredible experience, very unique, obviously. Camping here just to get tennis tickets I think is something that you can only do here in Wimbledon.
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Life as a dedicated tennis superfan
The days of queuing for tickets are long behind perhaps the most famous fans in tennis – Jannik Sinner’s faithful Carota Boys.
The group of childhood friends from Turin have regularly attended the world number one’s matches over the past two years dressed as carrots, after Sinner once ate one during a match in 2019.
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For Wimbledon this year they will have their own watch-along show in Italy alongside players and celebrities – but that will change should Sinner reach the final and potentially contest another epic major final against Carlos Alcaraz.
“It is something really crazy, it started as just a joke between us as friends and we never thought it could become something this big. Now we are really famous in the tennis world. It’s like we became professional supporters or something like that,” says Alessandro.
“We have a good relationship with Jannik. Sometimes we chat on WhatsApp, sometimes we meet him during the tournaments, one time we played tennis with him.
“He appreciates us because we came out before he became the player he is now, but also we respect the tennis atmosphere – it is something in his style, he is a polite and really humble guy.
