McColgan prodigy Tait sets sights on Olympics
McColgan 'always there for me'
Tait was the first recipient of McColgan's 'Giving Back to Track' programme, which was set up three years ago to help young women make their way in athletics.After plenty of support and encouragement, Tait says breaking her mentor's record was something she had targeted for a while."Eilish has supported and mentored me for a good few years now and she always said she thought I would be the one who would take her record down," she revealed."Eilish really took me under her wing. I am still in touch with her now, we still go back and forth. She always sends me a congratulations message, she is always there to support me and I am really grateful for everything she has done for me."Having just completed her studies at West Virginia University, Tait admits she is "still figuring things out" in terms of where she is going to base herself as she prepares for next summer's Commonwealth Games, which she says is her "priority".As a 13-year-old, Tait went to watch the athletics at Hampden Park when the games last visited the city in 2014."I just can't wait to hopefully be a part of it and be part of inspiring the next generation because that was me sitting in the stands watching - so I really hope that can be me on the start line this time," she added.
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BBC News
9 minutes ago
- BBC News
Revamped US Open mixed doubles divides opinion
US Open 2025Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 24 August-7 SeptemberCoverage: Live radio commentaries across 5 Live Sport and BBC Sounds, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website and app Whether you love it or loathe it, the revamped US Open mixed doubles cannot be the event by enticing the superstars to play with huge cash prizes, a shorter format and new slot before the singles start is a bold move by the United States Tennis Association (USTA).It has brought excitement and criticism in equal measure, polarising those who play, watch and love the believe it will put more eyes on tennis in an ever-competitive and increasingly saturated market."We are always trying to find new initiatives to make our sport more interesting for the fans. I think it is fantastic," Daniela Hantuchova, who won the US Open mixed doubles title in 2005, told BBC others think it devalues a Grand Slam title and robs doubles specialists of a chance to earn the big prize money."It's a glorified exhibition in my eyes," said British doubles star Jamie Murray. More eyeballs and entertainment - the argument for change When the US Open announced it was "reimagining" mixed doubles, the rationale was to "elevate" the event and create "greater focus" on the certainly grew when the first set of star names were Grand Slam singles champion Carlos Alcaraz teaming up with Britain's Emma Raducanu captured the most attention, while Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek and Venus Williams bring further glamour."For the excitement levels and for getting the fans to pack the stadium, it is a cool idea to have that star power come out," American doubles legend Mike Bryan told BBC Sport. "Fans want to see Djokovic, Alcaraz and Sinner even if they are brushing their teeth."The 16 entrants comprise of eight teams based on their joint rankings, with the other eight given wildcards by US Open of the 32 players are ranked in the top 20 in the world in will be played on Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium - the two largest show courts at Flushing television audiences will also be able to watch on primetime on ESPN, who last year signed a £1.5bn deal for exclusive US Open rights up to 2037."I think it's cool for the promotion of the game - and I understand the economics of it," added Bryan, who won four of his 22 Grand Slam doubles titles in the mixed."There are always going to be people upset - and winners and losers - but in the end I think fans will be pleased with the product." USTA chief executive Lew Sherr's assertion that "the players are behind" the revamp is certainly true of the top singles understands why there are divided opinions but says he is "excited" to compete in what he thinks will be a "very entertaining" Jack Draper, who will team up with American Jessica Pegula, says the format will act as useful preparation for the singles, while Swiatek believes it will be a competitive is, however, a glaring lack of specialist doubles Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, who won last year's title and both objected publicly to the change, have been given a wildcard."I think they should have had a couple more spots for the doubles guys," Bryan added. Lost opportunities and devaluing a Slam - the argument against The eagerness of the leading stars to get involved should not come as a well as the shortened format and convenient scheduling, there is also a lucrative prize pot - something that has been particularly galling for the doubles specialists who are missing year's winning pair will earn $1m (£740,000) - five times more than Errani and Vavassori took home last year."It's frustrating. That money is going to players who are making an absolute boatload anyway," Murray, who has won three US Open mixed titles, told BBC fees - which a source told BBC Sport are upwards of $50,000 (£37,000) each - have also been dished out to the stars as prize money also makes up about 75% of the US Open's record $90m (£66m) purse. "They aren't playing because it's an opportunity to win a Grand Slam, they're playing because they're getting a truckload of cash and potentially a pretty cool event," Murray added. Losing a chance for a Grand Slam title is a key source of consternation for the doubles Murray won his third consecutive US Open mixed title with Bethanie Mattek-Sands in 2019, the pair celebrated by drinking champagne out of their trophy at JFK doubles players, including Murray, believe the star-studded event could complement the traditional mixed - but not replace it."I'm sure it will be an entertaining exhibition - but that's what it will be. I don't see it as winning a Grand Slam," Britain's Joe Salisbury, who reached the Wimbledon mixed doubles final with Brazil's Luisa Stefani last month, told BBC Sport. Another gripe is the lack of and Stefani's understanding is the US Open did not discuss the plans with the players, who are represented by elected Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and Women's Tennis Association (WTA) a prominent member of the WTA council, agreed the USTA went "rogue", adding: "If there was feedback about the format, then the [reaction] would be a little different.""I'm sure there would have been resistance," Stefani said."But our views wouldn't have mattered anyway. The decision was made and we have to live with it." Could other Slams follow suit? Multiple sources have told BBC Sport they believe the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon are committed to the traditional they do not have the same financial muscle as the US Open to pay for the prize money and appearance if the New York event is a roaring success, then it will not go unnoticed in Melbourne, Paris and the majors are increasingly aware of the need to maximise earning opportunities in the week before the main draws, whether it is through qualifying, exhibitions or fan suggests the new-look mixed doubles could be introduced at some joint ATP-WTA events."I think it would be a great initiative in Indian Wells, Miami or Madrid," she said."We have seen the fans are already talking about the US Open and I think it is a great opportunity for the women's players. "I think it is great we are finding more and more ways to combine men's and women's tennis."
Reuters
39 minutes ago
- Reuters
Brady Singer, Reds down Angels, cut wild-card deficit
August 19 - Gavin Lux had a two-run homer among his two hits and Brady Singer allowed one run in six innings as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Los Angeles Angels 4-1 in Anaheim, Calif., on Monday. Austin Hays went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI, Elly De La Cruz and Ke'Bryan Hayes each tripled and scored a run and Noelvi Marte had two hits for Cincinnati, which moved to within one game of the idle New York Mets for the final National League wild-card spot. Singer (11-9), making his first career start at Anaheim Stadium, permitted six hits, walked one and struck out four. Scott Barlow fanned four in 1 1/3 shutout innings to pick up his first save of the season. Taylor Ward had an RBI double and Nolan Schanuel added two hits for Los Angeles, which lost its ninth straight game to the Reds dating back to 2019. Victor Mederos (0-1), making his second major league start, permitted three runs on nine hits over five innings while striking out three and walking three. By taking the opener of a three-game series, the Reds won for the fourth time in six games. The Angels took their third loss in four games. Cincinnati jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when TJ Friedl led off with a single and scored on Lux's fifth home run, a 387-foot drive to right. Los Angeles countered with a run in the bottom of the first. Schanuel singled with one out, advanced to second on a walk to Mike Trout and scored on an opposite-field double into the right field corner by Ward. The Reds went ahead 3-1 in the fifth when De La Cruz led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Hays. Cincinnati added an insurance run in the eighth. Hays lined a triple over the head of center fielder Luis Rengifo to start the inning and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt McLain. --Field Level Media
Reuters
39 minutes ago
- Reuters
D-backs 2B Ketel Marte apologizes for missing games
August 19 - Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte, reportedly under fire from within and without the Diamondbacks' clubhouse, issued an apology on Monday for missing games this year. Marte has sat out 33 games throughout the season, including the first three after the All-Star break. While Marte was participating for the National League team in the Midsummer Classic at Atlanta, his home in the Phoenix area was burglarized. Marte didn't return to the team until the second day after play resumed, and he didn't play the next day either. According to USA Today, the Diamondbacks put him on the unpaid restricted list for the first two of those games. "Initially the intent was to come back on (for the first game) and be with his team and practice," Marte said through interpreter Rolando Valles. "He wants to publicly apologize for not backing that up. I mean, he obviously knew the circumstance of his situation. He got frustrated and was in a bad spot. He truly wants to apologize for his teammates and everybody else." Marte chalked up his other absences to health issues. "He's had injuries in the past and that is a plan that is being integrated within the coaching staff and himself in order to keep him on the field ..." Valles said. "It's intended to be for recovery. In those days (off), he does everything that he needs to do in order to get himself back on the field and help the team win." Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said of Marte's apology, "I'm proud of him for doing that. That's not easy for him to do, and I know he showed some vulnerability. I'm really, really proud of him for digging in the way he did." After going 1-for-5 in the Diamondbacks' 3-1 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Monday in Phoenix, Marte is batting .295 with a .395 on-base percentage, a .553 slugging percentage, 23 homers and 56 RBIs in 93 games. The three-time All-Star has a career .282/.352/.474 batting line with 166 homers and 571 RBIs in 11 major league seasons -- 2015 and '16 with the Seattle Mariners and the past nine years with Arizona. --Field Level Media
