
GB's Boulter hits back to beat Begu at Indian Wells
British number one Katie Boulter recovered from a set down to beat Irina-Camelia Begu in the second round at Indian Wells.The Romanian won the first set in a tie-break but Boulter then took charge to win 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 6-0 in California.Boulter, 28, is playing just her third tournament of the year and had a bye in the first round while Begu, ranked 74 in the world, beat Ann Li of the USA. The Englishwoman will face a much sterner test in the third round when she plays Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, with the seventh seed having beaten Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands 6-3 6-3.Boulter has dropped to 38 in the world rankings having not played since being knocked out of the Australian Open second round in January.

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Daily Mail
42 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Aussie tennis star Daria Kasatkina announces engagement to partner Natalia Zabiiako after whirlwind three months
Aussie tennis star Daria Kasatkina has capped off an exciting few months by getting engaged to her long-term partner, former Olympic skater Natalia Zabiiako. The world No.17 switched her sporting allegiance to Australia earlier this year after being granted permanent residency following her claims that it was unsafe to return to Russia, due to both her sexuality and her opposition to the war. The couple shared the delightful news on social media, marking an incredible year for the 28-year-old. Kasatkina posted a photo of a dazzling diamond ring on Zabiiako's finger alongside the caption: 'And just like that.' Many of the couple's tennis star friends took to the comment section to offer their well-wishes. 'Ahh congrats,' posted Katie Boulter. 'I will be at the wedding regardless if you want it or not,' joked Arina Rodionova. 'Congrats Dasha and Natalia!!!' posted Jennifer Brady. Kasatkina bowed out at Roland Garros on Monday, beaten by the 18-year-old phenom and her fellow Russian-born friend Mirra Andreeva 6-3 7-5 after what the victorious teenager rightly called a 'hell of a match' in the fourth round at Roland Garros. Their 94-minute duel on Court Suzanne Lenglen ended with Kasatkina chucking her wristband jokingly at her conqueror at the net, while Andreeva informed the crowd tongue-in-cheek that she only practised with the Aussie because she hated her. Just months since being granted permanent residency, Kasatkina's hopes of becoming the first Australian woman to reach the quarter-finals since Ash Barty's triumphant year of 2019 may have fallen short, but the 28-year-old, who enjoyed being the 'last Aussie standing', smiled: 'It's been a good start. 'First of all it's been a good result but also, I felt super good to step on the court as an Australian player,' said the 17th seed. 'To feel the support from the stands so many times. I don't know if everyone who was screaming, 'Aussie', were from Australia, but I felt this support. Also, on social media I'm getting a lot of support from the Australians that they are so happy to welcome me, and they're happy for me. 'So this is the kind of support which I honestly didn't have before, it feels like it's something new to me -- but it feels so nice.' When asked if everyone was now allowed to call her 'an Aussie battler' after she had given the sixth seed a real scare with her second-set counter-attack when she even earned a set point, Kasatkina offered a wry smile and replied: 'If you want to...' The 28-year-old rose as high as No.8 in the world and has won eight WTA titles - her best grand slam result coming at the French Open where she reached the semi-finals in 2022. Kasatkina has followed the likes of Daria Saville, Ajla Tomljanovic and Arina Rodionova in making eligibility switches. She is Australia's new women's No.1 and the country's highest-ranked player since Ash Barty retired.


Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Callum Simpson credits late sister for inspiring comeback Ivan Zucco KO after being dropped EIGHT SECONDS into fight
'do it for her' 'do it for her' Callum Simpson credits late sister for inspiring comeback Ivan Zucco KO after being dropped EIGHT SECONDS into fight Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CALLUM SIMPSON called on inspiration from his late sister Lily Rae to come from behind and stop Ivan Zucco to win the European title. Simpson suffered the devastating news that his 19-year-old sister had tragically died last year in a quad bike accident on holiday in Greece. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Callum Simpson beat Ivan Zucco Credit: Getty 5 He scored three late knockdowns Credit: Getty But the Barnsley boxing hero - who headlined at the Oakwell Football Ground - continues to fight in Lily Rae's honour. And she would have watched on with pride as her big brother came back to stop Zucco in round ten after three knockdowns. Simpson, crowned the European super-middleweight champion, said: "Not once did I give up, those last few rounds I'll be honest I started thinking about my little sister Lily. "I'll be honest, I just thought I had to push for her and for everybody. "This time last year, Lily was sat up here cheering me on and she was there with me tonight when it got tough, when it got hard. "From round eight, I thought, 'I've got to dig deep, I've got to keep pushing, I've gotta do it for her. She was with me tonight." Simpson filled Barnsley's 23,000-seater - but he got off to a horror start after being floored by only the second punch Zucco threw. Simpson made it to his feet with little trouble but opted to try and make Zucco pay - and buzzed the travelling Italian himself before the bell sounded. The opener was a frenzy of wild shots with both men hurt and the following two rounds was much of the same. And again Simpson was down in round three after a huge left hand as the chaos continued. 'We never know' - Tyson Fury refuses to rule out comeback as Anthony Joshua nears new 'amazing' fight deal The former British and Commonwealth super-middleweight had to pick himself up and dust himself off to turn the fight around. And that is exactly what he did with constant pressure in the second half of the fight turning the tide. By round ten, Simpson was on the front foot and trapped Zucco in the corner - letting off a devastating triple uppercut. It dropped Zucco - who got to his feet - but again he was pinned in the corner and floored with two of the same shots. The underdog European once again made it to his feet but Simpson, smelling blood, jumped on Zucco and forced him to the floor with a barrage of shots. This time there was no coming back for Zucco - as Simpson turned the fight on its head with a comeback victory for the ages. 5 Smith was down twice himself Credit: Getty 5 He came back and credited the win to his late sister Credit: PA


Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Fabio Wardley stuns fans with come from behind KO on wet and wild Ipswich return
Fabio Wardley shocked the world with a come from behind knockout to defeat Justis Huni on a rainy night at Portman Road. The British sensation was due to face Jarrell Miller, but the American was forced to pull out due to injury. In the sport of boxing, the show must go on - with Wardley eager to put on a performance in front of his beloved Ipswich faithful. While there was not much to cheer about at Portman Road this year, Wardley lit up the town of Ipswich after putting on a career defining performance. The 30-year-old has called for the winner of Daniel Dubois' rematch with Oleksandr Usyk and it is fair to say that he has put the division on notice as he edges closer to a world title shot. Huni - on paper - looked set to be the toughest test of Wardley's career. After establishing himself as a top prospect in his native Australia, tonight's contest marked his first fight on the UK shores. However, when the lights were at its brightest, the Ipswich pugilist and former recruitment worker shone in a big way. As he marched to the centre of the ring, Wardley was greeted and roared on by his home faithful. The 30-year-old looked locked in from the very first bell. In the opening exchanges, the Brit was clearly looking for the right hand early in a bid to unsettle the man from Down Under. But back came the Aussie - who landed big left to the body followed by a huge right hand. In a close opening three minutes, a sharp right hand from Wardley may have given the Ipswich native the round. Lovely left hook from the young Aussie got proceedings underway in the second. Despite all the boos, it was evident Huni was unfazed by all the negative noise. The 26-year-old's speed was on full force in the second, but on the pressure, Wardley fired back with a few sharp shots downstairs. In close quarters, Wardley's power shots over the top seemed to land. But Huni showed that brave, warrior, spirit to remain calm and continue on the front foot. The Aussie silenced the Portman Road crowd early in the third after finding a home with the right hand, but the Brit showed real adversity, boxing sharply on the ropes before his hungry rival fired back with a big combination. Towards the back end, the Ipswich native had the 26-year-old under the cosh after a few right hands landed clean. Huni came to silence the crowd, and it was his speed and sharpness that did just that in the early rounds. The heavyweight brawlers traded leather in close proximity in the fourth. Wardley had his success, but the Aussie's will to press forward caught the hometown favourite off-guard. Despite absorbing a huge right hand over the top, Huni took it clean on and fired back with his own combination. Light on his feet, it was clear Huni was enjoying himself in the squared-circle. The Aussie was evidently licking his lips after seeing his British rival breathing heavily in the centre of the ring. Deep in the fifth, Wardley detonated a sharp left hook, but was clearly struggling with the pace. Huni began to run away with it in the sixth. The speed, the jab, the footwork was on full display. The surging star snapped Wardley's head back with a stinging jab before landing two right hands on the button along with another right hand over the top. Wardley was looking out of ideas and was in desperate need of support from his home fans. A double right hand forced Wardley back in the seventh as Huni continued to stalk his prey. Once again, the right hand was on full force from the Aussie - who was eager to draw quite the attention from the big boys in boxing's heaviest division. In the co-main event Pierce O'Leary defeated Liam Dillon to claim the European super-lightweight champion. From start to finish, the Irishman was dominant and rarely looked in any real danger of being stopped. Elsewhere on the main card, 2024 Olympic bronze medalist Lewis Richardson scored an impressive victory on his professional debut, while Mike Perez beat Steven Ward thanks to a vicious stoppage in the ninth round. MORE TO FOLLOW...