What are Scotland's Lions saying?
Andy Burke and Tom English talk to six of the eight Scots selected for the 2025 Lions tour - Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones, Duhan van der Merwe and Pierre Schoeman.Listen to the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast
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Reuters
34 minutes ago
- Reuters
Djokovic is underrated and still up there with the best says beaten Zverev
PARIS, June 5 (Reuters) - Three-time French Open champion Novak Djokovic is underrated at the age of 38 despite continuing to deliver world class performances, said Germany's Alexander Zverev after his quarter-final loss to the Serbian on Wednesday. The 28-year-old, a finalist last year, was attempting to become only the fourth man in the Open era to reach the French Open semi-finals in five consecutive years, after Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Instead he bowed out of the tournament, having lost in four sets to Djokovic, who will play Italian world number one Jannik Sinner for a spot in Sunday's final. "I think it was very, very high level from him," Zverev told a press conference. "It was at some point difficult for me." "I, at some point, felt like I didn't know how to win a point from the baseline against him. I thought he was having solutions to a lot of things that I was doing." Djokovic unusually played 35 drop shots in the game, forcing Zverev constantly to the net and mixing up his game to stop the German from pounding him from the baseline. "I think at the moment he's a bit underrated, to be honest," Zverev said of the 38-year-old. "I think like a lot of people count him out already, but this year he's had wins over Carlos (Alcaraz) at the Australian Open, he has had a win over me at the French Open." "Forget the age. I think for any player, those are pretty good results. He is still beating the best of the best, so I think everybody needs to respect that." Former world number one Djokovic is just two matches away from becoming the first player, male or female, to win 25 Grand Slam singles trophies.
Western Telegraph
40 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Judy Murray tennis initiative helps primary-age girls Learn To Lead
Ms Murray, a former GB Federation Cup captain who raised her children, Sir Andy Murray and Jamie Murray, to be international tennis champions, has been campaigning to keep girls involved in sport since 2014 with her UK-wide initiative Miss Hits. On Thursday, she is launching Learn To Lead in Scotland, training older primary pupils to mentor younger girls by playing tennis. Research conducted by Women in Sport found 1.3 million teenage girls who considered themselves sporty at primary school dropped out when they started high school, and the project is designed to combat this trend. Learn To Lead is aimed at girls aged between 10 and 12, encouraging them to become coaches at lunchtime or at after-school tennis clubs. Pupils in P6 and P7 will lead girls aged between four and nine, organising sessions and setting up in school gyms or playgrounds, teaching basic leadership and organisational skills in a bid to maintain participation in sport. Ms Murray will initially partner with 20 primary schools, targeting those with a local tennis club nearby to ensure a convenient place to continue playing. It follows a pilot in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire which organisers say has already seen 'huge benefits' for pupils. Training sessions will be held in schools ahead of the launch of each club, and videos, lesson plans and equipment will be provided. A teacher will be required to supervise, but Learn To Lead allows older primary pupils to plan, set up, and run activities for younger girls, sharing their knowledge and passion for the sport. Ms Murray said: 'As a female tennis coach, I want to inspire the next generation of girls to learn to lead sporting activity so I can be confident that once I have retired, we have a well-trained coaching workforce in place and ready to continue growing the girls' side of the game. 'I believe Learn To Lead will help us to not just get girls playing sport at a young age, but keep them engaged throughout their lives and perhaps even provide a route towards careers in coaching or developing sport. Launching my Learn to Lead (with Miss-Hits) programme for primary school girls to teachers next week @stgeorgesedin . Developing leadership skills in p6/7 and introducing starter tennis to p1-4. Big girls delivering FUN lunchtime clubs to wee girls. Perfect. ⬇️ — judy murray (@JudyMurray) May 27, 2025 'My life has revolved around sport and as well as the obvious physical and mental health benefits that brings, the life skills you develop really prepare you for what adulthood will throw at you. The friendships often last a lifetime. 'It worries me that so many girls drop out of sport in their teenage years. I hope this programme can help address some of the issues around this by providing a fun and friendly atmosphere with development options too. 'Whether girls go on to become competitive players, coaches or just develop a love for sport, this is about growing participation and getting young girls active. 'I am really proud of what Miss Hits has already achieved, and hope that over the coming months we can build on this with our junior workforce leading the way.' Sarah Fraser, lead active schools co-ordinator (projects) at Sport Aberdeen, said: 'Learn To Lead has been a huge hit. From our initial work with the programme we have already seen huge benefits for the girls involved. 'For some of the younger girls this has been the first sports club they've been involved in, and it has given them a chance to try out tennis. 'For the older girls leading the classes, we have been struck by the confidence and leadership skills they have gained. 'I would definitely encourage schools to get involved. 'Learn To Lead is easy to pick up and deliver, and it is a great way to support girls to not just try sports, but to continue playing and develop their skills as they approach their teenage years and beyond.'
The Independent
43 minutes ago
- The Independent
How Novak Djokovic frustrated Alexander Zverev with a trick everyone could see coming
As Novak Djokovic looked to close out victory over Alexander Zverev in the French Open quarter-finals, he went back to the tactic he had deployed throughout the night session match on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Only this time Djokovic, playing against the increasing wind, brought it to another level. Even at 38, he could not remember a time where he had hit so many drop shots during a closing game. 'Just trying to mix it up,' Djokovic said. 'At one point, I felt like I couldn't go through him, so I tried to bring him to the net. I tried to risk it with the dropshot, serve and volley. It had to be done.' Djokovic finished the 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 win against the third seed with 35 drop shots in total, consistently catching Zverev behind the baseline across the three-hour match. Djokovic also used the drop shot on some of the biggest points, saving Zverev's only break point in the fourth set to end a 41-shot rally. When it wasn't the drop shot, Djokovic was running through his other patterns, landing wide serves and drop volleys. An exasperated Zverev never got to grips with it and was punished for his deep positioning. 'What do you want me to say? He's won 24 of these things,' Zverev said. 'Yes, I expected him to be able to play like this. I have not seen him play like this this year yet. I think it was very, very high level from him.' By the end, Djokovic and Zverev followed a similar script and produced the same result. As Djokovic avenged his retirement against Zverev after losing the first set of their Australian Open semi-final, he also proved to himself that he is reaching the levels required to compete for a 25th grand slam title. Djokovic is now the second-oldest player to reach a Roland Garros semi-final, where he will play World No 1 Jannik Sinner in a blockbuster on Friday. 'I think the win against [Carlos] Alcaraz in quarters of the Australian Open, in quarters against Zverev tonight proves to myself and others that I can still play on the highest level and I just thrive on these occasions,' Djokovic said. 'This is where I kind of lock in and really give my best. I just hope that I will be able to physically keep up, you know, with Sinner in a few days' time. It's a big challenge for me. It's only going to get tougher, but it's good. It is how it's supposed to be.' While Djokovic had improved his form by winning his 100th title in Geneva and carrying his winning run into Roland Garros, the Serbian had yet to be tested on his return to Paris. Zverev is a physical player who could have dragged Djokovic into a lengthy and attritional contest. Their previous meeting came in the Australian Open semi-finals, when Djokovic retired after an 82-minute opening set having suffered a leg injury in his previous win over Alcaraz. The first set came down to Zverev's opening break of serve. Djokovic appeared distracted as he paused between serves on 30-30 and then pushed the forehand long. The break followed and proved decisive, with Zverev saving the only break point he faced by winning a 30-shot rally on 4-3. The German served extremely well, but as the conditions cooled it began to lose its efficiency. Djokovic's level, though, was rising. With the first set behind him, he broke for the first time to lead 3-1 in the second, capitalising on a service game from the German that contained four groundstroke errors. The single break was enough for Djokovic to level the match, although he almost squandered three set points in the final game. Instead, he turned to the drop shot that landed delicately over the net. By then, everyone in Chatrier could see Djokovic's game-plan. But Zverev couldn't stop it and his efforts left him gesturing to his box. Djokovic broke to lead 3-2 in the third, beginning a run of six games in a row where the 38-year-old found another level, barely missing and directing Zverev around the court as if one string. 'I, at some point, felt like I didn't know how to win a point from the baseline against him,' Zverev said. By the time Zverev ended the run, Djokovic was a break up in the fourth, which would again be enough as he converted his fifth match point. A month ago, Djokovic contemplated facing a 'new reality' after falling to a third straight defeat and continuing his run of early exits at the Madrid Open. But going to Geneva to win his 100th title has helped his confidence and facing Sinner in the semi-finals is where he expects to be. 'Of course, semi-finals of a grand slam against the No 1 in the world. there is no bigger occasion for me,' Djokovic said. 'I'll try to do my best to step it up and perform as well as I did tonight.'
