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News18
4 hours ago
- News18
Two-Time Champion Venus Williams Receives Wild Card For US Open Singles
Last Updated: Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Williams will become the oldest singles entrant at the US Open since Renee Richards, who was 47 in 1981. Two-time former champion Venus Williams is set to make her 25th US Open appearance after receiving a wild card into the women's singles. The 45-year-old American recently returned from a 16-month layoff after a serious health scare and was among eight women's wild card recipients named on Wednesday by tournament organisers. Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Williams will become the oldest singles entrant at the US Open since Renee Richards, who was 47 in 1981. Williams underwent surgery last year to remove uterine fibroids and missed most of the season. She made her comeback last month and became the oldest WTA match winner since Martina Navratilova at the age of 47 at Wimbledon in 2004, beating Peyton Stearns in the first round of the DC Open. Williams, the 2000 Sydney Olympic singles champion, has also won five Wimbledon singles titles to go along with her 2000 and 2001 US Open triumphs. She lost in the final in New York on her debut to Martina Hingis as a teenager in 1997. Venus also finished runner-up to younger sister Serena in 2002. The most recent of her 49 WTA titles came in 2016 at the Taiwan Open. Williams will also compete in the new-look US Open mixed doubles next week alongside Reilly Opelka. France's Caroline Garcia, 31, was given a wild card into what will be her final Grand Slam before retirement. Her best run at a major came when she reached the US Open semi-finals three years ago. Americans Clervie Ngounoue, Julieta Pareja, Caty McNally, Valerie Glozman and Alyssa Ahn are other wild card recipients, as is Australian Talia Gibson. On the men's side, American players Brandon Holt, Nishesh Basavareddy, Tristan Boyer, Emilio Nava, Stefan Dostanic and Darwin Blanch all earned wild cards. The final two went to France's Valentin Royer and Australia's Tristan Schoolkate. The US Open singles main draw begins on August 24. (With inputs from AFP) view comments First Published: August 13, 2025, 21:49 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
5 hours ago
- News18
Pole Vault Superstar Armand Duplantis Named 'Ultimate Star' Of World Athletics Ultimate Championship
Last Updated: Mondo Duplantis, Swedish pole vault world record-holder, has been named the first 'Ultimate Star' of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship debuting in Budapest in 2026. Swedish pole vault world record-holder Mondo Duplantis was announced on Wednesday as the first 'Ultimate Star' of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship, just over a year before the event's debut in Budapest. Duplantis, who set his latest world record of 6.29m in Budapest on Tuesday, will take on the role of key collaborator. He will pursue cultural passions outside of athletics in music, fashion, art, and on-screen activities, promoting the new global season-ending championship. The World Athletics Ultimate Championship is a pioneering global contest where the world's top-ranked track and field athletes will compete head-to-head to determine the best. Held every two years, the event will conclude the summer athletics season in years without the World Athletics Championships. This event will feature world champions, Olympic champions, Wanda Diamond League winners, and the year's best-performing athletes in three intense sessions from September 11 to 13, 2026, according to World Athletics. Twenty-six athletes, including Duplantis, have automatically qualified as reigning individual Olympic champions. Duplantis secured his second consecutive Olympic crown in Paris, achieving his ninth world record-breaking performance with a 6.25m clearance. The 25-year-old has won every global men's pole vault title since his first Olympic gold in Tokyo four years ago. He has claimed three world indoor titles and two world titles outdoors, the latest in Budapest. 'It's an honour to be named the first Ultimate Star for the new World Athletics Ultimate Championship," said Duplantis. 'We're always looking for new ways to ensure the spotlight shines on athletics, and the Ultimate will illuminate Budapest. I have great memories of winning world gold two years ago and recall the incredible atmosphere inside the stadium that night. It would be a dream to break the world record in front of a packed crowd next year. This event is set to showcase our sport like never before, and I can't wait to be part of it." World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said, 'Mondo is one of the megastars of our sport- known for his remarkable talents both on and off the field. Whether dazzling us with his pole vault prowess or motivating us with his music, Mondo commands centre stage, and we're delighted to announce him as our inaugural Ultimate Star. We created this must-see new event to ensure every athletics season culminates in a major global championship with real meaning for athletes, fans, media, and broadcasters. The stakes are high – every session will be packed with finals, and a record-setting prize pot is up for grabs. We're ready to see Mondo and his fellow global greats proudly represent their countries and put on a show." view comments First Published: August 13, 2025, 20:29 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
5 hours ago
- News18
Badminton World Championships: Lakshya Sen Faces World No 1 In Opener As Indians Handed Tough Draws
Last Updated: In women's singles, PV Sindhu, a five-time medallist at the event, has a relatively easy first round. Lakshya Sen will begin his campaign against world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi of China as Indian shuttlers received challenging draws for the World Championships starting on August 25. This will mark the fifth meeting between the two shuttlers, with Shi holding a superior 3-1 lead in their head-to-head record against the Indian, who won a bronze medal in the 2021 edition of the tournament. Former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Lakshya has struggled to regain his form since his semifinal loss at the Paris Olympics last year. The 23-year-old from Almora, currently ranked 21, has faced consistency issues this season, achieving only a quarterfinal finish at the All England. Lakshya has shown glimpses of his potential but has struggled to close out key matches this season. Another men's singles bronze medallist, HS Prannoy, will start against the lower-ranked Joakim Oldorff of Finland. However, a likely second-round clash with world No. 2 Anders Antonsen of Denmark awaits the world No. 34 Indian. In women's singles, PV Sindhu, the most successful Indian shuttler in the tournament and a five-time medallist, has a relatively easy first round. She begins her campaign against world No. 66 Kaloyana Nalbantova of Bulgaria. However, the two-time Olympic medallist and 2019 champion, who has also struggled for form recently, could meet world No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi of China in the round of 16. For Sindhu, now ranked 15, a quarterfinal appearance at the India Open remains her best result this year. The 30-year-old former world champion has suffered multiple early exits. The top Indian men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have received a first-round bye. In the second round, they will face either compatriots Hariharan Amsakarunan and Ruben Kumar, or Chinese Taipei's Liu Kuang Heng and Yang Po Han. But a potential round-of-16 clash looms against world No. 6 Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who lead the Indians 6-2 in head-to-head meetings. If they get past the Chinese duo, Satwik and Chirag could encounter their long-time foes, Malaysia's Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, who have beaten them 11 times in 14 encounters, including the Paris Olympic quarterfinals. However, it has been a season of steady performances for the world No. 3 pair, who have reached the semifinals at the India Open, Singapore Open, and Malaysia Open, as well as the quarterfinals at the Indonesia Open. With PTI Inputs First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
