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American icon Venus Williams receives US Open wildcard

American icon Venus Williams receives US Open wildcard

Khaleej Times2 days ago
Two-time US Open singles champion Venus Williams has received a wildcard entry into this year's tournament, organisers said on Wednesday, as the 45-year-old American continues her age-defying return to the court.
Williams became the oldest player to win a WTA singles match since 2004 when she beat Peyton Stearns at last month's Washington Open after a 16-month absence from competitive tennis.
She last played in the U.S. Open singles main draw in 2023, losing in the first round to Belgian Greet Minnen.
The seven-time Grand Slam winner is also playing in the tournament's new-look mixed doubles tournament with compatriot Reilly Opelka.
Other women's singles wildcards included France's Caroline Garcia, in what will likely be the 2022 semifinalist's last appearance at Flushing Meadows.
The 2022 WTA Finals winner announced plans to retire from the sport earlier this year.
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The National Football League (NFL)'s United Kingdom (UK) Based Academy Program Announces Games and Roster for 2025-26 Season
The National Football League (NFL)'s United Kingdom (UK) Based Academy Program Announces Games and Roster for 2025-26 Season

Zawya

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  • Zawya

The National Football League (NFL)'s United Kingdom (UK) Based Academy Program Announces Games and Roster for 2025-26 Season

Schedule to Include Four Games Against U.S. High School Opposition Tickets for the game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 8 on sale now ( 68 Players From 20 Different Countries on 2025-26 Roster The NFL's ( UK based Academy program has announced its game schedule for the upcoming season as the program marks the start of the 2025-26 academic year. Welcoming 68 individuals from 20 different countries to the roster, the NFL's elite player development program based in Loughborough, U.K., supports talented student athletes from across the world. Following strong performances during the 2024 season, the Academy will once again face key matchups against four highly regarded U.S. high school teams. The team's season will kick off in Dublin, Ireland, on Aug. 22 nd against The Hun School, New Jersey. The game will take place as part of the Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT) ahead of the 2025 Aer Lingus College Football Classic. The season's second game is scheduled for a week later, with the team travelling to the U.S. to take on the Edgewater Eagles in Orlando, Florida, on Aug. 29 th. The match-up represents a rematch of the sides' thrilling 2024 meeting in Loughborough, in which Edgewater claimed victory by 51-45. The highlight of the season will come on Oct. 8 th, when the NFL Academy return to the field at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. They will face off against 16-time State and 3-time National champions, St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Tickets for the game are available to purchase via Ticketmaster ( with all proceeds going to support the NFL Foundation UK and NFL Academy. The final match-up against U.S. high schools sees the NFL Academy return to the U.S. for a meeting with IMG Academy in Florida. Having played the state IMG team for the past three seasons here in Europe, the NFL Academy will now play the IMG National team for the first time. On the sidelines, Steve Hagen will also continue in his role as Head Coach for a third season, seeking to build on the program's success to date. 2025 will see over 40 NFL Academy alumni playing NCAA college football, with 27 set to feature in Division I. 'It's always a challenge to blend the old with the new so we're excited to see what the new players can bring to the upcoming season,' said Head Coach, Steve Hagen. 'We look forward to continuing to build on our past successes and helping all our player to achieve their fullest potential, both on the field and in the classroom.' Follow the NFL Academy @nflacademy across X, Instagram and TikTok. To find further information on the NFL Academy program, please visit here ( NFL's UK Based Academy 2025-26 Season Schedule: Aug. 22: The Hun School – Dublin, Ireland Aug. 29: Edgewater Eagles – Edgewater, Florida, U.S. Sep. 13: Dusseldorf Panther – Loughborough, U.K. Sep. 21: BNL National – Loughborough, U.K. Sep. 27: Manchester Titans – Manchester, U.K Oct. 8: St Thomas Aquinas Raiders – London, U.K. Oct. 17: IMG Academy – Bradenton, Florida, U.S. Nov. 14: Mexican Academy – Madrid, Spain Nov. 15: Madrid U21 All-Stars – Madrid, Spain NFL's UK Based Academy 2025-26 Roster: Country Athlete(s) Argentina (1) Hugo Chigozime Arias Okoro (DB) Austria (2) Luca Wolf (TE), Felician Weissensel (DL) Belgium (1) Stan Pichon (WR) Canada (4) Viktor LaChambre (QB), Nathan Morris (RB), Andrew Gomon (RB), Zian Iseghohi (OLB) Denmark (4) Emil Løkkegaard (QB), Julius LeFevre (OL), Silas Floche (TE), Mikkel Ngassa (DB) England (20) Bobby Bridges (QB/K), Didi Georgiou (RB), Kristian Abel (RB), Ben Schneller (WR), Noah Prasad-Smith (WR), Malachy McMahon (WR), Seb Delzoppo (WR), Adam Ibirionke (OL), Tyrone Stolarczyk (OL), Theo Andall (OL), Barney Short (OL), Hugo Short (TE), Devon Myrie (TE), Corey Pyke (DL), Che Figueroa (DL), Max O'Grady (LB), Ashley Daniel (DB), Jayden Smith (DB), Ryan Crooks (DB), Nickson Massa (DB) Finland (4) Rene Rautiainen (WR), Oliver Lehtinen (OL), Vili Haapasalo (TE), Terho Vainio (LB) France (2) Sam Drouet (LB), Jean-Placide Makina (OLB) The Gambia (1) Aziz Jaye (OL) Germany (16) Felix Merrow (WR), Jamil Secka (WR/DB), Carlos Speidel (WR), Tom Brinkmann (OL), Bruno Werner (OL), Niko Kampas (OL), Johannes Mager (DL), Benny Kubat (DL), Leo Schoske (DL), Joel Queisser (LB), Yasir Sani (LB), Sem Wohlgemuth (OLB), Adeola Werner (OLB), Moritz Strempel (OLB), Max Bartholomy (DB), Shaq Cisse (DB) Mexico (2) Armando Gamborino (WR), Emiliano Albarran (OLB) Nigeria (2) Augustine Irek (DL), Benson Jerry (OLB) Norway (2) Magnus Town (OL), Tobias Gadeberg (DL) Portugal (1) Gabriel Goncalo (DB) Scotland (1) Jude Colvin (LB) South Africa (1) Max Louw (OL) Spain (1) Tom Gabarro (DB) Sweden (1) Edgar Wallen (RB), Syria (1) Shams Al Nusyrat (DL) Trinidad and Tobago(1) Brandon Bryant (DB) NFL Academy alumni currently playing Division 1 College football: Darren Agu, United Kingdom (TE) – New Mexico State University Dimitri Madden, United Kingdom (DL) – Akron University Seydou Traore, United Kingdom (WR) – Mississippi State University Freddie Pelling, United Kingdom (OL) – Campbell University Samuel Isiguzo, United Kingdom (DB) – Bryant University Sam Fenton, United Kingdom (QB) - University of South Florida Tunde Mkparu, United Kingdom (DB) – Bryant University Kofi Taylor-Barrocks, United Kingdom (LB) – University of Texas at El Paso Peter Clarke, United Kingdom (TE) – Temple University Emmanuel Okoye, Nigeria (TE) – University of Tennessee Dominic Braesch, Germany (OL) – University of North Alabama Daniel Akinkunmi, United Kingdom (OL) – University of Oklahoma Luke Yau-Gayle, United Kingdom (DL) – University at Buffalo Timi Oke, United Kingdom (DB) – Northwestern University Lopez Sanusi, Ireland (DL) – Boise State University Pape Abdoulaye Sy, Senegal (OL) – Boston College Benjamin Kienz, Germany (OL) – Kennesaw State University Yahya Attia, Austria (OL) – University of Colorado Boulder Clinton Azubuike, Nigeria (DL) – Vanderbilt University Akram Elnagmi (OL)- University of Pittsburgh Arthur De Boachie (DB)- Boise State University Andy Quinn (K/P)- Boston College Kevin Bentin (LB)- Long Island University Pharrell Harewood (P)- Nicholls State University Joe Kirby (OL)- Nicholls State University Matti Kruger (DL)- Bucknell University Samu Suominen (OL)- University of Massachusetts Amherst Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Football League (NFL). 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Venus Williams receives US Open wildcard
Venus Williams receives US Open wildcard

Dubai Eye

timea day ago

  • Dubai Eye

Venus Williams receives US Open wildcard

Two-time US Open singles champion Venus Williams has received a wildcard entry into this year's tournament, organisers said on Wednesday, as the 45-year-old American continues her age-defying return to the court. Williams became the oldest player to win a WTA singles match since 2004 when she beat Peyton Stearns at last month's Washington Open after a 16-month absence from competitive tennis. She last played in the US Open singles main draw in 2023, losing in the first round to Belgian Greet Minnen. The seven-time Grand Slam winner is also playing in the tournament's new-look mixed doubles tournament with compatriot Reilly Opelka. Other women's singles wildcards included France's Caroline Garcia, in what will likely be the 2022 semi-finalist's last appearance at Flushing Meadows. The 2022 WTA Finals winner announced plans to retire from the sport earlier this year.

Alcaraz beats Medjedovic as Cincinnati washout leaves Zverev and Pegula stranded mid-match
Alcaraz beats Medjedovic as Cincinnati washout leaves Zverev and Pegula stranded mid-match

Gulf Today

time2 days ago

  • Gulf Today

Alcaraz beats Medjedovic as Cincinnati washout leaves Zverev and Pegula stranded mid-match

Carlos Alcaraz beat Hamad Medjedovic 6-4 6-4 to reach the Cincinnati Open last 16 on Tuesday, battling the sweltering Ohio heat to notch a tour-leading 50th victory of the season before the evening session was suspended due to rain. The Spanish second seed also secured his 13th consecutive win at an ATP Masters 1000 tournament, converting three of seven break points in a deliberate, slow-paced contest. Treated for neck pain after the first set, Serbia's Medjedovic ramped up in the second to shorten rallies, out-hitting Alcaraz 25-16 on winners but committing 38 unforced errors to the Spaniard's 18. 'I know he's a really powerful player,' Alcaraz said. 'His shots are incredibly hard to return. He has a big serve also. I know he doesn't like to run too much from side to side, so my plan was to make him run as much as I could.' Alexander Zverev returns a shot against Brandon Nakashima. Reuters Monte Carlo and Rome champion Alcaraz next faces Italian Luca Nardi as he continues his bid for an eight Masters 1000 title. Earlier, Andrey Rublev rallied from a set down to edge Alexei Popyrin 6-7(5) 7-6(5) 7-5 in a fierce 3-1/2-hour battle. The Russian ninth seed will play against Argentine Franciso Comesana, who claimed a stunning 6-7(4) 6-4 7-5 win over American Reilly Opelka. In the women's draw, second seed Coco Gauff advanced after Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska withdrew from their third-round clash due to illness. The American will face Lucia Bronzetti, who beat 23rd seed Jelena Ostapenko 1-6 6-3 6-4. It marked the second third-round walkover, following fellow Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk's withdrawal before her match against Polish third seed Iga Swiatek. The Wimbledon champion will take on Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the round of 16. In the evening session, men's third seed Alexander Zverev and women's fourth seed Jessica Pegula were forced off the court mid-match due to rain and the threat of lightning. The suspension was particularly frustrating for Zverev, who had a 6-4 5-4 lead in his match against American Brandon Nakashima and was about to serve for the win. Jessica Pegula reacts after returning a shot against Magda Linette. Reuters Pegula rallied to take the second set 6-3 in her meeting with Magda Linette, leaving their match all square after the Pole won the first 7-6(5). Canadian Open winner Ben Shelton's match with Roberto Bautista Agut and Dane Clara Tauson's match with Veronika Kudermetova were both moved. Tuesday's rain-enforced suspension was the latest in a string of interruptions at the Cincinnati Open this week. On Monday, Jannik Sinner's win over Gabriel Diallo was delayed by a fire alarm before the players continued through the noise. Venus and Garica get wildcards for US Open: 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. Magda Linette returns a shot against Jessica Pegula. Reuters 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. 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. Agencies

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