
French Open 2025: Zheng Qinwen, Jasmine Paolini and Lorenzo Musetti advance to third round
Lorenzo Musetti, Zheng Qinwen, and Jasmine Paolini all delivered assured performances on a rain-affected Wednesday at Roland Garros to book their places in the third round of the French Open.MUSETTI EASES PAST GALANItalian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti cruised through his second-round clash, dispatching Colombian lucky loser Daniel Galan 6-4, 6-0, 6-4 on Court Simonne Mathieu. The only real interruption for Musetti came from the skies, as intermittent rain delayed play but did little to shake his composure on court.advertisementA Galan double fault gifted Musetti the first break of the match in the third game, and the Italian quickly opened up a 5-2 lead with confident, aggressive play. Although Galan managed to claw back one break, Musetti responded with a commanding smash to seal the opening set.
The second set was one-way traffic, with Musetti dropping just five points as he shifted into a higher gear. Galan offered more resistance in the third, but the Italian maintained control to close out the match on serve.FRENCH OPEN DAY 4 LIVE"It has been a tremendous clay season so far, but I want to go higher. I've never made it past the fourth round here," said Musetti, who has surged into the top 10 after reaching the Monte Carlo final and making semifinal runs in both Rome and Madrid. He will next face either Argentina's Mariano Navone or American Reilly Opelka.ZHENG CONTINUES PARISIAN CHARGEadvertisementOn nearby Court Suzanne Lenglen, China's Zheng Qinwen stormed into the women's singles third round with an easy 6-2, 6-3 win over Colombia's Emiliana Arango. The eighth seed, who captured Olympic gold on these very courts last August, once again demonstrated her comfort on clay.Zheng was broken in the opening game and twice more early in the second set, as Arango tested her patience with longer rallies. But the Chinese star quickly regained her rhythm, breaking at will and dictating play with her trademark firepower from the baseline.While it wasn't flawless, the 22-year-old stayed composed to wrap up the match in just over an hour, advancing to the third round in Paris for the third time in four appearances.PAOLINI DEFEATS TOMLJANOVICJasmine Paolini advanced to the third round of the French Open on Wednesday with a routine 6-3, 6-3 win over Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic on Court Philippe-Chatrier.Before the match, the Italian fourth seed paused to acknowledge the legacy of Rafael Nadal, briefly touching the newly installed footprint of the 14-time Roland-Garros champion near the net. The tribute was unveiled on Sunday in a ceremony honoring Nadal. Paolini is coached by Marc Lopez, a former member of Nadal's team.So far, it's a 2/2 for Italy #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/e83kh1lVRr— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2025In overcast conditions, Paolini dominated from the outset, rarely allowing Tomljanovic a foothold in the match. She moves on to face either Ukrainian lucky loser Yuliia Starodubtseva or Russia's Anastasia Potapova in the next round."It's hard to play against Ajla, she's very aggressive but I tried to mix it up and play aggressively myself," Paolini said. "Last year, I played two matches here and a bit at the Olympics, now I'm a bit more used to it (Court Philippe Chatrier).

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The Hindu
38 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Vinicius Junior's goal sends Brazil to 2026 World Cup, delighting fans in Ancelotti's home debut
A goal by Vinicius Júnior secured Brazil a place in the 2026 World Cup, quite a momentous home debut for Carlo Ancelotti as head coach. The once prolific duo at Real Madrid helped Brazil to a 1-0 win over Paraguay at Sao Paulo. Ecuador secured its place at next year's global tournament later Tuesday (June 10, 2025) with a 0-0 draw at Peru. Defending champion Argentina, held to a 1-1 draw by Colombia, had already qualified and is assured of finishing atop South American qualifying. Ecuador and Brazil each have 25 points in the standings, but the Ecuadorians are in second spot based on victories. The two nations are 10 points behind Argentina but, crucially, more than six points clear of the seventh-place team with two games remaining in the qualifying campaign. The top six teams in South America earn direct entries to the 48-team World Cup. Chile misses out again Chile will miss a third consecutive World Cup after losing 2-0 at Bolivia to remain last in 10-nation round-robin competition, a result that cost head coach Ricardo Gareca his job. Uruguay beat Venezuela at home 2-0, with goals from Rodrigo Aguirre and Giorgian de Arrascaeta, and edged closer to one of the direct spots with 24 points. Venezuela, with 18, is one ahead of Bolivia in the contest for seventh place that grants an intercontinental playoff berth. Argentina draws with Colombia Lionel Messi had a quiet night in Argentina's draw with Colombia in Buenos Aires. Luis Díaz opened the scoring for the visitors in the 24th minute. Enzo Fernandez was sent off in the 70th minute to the disappointment of more than 80,000 fans at the Monumental de Nunez Stadium. But Julián Alvarez scored the equalizer in the 81st with a low crossed shot. Ancelotti received some frustration from fans after Thursday's 0-0 draw with Ecuador, as his team focused on defending the entire match. The Italian coach, who turned 66 Tuesday, promised changes to make his team more aggressive at the NeoQuimica Arena. He was welcomed by 46,000 fans, including NBA star Gianni Antetokounmpo, who displayed a tifo in yellow and green that read 'Parabens, Carleto' (Happy birthday, Carleto in Portuguese). Gabriel Martinelli replaced midfielder Gerson and was one of the best players of the encounter. Raphinha returned after suspension and created many problems for Paraguay's defense. And Vinicius Júnior was often seen as a targetman, sharing the duties with Matheus Cunha. A mistake by Paraguay's defense, a low cross by Cunha and a gentle touch by Brazil's new No. 10 produced the only goal of the match. 'It is for you,' the striker told the coach as he celebrated. Despite the low score, the hosts were much more aggressive than in most of its games in this World Cup qualifying campaign. 'We needed to win here for our people. Now we have more time to work, see what we can improve,' Vinicius said after the match. He won't play Brazil's next game in qualifying against Chile due to suspension. 'We need to celebrate this. After September, it is all about the World Cup.' Ancelotti gets warm welcome After the final whistle, a clip of Ancelotti's first days on the job was shown in big screens around the stadium. A raucous celebration erupted again, as if the Italian coach had brought new life to a team that only three months ago appeared lost and doomed. He said the team was balanced despite having four strikers. He also said that Cunha's role, as a playmaker, is the one he figures will be Neymar's if the veteran fully recovers his fitness. 'It's no problem to play with three or four up front. We need 10 players to run, to sacrifice,' Ancelotti said. 'Rodrygo did this many times, I know him well. And Neymar will also do it.' Chile's golden generation won two Copa America titles — in 2015 and '16 — but is out of contention for next year's expanded 48-team tournament. 'Sad, I am feeling bad. Never lived something like this. We have to ask people to forgive us,' veteran Chile striker Alexis Sánchez said. 'We have to keep working. There's change already, the golden generation is buried, I am the only one left.' Bolivia scored first via Miguel Terceros in the fifth minute and added a second in the 90th with Enzo Monteiro at the 4,150-meter high El Alto Stadium, outside La Paz. Gareca, the 67-year-old Argentinian coach who took Peru to the 2018 World Cup, told a post-game news conference he was leaving the team after a 17-match stretch that included four wins, four draws and nine losses. The South American qualifying tournament will finish in September. Uruguay and Paraguay each need one point to secure their direct spots. The Uruguayans will face Peru and Chile. The Paraguayans will take on Ecuador and Peru. Colombia, in sixth place with 22 points, will play for its World Cup future against Bolivia and Venezuela. Bolivia will seek its first chance to play at the World Cup since 1994 against the Colombians and then Brazil. Venezuela's rivals will be Argentina and Colombia.


Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Pickle juice: Carlos Alcaraz's quick fix to stave off cramps in French Open final
French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz took sips of pickle juice during the five-hour, 29-minute marathon men's final against Jannik Sinner on Sunday, the longest-ever at Roland Garros. Alcaraz is not the first nor will be the last athlete to take small portions of pickle juice, known to help stave off the onset of cramps. There are many examples, recent and from the aughts. Over two decades ago, when temperatures touched 43 degree Celcius in Texas, the American football team Philadelphia Eagles drank pickle juice to stay hydrated during a game against the Dallas Cowboys. The Indian women's hockey team which finished fourth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics took shots of pickle juice at the onset of cramps. At last year's UEFA Euros, England full-back Kieran Trippier was seen sipping from a sachet of pickle juice after cramping during the game against Serbia. Decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, the national record holder, Asian Games and Asian Championship silver medalist, swears by pickle juice as a quick-fix solution for cramps. What is pickle juice? Pickle juice is a briny liquid made up of water, salt and vinegar used for pickling. Gherkins, baby cucumbers, are a popular choice for pickling. The acetic acid in vinegar, a byproduct of fermentation, helps provide immediate relief from cramps, experts say. Brine also contains sodium and potassium, electrolytes the body loses through sweating. With it gaining popularity, commercial pickle juice is available in small PET bottles and sachets which may also contain dill oil or starch extracts. What in pickle juice gives relief from cramps? Experts believe that it's the acetic acid which is most effective in stopping cramps. 'Nerve receptors in the mouth detect acetic acid in the pickle brine and provoke a neurological reflex in which the brain sends messages to the muscles telling them to relax,' Anita Bean, a sports nutritionist told The Times, London. Tejaswin, India's high jump and decathlon national record holder, reckons, going by his practical knowledge, that acetic acid is like a silver bullet for cramps. 'It is not just sodium or potassium. We know because it's in electrolyte drinks and when you have it the cramps don't stop immediately. Maybe the brine in the pickle juice, or the vinegar or the acetic acid — one of those triggers a neuro reflex that stops the cramping,' Tejaswin told The Indian Express. Tejaswin uses a band-aid analogy. 'This is like a quick fix. I can't address hydration in the middle of a competition because if I do oral hydration it is going to take time to show results. When you are cramping you need to have something quick, like a pickle juice which puts a band-aid or a pause on the cramping and then you can continue.' What do top athletes experience? Tejaswin usually drinks pickle juice just before or during the high jump, the fourth event in decathlon on the first day. He reasons it is because of two reasons — he is starting to get tired because he has completed three events and also because he is tense ahead of his strongest event. 'I usually cramp right before or during the high jump. If I am cramping too much, I consume two shots but when I run the 400 metres (the event that follows the high jump), I feel really weird in my stomach, and after I finish I throw up for at least 10 minutes. To avoid that I don't consume it, but just gargle it so it just hits the back of my throat and the cramping stops,' Tejaswin said. Other than lack of hydration and loss of electrolytes, Tejaswin says a stressed mind can result in tense muscles that can cause a cramp. 'It comes down to the fact that it is my most important event, and there is some amount of stress that I carry going into the high jump thinking, 'I have to maximise my score here'. When you are not relaxed, your body tends to stiffen up, and those tight spots contribute to make a cramp worse. I am also fatigued by the time I reach the high jump because I have already done three events. All these add up,' Tejaswin said. He also carries a 'dabba' of mustard sauce in his bag as an option because he feels it has a similar effect on cramps. Did the women's hockey team benefit? Yes, ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the team's strength and conditioning coach Wayne Lombard went shopping for pickles with gherkin and vinegar. He carried one hundred servings of pickle juice. 'When it was back-to-back games, the girls would drink that after breakfast, or depending on when the game was. And then, at the onset of cramps they would have additional shots if required,' he had told this paper. The bronze-medal match, which India lost narrowly to Britain, was played when the temperature touched nearly 40 degree Celsius. 'There are two ways to consume it. You either have it as a shot or you can gargle so your membranes get it, and then you spit it out,' Lombard said.
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First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
WATCH - Vinicius Junior's goal that helped Brazil qualify for 2026 World Cup in Ancelotti's home debut
Vinicius Junior's lone goal handed Brazil a 1-0 win over Paraguay, sealing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and marking a successful home debut for coach Carlo Ancelotti in Sao Paulo. read more Sao Paulo: A goal by Vinicius Junior secured Brazil a place in the 2026 World Cup, quite a celebration for Carlo Ancelotti's home debut as head coach. The once prolific duo at Real Madrid helped Brazil to a 1-0 win over Paraguay at Sao Paulo on Tuesday, a result that could also get Ecuador through the finishing line. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Defending champion Argentina, held to a 1-1 draw by Colombia, had already qualified for next year's global tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Brazil moved to second spot in the standings with 25 points, 10 behind Argentina but, crucially, more than six points clear of the seventh-place team with two games remaining in South American qualifying. More from Football The top six teams in South America earn direct entries to the 48-team World Cup. Chile will miss a third consecutive World Cup after losing 2-0 at Bolivia to remain last in 10-nation round-robin competition, a result that cost head coach Ricardo Gareca his job. Uruguay beat Venezuela at home 2-0, with goals from Rodrigo Aguirre and Giorgian de Arrascaeta, and edged closer to one of the six direct World Cup spots with 24 points. Venezuela, with 18, is one ahead of Bolivia in the contest for seventh place that grants an intercontinental playoff berth. Lionel Messi had a quiet night in Argentina's draw with Colombia in Buenos Aires. Luis Díaz opened the scoring for the visitors in the 24th minute. Enzo Fernandez was sent off in the 70th minute to the disappointment of more than 80,000 fans at the Monumental de Nunez Stadium. But Julián Alvarez scored the equalizer in the 81st with low cross. Colombia, with 22 points, will play for its World Cup future later this year against Bolivia and Venezuela. Ancelotti received some frustration from fans after Thursday's 0-0 draw with Ecuador, as his team focused on defending the entire match. The Italian coach, who turned 66 Tuesday, promised changes to make his team more aggressive at the NeoQuimica Arena. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Gabriel Martinelli replaced midfielder Gerson and was one of the best players of the encounter. Raphinha returned after suspension and created many problems for Paraguay's defense. And Vinicius Júnior was often seen as a targetman, sharing the duties with Matheus Cunha. A mistake by Paraguay's defense, a low cross by Cunha and a gentle touch by Brazil's new No. 10 produced the only goal of the match. Despite the low score, the hosts were much more aggressive than in most of its games in this World Cup qualifying campaign. 'We needed to win here for our people. Now we have more time to work, see what we can improve,' Vinicius said after the match. He won't play Brazil's next game in qualifying against Chile due to suspension. 'We need to celebrate this. After September, it is all about the World Cup."