Alcaraz, Sinner would benefit from new Big Three, McEnroe says
June 25 (Reuters) - The emergence of a third young star to challenge the supremacy of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner would push the duo's already scintillating rivalry to new heights, tennis great John McEnroe said.
Alcaraz and Sinner are coming off a French Open final for the ages and head into next week's Wimbledon having evenly split the last six majors between them.
"It's going to be an interesting time to see if there's another player or two who can break in with those two the way Novak (Djokovic) did when he was trying to get to the same level as Roger (Federer) and Rafa (Nadal)," McEnroe told reporters on Wednesday.
"It shows you what type of a player he was that he was able to do that. But right now, there's a void."
Djokovic, Federer and Nadal enjoyed a two-decade stranglehold on men's tennis and their era of dominance was made even richer by the three-sided nature of the rivalry.
In a Roland Garros showdown of unsurpassed quality, 22-year-old Alcaraz of Spain saved three successive match points to battle back from two sets down and beat the Italian in the longest French Open final in history.
Miami Open champion Jakub Mensik, 19, and 18-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca are two teenagers McEnroe could envision breaking into the Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry, as well as big-serving American Ben Shelton.
"One of those two guys or Ben would be my choice right now," said seven-time Grand Slam champion McEnroe.
"I think it would be important to get another guy or two to add to the mix. That would be really helpful."
McEnroe said the future of men's tennis is in great hands provided Alcaraz, who is seeking a hat-trick of Wimbledon titles next month, and world number one Sinner stay healthy.
"It was unheard of what we watched over the last 20 years and you can make the argument that what we're seeing now is even faster and different from what we saw even five years ago," he said.
"I can't wait to see what it's going to be like in 10 years, or five years even."
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South Wales Argus
12 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Peter Fleming amazed to hear stolen Wimbledon medals were recovered by mudlark
But months later the American was astonished to discover they had been found by a mudlarker on the banks of the Thames in tennis' own true crime story. The medals form part of a new exhibition, Secrets of the Thames, at London Museum Docklands, which features objects found through mudlarking – the historic practice of scouring the foreshore at low tide for artefacts. Peter Fleming's Wimbledon medals, which were discovered in the Thames (London Museum) Fleming, who won four Wimbledon men's doubles titles with McEnroe in the 1970s and 80s and three US Open crowns, told the unusual tale to the PA news agency. 'I had just moved into a new flat in Wimbledon and for some reason I thought I didn't need to double lock my door because it was a secure building so I just pulled it shut and went out to play golf,' said the 70-year-old, a well-known face as a TV pundit. 'I came back about six hours later and my place had been ransacked. They stole a bunch of stuff. It's a horrible feeling when you get burgled, you feel like you've been violated or something. 'I had nine Wimbledon medals. You get to the semi-finals and they give you a medal: bronze, silver or gold. John McEnroe, right, and Fleming lift the men's doubles trophies at Wimbledon (PA) 'Apparently the guys who stole my stuff just drove down Putney High Street and anything that had a name on it they threw in the river. 'Six months later, somebody contacts me somehow, they first contacted the club I think. A couple of the medals were in perfect condition, a couple of them were all green. 'It was just such a freak occurrence. I thought they were gone. It was a real surprise to hear somebody say, 'we've got your medals'.' Mudlarks need a permit to search the banks of the Thames, and a condition of the permit is that all objects of historical interest must be reported to London Museum. 'The mudlark in question who found the medals, he was used to coming in and reporting his finds to us,' said museum curator Kate Sumnall. 'It's written on the medals what they are so he brought them in and said, 'I've just found this group of medals all together on the same stretch of the foreshore, what do we do next?' 'We had a look at them, reached out to Peter Fleming and we were able to reunite the medals with Peter but also to hear the story of how Peter had unfortunately suffered from a burglary. 'We know that there's so much stolen property that ends up in the river, there's people's purses, wallets, jewellery, bags, that are just dumped in the river and it's rare that we can find the owner's name, and then to trace them and reunite them is a really special thing.' Among the other objects on display in the exhibition – which runs until March 1, 2026 – are the barrels from a sawn-off shotgun, a dagger that dates back to the 1500s, a ball and chain, and weighted gamblers' dice. Sumnall added of Fleming's medals: 'He was very generous with lending them to us and we're very pleased because they're one of the few contemporary objects we have on display, and it's lovely to have that connection with such an iconic sport and the Wimbledon Championships, and of course such a well-known name as Peter.'
The Guardian
23 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Lyon thought they were too big to fail. Now they face a season in Ligue 2
Just five days ago, John Textor bounded down the corridors of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. 'Victoire, victoire,' he cried as his side, Botafogo, stunned PSG in the Club World Cup. French football's financial watchdog, the DNCG, brought him back down to earth on Tuesday as it confirmed Lyon's relegation to Ligue 2. 'Everything is good financially,' said Textor prior to the DNCG meeting. This is not the first time that the Lyon owner has gone into one of these meetings with a sense of confidence swiftly eroded by the commission's verdict. It was the same back in 2023 and in November last year. On the former occasion, the club were issued a transfer ban, forcing them to sell off key assets such as Bradley Barcola and Castello Lukeba, without being able to replace them. Textor was indignant, even confused. 'Welcome to football in France,' concluded the American in a lengthy communique lambasting the authorities' decision and their inability to 'understand' Eagle Football's multi-club model; a recurring theme in this ongoing drama. Textor was generous in his serving of blame. There was a bit for everyone, including former owner and president Jean-Michel Aulas. 'He hid bad news. I could have found a solution if I was aware. If I knew that we would have had these restrictions in the first transfer window, I would have asked to stop the transaction and restructure rather than giving half a billion dollars in cash to the sellers,' said Textor. Aulas hit back, even threatening a court case. 'I was never troubled by the DNCG. I never had any problem with them in 35 years as president,' he retorted. The Frenchman, almost as big as the institution of Lyon itself given their success under his tenure, has publicly stated that he did not wish to sell to Textor. He preferred another candidate but a deal could not be reached. Upon his arrival, Textor inherited a club in debt. Lyon had fallen out of the Champions League but their significant wage bill did not reflect their new standing, even less so when academy products Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso returned on 'free' transfers but with considerable salaries in 2022. But Textor has done little to correct Lyon's course. Assets have been stripped: OL Féminin, OL Reign and the LDLC Arena, which houses Lyon's basketball team, were all sold. There are fears that Lyon's academy, the lifeblood of the club's identity, could be next. 'If that happens, OL will lose a lot. It is the club's DNA,' warned Maxence Caqueret, a recent graduate who is now playing for Como. Yet those sacrifices have not sufficed in convincing the DNCG of the club's financial stability. The club's recent transfer dealings play a part. Almost €150m was spent last summer in a bid to return to the Champions League. The most eye-raising investment was in Moussa Niakhaté, who was signed from Nottingham Forest for €32m despite not being a guaranteed starter at the time. Orel Mangala also arrived for more than €20m and that opaque Nottingham Forest connection could have been extended by the arrivals of Danilo and Matt Turner this summer. The pair, who played just 17 games between them last season, were touted to arrive in a deal worth around €30m. Lessons are not being learned. In November, Lyon once again met with the DNCG. 'The meeting went well, I'm confident in our numbers,' said Textor, who felt he had got to grips with the particularities of French football administration. Yet once again, Lyon were stung, this time not merely with a transfer ban but with a provisional relegation to Ligue 2. In the months since, on-pitch success has been seen as the remedy for the club's off-field ills. 'The club's future has been uncertain since the start of the season; that is why, since the beginning, we set ourselves the target of qualifying for the Champions League,' said Niakhaté after a defeat to Monaco in May that put paid to those ambitions. They instead had to settle for the Europa League, again. Textor went for broke to achieve Champions League football – investing in playing staff and then in Paulo Fonseca after deciding that Pierre Sage could not lead them to the promised land. But those bets did not come in, the Champions League revenue would not usher through the club's coffers, and the deficit would not be plugged. Despite that, Textor arrived with confidence. The sale of his shares in Crystal Palace had given a boost, as had the sale of Rayan Cherki to Manchester City for a fee in excess of €40m. But the DNCG would not accept 'hypotheticals' and promises of future sales, nor could the club factor in any TV revenue, with Ligue 1 currently without a broadcaster for next season. That applied to all clubs. Initially blocked at the entrance to the DNCG's offices, Textor was finally let in and he left – once again – sounding confident. 'We feel very comfortable with the DNCG's processes. We enjoyed the hearing. Our liquidity situation has improved remarkably, but I've learned enough about the processes in France that I would never presume anything coming out of the hearing,' said Textor. He was right not to presume. The verdict fell and an earthquake was felt throughout French football as seven-time champions Lyon were relegated to Ligue 2. 'It is a terrible blow,' said Aulas. 'Sadness dominates and an immense inability to understand.' The club's main ultras group, the Bad Gones, have called on the owner to leave, with 'Textor out' banners appearing across the city. 'John has never been and never will be the man for the situation. The Botafogo supporter should now leave the Lyon landscape,' read a statement from the group. Much of the blame has fallen on Textor's shoulders and, while the financial crisis gripping French football can be used as a mitigating factor, it is worth noting that Lyon are the only Ligue 1 side to suffer this fate. Lyon branded the decision 'incomprehensible' and announced that they will appeal. French football's lower echelons are littered with clubs perceived as too big to fall - Bordeaux and Sochaux, both down in the National divisions are two of the most recent examples. Lyon's error was believing that such a fate would not – could not – befall them. 'I am one of those that wants to fight PSG but it is very difficult – you have to go step by step,' said Textor last week. Those first steps, if Lyon's appeal proves unsuccessful, will be taken in Ligue 2, by beating the likes of Nancy, Pau and Rodez next season. Ignorance, hubris and exceptionalism have driven a once great club to the precipice of the abyss. This is an article by Get French Football News
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
Peter Fleming amazed to hear stolen Wimbledon medals were recovered by mudlark
Peter Fleming thought the Wimbledon medals he won during a famous doubles partnership with John McEnroe were lost forever when they were stolen in a robbery at his home. But months later the American was astonished to discover they had been found by a mudlarker on the banks of the Thames in tennis' own true crime story. The medals form part of a new exhibition, Secrets of the Thames, at London Museum Docklands, which features objects found through mudlarking – the historic practice of scouring the foreshore at low tide for artefacts. Fleming, who won four Wimbledon men's doubles titles with McEnroe in the 1970s and 80s and three US Open crowns, told the unusual tale to the PA news agency. 'I had just moved into a new flat in Wimbledon and for some reason I thought I didn't need to double lock my door because it was a secure building so I just pulled it shut and went out to play golf,' said the 70-year-old, a well-known face as a TV pundit. 'I came back about six hours later and my place had been ransacked. They stole a bunch of stuff. It's a horrible feeling when you get burgled, you feel like you've been violated or something. 'I had nine Wimbledon medals. You get to the semi-finals and they give you a medal: bronze, silver or gold. 'Apparently the guys who stole my stuff just drove down Putney High Street and anything that had a name on it they threw in the river. 'Six months later, somebody contacts me somehow, they first contacted the club I think. A couple of the medals were in perfect condition, a couple of them were all green. 'It was just such a freak occurrence. I thought they were gone. It was a real surprise to hear somebody say, 'we've got your medals'.' Mudlarks need a permit to search the banks of the Thames, and a condition of the permit is that all objects of historical interest must be reported to London Museum. 'The mudlark in question who found the medals, he was used to coming in and reporting his finds to us,' said museum curator Kate Sumnall. 'It's written on the medals what they are so he brought them in and said, 'I've just found this group of medals all together on the same stretch of the foreshore, what do we do next?' 'We had a look at them, reached out to Peter Fleming and we were able to reunite the medals with Peter but also to hear the story of how Peter had unfortunately suffered from a burglary. 'We know that there's so much stolen property that ends up in the river, there's people's purses, wallets, jewellery, bags, that are just dumped in the river and it's rare that we can find the owner's name, and then to trace them and reunite them is a really special thing.' Among the other objects on display in the exhibition – which runs until March 1, 2026 – are the barrels from a sawn-off shotgun, a dagger that dates back to the 1500s, a ball and chain, and weighted gamblers' dice. Sumnall added of Fleming's medals: 'He was very generous with lending them to us and we're very pleased because they're one of the few contemporary objects we have on display, and it's lovely to have that connection with such an iconic sport and the Wimbledon Championships, and of course such a well-known name as Peter.'
