Paul Kimmage: We have no idea how hard professional sport is for those who toil inside the ropes
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The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
US Open set to be terrorised by sex-crazed invasive BUGS as fans are warned to alert the authorities
The pesky critters have been spotted in 29 of New York State's 62 counties BEING A PEST US Open set to be terrorised by sex-crazed invasive BUGS as fans are warned to alert the authorities THE US OPEN is braced for an invasion of sex-crazed, crop-hungry BUGS. British hopes Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper might have to take evasive action when they start their singles campaign next week as they chase the record $5million champions' pot. 2 The US Open is braced for an invasion of sex-crazed, crop-hungry bugs Credit: Volkan Furuncu/2 Lanternflies recklessly munch everything and frantically mate in August Credit:The three-week tennis Major may be marred by a swarm of spotted lanternflies, currently enjoying a population explosion. The pesky critters have been spotted in 29 of New York State's 62 counties during a red-hot summer. Flushing Meadows, the Slam's venue, is the fourth-largest public park in the State, with a total area of 897 acres. Should any bugs appear at the venue, fans and players have been advised to report them to local authorities — then STOMP them to death. Read More on Tennis DOUBLES TROUBLE Tennis' original badboy was US Open finalist & partnered Hollywood royalty Lanternflies recklessly munch everything from vegetable gardens to fruit trees and generally hatch in late May. With people tending to notice them while they are frantically mating in August. Kelli Hoover, professor of entomology at Pennsylvania State University, fears they will spread like wildfire across the States. She said: 'They're hopping on trains, planes and ships. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "These guys are brave hitch-hikers.' And Brian Eshenaur, an invasive species specialist at Cornell University, said: 'When somebody sees an insect, we ask them to take a picture first. US Open Suspended as Hurricane Erin Floods Flushing Meadows "And then stomp on it.'
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- RTÉ News
'Awful' - Rory McIlroy looking to find fairways at BMW Championship
Tied for 15th after the opening round of the BMW Championship, competing against the top 70 in the FedEx Cup may not draw too many detractors, however, world number two and five-time major winner, Rory McIlroy, summed up his opening 18 in one word, "awful". The Masters champions added that he drove the ball terribly but felt that he did well to claw his round back and finish the day on level par following his opening round 70. Three bogeys in the opening six holes put McIlroy under pressure early on, however, he still managed to turn on just one over following a birdie on nine to add to his early bounceback on two, and he made it back-to-back on the tenth before finishing with eight straight pars. McIlroy ended the day eight shots behind leader Robert MacIntyre, who posted a fine 62 to start his challenge, while England's Tommy Fleetwood, the nearly man of the current PGA Tour crop, is second on five under. "Awful," said McIlroy, when asked how he would characterise his opening round. "I got off to a bad start. Sort of pieced it together a little bit in the middle of the round and clawed it back to even par. But drove the ball terribly. "Then when you're sort of hitting out of the rough from the fairway bunkers I hit the fairways, I give myself chances. I need to hit more fairways the next three days. Nothing overly concerning for the County Down man, who feels that he can iron out his issues on the range and enjoy the final three rounds of the penultimate FedEx Cup event. "I think a little bit of work on the range, committing to a shot shape maybe a little bit more," said McIlroy. "Seemed like when I tried to hit the driver left to right today, it was better. Maybe just stick with that over the course of the week and try to dial that in. But yeah, definitely just hit to hit a few more fairways. "I feel like I tried to hit too many tee shots today pretty neutral. If I aimed up the left and hit a cut, it seemed to work a little bit better." A lot of the pre-tournament talk was about the world number one and two going head to head for the opening two rounds, and while Scottie Scheffler outplayed the Holywood native by four shots, McIlroy had nothing but good things to say about playing with the reigning Open and PGA Championship winner. "I love playing with Scottie. I always have," said McIlroy. "I like the cadence that he plays the game at. I like his rhythm. He doesn't really take a ton of time. "I feel like there's guys that you like to get paired with, and there's guys, some guys that you don't. I've always enjoyed playing with Scottie." Shane Lowry, who started his round with a trio of birdies before dropping a shot on the seventh, is alongside McIlroy on level par. It was a mixed bag on the back nine with birdies on 11 and 16 along with four bogeys.
The Irish Sun
14-08-2025
- The Irish Sun
Venus Williams, 45, announces shock US Open comeback after two years without competing in a Grand Slam
VENUS WILLIAMS will play in a Grand Slam for the first time in two years after being handed a US Open wildcard. World No577 Williams was given a spot in the main draw of her home Major at the age of 45. 3 Venus Williams received a wildcard for the US Open Credit: Getty It means she is set to feature in a record-extending 25th US Open singles tournament which gets underway on August 24. And the veteran remains on course to be the oldest singles star to take to the court at Flushing Meadows for 44 years. In 1981, Renee Richards played at the age of 47. Many expected Williams to retire from tennis this year, having not competed between March 2024 and July 2025 due to health struggles - she needed surgery to remove fibroids from her uterus a year ago. Her last win was way back at the Cincinnati Open in August 2023. However, she accepted a wildcard for the Washington Open last month and stunned then-world No35 Peyton Stearns to win 6-3 6-4. And despite a first-round loss at Cincinnati, one of the all-time greats will grace the New York courts once more at the upcoming US Open, where the prize money stands at a record $5million [£3.7m]. Williams made the final on her debut at the Grand Slam event way back in 1997, losing to Martina Hingis. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS She was crowned champion in 2000 and 2001, beating sister Serena in the latter. But from the French Open 2002 to Wimbledon 2003, Venus reached five Grand Slam finals - and lost them all to her younger sibling. Tennis star Venus Williams talks about her struggles with chronic illness and Sjogren's syndrome Tennis stars' new careers PLENTY of tennis stars have stayed involved in the sport since retiring. But others pursued very different careers. Here are some of the best… I reached French Open and Wimbledon finals as a teenager but I quit to become a nun I won Wimbledon mixed doubles with my sister but got fed up with English weather so now run luxury B&B I was tipped for stardom aged 12 but retrained to become high-flying lawyer I earned £9m and won French Open before setting up bistro with Brazilian model girlfriend I'm last Frenchman to win Roland Garros, now I'm singer with six albums hitting No1 in charts I'm former world No1 but quit aged 29 - instead I went on to play professional poker and golf I was destined for the top but swapped lobs for labs as award-winning Harvard physicist Venus - a five-time Wimbledon winner - will also take part in the controversial mixed doubles event in the week before the singles draws get underway. Doubles specialists have been sidelined with a new, faster format and high-profile singles players teaming up - including Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz. Williams received a wildcard entry alongside compatriot partner Reilly Opelka. 3 Venus beat sister Serena in the 2001 final at Flushing Meadows Credit: AP
