Latest news with #BBCRadio5
Metro
2 days ago
- Sport
- Metro
How Jack Draper could land French Open title after 'clinical' Joao Fonseca win
Jack Draper was 'very clinical' in his 6-2 6-4 6-2 victory over Joao Fonseca – and is now has a genuine shot of winning the French Open. The British tennis star has taken his game on clay to another level and next faces Alexander Bublik in the fourth round of singles at Roland-Garros. Traditionally, British players have struggled on the red dirt and not even the legendary Andy Murray was able to land a French Open title in his career. But with no Rafael Nadal to compete with, the path to Roland-Garros glory could be somewhat simpler for world No.5 Draper in Paris. Here's why… Draper was at his very best in his straight-sets victory over Brazilian teenager Fonseca, who is tipped for a massive future in the sport. 'Jack Draper has been flawless,' former American tennis player Ryan Harrison said on commentary duties for BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. 'All the pressure [was] on Joao Fonseca since the word go. He [was] trying to change his positioning but it [seemed] like he is searching for answers. 'Draper has been very clinical. I'm so impressed with how Jack Draper [was] using that forehand down the line behind Fonseca.' Draper will be a huge favourite in his next match at Roland-Garros, with the British No.1 set to face Kazakhstan's world No.62 Bublik. The 23-year-old was previously on a collision course with Alex de Minaur but the Australian ninth-seed suffered a shock second-round exit to Bublik. Draper has faced Bublik twice on the ATP Tour to date and won both of their meetings in straight sets, most recently in Adelaide last year. This is where things start to get a little tricky for Draper. If he wins in the fourth round, as expected, he's projected for a quarter-final showdown with Jannik Sinner. Analysis from Metro's dedicated tennis reporter Liam Grace… Draper would surely be incredibly fired up for a quarter-final clash with Sinner at Roland-Garros. The British star would be seeking revenge after Sinner eliminated him in the US Open semi-finals last year – one of the biggest matches of his career to date. While Sinner is the world No.1, Draper would be facing the Italian at a really good time. Sinner has impressed at this year's French Open – but he's only played one event in three months after his temporary ban from the sport. Draper is remarkably fit – so if he is able to take the match into four or five sets – he'd surely have a key advantage over Sinner in Paris. Sinner has previously lost to Draper – at Queen's Club four years ago in their only other meeting – which may give the Brit the confidence he needs to get the job done. Should he battle past Sinner, Draper would then be set for a projectedclash with Novak Djokovic, 38, who despite his huge tally of 24 Grand Slam titles, has not been at his best in 2025 and clay is not his favoured surface. A triumph over Djokovic would set up a possible French Open final against the defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who Draper knows how to beat, having won two of their six meetings to date. Draper secured a superb victory over Alcaraz at Indian Wells earlier this year before he went on the land the title at the prestigious tournament. While Alcaraz would be the favourite – and won their most recent meeting in Rome – Draper is capable of beating him if he produces his best tennis. Tennis legend John McEnroe has been left blown away by Draper's performances at the French Open this year and feels he could finish his career with a number of Grand Slam titles. More Trending Speaking after Draper's impressive second-round win over Gael Monfils, McEnroe told TNT Sports: 'I tell you one thing, he won a lot of fans tonight with the way he played. 'It's one of those matches that you're proud to be a tennis player… You see Draper maturing, playing better and better on the spot. 'I mean, I'll be surprised if he doesn't win multiple majors. It is incredible how much he's improving and how great a player he's become.' Former British No.1 Tim Henman added: 'There's no doubt that there are people ahead of him in terms of lists of favourites, but if he keeps playing like that, he is most definitely in the conversation [to win the French Open].' MORE: French Open tennis star 'didn't feel safe' after nasty incident during match MORE: Mark Petchey furious with Emma Raducanu critics: 'Everyone is living in 2021' MORE: Emma Raducanu crashes out of French Open before 'cold' Iga Swiatek handshake
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Woman and child dragged under car as it ploughed through Liverpool parade
A witness of the Liverpool shock car smash has told of the shock moment he saw one woman disappearing beneath the chassis of the black Ford Galaxy involved in the incident Shocked witnesses have told of the "horrendous" moment a woman was dragged underneath a car that plowed into a crowd of Liverpool FC fans. Thousands of people were revelling in the football club's triumphant return to the city on Monday when a car revved into packed crowd working its way down Water Street, near the Strand in the city centre. The collision injured nearly 50 people and left 27 hospitalised, four of whom were in serious condition and still "very ill" this morning. Those who walked away physically unscathed remained haunted by the incident as they watched people being sucked underneath the advancing car. A 53-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs. Paul, who witnessed the shock incident in Liverpool, described hearing the car "revving so hard" and seeing people "laid all over" the scene of the horror smash. He BBC Radio 5 Live: 'We just heard this screaming and we just saw the car coming towards us and he revved so hard, that's all I can get out my head, the car was revving so hard and then there were just people laid all over." Paul added that he saw a woman "laid under the front of the car" during the "horrendous" incident. He said: "And I just can't get this picture of this poor lady just laid under the front of the car, it was horrendous." Merseyside Police said on Monday night that firefighters had to rescue four people - one of whom was a child - had become stuck underneath the car, a black Ford Focus. Updating the public this morning, Liverpool Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said four people remained "very, very ill in hospital", adding in a statement that he hoped they would "pull through very, very quickly". Deputy Chief Constable Jenny Sims said police have arrested one 53-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs. He remains in police custody while the roughly 11 people still in hospital following the incident appear to be "recovering well". The horror of Monday night's incident has been tempered by the valiant and kind acts of Liverpudlians, who have come together to help those impacted by the incident. Paul said that after the city went on lockdown moments after the collision, a group of "lovely girls" welcomed his group into their home and let them sit down "for a couple of hours". He said: 'And then we dived to some steps at the side which is a block of flats, and after a couple of minutes some people did let us into the flat and some lovely girls actually took us up to their room and let us sit in their room for a couple of hours because it was on lockdown until we were allowed out." One group of hero scousers saved a visiting family from being hit by the incoming car, with Irish tourists Paul O'Brien and his family recounting the incredible moment they were shoved out of the way before the vehicle passed them "by inches". Mr O'Brien said: "It passed us by inches, and then it continued and we could actually hear the thuds of people being hit. It was just a terrible scene. There were kids, men and women on the ground. The men who pushed us out of the way were amazing, it was heroic stuff, young Liverpool supporters. They didn't think for a second, only for those people they don't know."
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sciver-Brunt out for duck as England slip to 56-2 v Windies
First T20, Canterbury - hosts win toss & bowl England need 147 to win Wyatt-Hodge bowled for 17 and Sciver-Brunt caught behind for duck Windies skipper Matthews hits superb unbeaten century to help her side post 146-7 Listen to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra commentary at top of page Get Involved - #bbccricket, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only - charged at standard message rate) Sciver-Brunt out for duck as England slip to 56-2 v Windies
India Today
20-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
England coach Brendon McCullum aims for glory in decisive 2025: Time to shoot for stars
England coach Brendon McCullum wants his side to aim for the stars as they get ready for a decisive year in 2025 with the India series and an Ashes series on the horizon. McCullum and his Bazball mantra has revolutionised England cricket as they have won 22 out of the 35 Tests under him. They now go up against an Indian team in a home series, starting from June 20. Despite the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, India remain a strong side and England are yet to beat them in a Test series. Same is the case with Australia as the Ashes will take place down under this year. These two assignments will be crucial for England in their new World Test Championship cycle. advertisementMcCullum said that they're not trying to pick up this team anymore and want them to become a side that the English people can be proud of. The England coach feels that his side has the best chance to go to Australia and produce a good performance under the bright lights. 'We're not trying to pick this team up any more. It's a matter of taking this team from a good team into being something English people are really proud of,' McCullum told the BBC Radio 5 Live Cricket show.'We're actually travelling pretty good but there's an opportunity now," McCullum added. "We're working from a position of strength, but now's the time where we shoot for the stars."'There's no greater opportunity than playing in big series against the best opposition on the biggest stage under the brightest lights to be able to test that.'McCullum delighted with Stokes returnadvertisementMcCullum was happy to welcome captain Ben Stokes into the team once again after his lengthy injury layoff. The England coach said that Stokes is a driven player who pushes his teammates to win at all costs. 'He [Stokes] is unbelievably driven, to push himself, to push his teammates, to win at all costs," McCullum said.'We're very lucky to have him in the chair because he's going to be very strong about trying to push this team to the next level.'England and India will play 5 Tests with the first match taking place in Headingley. Must Watch
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Norris 'just not good enough' in qualifying
Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix Venue: Imola Date: 18 May Race start: 14:00 BST on Sunday Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra; live text updates on BBC Sport website and app Lando Norris said he was "just not good enough" after qualifying fourth for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix with his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri on pole. Norris was 0.292 seconds slower than his team-mate, and likely faces a difficult race on an Imola track where overtaking is difficult. Briton Norris is 16 points behind the Australian in the championship after the first six races of the season. "Never good enough in my final lap in 'quali'," Norris said. "Everyone goes quicker and I always go slower." Norris' downbeat assessment of his own form reflected his struggles in qualifying this season. The Briton dominated Piastri over one lap in 2024, when he was beaten only four times by his team-mate. But changes in the way the McLaren car behaves over the winter have meant it suits him less than it did. Piastri beats Verstappen to pole after Tsunoda crash Ferrari 'P-nowhere' with Hamilton 'devastated' Combined with what team principal Andrea Stella describes as a "relatively numb" front axle, which is not giving Norris the "cues" he needs to drive at the limit, and Piastri has turned the tables. This was his third pole in seven races - matching the total of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who joins him on the front row in Imola - to Norris' one. Piastri has won four of the six grands prix so far, Norris only one. Norris said: "I'm not going to just blame the car. That's not me. I felt good all weekend. I felt good in Q1 and Q2. I felt like there's lap time available. "But when I try and go for lap time, it just doesn't go. Clearly, there's a lot of things changed from last year. "In my whole career, qualifying has been my biggest strength by a long way. This year, it's just not coming my way." Stella, though, pointed out that Piastri had qualified fourth at the last race in Miami and had gone on to win. "We have said since the start of the season that our car, which is a very competitive car, is not the easiest car to drive in qualifying conditions when you have an empty tank and you go for the last millisecond," Stella said. "It's Imola, and now there is emphasis on the fact that Lando is P4, but let's just go one place back, and who was P4 in Miami? "It was actually Oscar, but I don't think we talked very much about the fact that he was before, and in fact he even won the race." Norris said the race was going to be "tricky" for him and he had to hope for strategy to find a way forward. He starts the race sandwiched between the Mercedes of George Russell and the improved Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard's showing was his team's best of what has so far been a difficult year and it comes as a result of a major upgrade on the car that has - at least partly - been influenced by their new managing technical partner, Adrian Newey, the design legend who joined in March. His team-mate Lance Stroll qualified in eighth place. "For the whole team to be with both cars in Q3, it really lifts a little bit of pressure from the shoulders of everyone in the team," Alonso said. "The package that we introduced yesterday, we had some positive results, but you never know until you go to qualifying. "We need to keep the feet on the ground, and maybe the track characteristics, it does help the Aston, so we'll need to see in Monaco and Barcelona. But so far, happy with the improvement." However, the 43-year-old emphasised that while he was "happy to be fifth", it was not close to his or the team's ambitions. "I want to be in Australia (at the start of the season) next year and win the race," Alonso said. "It's going to be a tactical race. As always in Imola, it's difficult to overtake. Less stops possible for everyone because then you cannot overtake on track. "I expect to have a good start, good strategy, and let's see the pace. I think it's not as good as P5, so I'm ready to lose a couple of positions, but hopefully not too many." Piastri spoke about his determination to ensure he kept the lead at the start. "As long as I can get a good start, then confident," he said. "It's a difficult track to overtake on. Our pace has been strong. Our long-run pace yesterday looked very encouraging. So yeah, as long as I can get a good start and have a good first lap, then that would be good." Verstappen, who said his car was better balanced than on Friday when he had struggled with race pace, said: "I'll just try to do a good start and see where I'm at with the pace, because yesterday wasn't particularly good in the long run also. "And then yeah, just see with the new set-up we have on the car. Hopefully it all sticks a bit better on the Tarmac and, hopefully, in general a bit more competitive." Incredible images from 75 years of F1 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix Qualifying Review Andrew Benson Q&A: Send us your questions
