Latest news with #Slazenger
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Blair happy to keep guitar from Bono – but not one from Mexico's president
Prime minister Tony Blair was delighted to keep a guitar presented to him by the rock star Bono – but when it came to a similar gift from the president of Mexico, not so much. Official files released to the National Archives show Mr Blair was keen to take advantage of rules on ministerial gifts to buy the instrument given to him by the U2 singer and Live Aid campaigner once he left office. He did, however, question whether he would have to pay 'the full purchase price'. No 10 officials suggested the prime minister, who fronted a rock band called Ugly Rumours in his student days, might want to take the same approach when it came to a white Fender Stratocaster, valued at £2,500, from the Canadian singer Bryan Adams. However, Mr Blair was much less enthusiastic about an acoustic Vargas guitar presented to him by President Vicente Fox during an official visit to Mexico in 2001, noting: 'I don't actually use it.' The files also show that Mr Blair rejected advice that he should not keep a Pro Braided tennis racket given to him by the manufacturer, Slazenger. Officials feared that it was part of a 'marketing ploy' by the company and suggested it should be donated to a children's charity as 'you cannot be seen to endorse any product'. Mr Blair, however, instructed them just to thank the company, adding: 'It is very churlish to refuse to use it.'
Telegraph
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Are fluffy balls at Wimbledon making the tennis less exciting?
How much fluff is the perfect amount of fluff? That may seem a strange question but in the world of professional tennis it is a live and controversial issue. The quality and feel of the ball – and, in particular, its fluffiness – is having a significant impact on the game, and this year's Wimbledon is no different. 'Honestly, that is probably the biggest difference I can notice comparing to maybe 10, 15 years ago,' said Novak Djokovic. 'It's the balls. The Slazenger balls used here in Wimbledon are good quality balls, but they do fluff up earlier or sooner than the ones we used 10 or 15 years ago.' Simply put, fluffier balls result in slower shots. And slower shots generally result in longer rallies, longer matches and a more physically draining sport for the participants. Stylistically, fluffier balls also make it easier for players to sit at the baseline and trade shots with their opponents, rather than taking a more dynamic – and arguably more exciting – approach. 'It's allowing the players whose game is based on the baseline, who play with a lot of spin, to be able to play good tennis and make good performances and success here in Wimbledon or other grass-court tournaments,' said Djokovic. 'That wasn't maybe the case before. It is true that it's easier to play from the baseline nowadays than was the case early in my career.' Djokovic is far from alone in discussing these issues. Just a few weeks ago, Emma Raducanu's coach Mark Petchey argued that 'the balls are four times heavier than back in 2021' and said they are favouring the bigger-hitting players. That was an exaggeration. All balls used in tournaments are approved by the International Tennis Federation, which has strict regulations on weight and weight change. Since the rules were last changed in 2000, all match balls must weigh between 56g and 59.4g, with a maximum change in mass during play of 0.4g. It is clear, though, that something has changed. Alexander Zverev, the world No 3, has been so disturbed by it that he conducted an investigation of his own last year. 'I went into search mode a little bit,' he said in November. 'I asked companies and I asked about the production of the tennis balls. Since Covid, all the companies, they've gotten a lot worse. 'The reason is because of Covid, the companies tried to cut costs and they're using a different rubber material now. They're using a different material for the tennis balls, which makes the tennis balls between 30 per cent and 60 per cent slower on average compared to what it was before Covid.' Emily Webley-Smith, a professional for more than 20 years, tells Telegraph Sport: 'We have all noticed that balls are getting heavier and fluffier quicker. It looks like a fluffy hedgehog after three games, or 20 minutes. Since Covid, no matter what the ball type, the quality seems to have gone down in terms of how long they last. 'A basket of new balls at an academy would probably last a month. Now academies are having to replace balls after two weeks. And that's a huge expense.' What is the real impact of these changes on the game and the way it is played? And could it have contributed in any way to a record number of seeded players being eliminated in the first two rounds of this year's Wimbledon? At which point, we must journey into a world of speculation. The honest answer is that no one, not even the best players in the world, can say for certain what this all means. Do we even know that the balls are fluffing up earlier because of manufacturing changes, or because the players are fitter and stronger – and therefore hitting the ball harder – than ever? The major fear on the tennis circuit is that the balls are contributing to fitness issues. This would make sense, in many ways, as slower shots lead to greater physical demands on players. The likes of Vasek Pospisil, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas have all blamed injuries on the balls. Pospisil has even said that slower balls are 'killing our bodies'. 'A lot of the physios have talked to us about it,' says Webley-Smith. 'As the ball quality has gone down, players are getting wrist injuries as they try to overhit, and more elbow injuries and shoulder injuries. You try to force it more because the ball is slower.' Another issue is the fact that different tournaments use different ball manufacturers. Taylor Fritz, the American player, said in 2023 that he developed a wrist injury because of ball changes between events. In theory, all of this could have contributed to the early-round upsets at Wimbledon because the seeded players are usually those who have played more tennis by this time of the year. They arrive at Wimbledon with more hours on the court, and more shots played with the heavier balls, than lower-ranked opponents in the earlier rounds. Related to that, it is possible that the fluffier balls are contributing to the fatigue issues affecting a number of top players. Alex de Minaur said in May that he was 'burnt out'. Iga Swiatek has said the schedule is 'exhausting'. Alexei Popyrin, the Australian 20th seed who lost in the first round this week, said he now plans to take a break from the sport after feeling 'numb' in defeat. The good news for players is that the Association of Tennis Professionals is at least working hard to ensure consistency of balls across the calendar. This is the first season in which the ATP has centralised the 'ball-supplier selection process', rather than allowing tournaments to independently choose their own suppliers. Even so, the whole subject remains fiendishly difficult to quantify. Would better manufacturing standards, or simply more months and years of playing with these 'new balls', prevent the leading players from fluffing their lines – and their bodies? Only time will tell.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Wimbledon 2025 Live Streaming: Where and How to Watch in India & US Online?
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: A detailed view of a Slazenger tennis ball prior to The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 28, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by) Wimbledon 2025 Live Streaming: Get ready for Wimbledon before play begins Monday with a guide that tells you everything you need to know about how to watch the third Grand Slam tennis tournament in India and US. Wimbledon 2025 – All You Need to Know When will Wimbledon 2025 start? Wimbledon 2025 will start on June 30, 2025. The Championships will be held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. When will the Wimbledon 2025 finals be played? The final of Wimbledon 2025 will be held on July 13. The women's final will be played a day earlier, on July 12. Wimbledon 2025 prize money The winner of Wimbledon 2025 will be awarded $4.07 million, which is the highest prize among all four Grand Slams. The runner-up will receive a whopping $2.08 million. Where and how to watch in India & the US online? Star Sports has the broadcast rights for Wimbledon 2025 in India. The live streaming of matches will be available on JioHotstar. Fans in the United States can tune into ESPN and the Tennis Channel to watch Wimbledon 2025. Who are the defending champions at Wimbledon? Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain won the 2024 singles titles. Krejcikova defeated Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 for her second Grand Slam title and first at the All England Club. Alcaraz beat seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4) to win his second consecutive trophy at the grass-court major — defeating Djokovic each time — and his fourth Slam title overall, a total Alcaraz has now raised to five at age 22. Who are the top seeds at the All England Club? Aryna Sabalenka is the top-seeded woman, and Jannik Sinner is the top-seeded man. They are the players ranked No. 1, and the tournament seedings — which were officially released Thursday — follow the WTA and ATP rankings. For the women, French Open champion Coco Gauff is seeded No. 2, Jessica Pegula No. 3, and Paolini No. 4. For the men, Alcaraz is No. 2, Alexander Zverev No. 3, and Jack Draper No. 4. What is new this year at Wimbledon? The All England Club will use electronic line-calling during matches for the first time, replacing line judges. That puts Wimbledon in line with the Australian Open and the US Open, leaving the French Open as the last major where humans still make in or out calls — at least for now. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
The Sun
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
High street chain with over 500 shops ‘breaking law with misleading prices', Which? warns
SPORTS DIRECT shoppers are being tricked into thinking they are getting a bargain by misleading pricing, according to consumer campaigners. Which? accused the High Street giant of using 'dodgy' Recommended Retail Prices (RRPs) to make discounts seem better than they really are to boost sales. 1 The chain could be breaking the law, says Which? and has reported the business to regulators. An item's RRP should reflect the price at which shops usually sell a product for, according to the Advertising Standards Authority. This is so customers can easily work out how much of a saving they are making when buying at a knockdown price. Investigators at the consumer rights group checked the pricing of 160 popular products on And said it was unable to find 58 of the 160 products on sale anywhere for Sports Direct's claimed RRP – or Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) - raising questions over whether those prices were genuine. The items included a green Jack Wills Hunston graphic logo hoodie on sale with Sports Direct for £24 with an MSRP of £54.99. Researchers could only find it on sale for £40 on Amazon and for £24 elsewhere, with no-one apparently selling it for £54.99. And a pair of Slazenger men's drive tennis shoes were being sold by SportsDirect for £32.99, nearly half the MSRP of £64.99. Which? found the trainers for sale on eight other websites – all run by SportsDirect's parent company - for either £32.99 or £33. Only one retailer, Slazenger itself, sold them at the RRP but that price is supposed to represent what retailers generally sell a product for. Ex-Sports Direct employee reveals high street stores secrets At the same time, a Whitaker Somerford long sleeve baselayer was on sale for £8 with an RRP of £35. Which? could only find it listed elsewhere for £18 –a long way short of the supposed RRP. The consumer champion reckons Sports Direct's use of RRPs and MSRPs could be 'misleading actions' under a 2008 Unfair Trading law to protect shoppers. It has presented its findings to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Which? legal expert Lisa Webb said: 'If Sports Direct is misleading customers by inappropriate use of RRPs to dupe them into thinking they are getting a good deal, then the competition regulator needs to step in and take strong action to stop this from happening. 'In the meantime, shoppers should take any big discounts at with a pinch of salt and make sure they compare prices with other retailers before parting with any hard earned cash.' This is not the first time the chain has been accused of using misleading RRPs. In 2015 Channel 4's Dispatches said the firm was hiking RRPs to lead customers into believing they were getting a bargain. Sports Direct's owner, Mike Ashley's Frasers Group, has a large portfolio of brands under its umbrella including Jack Wills, Slazenger, Everlast and Lonsdale. Frasers Group also owns various retailers such as USC, Studio, and Get the Label, which sometimes appear to be the only sellers of these particular brands, Which? added. Sports Direct was founded by Mike Ashley, 60 – now the UK's 52 nd richest man with a £3.12bn fortune – when he opened his first sports shop in Maidenhead in 1982 aged just 18. The firm has been contacted for comment. A Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) spokesperson said: 'We'll carefully consider the findings from Which?'s research. "All businesses need to ensure that they comply with consumer law, which includes not misleading their customers over pricing.'
Scottish Sun
03-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Cheapest shop to buy suitcases this week including cabin baggage that fits Ryanair, EasyJet and Jet2
Plus find out how to compare prices for the best deal HOLI-YAY Cheapest shop to buy suitcases this week including cabin baggage that fits Ryanair, EasyJet and Jet2 IF you're heading off on your holidays this summer, don't let pricey luggage weigh you down. Whether you're in need of a small cabin case or a full three-piece set, there are plenty of bargain buys to be found both online and on the high street. 8 We rounded up the cheap shops to buy suitcases We've scoured the web to find the cheapest deals around, including big brand names, so you can save your cash for cocktails. Here's what's on offer: Amazon - From £9.39 8 Amazon is selling a RyanAir approved holdall on wheels Amazon is selling a cabin bag that is EasyJet and Jet2 compatible. Its available in both grey and black and is waterproof - which is an extra travel bonus. For those who prefer a roller, the online retailer is also selling a RyanAir compatible holdall on wheels for just £15.99. ASOS - £40 8 The ASOS CabinMax underseat bag is EasyJet compatible Asos is selling a pink CabinMax underseat roller for £40. Whilst the bag qualifies as an EasyJet free underseat bag, it would be too wide for RyanAir. Dunelm – from £35 8 Dunelm is offering stylish luggage options For those after check in luggage, Dunelm is selling a tough shell, metallic large suitcase for £45. While it doesn't come in a set, it's a stylish and sturdy option for solo travellers or weekend trips Sports Direct – from £14.99 8 Sports Direct is selling affordable cabin bags Perfect for short breaks or business trips, Sports Direct is selling a Slazenger lightweight cabin case for £14.99. The case has extendable sizing, plenty of pockets and even comes with a padlock. I wasn't going to fork out for a Labubu so nabbed a budget alternative from B&M instead - it's SO much cuter too It's one of the cheapest branded cabin bags we've seen, down by a whopping £30. However it will have to be checked in as hold luggage for RyanAir, Jet2 and EasyJet. Sports direct is also offering a three-piece Slazenger set for just £64, slashed down from £189.99. Home Bargains – from £20 8 Home Bargains offers multiple sizes to choose from Home Bargains is offering great value across all sizes and also gives you the chance to grab the full three-piece set for £99. While not the cheapest set overall, the individual prices make this a top pick if you only need one or two cases. Matalan – from £22 8 Matalan sells each size separately Matalan is selling IT suitcases at a bargain price. The cabin suitcase is selling for £22, down from £32. Meanwhile, the medium size is selling for £40, and the larger £50. They are sold separately which is great if you're after one or two sizes instead of a full set. Debenhams – £59 8 Debenhams is selling suitcases for less than half price Debenhams has slashed the price of its three-piece suitcase set from £134.99 to just £59.25. It features a hard shell, which it claims "resists scratches and scuffs" and is designed to be "protective." The set is great value for money considering it comes with a small, medium and large roller case for just £59. The high street retailer is also selling a four-piece Regency Hard Shell Luggage Set for £74.99, down from £149.99. This means shoppers are bagging a massive 50% off. Baggage rules Here's the key information you need to know about regarding some of the key airlines operating in the UK. Ryanair All Ryanair passengers can bring a small personal bag on board but this must fit under the seat in front of you. It must be no bigger than 40cm x 20cm x 25cm. All over-sized cabin bags will be refused at the boarding gate, or where available put in the hold for a fee. Anyone wanting to bring another bag, you'll need to upgrade and pay extra for priority and two cabin bags or checked baggage. EasyJet The budget airline allows each person to bring a small cabin bag on board. It can be no larger than 45cm x 36cm x 20cm, this includes any handles or wheels, and it needs to be able to fit under the seat in front of you. The bag can weigh up to 15kg but easyJet says you must be able to lift and carry it yourself. Any bag larger than the limit, or any additional bags will be put in the hold and you'll have to pay an airport bag fee. Jet2 Passengers can also bring on board one piece of hand luggage when flying with Jet2, free of charge. It must not weigh more than 10kg and can't be any bigger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm, including any wheels and handles. If your hand luggage is larger or weighs more, it will have to be put into the aircraft's hold, which might incur an additional charge. Travellers can also bring a small, personal item on board with them, such as a handbag, laptop case or a purchase made at the airport, but this has to be placed underneath the seat in front of you. British Airways All British Airways passengers can carry one piece of hand luggage and one small item on board. The hand luggage must not be bigger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm while the small item cannot exceed 40cm x 30cm x15cm. TUI People flying with TUI can bring on board one piece of hand luggage, weighing no more than 10kg for free. It must be no larger than 55cm x 40cm x 20cm and you must be able to lift your hand luggage into an overhead storage compartment by yourself. Items such as laptops, handbags and any item bought at the airport must be small enough to be stored under your seat. Wizz Air Wizz Air passengers can only take a small cabin bag for free onto the plane. Bags must be no more than 10kg, and measure no more than 40cm x 30cm x 20cm. Verdict Sports Direct comes out on top for the cheapest branded cabin case at just £14.99, while its £64 three-piece set is ideal for families or longer trips. If you're just after a single case, Dunelm offer solid one-off buys, while Matalan and Home Bargains are perfect if you want to pick and mix sizes. However, if you're after something that's compatible for Easy Jet, Jet2 and RyanAir, you'll want to head on over to Amazon. For overall value, Debenhams' £59.25 three-piece set is hard to beat – especially for shoppers after a full matching bundle without breaking the bank. Just remember – prices are correct at the time of writing but can change quickly, so it's worth snapping up a deal before it wheels away. How to compare prices While all these deals are solid, it's important to remember that not every 'sale' price is actually a bargain. That's where price comparison tools can come in handy. Websites like Google Shopping let you type in a product name or model number to instantly compare prices across dozens of retailers. How to bag a bargain SUN Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to find a cut-price item and bag a bargain… Sign up to loyalty schemes of the brands that you regularly shop with. Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, among other perks. Sales are when you can pick up a real steal. Retailers usually have periodic promotions that tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout and shop when these deals are on. Sign up to mailing lists and you'll also be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too. When buying online, always do a search for money off codes or vouchers that you can use and are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer. Scanner apps are useful to have on your phone. app has a scanner that you can use to compare prices on branded items when out shopping. Bargain hunters can also use B&M's scanner in the app to find discounts in-store before staff have marked them out. And always check if you can get cashback before paying which in effect means you'll get some of your money back or a discount on the item. PriceSpy is great if you want to look at a product's price history – it tracks prices from over 3,000 stores including Amazon, Argos and the major supermarkets. Idealo works in a similar way and ranks products from the cheapest to the most expensive, while CamelCamelCamel focuses on Amazon deals specifically, showing you how prices have changed over time. Shopping around and doing a quick search can save you serious money and stop you getting caught out by sneaky markups. Just don't forget to factor in delivery fees and check stock before heading to stores to avoid disappointment.
