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BBC News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'I feel I'll play well'- Venus Williams ready to roll again at 45
In the latest edition of Second Serve, our weekly snapshot of the tours, BBC tennis reporter Jonathan Jurejko looks at the surprise return of Venus Williams, one of the sport's biggest names, at the age of 45. The Williams sisters have rarely done anything conventionally in their stellar perhaps we should not be surprised that Venus Williams - the seven-time major champion and older sister of the iconic Serena - is stepping out onto a professional court again this week at the age of several months, the question was whether Venus Williams would ever play on the WTA Tour this year she became considered an inactive player, having gone a whole year without out of nowhere as the eyes of the tennis world were trained on Wimbledon, Williams announced she was ready to week she will make her first tour-level appearance in 16 months after accepting a wild card to return at the Washington begged two obvious questions. Why? And why now?"Most of the time I don't [take up the offer to play as a wild card]," Williams laughed in her pre-tournament news conference."But this time I had been hitting the ball. And of course I love the game and the hard courts, it's my favourite surface, what I feel comfortable on. So all those different factors."The elder Williams emerged as a teenage phenomenon in the 1990s, living up to what had already been long-billed hype when she made her professional debut aged just winning the opening match at her first WTA tournament, the rangy youngster further validated the fanfare by running world number two Arantxa Sanchez Vicario close in six years, she had lifted her maiden Grand Slam title. Using her height to generate power, Williams changed the face of the WTA Tour with her aggressive, first-strike tennis and became a blueprint for success - including her younger sister, who went on to win 22 major same thunderous style which served the former world number one so well in her prime is how she plans to beat fellow American Peyton Stearns, who also loves to bludgeon the ball."I definitely feel I'll play well. I'm still the same player. I'm a big hitter. I hit big. This is my brand," smiled Williams."So it's about hitting big and actually putting it in. So this will be my effort: put it in the court. That's my main goal." British men's number one Jack Draper will not play again until the US Open, where he was a semi-finalist last year, because of an arm injury. Draper is among several leading ATP players to pull out of a depleted Canadian Open, with Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic also champion Zheng Qinwen - who Draper is supposed to be playing with in the new-look US Open mixed doubles - is taking a "short break" from the WTA Tour after having arthroscopic surgery on her right professional wheelchair tennis events will take place at ATP and WTA tournaments next year, with at least seven extra integrated tournaments being introduced. British number four Francesca Jones continues to make huge strides slightly out of the the second week of Wimbledon, 24-year-old Jones won the biggest title of her career at a WTA 125k clay-court event in France and this week has crept even closer to the world's top 100.A defeat in the last 16 of another clay tournament in Romania was earlier than hoped, but enabled Jones to move up to 101st in the rankings - agonisingly close to achieving the notable landmark for the first time in her Jan Choinski claimed his second ATP Challenger title in the past three weeks by winning in the Netherlands and has moved back into the top 150. With most of the leading players taking a break after Wimbledon, it presented opportunities for those further down the rankings to take centre up Denis Shapovalov. The 26-year-old Canadian cracked the world's top 10 in 2021 but dropped as low as 140th last year after a knee injury suffered at Wimbledon two years - whose swashbuckling style can be erratic but always fun to watch - had doubts if he would be able to make a full recovery, but is moving closer back to his left-hander did not drop a set on the way to claiming the ATP 250 title in Los Cabos and joined an exclusive list of only six men's players to win multiple tour-level titles in lifting an ATP trophy was Kazahkstan's Alexander Bublik. The unorthodox and entertaining 28-year-old won the first clay-court title of his career in Gstaad. On the WTA Tour, France's Lois Boisson - who memorably came out of nowhere to reach the Roland Garros semi-finals - proved that was no fluke by winning the Hamburg clay-court Anna Bondar, who lost to Boisson in the final, was another big climber in a quiet week, as were Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu and Switzerland's Jil Teichmann after they contested the Iasi final. Several top-20 players are returning to action in Washington as they start gearing up for the US pair Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula lead the singles seeds at the combined ATP-WTA 500 event, while Emma Raducanu, Katie Boulter, Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans are the British contingent in action. Got any questions? Got any burning tennis questions you'd like us to answer?Submit them below and our Ask Me Anything team will find out everything you need to know and be able to call upon a network of contacts including our experts and can also sign up to get the latest tennis news from BBC Sport delivered straight to your mobile phone.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Coco Gauff's stunning loss at Wimbledon in the first round explained by Rick Macci
On red clay, Coco Gauff is a demon. On grass, she's been a dud. It wasn't a giant surprise to Boca Raton's wizard of tennis. Rick Macci, that Gauff flamed out early again at Wimbledon on July 1. The Delray Beach resident shockingly lost in the first round in straight sets to 42nd-ranked Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, weeks after capturing the French Open for her second Grand Slam title. Advertisement Macci, who developed the Williams sisters and aided the growth of Andy Roddick, Jennifer Capriati and Mary Pierce, among others, sees Coco's deficiencies on grass as definitively as a long red light on Jog Road. Gauff has never been out of the fourth round at Wimbledon – two years ago she also was dumped in the first round by another Macci prodigy, Sofia Kenin, who lives in Broward County. More: How Coco Gauff's grandmother made history in Palm Beach County Macci, who runs his Rick Macci Tennis Academy in Boca, says Yastremska is an accomplished grass-court player – but there is more to Coco's early demise. Advertisement The severe Western forehand grip and long sweeping backswing that create all that Coco topspin isn't made for the fast turf. Macci calls it "the daily double," decimating the world's No. 2-ranked player on the Wimbledon green. 'With the surface where the ball skids, the people who hit a little cleaner, a little earlier, a little flatter, it's conducive for those type of players," Macci told The Palm Beach Post. 'It doesn't surprise me simply because on the grass, her forehand is always going to be problematic because of the grip and radius on the swing is a little big. She needs a bit more time. On the forehand on clay or hardcourt, she's not going to feel as rushed." Coco's grand performance at the French Open makes most tennis experts believe her best surface is the red dust. Coco made the French Open finals in 2022, the quarterfinals in 2023, semifinals in 2024 and won the whole pastry for her second major on June 9 when she toppled Aryna Sabalenka. Coco Gauff waves to the crowd while leaving the court after her July 1 match against Dayana Yastremska on Day 2 at Wimbledon. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images After celebrating her win at Roland Garros with a media tour in the United States and quick visit to her Delray home, the 21-year-old Coco played just one grass court tune-up ahead of Wimbledon, in Berlin. Advertisement It is the quickest turnaround between majors – and she lost in Germany in Round 1 to a qualifier, Xinyu Wang, 6-3, 6-3. She decided to practice on grass the week before Wimbledon instead of playing one more grass court tune-up. Turns out it was whopping mistake after losing 7-6, 6-1 to Yastremska. 'Nothing beats live and in color, playing a match," Macci said. 'You can practice all you want. Nothing takes the place of feeling those moments and tension." Macci gave Coco a lesson when she was 7 years old in Boca Raton when her father, Corey, brought her for the day. 'After a couple of balls, I didn't say anything about tennis," Macci recalled. 'I said, 'This girl should also run track.' She had a motor back then." Advertisement Wimbledon's grass courts remain a challenge for Coco Gauff However, Gauff's speed isn't the same on grass, Macci said. 'Movement on grass is very different. Even though she's like an Olympic runner with a racket in her hand and best athlete, quickest on the tour, movement on grass is a different animal. When you go into the corners, it's more difficult to get out. Her movement on grass isn't quite efficient enough. She's 21. It's different than a hardcourt." But Coco shone in her first career breakthrough, in 2019, and it was on the grass at Wimbledon, knocking off Venus Williams in the first round. Coco made it all the way to the fourth round, at age 15. Advertisement Since then, there's been perhaps a mental barrier to breaking into the Wimbledon quarterfinals. 'Once you know mentally that you're missing balls or losing points differently than you would on the rest of the surfaces, it becomes a mental battle," said Macci, who sees Coco's youngest brother, Cameron, at his academy. 'I don't care if your backbone is stronger than your backhand, the mental part kicks in. Points are quicker and you can lose a point so quickly (on grass). There's frustration." Macci dismissed Gauff's nine double faults because she usually overcomes an erratic second serve in other events. He pointed out Gauff leads the tour in double faults and still is No. 2 in the world. Does hunger wane as the highest-paid female sports endorser? Macci doesn't buy into that theory because of her character. Coco was tearful in her news conference, displaying how much it hurt. Advertisement 'I don't think the endorsements affect her at all," Macci said. 'It comes with the landscape. You work your whole life for the pressure and her parents (Corey and Candi) are so grounded. With Venus and Serena, it's one thing to get there. It's another thing to stay there. She's so young. We'll see how it plays out, but she's such a great competitor." And she probably is in store for multiple French Open titles. 'She gets back so many balls, you have to win the point two or three times," Macci said of Coco's clay-court prowess. 'But she's amazing also on hard because she can push off quicker rather than sliding on clay. She's amazing on clay and hardcourts." Rick Macci thinks Coco Gauff can win at Wimbledon Delray Beach's Coco Gauff reacts on July 1 after missing a shot against Dayana Yastremska on Day 2 at Wimbledon. Gauff lost the match 7-6, 6-1. Geoff Burke/Imagn Images Macci still thinks she can win at Wimbledon, eventually. Advertisement 'She needs a little more time," Macci said. 'People know she's a little more vulnerable. She just doesn't get back as many balls as hard or clay. Once her forehand gets more compact, cleaner and has better center of gravity and doesn't give as many presents on the second serve, I can see her some day winning Wimbledon." For her part, Gauff admitted afterward to a French Open hangover. 'Mentally, I was a little bit overwhelmed with everything that came afterwards, so I didn't feel like I had enough time to celebrate and also get back into it," Gauff said. "But it's the first time in this experience. I definitely learned a lot of what I would and would not do again. 'I'm trying to be positive. I just feel a little bit disappointed in how I showed up today." Advertisement Coco will be heading to Palm Beach County shortly. In late July, the U.S. hardcourt series leading into late August's U.S. Open commences. She won the Open in 2023 – her first major. 'I'm not going to dwell on this too long," Gauff said, "because I want to do well at the U.S. Open.' This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Coco Gauff loses first-round match on Wimbledon's grass where she struggles
The Guardian
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
TV tonight: how Serena Williams nearly became a punk guitarist
11.10pm, BBC One The Williams sisters are almost always approached as a pair, sharing a destiny from early childhood. In this series, Serena tells her own story – though, of course, Venus chips in. The opening episode looks at the influence of their father Richard, who saw tennis as his family's passport out of Compton. But Serena initially had other ideas: she is a Green Day fan and fancied herself as a punk guitarist. 'All my dreams weren't on the tennis court,' she says. Phil Harrison 8.35pm, BBC Two With their reunion concerts looming, what better time to revisit the couple of years when Oasis felt furiously essential. This compilation of the band's trips to the BBC leans heavily on their 1994-5 output – including buskers' favourite Wonderwall. PH 9pm, Channel 5 A feature-length documentary that investigates every aspect of the life of Prince William and reports as follows: everything he has ever done or said is almost unbearably brilliant. If you're a royalist, it's one long sigh of pleasure; if not, you'll feel as if you've taken mind-altering drugs. Jack Seale 9.25pm, BBC One In the final episode of this delicate Australian drama, the day of the 'last anniversary party' arrives, bringing with it the reveals of some long-held mysteries. As Veronika learns the truth of Alice and Jack's story, Deborah brings Thomas's crush on Sophie to light, while Margie and Enigma unearth Ron's secret plans. Nicole Vassell 10pm, ITV1 Stick-on beards, secret phones and scary latex masks are the order of the day in this far-fetched transatlantic thriller, first seen on Apple TV+. As it begins, five Britons find themselves linked to a high-profile kidnapping, with Uma Thurman adding a bit of Hollywood polish as the victim's mother. Hannah J Davies 10.25pm, Channel 4 The remarkable Rhod Gilbert filmed this standup set in Cardiff in 2022. It mined laughter from a difficult period in his life – he'd lost his mum, had a stroke and struggled with infertility. Sadly, a cancer diagnosis was just round the corner, which gives the show added poignancy. PH Piece By Piece, 8.25am, 4.20pm, Sky Cinema Premiere We've had Robbie Williams played by a CGI chimp so why not Pharrell Williams as a collection of small plastic bricks? This weird but joyous documentary from Morgan Neville uses Lego to encapsulate the life of the wildly successful Neptunes producer and musician. Williams having synaesthesia – he experiences sound as colour – means the film can go off on visual flights of fancy; the beats he creates becoming rainbow fireworks or vibrant waves. All this trippy imagery covers up the fact that his rise to stardom has been fairly frictionless, but contributions from Lego versions of Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg et al attest to his offbeat worldview and hyperactive creativity. Simon Wardell Saint Omer, 9pm, BBC Four Why would a mother leave her 15-month-old daughter on a beach to drown? That's the central question in French film-maker Alice Diop's murky, moving courtroom drama, as a young Senegalese woman, Laurence (Guslagie Malanda), is put on trial. Lecturer Rama (Kayije Kagame) attends in the hope of writing a book about it, but uneasy resonances with her own life – immigrant family, pregnancy, mixed-race relationship – throw her off-track. Even the evasive, inconsistent Laurence appears unsure as to why she committed such a horrific act. SW Men's Test Cricket: England v India, 10.15am, Sky Sports Main Event Day two of the first Test in the five-match series at Headingley, Leeds, with Shubman Gill captaining the visitors for the first time. Men's Tennis: Queens, 1pm, BBC Two The semi-finals of the grass-court tournament at Queen's Club. Racing: Royal Ascot, 1.30pm, ITV1 The final day of the meet, featuring the Jersey Stakes at 4.20pm. International Men's Football: European Under-21s Championship, 4.45pm, Channel 4 The first quarter-finals, as the winners of Group C face the Group D runners-up. The second quarter-final, between the winners of Group A and the Group B runners-up, follows at 7.35pm. Women's Golf: PGA Championship, 7pm, Sky Sports Main Event Day three of the major at Fields Ranch in Frisco, Texas.
