Sports

Wimbledon: Barty beats Plíšková to win second Grand Slam

Published

3 years ago

July 10, 2021

World number one-ranked female lawn tennis player, Ashleigh Barty, has emerged the 2021 Wimbledon champion.
She defeated No. 8 seed Karolína Plíšková in three sets, 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3 on Saturday in the women’s final in London. It’s Barty’s second career Grand Slam singles title, with the other being the 2019 French Open. It marks the fourth year the Venus Rosewater Dish has been bestowed to a first-time Wimbledon winner at the All England Club.
“This is incredible,” Barty said in her post-match interview on the court. “I genuinely have to thank every single person in this stadium, you have made my dream so special, so thank you so much.”
Both Plíšková, 29, and Barty, 25, were playing in their first Wimbledon women’s final.
Barty is the first No. 1 seed to win Wimbledon since Serena Williams won as the top seed in 2016. She is also the first Australian woman to win the Championship since Evonne Goolagong Cawley defeated compatriot Margaret Court in 1980.
Barty jumped out to a fast start to grab hold of momentum early on in the match, dominating the first set with 12 winners and two aces.
Plíšková did not win a single point in the first three games before a double-fault on breakpoint handed Barty the 4-0 lead in the opening set.
But in the second set, Plíšková fought back. She forced a tiebreaker and rebounded with a much more productive service game.
In the first set, Plíšková served at 55 percent for her first serve and didn’t record an ace. In the second set, she notched three aces.
Barty was serving for the match at 6-5 in the second set, but made a handful of unforced errors that let Plíšková back in the match.
The third set was similar to the first in Barty dominating. She jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held her serve the rest of the way to win her second Grand Slam and first Wimbledon championship.
Barty entered the final as the top-ranked player on the planet and defeated Angelique Kerber in the semi-final. While no road to a Grand Slam final is easy, Kerber was one of just two seeded players Barty met during the fortnight — she also toppled No. 14 Barbora Krejčíková (2021 French Open winner) in the fourth round.
Plíšková also saw mostly unseeded opponents, but did take out No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the semi to reach her first Grand Slam final since falling to Kerber in the 2016 US Open.
Several top players, including Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep did not participate in this year’s event while Serena Williams withdrew during her first-round match because of an ankle injury.

Sports

Manchester United to use Marcus Rashford in swap deal for Victor Osimhen

Published

8 hours ago

January 3, 2025

Trends Admin

Manchester United to use Marcus Rashford in swap deal for Victor Osimhen

Marcus Rashford’s potential exit from Manchester United could open the door to Victor Osimhen making the move to Old Trafford, according to a new report.

The 27-year-old has been dropped from the side in recent weeks by head coach Ruben Amorim. In fact, he has not featured in a minute of football since his side’s 3-2 loss to Nottingham Forest on 7 December.

Reports by Goal.com suggested on Thursday, December 2 that Rashford is keen to see out his career in Europe, having turned down three offers from clubs in Saudi Arabia. He reportedly turned down the chance to secure a contract worth £ 675,000 per week in a bid to reclaim a spot back in the England side.

As such, a move to Napoli has now been mooted according to several media agencies in the UK and Italy. Antonio Conte’s men are currently in second place in the Italian top flight and are looking to bring in another forward to secure the league title, reports The Sun.
READ ALSO:

They are keen on Rashford and it’s thought that this could open the door for the Red Devils to sign Victor Osimhen, as part of a sensational swap deal.

Osimhen was close to making a move to Chelsea during the summer window, but the proposed move collapsed as they could not agree personal terms. During the window, the striker instead made the loan move to Galatasaray for the 2024/25 season. So far in Turkey, he has scored 12 goals and made five assists in 15 outings.

Osimhen netted 76 times for Napoli in 133 appearances, even helping them win a scudetto during the 2022/23 season.

United have scored just 21 league goals this season, with Rasmus Hojlund, particularly Joshua Zirkzee, particularly under-fire. It could be that the Old Trafford club is looking to bring in another forward in the winter window ahead of the second half of the season.

Osimhen reportedly has a £62 million release clause in his contract and any move involving Rashford would see the Manchester-born attacker reunited with former United player Scott McTominay at the Italian city.

Manchester United to use Marcus Rashford in swap deal for Victor Osimhen

Sports

This is my worst year, S’Eagles keeper Nwabali says, announcing mother’s death after father passing

Published

2 days ago

January 2, 2025

Trends Admin

Stanley Nwabali

This is my worst year, S’Eagles keeper Nwabali says, announcing mother’s death after father passing

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali has lost his mother to the cold hands of death barely two month after losing his father.

Nwabali took to his X handle on New Year Day to announce the death of his mother.

In a deeply emotional moment, he shared that this has been “the worst year” of his life, a heart-wrenching statement that captures the weight of his grief.

Nwabali‘s words convey the raw pain of navigating through such a devastating period, with a message that resonates deeply with anyone who has experienced profound loss.

This is my worst year, S’Eagles keeper Nwabali says, announcing mother’s death after father passing

Sports

EPL: Arsenal sink Brentford 3-1 to close in on Liverpool

Published

2 days ago

January 2, 2025

Trends Admin

EPL: Arsenal sink Brentford 3-1 to close in on Liverpool

Arsenal closed the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to six points as Gabriel Jesus extended his hot-streak in a 3-1 win at Brentford on Wednesday.

Mikel Arteta’s side were rocked by Bryan Mbeumo’s first-half goal at the Gtech Community Stadium.

But Arsenal refused to be blown away on a wet and windy evening in west London as Jesus equalised before the break.