World No 3 Aryna Sabalenka dropped out of Wimbledon just hours before her first-round match with Emina Bektas at the All England Club on Monday.
Two-time Australian Open champion Sabalenka revealed at the weekend that there was a chance she could withdraw due to an continuing shoulder problem that primarily affects her serve.
Sabalenka was set to be second on Court One but cut short her practice on Monday afternoon before organisers confirmed she had been forced to withdraw, with Erika Andreeva handed a place in the main draw as a lucky loser.
“Heart-broken to have to tell you all that I won't be able to play The Championships this year. I tried everything to get myself ready but unfortunately my shoulder is not co-operating,” Sabalenka, a semi-finalist in 2021 and 2023, wrote on social media.
“I pushed myself to the limit in practice today to try my best, but my team explained that playing would only make things much worse. This tournament means so much to me and I promise I'll be back stronger than ever next year.”
On court, ninth seed Maria Sakkari eased into the second round with a 6-3, 6-1 win over qualifier McCartney Kessler of the US on Court 12. The 28-year-old Athenian has never been beyond Round 3 but believes there is an opportunity to improve on that mediocre record this year.
With Sabalenka dropping out and no obvious dominant force on grass courts in the draw, Sakkari said many players will believe they can emulate last year's winner Marketa Vondrousova.
“From my side, it's wide open,” Sakkari said after her win. “So anyone can win. Going into the tournament I think that we could name like 20 or 25 girls that could win the tournament right now. The depth of women's tennis is just very good right now, and everyone is playing good.”
French Open finalist Jasmine Paolini was also a straight-sets victor with the Italian seventh seed securing a 7-5, 6-3 win over Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo, while Ukrainian 18th seed Marta Kostyuk beat Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova 6-3 6-2.
In the men's draw, meanwhile, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz was given a sterner than expected test by Estonia's Mark Lajal before eventually securing a 7-6, 7-5, 6-2 win on Centre Court.
The Spaniard, who defeated Novak Djokovic after a five-set-thriller in last year's final, was taken to a tie-break in the opening set on Monday and needed a crucial break in game 11 to seal the second before his 269th-ranked opponent ran out of steam in the third.
Alcaraz is attempting to win back-to-back major titles after triumphing at the French Open last month but came up against a determined player in his first appearance in a Grand Slam main draw.
“Honestly it surprised me a little bit because I haven't seen him playing or practising too much,” said Alcaraz. “He has the level to go up a lot. He is really young, the same age as me, and I am sure I am going to see him more often.
“Stepping on this court, it is the most beautiful court I have played on,” added Alcaraz. “I still get nerves when I play here.
“I practised for 45 minutes on Thursday and it was the first time I was nervous on practice because I was playing on this court.”
Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev is through to the next round with a minimum of fuss after defeating Aleksandar Kovacevic of the US 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 on Court Two.
“It was a great match, it's never easy the first match,” admitted the Russian, who reached the semi-finals last year before losing to Alcaraz. “There were moments when it wasn't as easy as the score suggests.
“I've still never lost on Court One so hopefully I can play a lot more matches on this court. Last year I said it was unfortunate I had to go to Centre Court for the semis and I lost. So for the moment, I want to play on Court One, enjoy and try to win.
“It is never easy to win in straight sets, especially on grass. He was serving well and I only had one chance and I was lucky to get a winner on a first serve.”
Norwegian eighth seed Casper Ruud is safely through after beating Australian qualifier Alex Bolt 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 while former semi-finalist Denis Shapovalov of Canada knocked out Chilean 19th seed Nicolas Jarry 6-1, 7-5, 6-4.
Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m, Winner: ES Rubban, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Al Mobher, Sczcepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: Jabalini, Tadhg O’Shea, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: AF Abahe, Tadgh O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: AF Makerah, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Law Of Peace, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
It
Director: Andres Muschietti
Starring: Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor
Three stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
RESULT
RS Leipzig 3
Marcel Sabitzer 10', 21'
Emil Forsberg 87'
Tottenham 0
Friday's schedule in Madrid
Men's quarter-finals
Novak Djokivic (1) v Marin Cilic (9) from 2pm UAE time
Roger Federer (4) v Dominic Thiem (5) from 7pm
Stefanos Tsitsipas (8) v Alexander Zverev (3) from 9.30pm
Stan Wawrinka v Rafael Nadal (2) from 11.30pm
Women's semi-finals
Belinda Bencic v Simona Halep (3) from 4.30pm
Sloane Stephens (8) v Kiki Bertens (7) from 10pm
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
Results:
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m | Winner: Eghel De Pine, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m | Winner: AF Sheaar, Szczepan Mazur, Saeed Al Shamsi
6pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (PA) Group 3 Dh500,000 1,600m | Winner: RB Torch, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (TB) Listed Dh380,000 1,600m | Winner: Forjatt, Chris Hayes, Nicholas Bachalard
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 1,400m | Winner: Hawafez, Connor Beasley, Ridha ben Attia
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 80,000 1,600m | Winner: Qader, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roaulle
The biog
Name: Marie Byrne
Nationality: Irish
Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption
Book: Seagull by Jonathan Livingston
Life lesson: A person is not old until regret takes the place of their dreams
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Q&A with Dash Berlin
Welcome back. What was it like to return to RAK and to play for fans out here again?
It’s an amazing feeling to be back in the passionate UAE again. Seeing the fans having a great time that is what it’s all about.
You're currently touring the globe as part of your Legends of the Feels Tour. How important is it to you to include the Middle East in the schedule?
The tour is doing really well and is extensive and intensive at the same time travelling all over the globe. My Middle Eastern fans are very dear to me, it’s good to be back.
You mix tracks that people know and love, but you also have a visually impressive set too (graphics etc). Is that the secret recipe to Dash Berlin's live gigs?
People enjoying the combination of the music and visuals are the key factor in the success of the Legends Of The Feel tour 2018.
Have you had some time to explore Ras al Khaimah too? If so, what have you been up to?
Coming fresh out of Las Vegas where I continue my 7th annual year DJ residency at Marquee, I decided it was a perfect moment to catch some sun rays and enjoy the warm hospitality of Bab Al Bahr.
'Saand Ki Aankh'
Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
