Scott Wisemantel: Australia coach says Rugby World Cup 2023 is wide open
Australia attack coach Scott Wisemantel says international rugby has never been so competitive and all the game's top ten teams are contenders for next year’s Rugby World Cup.
France Sport News
'It's a joke' – Rafael Nadal fires back at reporter, denies serve clock abuse after US Open first-round win
Rafael Nadal was involved in a testy exchange with a journalist after it was put to him that he receives preferential treatment from umpires. The incident came after the Spaniard roared back from a set down to beat Australia’s Rinky Hijikata in the first round of the US Open, eventually sealing a 4-6 6-2 6-3 6-3 win to progress to round two where he will face Fabio Fognini. Ad A delighted Nadal said in his on-court interview that he was “super happy” to return to Flushing Meadows, but his post-match press conference was a more tense affair.
Orpington teenage star Emma Raducanu's US Open title defence ends as she loses first-round match to France's Alize Cornet
Emma Raducanu hopes the target will be off her back after she was stripped of her title as the reigning US Open champion with a first-round loss in New York.
Mike Prendergast: Munster must adapt if Ireland tour to South Africa goes ahead
Mike Prendergast says Munster will be forced to rejig their plans if an Ireland mini-tour to South Africa goes ahead next month.
Moqtada al-Sadr's moment? Iraqi cleric in show of force against Shiite rivals
His followers braved bullets and took a leaf out of Sri Lanka's recent uprising by storming government house and taking a dive in its giant Saddam Hussein-era pool. Now, after Monday's euphoria and bloodshed, comes a sudden cooling off. What's next?
'Really disappointing, really sad' - Emma Raducanu reacts to first-round defeat to Alize Cornet at US Open
Emma Raducanu has reflected upon her «really disappointing, really sad» first-round defeat to Alize Cornet at the US Open. The Brit, who stunned the world by securing a shock triumph at Flushing Meadows last year in a fairytale fortnight, could not find the same magic this year as she lost to the unseeded French player 6-3 6-3 in Louis Armstrong Stadium. Ad In 2021, Raducanu remarkably won all 10 of her matches and became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam singles title in the Open Era in only her second major.
'This year hasn't been great' - Naomi Osaka beaten by Danielle Collins in 'pretty hard' US Open first round
Naomi Osaka was left to reflect on another frustrating Grand Slam after she lost in the opening round to Danielle Collins at the US Open — her favourite major event. The former world No. 1, who was eliminated from back-to-back tournaments at the first-round stage for the first time since 2018 earlier this month, could not manage to raise her level sufficiently in time at Flushing Meadows as she lost 7-6(5) 6-3 to the American.
Emotional Andrea Petkovic calls time on her career after US Open defeat
Andrea Petkovic was visibly emotional on Tuesday as she headed into retirement following a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 loss to Swiss Olympic champion Belinda Bencic in the first round at the US Open. Petkovic, who announced her decision to retire on Sunday, has won seven singles titles over her career and reached a ranking of world number nine in 2011. The 34-year-old, currently ranked 104th, made the 2014 French Open semi-final and three additional Grand Slam quarter-finals in 2011.