Summer is here (as the relentlessly sweltering weather will attest...) and that means the pristine grass courts of Wimbledon are once again taking centre stage as the great and good of the tennis world descend on the All England Club for the third grand slam of the year. Storylines and narratives aplenty will come hurtling out of SW19 over the next fortnight before the two singles champions are crowned on 12 and 13 July. Will Carlos Alcaraz make it a remarkable third title in a row? Can Novak Djokovic finally clinch that elusive 25th grand slam crown? Does Coco Gauff have what it takes to overcome her previously middling Wimbledon record to secure the 'Channel Slam' by adding grass-court glory to her French Open win? Alcaraz against Jannik Sinner is the rivalry that is already defining tennis today and could do so for the next decade. Kieran Jackson explains why Wimbledon is desperate for top billing in the Alcaraz-Sinner arms race, with a later start time for the final aiming to set up a sunset classic that captures as many eyeballs as possible. On the women's side of the draw, surprise winners – from Elena Rybakina to Marketa Vondrousova and Barbora Krejcikova – have become the norm in recent years. Flo Clifford says the underdogs are primed to strike again and run through the contenders who can surge through the field. Flo has also conducted an exclusive interview with tennis royalty as Sue Barker reveals her thoughts on Jack Draper's transformation, a kinship with Emma Raducanu and returning to Wimbledon. |
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| Luke Baker Sports Live Editor |
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Our favourite sport features |
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| Lando Norris heads to Silverstone re-energised – with trusted engineer as his guiding light |
For Lando Norris, so despondent this season at so many junctures, this is exactly what the doctor ordered. At one of his most successful circuits, the Briton breathed new life into his title challenge in the Styrian mountains. Throughout an early-race battle with Oscar Piastri, and towards the end of the grand prix when the Australian looked to launch a second attack, Norris was guided – almost coached – by the trusted man in his ear. Will Joseph, Norris's long-term race engineer, was a key cog in Norris's third win this season. The challenge, as F1 Correspondent Kieran Jackson writes, is now to keep the momentum rolling into his home race at Silverstone this weekend. |
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| Faith Kipyegon didn't run four minutes for the mile – but this is how she can succeed next time |
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| Georgia Hunter Bell is feeling the fatigue from last night's run. It was no ordinary run, a pacing job that didn't quite reach 800m but Hunter Bell travelled at sub-four minute mile pace, nine seconds faster per mile than her national record pace needed to claim bronze at last year's Paris Olympics in the 1,500m. Her endeavour was all part of Faith Kipyegon and Nike's audacious attempt to shatter a barrier first transcended by Sir Roger Bannister in 1954, and while more than 2,000 men have followed, no woman has achieved the same feat. Kipyegon was on track at halfway and only faded as the bell approached, slipping back to finish in 4:06.42, 1.22 seconds better than her existing world record but more than six seconds outside her ambitious goal. Yet Sport Editor Jack Rathborn explains that the sub-four minute mile for women remains a genuine possibility. |
The logic behind Man United's recruitment that could solve their goalscoring crisis |
Manchester United were not merely outscored by 15 other clubs in the Premier League last season. They were outscored – as a team, and amassing the combined efforts of the 31 players who took the field in the division for them, plus the two opponents who donated own goals – by a trio who could have formed their new front three. United got 44 goals. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Liam Delap got 47 between them. Cunha has already joined United. Delap definitely won't; they always thought Chelsea was a likelier destination and so it proved. But if the much-coveted Delap's preference was for Stamford Bridge, Mbeumo, who has a similarly large group of admirers, has his heart set on Old Trafford. Senior Football Writer Richard Jolly opines that this demonstrates a level of logic in United's summer rebuild that has been sorely missing before. What did they lack? Goals. Who are they signing? Goalscorers. This is no guarantee of success at United, given that the Theatre of Dreams has been a graveyard of careers for too many, but their recruitment drive finally has a sound grounding in Ruben Amorim's tactics. |
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How Euro 2025 could show a distinctive power shift in women's football |
As 16 squads travel to Switzerland with hope, amid all of the usual excitement that invigorates any tournament's giddy build-up, there is an unusual concern well away from Euro 2025, says Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney. Figures within the American women's game admit they are worried about a distinctive power shift in terms of playing talent. The States may not be consistently producing the best any more. While so much of the women's game is constantly framed by questions about growth, these Euros could genuinely represent a historic landmark; a moment. This could be the summer where Europe finally completes a rise above the USA, as the new centre of power for the women's game. The matches themselves may well end up as testament to that. Any international tournament, after all, is supposed to serve as a barometer for where the game is. And this one may showcase Europe's rise. European football needs a great show but, because of years of work, has never been better set up to give one. |
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