Author: lehang

La Controversia de Caitlin Clark y el Dominio de las Mujeres de EE.UU. en los Juegos Olímpicos

El ciclo olímpico siempre trae consigo historias de controversia y decepción, y el último no ha sido la excepción. En esta ocasión, la polémica giró en torno a la ausencia de Caitlin Clark en el equipo nacional femenino de baloncesto de EE.UU. Muchos aficionados y expertos consideraron que Clark, una de las jugadoras más destacadas de la temporada, merecía un lugar en el equipo que finalmente ganó la medalla de oro en los Juegos Olímpicos. La victoria de EE.UU., sin embargo, no ha silenciado completamente el debate sobre si la selección de Clark podría haber cambiado el rumbo del torneo.

La Polémica de Caitlin Clark

Desde el principio, había una gran expectación en torno a la inclusión de Caitlin Clark en el equipo olímpico de baloncesto de EE.UU. Clark, quien ha sido una de las estrellas más brillantes del baloncesto universitario, fue vista por muchos como una omisión sorprendente. Los detractores argumentaron que su talento y rendimiento merecían una oportunidad en el equipo nacional.

Con la victoria de EE.UU., algunos podrían pensar que esta controversia se ha cerrado. Sin embargo, la victoria no ha silenciado a quienes creen que Clark debería haber estado en el equipo. A pesar de ganar la medalla de oro, el debate sobre si la inclusión de Clark podría haber influido en la dinámica del equipo persiste.

El Impacto del Equipo Olímpico en el Baloncesto Femenino

El equipo femenino de baloncesto de EE.UU. ha demostrado una vez más su dominio al ganar su octava medalla de oro consecutiva. Este logro cimenta aún más su supremacía en el baloncesto femenino mundial. Sin embargo, la discusión se ha desviado hacia si el equipo, a pesar de su éxito, pudo haber sido aún más impresionante con la inclusión de Clark.

El debate se ha intensificado debido a la forma en que el equipo gestionó a sus veteranas, como Diana Taurasi y Chelsea Gray, quienes no tuvieron el impacto esperado. Mientras algunos criticaron la elección del personal y las decisiones tácticas, el hecho es que el equipo ganó el oro, lo que para muchos valida las decisiones tomadas por el cuerpo técnico.

El Reto del Marketing y la Visibilidad

Uno de los puntos clave en la discusión es el impacto del marketing y la visibilidad en el baloncesto femenino. Caitlin Clark, con su impresionante rendimiento y carisma, ha demostrado ser una figura de gran atractivo para los medios y el público. Su inclusión en el equipo olímpico podría haber incrementado el interés en el baloncesto femenino y atraído una mayor atención mediática.

Stephen A. Smith, conocido comentarista deportivo, ha destacado que la falta de Clark en el equipo olímpico fue un error estratégico desde una perspectiva de negocios. La realidad es que el interés en el baloncesto femenino, y en particular en la WNBA, ha visto un aumento significativo gracias a la influencia de estrellas como Clark.

El Creciente Interés en la WNBA

La WNBA ha experimentado un notable aumento en la audiencia y asistencia esta temporada, en gran parte impulsado por el impacto de Caitlin Clark. La liga ha registrado cifras de asistencia récord y un incremento en la visualización de los partidos, lo que refleja un creciente interés en el baloncesto femenino. El partido de las estrellas de la WNBA, que alcanzó una audiencia récord de 3.4 millones, subraya la influencia positiva de las estrellas emergentes como Clark.

Además, el equipo de Indiana Fever, donde juega Clark, ha visto una notable asistencia promedio de 16,000 espectadores por partido, destacándose en comparación con temporadas anteriores. Este auge en el interés ha llevado a un incremento en las ventas de mercancías y una mayor visibilidad para la liga en general.

Reflexiones Finales

La controversia sobre la inclusión de Caitlin Clark en el equipo olímpico resalta la tensión entre el rendimiento deportivo y las decisiones de selección. A pesar de la victoria de EE.UU., el debate sobre si Clark podría haber influido en el resultado o en la dinámica del equipo continúa. El impacto de Clark en el baloncesto femenino y la WNBA es innegable, y su ausencia en el equipo olímpico ha generado una conversación continua sobre cómo se gestionan y seleccionan los jugadores en el más alto nivel de competencia.

En última instancia, el éxito de EE.UU. en los Juegos Olímpicos y el creciente interés en la WNBA demuestran que el baloncesto femenino está en una fase de evolución positiva. La influencia de jugadores como Caitlin Clark no solo aumenta el perfil del deporte, sino que también abre nuevas oportunidades para el futuro del baloncesto femenino.

Andy Murray is slowly but surely adjusting to life after tennis following his retirement at the Paris Olympics.

Andy Murray’s hilarious face mask (via Imago/IG)

Former World No.1 Andy Murray is slowly but surely adjusting to life after tennis. The 37-year-old retired at the Paris Olympics earlier this month after competing in men’s doubles with Dan Evans.

Before leaving the Philippe Chatrier Court, the British icon was seen in tears as his retirement loomed. However, Murray is gradually adjusting to his new life by first taking up a new sport, golf. Additionally, he is also looking to improve his appearance, as he recently shared an update on his Instagram account.

I knew retirement was going to hit me hard.

Andy Murray wrote on his Instagram account

The Instagram story caught everyone by surprise, including Novak Djokovic’s wife, Jelena, who dropped several laughing emojis.

Murray has yet to share his future plans after retiring from tennis, though he has dropped a few hints. The British legend has already mentioned that he wants to remain involved in the sport in some capacity. He is the second player from the Big 4 era to retire, following Roger Federer, who stepped away from the game at the 2022 Laver Cup, where Murray was also present.

When Caitlin Clark was drafted as the number one pick by the Indiana Fever in April, every fan waited for a thrilling season that lay ahead. Clark, who had finished as the all-time highest scorer surpassing the legendary Pete Maravich, had acquired her own fan following by then. And this craze for her has resulted in an increase in viewership, attendance, concession sales, merch sales, social media metrics, and corporate sponsorships. The data of the same was released by the Boardroom in collaboration with Just Women’s Sports on Thursday. However, Clark chose to ignore all that and just concentrate on the mascot Freddy.

Ex-WNBA star Sue Bird took notice of the post by Boardroom on the social media networking site Instagram and reshared it on her Instagram stories noting that there has been a 150% increase in Freddy’s appearances since the mid-2024 WNBA season. Bird captioned the picture as “Freddy’s prices is not yesterday’s prices” in a humorous way. That caught the attention of the Fever star Clark who also reshared Bird’s stories opining “Freddy is in high demand.” Thus, Clark looked to be ignoring every other stat. Here’s the post:

Freddy Fever first made an appearance during Indian Fever’s maiden home game at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse against the Orlando Miracle on June 3, 2000. The Mascot has gained its fan following over the years for the euphoria with which it performs during the games. Other than the home games, the mascot can also be seen at parties and celebratory events for the Fever. Plus, Clark shares a special relationship with Freddy.

After the Iowa-alum was drafted as the number one overall pick by the Fever in April, Freddy along with other Fever officials welcomed Clark on a red carpet. The spectators in attendance caught on to the excitement developed by Freddy and cheered for Clark. Thus, Clark must have a sentimental attachment to Freddy who marked her arrival on the big stage. And that must have made her ignore the other stats on the post.

Caitlin Clark propels Indiana Fever to new heights 

The Midas Touch has worked for Clark as she has converted everything to gold this year. Powering Fever to new heights, the attendance has seen a 264% increase from last year. Fans have also enjoyed watching the game which can be asserted from the fact that there has been a 300% increase in hot dog sales and a +740% rise in draft beer sales.

To top that, Fever has got the most games on TV this year (38) and has set the record for most viewed WNBA games on ABC, ION, ESPN, and NBA TV. Plus, the franchise has had more views on social media in the past 4 months than any WNBA, NBA, or NFL team. This surely indicates that more promising times lie ahead for the Fever.

However, Clark has again proved to be humble by concentrating on Freddy and crediting him for his achievements. Hopefully, both Bird and Clark will see the Fever reaching new heights and that will bring Clark more fame.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.

The Noah Lyles slamming, ripping, and dissecting continues. But interestingly, this time, it has taken quite the unusual route. And we have the Olympic legend, Carmelo Anthony, to thank for. Of course, Melo did have a few words for the popular sprinter, especially on his Anthony Edwards dig. However, the New York native also reminded Lyles of all the good things that could have been if he wasn’t so bent on “burning the bridges”

In the latest episode of 7 PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony & The Kid Mero, the Knicks legend also pointed out how his fellow track and field athlete, Sha’Carri Richardson, was present and cheering Team USA in their finals against France.

“You bringing unnecessary attention to your track and field team. Sha’Carri livin’. She good. We were courtside at the game. You could have been right there with us! You upstairs now, you could have been right here, man. This is the type of sh*t we trying to bring. Trying to spread love. When Steph hit the three, you could have ran up and back real quick,” Anthony said, as the whole group roared in laughter.

It’s been over a year since Lyles directed a dig at the NBA champions, for dubbing themselves as world champions after winning the NBA Finals. Since then, the 6x World Champion has been at the receiving end of heavy ridicule. But perhaps what got him at the top of the blacklist was his no-nonsense dig at ANT.

Both athletes are signed to the German apparel and footwear brand, Adidas. However, when they invited Lyles for his shoe release, the first-time Olympic gold medalist took offense that they would give a man who has not even been to an NBA Finals his signature shoe. The 27-year-old couldn’t fathom why they wouldn’t extend the same courtesy to him. Needless to say, his comments wreaked major havoc.

Noah Lyles dug his own grave with his brash comments

Carmelo Anthony had just one warning for Noah Lyles. “Don’t burn those bridges, champ. Because once you burn those bridges, it’s hard to get over that.” A superstar in his rights, Melo understood Lyles’ feelings on the matter. But there was a fine line between indignance and offense. And in Lyles’ case, it was the latter.

Noah is the next big thing in track and field now. His backstory of an asthmatic little boy, bullied, and yet, overcoming all the odds to become a rising superstar, certainly tugged at a lot of heartstrings. Noah Lyles became a household name. So, for him to come out and direct offensive comments to his fellow US athletes wasn’t a good look on him.

Take, for instance, Sha’Carri. Even though she supported Lyles’s ‘world champion’ remarks, she was sitting courtside for Team USA vs France. And she was just as loud as the rest of the fans, cheering the men, and jubilant at their victory. She was sitting next to Melo. After the win, SCR met the winners, hugging and congratulating them.

You could disagree with someone, or even support a controversial statement. But as long as you can maintain professionalism, it’s all good. The moment you take it to the next level is when it negatively impacts you. And with Noah Lyles, let’s just say that he might have gone ahead and beyond what’s deemed professional.

What do you think? Do you think Noah Lyles has a point? Or do you agree with Carmelo Anthony in his take that Lyles should have been at Bercy, cheering his fellow US athletes? Let us know in the comments.

 Before you go, do not forget to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Asia Avinger.

The feud between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is messy and confusing. But is the core of it really this simple?

We already know the drama on the set of It Ends With Us was real. We’ve just heard competing narratives about where it all comes from. One thing that seems clear is at some point the set got toxic enough that cast and crew split into a sort of civil war, with rival teams, some in Blake’s corner, some backing the film’s director.

Us Weekly spoke with insiders from both teams on Thursday, and there are areas of agreement among TeamBlake and TeamJustin. You just have to pay attention…

First, a source supporting Justin confirmed the schism on set of the Colleen Hoover adaptation, saying tension over “creative differences” between the co-stars “had been building up since day one”:

“There were two camps on the film — team Blake and team Justin. This creative struggle set the tone for the negative experience behind the scenes and grew into them not speaking anymore.”

Their take? Justin felt “hurt and sidelined” as Blake made changes to the script and wardrobe, “often without consulting Justin or his team.” This is very much in line with what we’ve heard previously about Blake bringing in hubby Ryan Reynolds to punch up scenes, getting his editor to make another cut, etc. It makes sense the director, who’s supposed to be in charge of the whole thing, would feel diminished, like he’s just some journeyman doing whatever Blake says. The source says:

“[Justin] was made to feel that his vision wasn’t as important as Blake’s, and it stifled the creativity on set.”

If all true, it’s understandable he’d tell an interviewer later on that she should direct the sequel if he felt like she’d shadow-directed the first one.

The Blake source challenges that narrative, though, saying “any changes or input by Blake was to create the best film possible and honor the book.”

See what they have in common there? They agree Blake did make changes. This source just thinks she did the right thing. And that’s not all they agree on. The TeamBlake source argued:

“Blake was a producer and worked closely with Colleen and other female team members on set. Without [Justin’s] input does not mean [she went] behind his back.”

OK, again, they’re saying the same thing happened! They’re just characterizing it differently!

We have to say that “without Justin’s input” does mean “behind his back.” If he’s the director, and she makes changes that he doesn’t agree with because she thinks it’s best for the film, that’s the same thing! They just like her changes — and think the women on set all agreed. So why couldn’t they let Justin know? Collaborate with him? Unless they thought he was some kind of tyrant, how could he argue with his star, the book’s author, and a quorum of female cast and crew on a female-centered story?

Well, a third source may have explained that, telling Us Blake “does not have a good opinion” of Justin. That much seems pretty obvious at this point.

Frankly, from these sources we’re getting the sense Blake did take over, leading a sort of cinematic coup. Whether or not she was right that Justin was wrong with how he was doing things, we have no idea, but we’re kind of getting the same story from both sides — she did take creative control! And right or wrong, going behind the director’s back — or above his head, however you want to put it — is a huge violation on a film set! Producer or not.

Our question is… what’s with these claims Justin made Blake “uncomfortable” and was “borderline abusive” IRL?? Wouldn’t TeamBlake cite those as reasons not to collaborate with him? Did only a few know about that? Or is something else at play here? Are the fans calling it a smear campaign right? Is this really all deflection to obscure the fact Blake committed a cardinal sin on set?

What do YOU think, Perezcious readers??

The shared love between members of the Serena Williams family is actively followed by the fans. Be it the special Sundays with Alexis Ohanian or the adorable red carpet walks with the tennis legend, the followers have been actively following both Olympia and Adira. While a majority of the updates revolved around the 6-year-old, the time has finally come for the younger one to be a part of the highlights. As she is approaching her first birthday, both Serena and Alexis are abuzz on social media.

Every first thing about a kid is special for his/her parents. Be it the first step or the first word, the ones who give birth always tend to adore the moments and capture them as unforgettable memories. Serena Williams recently shared a series of posts on social media as she found herself lost in the memories of a time when she was mentally preparing herself to bring her second daughter Adira into this world. The 42-year-old shared pictures clicked during the same time last year as the whole family cherished moments of Serena’s maternity.

Along with pictures that featured both Alexis and Olympia embracing Serena, she also included a caption that gave out the real meaning behind the name Adira. “Adira is a girl’s name of Hebrew origin and means ‘mighty,’ ‘strong,’ and ‘majestic.’ The elegant name is popular in many cultures around the world. Adira is the feminine form of the classic name Adir. It is a Biblical name, meaning ‘Strong One,” she wrote.

The excitement isn’t just limited to Serena as Alexis also came forward to share her thoughts on the post. “She’s ONE! 😮 how did that happen so fast,” he wrote, seemingly surprised to lose track of time as he finds himself lost in dorable parenting adventures. This update came just a week before Adira’s official birthday, reminding fans of the moment when their favorite family welcomed their newest member.

However, this wasn’t the first time when Alexis Ohanian socially expressed his love for Olympia and Adira. Back when the world was celebrating Father’s Day, the renowned entrepreneur revealed a feeling that gives him more joy than fueling businesses. “Building companies is fun but @olympiaohanian @adiraohanian you two are the greatest things I’ll ever create and I’m so lucky to be your Papa,” he wrote as a caption on his tweet. Besides words and feelings, Alexis has also built a strong monetary legacy for his kids.

Serena Williams’ daughter Adira becomes the youngest investor in professional sports

Adira River is about to complete her first year in this world and has already received an interesting title: team owner. Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian recently became part-owners of the Los Angeles Golf Club, which is part of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s high-tech golf league, TGL. Alexis announced that their first child, Olympia, would join him and Serena as a co-owner of the golf team, stating, “Announcing my fellow co-owner of @wearelagc… @olympiaohanian! Olympia is the youngest owner in professional sports (@weareangelcity) and is now the youngest 2-team owner in professional sports. She’ll be joined by her future sibling.”

Adding another surprise to the story, Alexis confirmed in a tweet that Adira would also have a stake in the Los Angeles Golf Club. Serena and Alexis seem to be determined to create an early legacy for their children. Olympia made the news for being the youngest owner in professional sports when she acquired a stake in Angel City FC, which is a women’s soccer team.

Alexis mentioned the reason for this, saying, “As someone who spends hours kicking around a football with my two-year-old daughter, I want her to have a front row seat to this revolution.” With this, the renowned entrepreneur is powering women’s sports, a dream shared by him and Serena. By including their children in these opportunities, the couple hopes to make a better future for them.

Coco Gauff’s forehand has been her Achilles heel for quite some time. This has been evident during her clashes with Iga Swiatek on the women’s tour. The Polish tennis star currently has a dominating 10-1 lead in her head-to-head record against her American opponent. Well, on that note tennis icon Martina Navratilova has some advice for Gauff, echoing a similar sentiment she shared ahead of the 2024 season.

Despite having an array of skills at her disposal, the reigning US Open champion’s forehands are considered one of the biggest ‘what ifs’ in the racquet game, as they have resulted in several errors and surprise loses. Wimbledon 2023 comes to mind, where Gauff started as one of the favorites but went out in the first round. Her forehand let her down throughout and while she has improved somewhat, there is some way to go her.

In light of Gauff’s forehand issues and dismal record against Swiatek, Navratilova said, ” Well, you’ve got to improve the forehand somehow. You can get away with beating a lot of people with it, but it’s just not as solid as it needs to be at the top of the game for her to really start dominating,” while speaking to the Tennis Now on the Tennis Channel conference call.

In the Rome Open semifinals last week, despite conceding an early break, Iga Swiatek dominated the later stages of the match, winning eight of the last eleven games to secure a straight-sets victory (6-4, 6-3) over Coco Gauff. The Hall of Famer Navratilova also opened up about how the American tennis prodigy ‘can dominate’ against top players like Swiatek if she improves her forehand.

She also talked about what how she would improve Gauff’s nagging issue. She explained, “I would tweak the grip a little bit — you don’t have to tweak it too much. You can just do it a little bit at a time so that it still feels comfortable. But she needs a bigger sweet spot, a bigger hitting zone on the forehand. It’s a small hitting zone with such an extreme grip and it just limits you.”

This could mean shifting to a more semi-western grip for Gauff, which will give her a bigger strike zone on her forehand, allowing her to tackle tricky low balls better. Navratilova also pointed out that a grip change would mean she will not need to move her racquet hand as much when returning. Apart from the forehand, Navratilova also shed light on another issue in Gauff’s game on the court.

More than any other player in the top 100 on the circuit, the young American tennis star has conceded 213 double faults so far this season. Notably, during the same conversation, Martina opened up about how Gauff should improve her first serves to cut down on the double faults. “You don’t want to keep harping on it, but also make her serve into a bigger weapon, a lot more solid,” she advised.

“I think she just needs to make that serve a little bit more of a weapon, get some free points.” This isn’t the first time, Navratilova has pointed out issues with Gauff’s game. In November last year, in an interview with WTA, she talked about what Gauff can do to take the next step.

She said, “The next step for Coco? What happens with the forehand? Will she start hitting more forehands down the line or rolling it crosscourt? Late in the season, I noticed she was hitting those loopy forehands more often.” Gauff’s grip could be limiting her ability on the low balls as she has often missed quite a number of them during crunch situations.

Gauff’s forehand has cost her on more than one occasion. In 2022 she lost in the WTA Finals and then suffered a defeat in the French Open final in the same year at the hands of her nemesis Iga Swiatek. In that encounter, Gauff missed two routine forehands, hitting the top of the net with one and then on break point looping a forehand beyond the baseline in the very first game.

The American has a 17–25 (40.5%) win-loss record against players ranked in the top 10 at one point, which highlights her forehand game hindering her chances against high quality opponents and allowing her “dominate” as mentioned by Navratilova.

Not only Martina Navratilova, but tennis legend and 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick pointed towards the “mental issue” concerning Gauff’s serve.

Andy Roddick claims to have seen Gauff’s “headache” under the spotlight

On his podcast “Served,” tennis legend Andy Roddick analyzed Coco Gauff’s recent performance. While acknowledging her strong showing in the Rome semi-final, Roddick pointed towards her serve as a point of concern. “Coco had a great semi in Rome. You are kinda searching for serve a little bit. Hit the forehand as well as I have seen her headache,” Roddick observed.

While Roddick pointed out how World No. 3’s first serve seems fine at the moment, her second serve remains a challenge. “Serve is still a bit, her first service actually a lot better in Rome. Second serve is still, you know, she is battling,” he elaborated. Roddick’s comments suggest that she’s battling a bit of a mental block with the serve, especially under the spotlight. “I think she is battling a bit of a mental issue on the serve and you know you can do it in practice. But doing it in under the lights is a different deal.”

Gauff certainly needs to find the rhythm on the court if she wants to pose a serious challenge to the ‘Queen of the Clay,’ Swiatek, who has already defeated her on the court this season. Do you think that the American tennis prodigy can level up her game on the court if she improves her forehand and first serves? Let us know in the comments section.

Ons Jabeur Announces Retirement from Tennis Following Pregnancy News

In a heartfelt announcement that sent ripples through the tennis world, Ons Jabeur, the celebrated Tunisian tennis star, revealed her retirement from the sport as she and her husband, Karim Kamoun, are expecting their first child. This unexpected news was shared through a touching post on social media, where Jabeur expressed her joy and gratitude for the journey she has had in tennis, while also looking forward to the new chapter of motherhood.

Ons Jabeur has been a trailblazer for Tunisian and Arab women in sports. Born on August 28, 1994, in Ksar Hellal, Tunisia, Jabeur’s journey in tennis began at a young age, inspired by her mother’s love for the game. Overcoming numerous challenges, Jabeur’s talent and determination saw her rise through the ranks to become one of the top players in the world.

Jabeur made history multiple times during her career. She became the first Arab woman to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam at the  Australian Open in 2020 and later reached the finals at  Wimbledon in 2022. Her playing style, characterized by its flair and variety, made her a fan favorite and earned her the nickname “Minister of Happiness.”

The announcement of her retirement was shared in a poignant video on her Instagram account. With tears in her eyes, Jabeur spoke directly to her fans and the tennis community:

“Today, I want to share with you some very personal news. Karim and I are excited to announce that we are expecting our first child. This is a dream come true for us, and we couldn’t be happier. However, it also means that I will be stepping away from tennis, effective immediately. This decision wasn’t easy, but it is the right one for me and my family.”

Jabeur’s message was met with an outpouring of love and support from fans, fellow players, and the tennis community at large. The comments section of her post was filled with messages of congratulations and well-wishes for the future.

Reflecting on Her Journey

Reflecting on her career, Jabeur highlighted some of her proudest moments and the challenges she faced along the way. She expressed her gratitude to her fans, coaches, and family for their unwavering support.

“I am so grateful for  everything tennis has given me,” Jabeur said. “From winning my first WTA title to reaching the  Wimbledon final, each moment has been incredibly special. The support from my fans and the love from the tennis community have been overwhelming. I want to thank my coaches, my team, and especially my family, who have been my rock through all the highs and lows.”

Impact on Tennis and Beyond

Jabeur’s impact on tennis, particularly in the Arab world, cannot be overstated. She has been a source of inspiration for many young girls and aspiring athletes in the region. Her success has shown that with hard work and dedication, barriers can be broken, and new paths can be forged.

Beyond her achievements on the court, Jabeur has been an advocate for social causes, using her platform to raise awareness about various issues. She has been involved in charitable activities, supporting education and sports programs for underprivileged children in Tunisia.

Reactions from the Tennis World

The news of Jabeur’s retirement elicited a wave of reactions from across the tennis world. Fellow players, coaches, and tennis legends took to social media to express their admiration for her career and to wish her well in her new journey.

Serena Williams, a close friend and competitor, tweeted, “Ons, you have been a true inspiration on and off the court. Congratulations on your pregnancy and best wishes for the future. You’ll be missed!”

Simona Halep, another top player, shared her thoughts on Instagram, “Ons, your passion and love for the game have always shone through. You have made history and inspired so many. Enjoy this new chapter of your life!”

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) also released a statement, celebrating Jabeur’s contributions to the sport and wishing her the best in her future endeavors.

Looking Forward

As Jabeur steps into this new chapter of her life, she expressed her excitement about becoming a mother and her hopes for the future. While her tennis career may be over, she hinted at remaining connected to the sport in some capacity.

“I am looking forward to this new adventure of motherhood. It’s a new kind of challenge, but one I am ready to embrace with all my heart. Tennis has been such a big part of my life, and I hope to stay involved in some way, whether it’s through coaching, mentoring, or inspiring the next generation of players.”

Jabeur also took a moment to address young athletes, encouraging them to pursue their dreams and never give up.

“To all the young girls and boys out there dreaming of becoming professional athletes, I want to tell you to believe in yourselves and work hard. There will be obstacles, but don’t let them deter you. Keep pushing forward, and you will achieve your dreams.”

Ons Jabeur’s legacy in tennis is secure. She leaves behind a trail of broken records and a legacy of inspiration. Her story is one of perseverance, resilience, and breaking barriers. As she transitions into this new phase of life, her influence will undoubtedly continue to be felt in the world of sports and beyond.

while the tennis world bids farewell to one of its brightest stars, the excitement surrounding Jabeur’s new journey into motherhood is palpable. Her retirement marks the end of an era but also the beginning of another beautiful chapter. Ons Jabeur’s journey reminds us that dreams can come true, both on and off the court, and that the legacy of an athlete is not just in the trophies won, but in the hearts and minds they inspire along the way.

“I look beyond the media and ultimately see the man he is,” Roger Federer reveals how Novak Djokovic has always been ‘misunderstood’ by fans and media

Federer’s documentary is set to release on 20th June on Amazon Prime Video.

Roger Federer has once again captured the tennis world’s attention with his upcoming documentary ‘Federer: Twelve Final Days’, set to release on June 20th. Sneak peeks are already out, with one focusing on his complicated relationship with Serbian rival Novak Djokovic.

Federer had even admitted that it was his fault for not giving the Serbian any respect. Continuing that, the former Swiss World No. 1 reckons the tennis fans have misunderstood Djokovic because of his strong personality and determination to win at all costs. However, Federer also added that he saw the other side of the Serbian, the man, who is very connected to his family.

I think he was a little misunderstood. I look beyond the media and ultimately see the man he is. If I take away his game, who is he? What are its values? I know he is very attached to his family.

Roger Federer said in a promotional video clip

There has always been some bad blood between the fans of Djokovic and Federer, and it is a welcome change for tennis that Federer is openly backing the Serbian. There have also been a few more scenes about Djokovic in the upcoming documentary which has caught the interest of the fans.

Roger Federer clears the air around Novak Djokovic crying after the Swiss ace’s last match

One of the most important scenes in the upcoming documentary about Roger Federer is the 2022 Laver Cup match where Federer bid goodbye to the tennis world and hung his racket. It was an emotional day for all the tennis fans and even more for the players present in the moment
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer (Via Imago)
One clip from the documentary showed Novak Djokovic crying uncontrollably as he hugged Federer. While many have always thought that it was because the Serbian saw Federer with his kids. However, the 20-time singles Grand Slam champion revealed that he had said something personal to the Serbian who might have cried because of that.

Novak, I told him things also the very end of a very personal you know, and that maybe triggered something in him as well.

Roger Federer said

Now, there are only a couple more days for the documentary to be released. The fans have all loved the glimpses of the show and are eager to watch the whole thing.

Viktor Troicky recently suggested that an  Olympic gold medal doesn’t define Novak Djokovic’s greatness. Djokovic is in contention at the 2024  Paris Olympics men’s singles event.

He defeated Germany’s Dominik Koepfer 7-5, 6-3 on Wednesday, July 31, to book his berth in the quarterfinals of the singles competition. He is set to take on Stefanos Tsitsipas from Greece next.

It is notably the Serb’s fourth campaign at the Games. He won the singles bronze in his debut appearance in Beijing (2008) but couldn’t secure a ribbon in London (2012), Rio (2016), and Tokyo (2021).

Hence, after having amassed the most Grand Slam titles, 24, in the Open Era, and recorded 428 weeks as the World No. 1, he remains without the  Olympic gold.

Viktor Troicki, who is with Djokovic in Paris as Serbia’s  tennis team captain, recently sat down for a chat with CLAY and claimed his fellow Serb has no more boxes to tick to be considered a  tennis great.

“He doesn’t have anything to prove anymore. He’s done it all. In tennis we all know the peak of the mountain are Grand Slams, being number one, that’s something in tennis, like what the World Cup or the Champions League is in football,” Troicki said.

The former pro noted that winning Grand Slams matters more in tennis than success at the quadrennial event. He said:

“For tennis we can talk about that  Olympics it’s honour, it’s biggest sporting event for sure. But definitely people remember more the Grand Slams winners than gold medalist in  Olympics.”

“In other sports it’s different. So for me, even if he wins or he doesn’t, he will still be the best ever. If he proves it, okay, of course he will accomplish his dream and definitely by being a gold medalist he would get another relief, I guess.”

“We’re not talking about the golden dream; Novak Djokovic’s focused on tomorrow’s opponent” – Viktor Troicki

Viktor Troicki (L) with Novak Djokovic. (Getty)

In the same interview with CLAY, Viktor Troicki denied having discussions with Novak Djokovic about winning the gold medal at the 2024  Paris Olympics men’s singles event. Upon being asked about the golden dream by the host, Troicki replied:

“We’re not talking about it [the golden dream]. We go match by match. And this is why I’m not saying anything about winning the gold, at the moment we’re going step by step.

“He’s focused on tomorrow’s opponent. That’s the most important. This is how it should be and we’ll see how it ends up.”

Notably, if we Novak Djokovic wins the gold medal in Paris, he will join the likes of Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Steffi Graf, and Andre Agassi to have completed the Career Golden Slam, i.e., winning all four Grand Slams and the  Olympic gold medal.