Author: lehang

Martina Navratilova joined the discussion to give her opinion about an aging Novak Djokovic who recently lost in the US Open third round.

Martina Navratilova doesn’t think playing for a long time while struggling with poor form will ruin Novak Djokovic‘s reputation. Many think Djokovic’s form has started to decline as he failed to win a title on the ATP Tour this year, and the gold medal at the Paris Olympics that had eluded him for a long time was the only title he was able to win.

Navratilova believes Djokovic won’t be hanging up his racket in the near future as he is eyeing the historic 25th Grand Slam, aiming to surpass Margaret Court as both are tied with 24 majors. The 18-time Grand Slam singles champion also feels that winning his 25th major trophy won’t stop Djokovic as he will have the desire to keep on winning more in the next major tournaments.

It depends how much the fire is still burning. If it’s still burning, I’m never going to say ‘you shouldn’t play’, because he’s never going to tarnish his legacy – it’s ridiculously good.

Martina Navratilova said during the Q&A session for Sky Sports

Djokovic won the Olympic gold medal by beating Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets. He skipped a couple of hard-court tournaments before arriving at Flushing Meadows, where he registered easy wins in his first two rounds before losing to Alexei Popyrin in four sets in the third round. It was the first time since 2017 that Djokovic failed to add a major title to his trophy cabinet in a season.

Paul McNamee recalls Novak Djokovic’s imitation of Maria Sharapova

Novak Djokovic used to show his humorous side often during the early years of his career. His most popular antic was his imitation of Maria Sharapova, which led to many thinking that Djokovic was trying hard to please everyone, which wasn’t the case as Paul McNamee, who has known Djokovic for a long time, talked about how the Serb always had an easygoing personality before he became a celebrity.

When he imitated Sharapova and the others, people said that he was trying too hard to please others, but actually, that was Novak- that’s what I saw when he was a teenager, simply that’s how he was, open, that’s how he was before ‘Novak Djokovic’ became a celebrity.

Paul McNamee said during an interaction with Sport Klub

Djokovic’s next tournament is the Davis Cup for Serbia against Greece, which is scheduled to start on September 14. Following the Davis Cup, Djokovic will feature in the Shanghai Open for the first time since 2019.

Playing in the NBA is a dream come true for aspiring basketball stars, paving the way for a luxury lifestyle. In addition to the lucrative contracts, NBA stars are celebrated with mouth-watering endorsement deals and various business ventures. Golden State Warriors star guard Stephen Curry is among the richest NBA players and enjoys various benefits.
Stephen Curry (Image Source: The Sun)

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Stephen Curry has a net worth of $240 million. Among his notable investments, the 36-year-old Curry has an impressive garage with many luxurious cars.

Let’s look at the Warriors guard’s whopping $759K car collection.

Infiniti Q50

Nissan’s luxury brand Infiniti signed Stephen Curry in 2017 as the brand ambassador. The Warriors guard appeared in several commercials and promotional campaigns for the brand.

Curry owns a 2018 Infiniti Q50 valued at $35,000, which he regularly drives despite having a range of luxury cars in his garage. His 2018 three-car accident driving a Porsche may be the reason behind this switch. Equipped with a 3.0L V6 engine, the Infiniti Q50 goes from 0-60 mph in just five seconds with a top speed of 172 mph.

Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Being one of the richest active NBA players, Steph Curry can afford to drive a 2017 Porsche 911 GT3 RS worth $161,000. Powered by a 4-liter flat-six engine, it is one of the fastest cars in the 911 lineup, with a maximum speed of around 200 mph. With an impressive horsepower of 500 hp, it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds.
Porsche 911 GT3 RS (Image Credit: Porsche)
In 2018, Curry was involved in a three-car crash on a California highway while driving his Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Fortunately, Curry avoided any injuries in the accident while the car sustained damage to its rear end.

Porsche Panamera Turbo S

Porsche Panamera Turbo S (Image Credit: Porsche)
The greatest three-point shooter in NBA history owns two Porsche cars, the most expensive of which is a Panamera Turbo S. Equipped with a 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8 engine, the luxury car can go at the top speed of 196 mph. This is the most expensive car in Curry’s collection, valued at $179,000.

Mercedes Benz G55 AMG

Mercedes Benz G55 AMG (Image Credit: Big Boy Toyz
Besides his sports cars, the 2022 Finals MVP also owns SUV cars with Mercedes Benz G55, powered with a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine. With 493 horsepower, the car’s top speed is limited to 130 mph and can go 0 to 60 in 5.3 seconds. The G55 AMG, worth an estimated $130,000, is used by many Hollywood A-listers, including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bradley Cooper.

Range Rover Sport LWB

Range Rover Sport LWB (Image Credit: CarWale)
Another luxury SUV in Curry’s collection is the Range Rover Sport LWB, which he bought for around $200,000. While Curry’s Range Rover’s engine is not specified, the car comes in three categories: 3.0-liter Inline-6 Mild-Hybrid, 5.0-liter V8 Supercharged, and Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV).

Tesla Model X 90D

The four-time NBA champion has a big family with four children, which is why he has another SUV in his collection.

With a futuristic look and distinctive design, the car has a maximum speed of around 155 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in around 4.8 seconds. With a 90 kWh battery, the SUV has an estimated range of 250-300 miles on a full charge.

Cadillac Escalade ESV

Cadillac Escalade ESV (Image Credit: Cadillac)
The Warriors guard’s fourth luxury SUV, the Cadillac Escalade ESV, has a 6.2-liter V8 Engine. With a top speed of 151 mph, the car accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 6 to 7 seconds. The worth of Curry’s Escalade ESV is estimated at around $77,000.

In addition to his luxurious car collection, Stephen Curry has several investments and homes. Curry and his family live in a mansion in Atherton, California, worth around $30 million. The Golden State Warriors guard has signed a one-year $62.6 million extension ensuring a luxurious NBA package until 2027.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, the star player of the Milwaukee Bucks, has improved his skills every year since he was drafted by the Bucks in the 2013 NBA draft. His best stats came in the 2022-23 season, where he averaged 31.1 points, 5.7 assists, and 11.8 rebounds per game. During the most recent NBA season, the 29-year-old delivered several dominating performances that propelled his team to the NBA playoffs. However, the team was eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the first round.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Image Credits: Getty Images)

During the offseason, Antetokounmpo, who recently praised Victor Wembanyama, aimed to make some significant investments. According to the latest update from Break Comp Cards, the Bucks forward is reportedly willing to pay $1M for a rare Team USA card autographed by LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant.

Giannis is reportedly willing to pay $1M for a 1/1 LeBron-Steph-KD Team USA autographed card 🤑

(via Break Comp Cards) pic.twitter.com/rm19FEmWwc

— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) September 3, 2024

Antetokounmpo is seeking a 1/1 autographed card featuring the legends released by Topps Now. He stated he would accept an offer double the current highest bid, which stands at $500,000.

James, Curry, and Durant captivated basketball fans with their exceptional skills at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Their extraordinary efforts led Team USA to secure their 5th straight gold medal. Unfortunately, this marked the final time these three legends played together. As a result, a card signed by James, Curry, and Durant will likely hold significant value in the future. Moreover, this card will commemorate the first time these legends featured together, which will significantly impact its price.

Denver Nuggets Star Raves About Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Incredible Skills

Antetokounmpo is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time and has been a dominant force behind the Bucks’ success in recent years. The 29-year-old star player led his team to clinch the NBA championship in 2021 and was also honored with the NBA Finals MVP in the same year. Due to his remarkable skills, Denver Nuggets star Michael Porter Jr. praised him in a recent appearance on The Ringer’s Off Guard Podcast.

“It’s better now. If you take some of these players and put them then… Like, if you put Giannis [Antetokounmpo] in that era, he would’ve been the best player to ever touch a basketball.” Porter Jr. said.

Antetokounmpo has achieved incredible things in his 11 seasons with the Bucks. He has won two NBA MVP titles, been selected to the NBA All-Star team eight times, and won the 2020 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. In two months, the talented Bucks player will start his 12th NBA season. It will be interesting to see how he continues to contribute to the team’s success.

WNBA rookie Angel Reese checked in for work as if she was still attending school on Tuesday night, yet the Chicago Sky put her front and center.

Angel Reese (Photo via chicagosky/IG)

The former LSU star has been killing it with her outfits all season, and Tuesday was no different as she prepared to suit up against the Las Vegas Aces.

Reese pulled up to the game in a miniskirt that will be hard to forget once you see it, putting her teammates in the shade as the Sky posted a few of their pregame fits to Instagram under the caption, “Checking in for work.”

You can check them out right below:

As mentioned above, Angel has been slaying it from the moment she entered the WNBA, but she may have done her best work on Tuesday night.

Angel Reese Setting It Off On The Hardwood As Well

The rookie isn’t only doing it off the court, however. Reese has already set the WNBA for rebounds in a single season, as well as for the most offensive rebounds in one season.

“It’s a mindset. She wants it,” Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon was quoted as saying this past weekend. “She’s not going to allow a box-out to keep her from getting an offensive rebound. She’s very physical down there.

“It’s a desire. She goes hard after it. She takes it very personally. She’s very serious about her work of getting rebounds. She knows that’s the thing she brings to this team to help us be successful, and she’s mastering that role.”

Despite Reese’s personal achievements, the Sky are in danger of missing out on playoff basketball at 11-22, having gone on an awful run since the league resumed on the back of the Olympic break.

They are still holding on to that eighth spot in the Eastern Conference, but it’s going to be hard to hold on to with their current form.

Despite his shocking upset at the 2024 US Open, Novak Djokovic still has the ability to win a few more Grand Slam titles, according to former World No.1 Mats Wilander.

Djokovic’s last Major triumph came at the 2023 US Open, where he defeated Daniil Medvedev to win his 24th Grand Slam title. After falling in the 2024 Wimbledon final to Carlos Alcaraz, the Serbian was backed to successfully defend his title at Flushing Meadows this year. However, he fell in a shocking third round loss to Australian Alexei Popyrin, ending his bid for another Grand Slam title this season.

Wilander believes Djokovic will win more titles before he retires

“So far I don’t see him getting old, I don’t think this is the year where we thought ‘Ah, he’s 37.’ Physically I don’t notice anything getting older, mentally – he seems to be getting smarter,” said Wilander in an interview with Sport Klub. “I can’t believe he’s still playing at this rate, but I can believe he’ll keep it up. I think he will win some more Slams, that he will finish at 26. His game is there.

“If he won two more matches here, he would suddenly be the best in the world again, there are not many who can beat him. It’s a surprise that he lost, but Popyrin did what not many could do – he served in the corners, sometimes he hit the ball with all his strength, played with variation on the backhand.”

Furthermore, Wilander picked Italian Jannik Sinner as the favorite to lift the title in New York following the elimination of Djokovic and former champion Carlos Alcaraz.
“Sinner is the first favourite, but there are so many good players,” added the seven-time Grand Slam champion. “[Daniil] Medvedev can win, in his own way, and it’s good for Sinner that he didn’t have a tough opponent immediately after the elimination of Alcaraz and Djokovic, so that it settles down for him.”

The Indiana Fever are looking to notch their fourth-straight win with a victory over the Dallas Wings on September 1. Fueling the Fever’s hot streak, rookie Caitlin Clark’s phenomenal performances.

During Indiana’s 100-81 victory the Chicago Sky on Friday, Clark scored a career-high 31 points, with 12 assists and 4 rebounds. While the No. 1 overall pick has already broken the WNBA’s rookie record for threes and assists in a single season, and tied the record for most threes in a single game (7), she broke a new franchise record against the Wings.

During the first half at College Park Center in Texas, Clark scored her 595th point, surpassing Tamika Catchings for most rookie points in a season in franchise history.

The 22-year-old, who was recently named Eastern Conference Player of the Week, seems to break a new record in every game. Before the Olympic break, Clark became the first rookie in league history to score a triple-double and set the WNBA record for most assists in one game (19).

While personal stats are great, Clark’s main focus is stacking wins in order to bring Indiana their first playoff berth since 2016.

After starting the season 1-8, the Fever enter their matchup against the Wings sitting in sixth place with a 16-16 record. With a victory over Dallas on Sunday, Indiana will be over. 500 for the first time this season.

It’ not just LeBron James who is awaiting the NBA to expand and get his hands on a team. Just like their numerous NBA encounters, Stephen Curry might battle against the King when the time comes. While speaking to CNBC, the Chef made his thoughts very clear. After putting a lid on his decorated NBA run, he wants to step into the management shoes and learn the business.

“I mean the only thing down the road eventually is being interested in team ownership in the NBA. I have seen Jordan do it. You know, you have guys in the league now that are taking the necessary steps to be legitimate players when it comes to the league and possibly expanding in a couple of years. So for me, that’s definitely on the table,” Curry admitted.

But the thought isn’t making him scram and take charge just yet. For he is yet to have fetched satisfactory utility from his NBA career still. Having signed an extension, the 36-year-old has committed to playing for another three seasons. Post his playing career, the ownership conversation can resume. Luckily for him, by the time the opportunity comes, he will have some experience being at the helm.

 

Last year, alluding to his love for golf, Curry invested in TGL’s Bay Golf Club. The tech-infused gold tournament is the first of its kind and will utilize simulation along with specifically designed courses in a custom-built arena for the tournament. After some construction delay, the TGL announced its inception on January 7, 2025.

While not the same magnitude, it will give Stephen Curry the chance to understand and learn the various responsibilities that come with ownership. Moreover, with regard to the NBA, the Chef has a much bigger mission.

Stephen Curry could become the first majority Black owner since Michael Jordan

This wasn’t the first time Curry had opened up about his intentions to want to own an NBA team in the future. Last year in an interview with NBC Bay Area, he spoke about wanting to be part of an ownership group that is immersive with the community and has the same hunger to win as him.

Additionally, he also spoke of how important it is for the NBA to have a greater number of Black majority owners. Since Michael Jordan sold his majority stake, there are no Black majority owners across the top four sporting leagues in the USA. Curry expanded on the need to do so and is hoping to be the catalyst.

“I don’t know what the percentage is, but it’s predominantly Black athletes in the NBA. So you want that representation. You want those voices to be heard and in the rooms that are making decisions where the stuff happens. Jordan’s out now so there’s a vacancy there, for sure. I know [NBA commissioner Adam Silver] has been adamant on keeping that as a priority of how the league trends moving forward,” he said.

With the media rights deal wrapped up, Silver claimed to focus on expansion-related conversations in the fall. In the past, he has named Las Vegas as a suitable contender to land an exclusive NBA team, a dream LeBron James has detailed as well. However, he did suggest that these talks are more complicated than they seem and might take some time to fruition.

Do you think Stephen Curry will own an NBA team in the future? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Rafael Nadal took a sly dig at Novak Djokovic for his decision to stay outside the Olympic Village during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal took an indirect dig at his rival Novak Djokovic for his decision to not stay at the Olympic Village during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Nadal said that if an athlete is competing at the Olympics, they should stay in the official accommodation.

Nadal admitted that although the conditions at the Olympics are not the same as other tournaments, there should not be a problem with being less comfortable once in four years. The Spaniard also took part in the Summer Games but failed to win a medal in both the singles and the doubles.

If you play the Olympics, you should stay in the Village. Yes, it's not the same conditions as in other tournaments but it's okay to be a bit less comfy once in every 4 years.

Rafael Nadal said (via El Hormiguero)
Quite a few top athletes, including the US basketball team and the US women’s tennis team comprising Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, opted to stay out of the Games Village. Many had complaints about the cardboard beds, the lack of air conditioning, and the quality of the food. Meanwhile, Nadal stayed at the Village throughout the tournament his time in the French capital.

Novak Djokovic cited lack of privacy for his decision to stay away from the Olympic Village

Before the start of the 2024 Paris Olympics, a member of the Serbian team’s organizing committee had announced that Novak Djokovic would not be joining his compatriots in the Olympic Village. Djokovic later explained his decision, stating that his issue was around privacy and not about the facilities.

Novak Djokovic looks to the sky after winning gold at 2024 Paris Olympics (via Imago)
While Djokovic admitted that staying in the Olympic Village is one of the best experiences for a player, he admitted that he wanted more privacy in his bid to win the elusive gold medal.

One of the reasons is for my privacy. I wanted more privacy and to stay focused on the tournament. The Village is one of the best experiences during the Olympics because that’s where you feel the energy. I will go and visit the Village, but I will not stay there because I feel it is better for me.

Novak Djokovic explained

The decision to stay away from the Village did pay off for Djokovic as he went on to win the gold medal in the men’s singles event, beating the likes of Rafael Nadal in the second round and Carlos Alcaraz in the final. The former World No. 1 later hailed it as his biggest sporting success and claimed that his “puzzle” was finally complete with that win.

Mats Wilander thinks Novak Djokovic still has it in him to win two more Grand Slam titles before retirement.

Novak Djokovic suffered a shock US Open exit but in spite of that, Mats Wilander backed him to finish his career with 26 Grand Slam titles. Djokovic was chasing his historic 25th major title at Flushing Meadows but lost in four sets in the third round to Alexei Popyrin.

Djokovic was reluctant to come to New York following the Paris Olympics, where he clinched the gold medal for the first time by beating Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz. In his press conference, Djokovic admitted that he performed poorly because he spent a lot of his energy on winning the elusive gold medal.

He did not even play a single North American hard-court tournament before the US Open. Now that he failed to win a single major title this year, he wants to get a much-needed rest before playing his next tournament.

Djokovic is 37 and many think his form has started to decline as he is not been able to perform consistently. Even if that’s the case, Wilander thinks that Djokovic still has it in him to win a couple of more Grand Slam trophies.

So far I don’t see him getting old, I don’t think this is the year where we thought ‘Ah, he’s 37.’ Physically I don’t notice anything getting older, mentally – he seems to be getting smarter. I can’t believe he’s still playing at this rate, but I can believe he’ll keep it up. I think he will win some more Slams, that he will finish at 26. 

Mats Wilander told Sport Klub

The 25-year-old Aussie emulated Lleyton Hewitt with a stunning takedown of the World No.2.

Alexei Popyrin has stunned the tennis world at the US Open after handing Novak Djokovic his earliest exit from the New York grand slam since 2006. The Aussie young gun left the World No.2 shell-shocked as he produced some incredible hitting in a 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4 boilover on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It makes Popyrin the first Australian since Lleyton Hewitt 18 years ago to beat the great Djokovic at grand slam level. Hewitt’s win over Djokovic in the third round in 2006 marked the Serb’s earliest exit from the US Open until Friday night’s loss to Popyrin (Saturday Australian time).

Alexei Popyrin stunned Novak Djokovic at the US Open for the biggest win of his career. Image: Getty
The World No.28, who has been in career-best form over the last few months, fired off 13 winners to claim the opening set 6-4 against the 24-time grand slam champion. He then broke Djokovic again at 3-2 in the second, before holding his nerve to serve out the set 6-4 for a 2-0 lead in the blockbuster clash.

Djokovic kicked into gear to claim the third set, before Popyrin found another level in the fourth. The Aussie grabbed another break at 2-2 before some unreal hitting saw him surge to a 5-2 lead. The 25-year-old dropped his serve on his first attempt to seal the match, but wouldn’t be denied the biggest victory of his career on the second time of asking.

Third time lucky for Alexei Popyrin against Novak Djokovic

Commentators described Popyrin’s play as “unreal” and “off the charts” as he left the World No.2 shell-shocked on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 25-year-old recently won his first-career Masters 1000 title in Canada, and knew he had what it takes to beat Djokovic.

Popyrin had some recent near-misses against the super Serb, having lost in four sets twice this year already at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. “Third time lucky, I guess,” the Aussie said on court after the match. “Honestly, we had some battles at Australian Open and at Wimbledon.

“I had my chances of getting in those matches but didn’t take them. This match I was able to take my chances when I got him and play some good tennis. It’s unbelievable because I’ve been in the third round about 15 times but I haven’t been able to get past to the fourth round in my career. And to be able to do it against the greatest of all time, to get in to the fourth round is unbelievable.”

Novak Djokovic congratulates Alexei Popyrin after their match at the US Open. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The loss also denies Djokovic the chance to go past Margaret Court with a 25th career grand slam title. It marks the first grand slam since the French Open in 2004 that none of Djokovic, Rafa Nadal or Roger Federer are in the Round of 16.

Tennis fans and commentators were left gobsmacked by Popyrin’s display, but many also questioned whether Djokovic was 100 per cent fit. With Alex de Minaur, Jordan Thompson and Chris O’Connell also advancing, Popyrin had earlier helped give Australia four men in the third round of the US Open for the first time in 27 years.

Wow, I didn’t see this coming! I thought the Masters title in Canada would be Popyrin’s ‘flash in the pan’ moment. This victory over Djokovic in a Grand Slam is more impressive to me!

As for Djokovic, I wouldn’t be surprised if he retired soon given that he’s “completed tennis”.

— Vithun🇬🇧🇱🇰 (@VitIllankovan) August 31, 2024

Alexei Popyrin to face Frances Tiafoe in US Open fourth round

Popyrin will now play Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round after the American earlier weathered a huge storm in the shape of Ben Shelton in a captivating all-US blockbuster. Tiafoe won 4-6 7-5 6-7 (7-5) 6-4 6-3 to move into the last-16 of the US Open for the fifth-consecutive year, where he will now face Popyrin.

Tiafoe was eliminated by Shelton in four sets in the quarter-finals of the 2023 event. And the year before he defeated Nadal on the way to the semi-finals – the best grand slam showing of his career.

Frances Tiafoe celebrates after beating Ben Shelton at the US Open. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
After getting past Shelton in a match that lasted four hours, three minutes, Tiafoe spread his arms wide and looked around at the thousands cheering in Arthur Ashe Stadium. “I’ve got to say, Ben’s an incredible player, man. He’s an incredible player. He really is,” Tiafoe told spectators during a post-match interview.

“He goes for all kind of shots. He’s got no care in the world. It’s really annoying. … He’s really talented. He can come up with great shots. So can I. It’s highlight after highlight. I hope you guys enjoyed the show.”

American No.12 seed Taylor Fritz also moved on with a 6-3 6-4 6-2 win against Francisco Comesana of Argentina. Other third-round winners on Friday included No.9 Gregor Dimitrov, who beat Tallon Griekspoor 6-3 6-3 6-1, and No.6 Andrey Rublev, who defeated Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-3 7-5 6-4.