Sports
Serena and Venus Williams knocked out of women’s doubles in first round of US Open
Serena and Venus Williams’ doubles return proved shortlived as they fell to a first-round defeat at the US Open.Teaming up for the first time since 2018, and probably the last time, they lost 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 to Czechs Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova.
Together, the American greats have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles.Serena Williams, 40, is due to retire after the tournament, while the future plans of elder sister Venus, at 42, remain unknown.
Serena plays Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the women’s singles on Friday, but Venus was knocked out in the first round.Opening the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday, the sisters failed to convert two set points on their opponents’ serve at 5-4, with break points having earlier gone begging for both pairs.Hradecka and Noskova edged the ensuing tie-break on their first set point, with 37-year-old Hradecka wrapping up proceedings with a powerful backhand down the line.
She and Noskova, 20 years her junior, went on to dominate the second set, sealing an early break. They soon held double break point for 4-0 but Noskova couldn’t convert from close to the net in a slice of luck for the Williams sisters, who went on to hold and end a five-game losing streak.They went on to break back but it proved in vain as Hradecka and Noskova broke their serve again on their second match point.
The Williams sisters remain the most recent women’s doubles team to hold all four major doubles titles at once with wins at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2009, followed by triumphs at the Australian Open and French Open in 2010.The last of their Grand Slam doubles titles together came at Wimbledon in 2016, more than 17 years after their first at Roland Garros in 1999, while they also have three Olympic doubles golds.
Venus Williams returned to action for the hard-court swing, appearing in Cincinnati, Toronto and Washington, after nearly a year off following a leg injury, and was awarded a wildcard for the US Open. She is currently ranked 1,504th in the world in the singles, while Serena is 605th.They have a combined 30 Grand Slam singles titles, 23 of which belong to Serena. (BBC Sports)
Gaby Lewis has been rested for Ireland’s upcoming T20I tri-series against Pakistan and West Indies at home in Clontarf as she recovers from a recent leg injury but has been named captain – for the first time at a global event – for the T20 World Cup in June-July in England.
Orla Prendergast, the vice-captain for the World Cup, will lead the side in the tri-series in Lewis’ absence. No vice-captain has been named for the tri-series.
In terms of ins and outs, Jane Maguire, the right-arm medium pacer, has been ruled out of contention with an injury, but her sister Aimee Maguire, the left-arm orthodox spinner, has returned from her own injury and has been included in both squads. Apart from the missing Lewis, there are no changes from the squad for the tri-series, which is a 14-member line-up, for the World Cup.
At the T20 World Cup, Ireland have been grouped with tournament hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, Scotland, Sri Lanka and past winners West Indies.
Ireland are ranked ninth in the format, ahead of only Scotland (11th) among the teams in their group, and will start their World Cup campaign on the second day of competition, against Scotland in Manchester.
Ireland were most recently in action at the T20 World Cup qualifiers played in Nepal in January-February this year, and finished second to Bangladesh.
Lewis’ fitness will be key for Ireland at the World Cup, with her being their top-ranked batter, currently at joint-14th on the ICC T20I rankings. She was also the top run getter at the qualifiers with 276 runs in seven innings, scoring her runs at a strike rate of 119.48.
Prendergast is the next best at No. 26, followed by Amy Hunter at No. 29. Prendergast is also the seventh-ranked allrounder in women’s T20Is.
Ireland squad for women’s T20 World Cup
Gaby Lewis (capt), Orla Prendergast (vice-capt), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell
Ireland squad for tri-series against Pakistan and West Indies
Orla Prendergast (capt), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell
[Cricinfo]
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has issued a statement approving the members nominated for the new Selection Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
The appointments have been made by the Sports Minister in accordance with the powers vested under Section 39 (1) of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973 and the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2437/24 dated May 21, 2025.
The members of the new selection committee are:
Kapila Wijegunawardena – Chairman
Amal Silva – Member
Brendon Kuruppu – Member
Waruna Waragoda – Member
Vanessa De Silva – Member
PM meets academic experts from the British Council
Gaby Lewis to lead Ireland at T20 World Cup
PM meets Sri Lankan community living in London
Kapila Wijegunawardena to head SLC’s new selection committee
Afghanistan refugee women’s team set for England tour under ECB initiative
DR Congo cancels World Cup training camp over Ebola outbreak
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