Sports
Raducanu Triumphs Over Stearns in Thrilling Korea Open Clash
Emma Raducanu claimed a hard-fought victory over American Peyton Stearns in the opening round of the Korea Open in Seoul. The British tennis star, ranked 70th in the world, overcame her 48th-ranked opponent 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) in a grueling match that lasted two hours and 43 minutes.
Raducanu, who was playing her first match since her early exit at the US Open, expressed pride in her performance. “I’m proud to have made it through to the next round. It was tough and very humid,” she remarked, acknowledging the challenging nature of the match and her recent lack of game time.
The match began with Raducanu breaking Stearns in the first game, setting the tone for what would be a roller-coaster encounter. Despite dropping her serve in the next game, she broke back to lead 2-1. The fluctuating first set featured eight breaks of serve, with Raducanu eventually securing it in a tie-break after 74 minutes.
In the second set, both players saved multiple break points. Raducanu appeared to take control when she broke Stearns to lead 5-3. However, she was broken while serving for the match, and Stearns also failed to hold serve at 6-5, pushing the set into another tie-break. Raducanu clinched the win after a lengthy 89-minute second set.
With this victory, Raducanu advances to the next round, where she will face China’s Yue Yuan, currently ranked 40th in the world.
Sports
Jack Draper Advances to Japan Open Last 16 with Win Over Bellucci
British tennis player Jack Draper has secured a spot in the Japan Open last 16 after defeating Italy’s Mattia Bellucci in straight sets. Draper, ranked world number 20, claimed a 6-4, 6-2 victory, marking his first win since his US Open semi-final loss to Jannik Sinner earlier this month.
The 22-year-old’s triumph in Tokyo comes as a welcome return to form following a challenging Davis Cup in Manchester, where he lost both of his singles matches to Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo and Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, contributing to Great Britain’s failure to reach the knockout stages.
After a tightly contested first set against world number 103 Bellucci, Draper dominated the second set, building a 5-1 lead before closing out the match. He will face Polish second seed Hubert Hurkacz in the next round on Friday.
Sports
Wolves Defender Yerson Mosquera Likely Out for Season with Knee Injury
Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Yerson Mosquera is expected to miss the remainder of the season following a serious knee injury sustained in Wolves’ 3-1 loss to Aston Villa. The 23-year-old Colombian twisted his knee after a collision with Villa’s Morgan Rogers in the 82nd minute and was stretchered off the pitch.
Scans confirmed that Mosquera suffered damage to both the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which will require surgery. Wolves’ head of high performance, Phil Hayward, said, “We will be visiting specialists to finalise the plan for surgery, and it’s highly unlikely he will feature again this season.”
Mosquera had been a key part of Wolves’ defense this season, starting all five Premier League games after returning from a loan spell at Villarreal. His absence further deepens Wolves’ defensive issues, as they did not secure a replacement for Max Kilman following his £40m move to West Ham.
Wolves, currently winless and sitting at the bottom of the Premier League, face Liverpool at home in their next match.
Sports
Ex-Real Madrid & Manchester United Defender Raphael Varane Retires at 31
Raphael Varane, former defender for Real Madrid, Manchester United, and the French national team, has retired from professional football at the age of 31. Varane, who joined Italian side Como in July, sustained a knee injury on his debut, prompting his decision to step away from playing. He will remain at Como in a non-playing capacity.
In an emotional Instagram post, Varane wrote, “It takes a big dose of courage to listen to your heart and your instinct,” explaining his desire to leave the sport on his own terms.
Varane began his career at Lens before a decade-long stint at Real Madrid, where he won 18 major trophies, including three La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns. He later joined Manchester United in 2021, making 95 appearances and winning the Carabao Cup in 2022.
Internationally, Varane earned 93 caps for France, winning the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 Nations League. Reflecting on his career, Varane expressed pride in both his achievements and staying true to his values.
He hinted at future projects with Como, adding, “Something I am looking forward to sharing more about soon.” Varane has also been vocal about the dangers of head injuries in football, having played through concussions during his career, and he has called for better protection for players.
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