Sports
Emma Navarro Stuns Coco Gauff to End US Open Title Defence
In a dramatic and unexpected turn of events, Emma Navarro has ended Coco Gauff’s reign as US Open champion. The 23-year-old Navarro, playing her first match on the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium, displayed remarkable composure to secure her spot in the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows for the first time in her career.
Gauff, who had been struggling with her serve throughout the match, was unable to find her rhythm, committing 60 unforced errors and an alarming 19 double faults. Despite these struggles, Navarro faced her own challenges, particularly in the second set when she appeared on the verge of victory but momentarily lost her nerve. However, she quickly regrouped to seal a memorable win, despite her own 35 unforced errors.
For Navarro, this victory marks a significant milestone. She has now reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the second time this year, following her impressive run at Wimbledon. Reflecting on her achievement, Navarro expressed her disbelief and excitement, saying, “It’s pretty insane. I lost in the first round the last two years and now to be making the quarter-finals is pretty insane.”
Navarro’s win is not only a personal triumph but also a historic one. At 23, she is the youngest American to reach the quarter-finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open in the same year since Serena Williams in 2004. Additionally, she became the first American player to defeat the defending women’s champion at the US Open since Serena Williams famously beat her sister Venus in the 2002 final.
Despite the defeat, Gauff remains a formidable player with a bright future ahead. Navarro was quick to acknowledge Gauff’s talent and resilience, expressing confidence that Gauff would bounce back and possibly win the US Open again in the future.
Warren Gatland is set to leave his role as Wales head coach after a record-breaking 14 consecutive Test match defeats, bringing an early end to his second tenure in charge.
Although the 61-year-old was contracted until the 2027 Rugby World Cup, he was already expected to step down after the Six Nations. Now, his departure will come midway through the tournament, with Wales still set to face Ireland on 22 February in Cardiff, Scotland on 8 March, and England on 15 March.
Possible successors include former Australia coach Michael Cheika, Glasgow’s Franco Smith, and Ireland interim boss Simon Easterby.
Gatland, who enjoyed a highly successful 12-year first stint with Wales—winning three Grand Slams and leading the team to two World Cup semi-finals—returned in December 2022 to replace Wayne Pivac. However, his second tenure has been marred by poor performances, with Wales suffering their worst losing streak in 144 years of international rugby. The 22-15 loss to Italy last weekend cemented their decline, dropping them to 12th in the world rankings.
In total, Gatland has overseen 151 Tests across both spells, with 76 wins, 73 losses, and two draws. His recent record stands at just six victories in 26 matches, a win ratio of only 23%.
Tiger Woods has pulled out of this week’s Genesis Invitational, stating he is “still processing” the recent death of his mother, Kultida Woods.
The 15-time major champion, who had initially planned to participate, announced his withdrawal on social media, saying, “I planned to tee it up this week, but I’m just not ready. I did my best to prepare, knowing it’s what my mom would have wanted, but I’m still processing her loss.”
Woods’ mother, Kultida, passed away on February 4. Just days later, tournament organizers had confirmed Woods’ participation in the event, which is now being held at Torrey Pines instead of its usual Riviera Country Club venue due to wildfires in Los Angeles.
Woods has not played a PGA Tour event since The Open at Royal Troon last July. His competitive appearances have been sporadic since a 2021 car accident left him with severe leg injuries, and he underwent additional back surgery in September. Most recently, he played alongside his son, Charlie, in a 36-hole event in December and participated in an exhibition for the Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL), which he co-founded.
As the tournament host, Woods hopes to attend the Genesis Invitational later in the week but has not committed to a specific timeline. The event benefits his TGR Foundation, which supports youth education initiatives.
Fans and fellow players have expressed their condolences and support for Woods as he navigates this difficult time.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee. The 23-year-old sustained the injury during Spurs’ Europa League clash against Elfsborg last week and will undergo surgery.
Dragusin is expected to be sidelined for at least six months, though recovery from ACL injuries can sometimes extend to a year. Tottenham confirmed that their medical team will monitor his rehabilitation to determine his return timeline.
The Romanian international had become a key figure for Spurs, starting 21 of their last 23 games. His absence adds to an already extensive injury list, which includes Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner, Wilson Odobert, Cristian Romero, and Dominic Solanke. However, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies have recently returned to action.
Dragusin joined Tottenham from Genoa in January 2024 in a £25 million deal. To bolster their defensive options, Spurs signed Austria international Kevin Danso on loan for the remainder of the season, with an option to buy for £21 million. They also made an ambitious £70 million bid for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, which was rejected, but secured the signing of 19-year-old attacker Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich.
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