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Venus Williams Makes Historic Australian Open Return at 45 After Receiving Wildcard

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Venus Williams Makes Historic Australian Open Return at 45 After Receiving Wildcard

Venus Williams is set to make history at the Australian Open after being awarded a wildcard entry into the women’s main draw, becoming the oldest female player ever to compete at the tournament at the age of 45.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion received the final women’s wildcard for the Australian Open, which begins on 18 January, marking another remarkable milestone in a career defined by longevity, resilience and repeated reinvention. Williams’ return to Melbourne Park adds significant star power and experience to the season’s first Grand Slam.

Williams last competed at the Australian Open in 2021, where she reached the second round before being beaten by Italy’s Sara Errani. Speaking after the wildcard announcement, the American expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to return to a venue that has played an important role in her career.

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“I’m grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that has meant so much to my career,” Williams said, highlighting her enduring connection to the tournament and her continued passion for competing at the highest level.

By taking her place in the main draw, Williams will surpass the previous age record held by Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she competed at the Australian Open in 2015. The achievement further underlines Williams’ status as one of the sport’s most enduring and influential figures.

In addition to the Australian Open, Williams has also accepted a wildcard for the Hobart International, a warm-up event starting on 12 January. The tournament will also feature Britain’s Emma Raducanu, setting up an intriguing mix of experience and emerging talent ahead of the Melbourne Grand Slam.

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Williams has continued to demonstrate her competitive spirit in recent seasons. She returned to the US Open in New York last year, becoming the third-oldest woman to compete at the tournament in the Open era. Although she was defeated in the first round by Czech player Karolina Muchova, the match once again showcased her determination to compete against the world’s best.

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Prograis announces retirement after Benn Defeat in Emotional Farewell

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Prograis announces retirement after Benn Defeat in Emotional Farewell

Former world champion Regis Prograis has officially announced his retirement from boxing at the age of 37, following a decisive defeat to Conor Benn on Saturday night.

The bout, held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, marked the end of Prograis’ distinguished career, with the American revealing afterward that he had already made the decision to retire well before stepping into the ring.

Speaking to Ring Magazine, Prograis disclosed that the fight had long been planned as his farewell appearance. “Going in, I knew I was going to retire. This is my last fight. I knew this months ago – I just didn’t tell anybody but I was terrified going into this,” he said.

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Despite the loss, Prograis reflected positively on his final outing, highlighting the scale of the event and the calibre of his opponent. Facing Benn in front of a crowd of around 70,000 provided what he described as the perfect stage to conclude his career. “It’s a great fight to be my last against someone like Conor Benn, someone that was strong – an arena like this with 70,000 in a stadium. I couldn’t ask for a better going away party, perfect end to my story,” he added.

In a candid admission, Prograis also confirmed pre-fight concerns about his physical condition. Reports suggesting he had been dealing with an injury were accurate, he said, revealing that he had seriously considered withdrawing from the contest as recently as 24 hours before fight night.

“The rumours about me being hurt were true. I wanted to pull out of this fight so bad a month ago but kept pushing. I was terrified and thinking about pulling out even yesterday,” Prograis explained.

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The former two-time super-lightweight world champion retires with a professional record of 30 wins and four losses, including 24 victories by knockout. Over the course of his career, he captured the WBA super-lightweight title in 2019 and later added the WBC version of the belt, cementing his place among the division’s elite fighters.

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Salah and Ngumoha Fire Liverpool Past Fulham in Premier League Clash

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Salah and Ngumoha Fire Liverpool Past Fulham in Premier League Clash

Liverpool FC secured an important Premier League victory over Fulham FC, with goals from Mohamed Salah and rising talent Rio Ngumoha sealing the win.

Salah once again proved decisive, continuing his consistent attacking output with a key contribution that helped set the tone for Liverpool’s performance. The Egyptian forward remains central to Liverpool’s title ambitions, delivering when it matters most.

Ngumoha, meanwhile, added further gloss to the result, underlining his growing reputation with a composed finish. His contribution highlights Liverpool’s ability to blend experience with emerging youth talent.

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The victory strengthens Liverpool’s position in the Premier League standings as they maintain pressure in the race at the top, while Fulham are left to regroup after a difficult outing.

Overall, it was a controlled and efficient performance from Liverpool, with both established stars and new faces stepping up at a crucial stage of the season.

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Nike investigating issue with World Cup kits

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Nike investigating issue with World Cup kits

Nike is investigating a design flaw affecting several national team kits ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup, after visible issues emerged during the recent international break.

The problem, described as bulging around the shoulder seams, has been particularly on kits worn by teams including England national football team, France national football team, and Uruguay national football team.

A spokesperson for Nike acknowledged the issue, noting that while player performance is not affected, the visual quality “is not where it needs to be.” The company emphasized that it is working swiftly to resolve the problem for both players and fans.

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Nike supplies kits for a wide range of teams participating in the tournament, including co-host nations Canada and United States, as well as countries such as Brazil, Netherlands, Croatia, and South Korea.

The seam issue appears on both the high-performance “match” shirts worn by players and the more widely sold “stadium” versions for supporters, prompting complaints from fans who have already purchased the kits. In the UK, the England stadium shirt is priced at £89.99, while the match version retails at £134.99.

Nike has been the official kit manufacturer for England’s men’s and women’s teams since 2013, and the company reiterated its commitment to maintaining high product standards.

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The kits were engineered with performance cooling technology to help players cope with the expected high temperatures during matches across the host countries—United States, Canada, and Mexico—when the tournament kicks off on 11 June.

England are scheduled to begin their campaign on 17 June against Croatia national football team in Arlington, Texas, while Scotland national football team will face Haiti national football team on 14 June in Massachusetts.

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