BRISBANE: An angry and impatient Serena Williams overcame blustery conditions at the Brisbane International yesterday in an ominous beginning to her only tournament before her charge at a 16th major title at the Australian Open next month.
The American threw her hands in the air, shook her head, gesticulated toward her coach and stomped her feet in petulant protest — but that did little to help compatriot Varvara Lepchenko who suffered a 6-2, 6-1 first round defeat.
Howling with frustration in her first match since winning the WTA Championships at Istanbul in October, lacking rhythm in swirling winds on Pat Rafter Arena, Williams still delivered enough booming serves and punishing groundstrokes to prevail in a formidable if cantankerous display.
The reigning Wimbledon, Olympic and US Open champion told reporters a calendar-year grand slam was very much on her mind at the start of the season.
Williams held all four major titles in the so-called Serena Slam of 2002-2003 but the holy grail of professional tennis is to win the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open tournaments in the same calendar year.
The American claimed world number one Victoria Azarenka and number two Maria Sharapova, and perhaps a few fringe-dwellers, were eyeing off a near-impossible feat not achieved since Steffi Graf’s unbeaten run through 1988.
“I think whoever wins the Australian Open will have that same thought,” Williams said.
“I think there is no way that Victoria or Maria or maybe some other players don’t have that same thought. I think I definitely feel that way.” Both Azarenka and Sharapova are in a red-hot Brisbane field with Williams. Of the world’s top 10, only Agnieszka Radwanska and Li Na are missing.
The predictability of her defeat of Lepchenko was matched by the level of emotion surrounding Australian wildcard Jarmila Gajdosova’s victory on the opening day.
Playing her first tournament since the passing in September of her mother, also named Jarmila, and with her world ranking having plummeted from a career high of 25 to 183 in the last 18 months, Gajdosova roared home from a one-set deficit to stun Italy’s world number 16 Roberta Vinci.
Gajdosova wept after a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 triumph that set up a second-round showdown against French Open champion Sharapova.
“There have been a lot of things happening in my life,” Gajdosova said.
“As you all know, my mom passed away in September. It’s been a difficult time. First Christmas, as well, without her. My dad is here. My brother and his wife and son. It was my first match in front of them and my first match in Australia, after a long time, without my mum.” Sixth-seeded Czech Petra Kvitova recovered from a pre-tournament asthma scare to defeat Spain’s Carla Suarez-Navarro 6-3, 6-4.
Kvitova has been gasping and wheezing in Brisbane’s humid weather and revealed one of her recent attacks had been her worst in three years.
The 2011 Wimbledon champion was unaware she was asthmatic until she nearly collapsed during an event in New York in 2009.
“I was playing a tournament in the Bronx and after about five minutes I had to sit down and relax and have a drink because I just couldn’t move and I couldn’t play,” she wrote in a column for the Courier-Mail newspaper.
“I still feel really uncomfortable when I’m in this sort of hot and humid weather and it was at practise on Friday that I started to feel a bit similar to what I did in The Bronx.”
Distracted Williams sounds ominous warning in season opener at Brisbane
Distracted Williams sounds ominous warning in season opener at Brisbane
Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. arrested by US immigration
- Chavez’s arrest comes days after his lopsided loss to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a cruiserweight bout before a sell-out crowd at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California
- The Mexican public prosecutor’s office said in a statement that Mexico had issued an arrest warrant for Chavez in 2023 ‘for organized crime and arms trafficking’
LOS ANGELES: Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has been arrested by US immigration officers and faces deportation from the US, the Department of Homeland Security said Thursday.
Chavez, a former world champion and the son of legendary Mexican fighter Julio Cesar Chavez, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Los Angeles on Wednesday after authorities determined that he was in the country illegally, Homeland Security said in a statement.
Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, said the 39-year-old fighter has “an active arrest warrant in Mexico for his involvement in organized crime and trafficking firearms, ammunition and explosives.”
The Mexican public prosecutor’s office said in a statement later Thursday that Mexico had issued an arrest warrant for Chavez in 2023 “for organized crime and arms trafficking.”
US authorities informed Mexico that they have begun the procedure to send him home, it added.
Homeland Security said Chavez is believed to have ties to the Sinaloa cartel, one of six Mexican drug trafficking groups designated as terrorist organizations by the US.
Chavez’s arrest comes days after his lopsided loss to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a cruiserweight bout before a sell-out crowd at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Michael A. Goldstein, a lawyer for Chavez, told the Los Angeles Times that Chavez “was detained outside of his residence by 25 or more ICE and other law enforcement agents.”
“They blocked off his street and took him into custody, leaving his family without any knowledge of his whereabouts,” Goldstein said.
“The current allegations are outrageous and appear to be designed as a headline to terrorize the community.”
Homeland Security said Chavez had entered the US legally in 2023 on a tourist visa that was valid until February 2024.
In April last year, he applied for permanent residency based on his marriage to a US citizen “who is connected to the Sinaloa cartel through a prior relationship with the now-deceased son of the infamous cartel leader Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman.”
Homeland Security said that in addition to the active warrant in Mexico, Chavez had criminal convictions in the US, including on weapons charges in 2024 in Los Angeles.
According to the statement, US Citizenship and Immigration Services told ICE that Chavez posed “an egregious public safety threat.”
Donald Trump campaigned for president promising to expel millions of undocumented migrants from the US, and he has taken a number of actions aimed at speeding up deportations and reducing border crossings.
Authorities accused the administration of Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden of not making Chavez an “immigration enforcement priority.”
Chavez was allowed to re-enter the US on Jan. 4, 2025 at the San Ysidro port of entry, Homeland Security said — while Biden was still in the White House.
In a statement posted on the X account of Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., the Chavez family expressed support for Chavez Jr.
“Our family is deeply dismayed by the situation,” the statement said.
“In these difficult times, we reiterate our full and unconditional support for Julio.
“We fully trust in his innocence and his humanity, as well as in the justice institutions in both Mexico and the United States, in which we place our hope that this situation will be clarified according to the law and truth.”
Chavez Jr. won the WBC middleweight world title in 2011 and successfully defended it three times.
He owns a record of 54-7 with one draw, but his career has also included multiple suspensions and fines for failed drug tests.
Two weeks before his bout with Paul, Chavez held a public workout in California where he told the Los Angeles Times that one of his trainers had skipped the session because of fears raised by immigration arrests.
“I don’t understand the situation — why so much violence?” he told the newspaper. “There are a lot of good people, and you’re giving the community an example of violence.
“After everything that’s happened, I wouldn’t want to be deported,” he said.
Doug Ghim leads John Deere as Max Homa, Rickie Fowler also go low
- There have been nine first-time winners on the PGA Tour this season, and Ghim, a 29-year-old native of Illinois, is trying to become the 10th
- Homa had his best round of 2025 on 63 after struggling with his game throughout the first six months of the season
SILVIS, Illinois: Doug Ghim made an eagle from the sixth fairway en route to a bogey-free, 9-under par 62 on Thursday to set the firs round lead at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois
Ghim made four of his seven birdies on the inward nine at TPC Deere Run to head to the clubhouse with a one-shot lead over Max Homa and Austin Eckroat. There have been nine first-time winners on the PGA Tour this season, and Ghim, a 29-year-old native of Illinois, is trying to become the 10th.
“Obviously any win on the PGA Tour is amazing. To do it here would be awesome,” Ghim said. “There is a lot of golf to be played and I probably won’t even be leading by the end of the day. We’ll see.”
Ghim chipped in for birdie at the opening hole and was 2 under through two before arriving at the short par-4 sixth hole. He had a 91-yard shot to the front pin location and played it perfectly to card an eagle 2.
“There are times like earlier in my career that you try to go out and shoot a 62,” Ghim said. “Not to say that we’re not trying to shoot 62 every day, but you kind of have it let to come to you.”
Homa had his best round of 2025 after struggling with his game throughout the first six months of the season. He was in line for a 62 of his own before making his only bogey at his last hole, the par-4 ninth.
“I just did everything really solid. I made a ton of putts. Kept the driver in good spots,” said Homa, who has been balky off the tee this season but hit 10 of 14 fairways in regulation Thursday. “Got to take advantage of my iron play, my wedge play.
“Always feels good to get off to a good start when you’re struggling, that’s for sure.”
Eckroat eagled two of his first five holes, first sinking an 11-foot putt at the par-5 second and then holing out from 137 yards at the fifth. Eckroat was proud that he didn’t get too far ahead of himself.
“It was a little too early to go nuts, but it was still — threw my hands up in the air. Had fun,” he said. “If it was late on Sunday, probably been more of a reaction for sure.”
Four players were tied at 7-under 64: David Lipsky, Sam Stevens, Justin Lower and past John Deere champion Michael Kim.
Rickie Fowler posted a 6-under 65 that featured a 29 on his second nine, the front nine. He eagled No. 2 from 103 yards out and added three straight birdies at Nos. 5-7. He was part of a large tie that included Matt Kuchar, Si Woo Kim of South Korea and Emiliano Grillo of Argentina.
Defending champ Davis Thompson opened with a 3-under 68. Australian Jason Day struggled to a 3-over 74.
Spain thrash grieving Portugal 5-0 in Women’s Euro clash
- Spain’s victory was their biggest in a European Championship, surpassing their 4-1 win over Finland in 2022
- With Italy having defeated Belgium 1-0 earlier in the evening, Spain top the group with the Italians second
BERN, Switzerland: Spain striker Esther Gonzalez scored twice in the first half as her side powered to a 5-0 win over Portugal at the Women’s Euros that was overshadowed by the deaths of Portugal international Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a car accident earlier on Thursday.
On an emotional night that began with a minute’s silence for the brothers, Portugal went behind almost immediately, Olga Carmona putting the ball over the top for Gonzalez to run on to and score in the second minute.
Mariona Caldentey did superbly to pull the ball across the box for Vicky Lopez to score the second goal five minutes later.
The Portuguese managed to steady the ship but they were rocked again four minutes before the break when Alexia Putellas took down another great pass from Caldentey on her chest before calmly cutting inside and firing home.
“I highlight our mindset, how we came out to play,” Putellas said. “We were really eager to get started but it’s only the first match.”
There was more misery to come for Portugal before halftime as Gonzalez netted her second goal two minutes later, scoring from close range after Claudia Pina’s cross came back off the far post.
The world champions were delighted to be able to bring in Aitana Bonmati from the bench following her recent brush with viral meningitis, and the playmaker wasted no time getting into the thick of things, setting up a chance for Cristina Martin-Prieto.
“Aitana is a very important player for us. We are delighted that she is back and has overcome her illness. It is a joy,” Putellas said.
Portugal showed more composure in the second half but they were no match for Spain’s power, precision and technique and, though they held Spain at bay for most of the second half, Martin-Prieto scored with a superb late header to complete the rout.
“We conceded early goals and the team became anxious and unsettled,” said Portugal forward Diana Silva. “We couldn’t get hold of the ball and then it’s harder to chase the result. We were much better in the second half, more united. We didn’t allow Spain so much space to get in.
“We believe until the end, our goal is to earn points until the end and everything is still up for grabs.”
Silva and her teammates remained on the pitch after the final whistle, posing in front of their fans with a huge black banner in memory of Jota.
Spain’s victory was their biggest in a European Championship, surpassing their 4-1 win over Finland in 2022, and was the ideal start for what the tournament favorites hope will be their first Women’s Euro title.
With Italy having defeated Belgium 1-0 earlier in the evening, Spain top the group with the Italians second. Spain take on the Belgians in their next game, while Portugal face Italy.
‘Difficult day’ for Al-Hilal’s Portugal pair — Inzaghi
ORLANDO, US: Al-Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi said the death of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota had impacted his team ahead of their Club World Cup quarter-final against Fluminense on Friday.
The Saudi club’s full-back Joao Cancelo is a Portugal international and midfielder Ruben Neves was a team-mate of Jota with both the Portugal national team and at Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The 28-year-old Jota died alongside his younger brother Andre after their vehicle veered off a motorway in northern Spain before bursting into flames on Thursday.
“We all know it’s a sad day because of what happened to Diogo and Andre, unfortunately, these are things that shouldn’t happen, which happened,” said the Italian.
“As we are all aware, we have two Portuguese players, Ruben Neves and Cancelo, who were very close to the guys. Clearly today was a difficult day for everyone. We tried to work but clearly, the atmosphere today was not the same as other days. It was a tragedy,” he added.
Al-Hilal left-back Moteb Al-Alharbi said the team had tried to be supportive to the Portuguese pair.
“From the moment we woke up today we were shocked by the news. They are team-mates of his and we all felt the sadness but we were all around them. I also believe they will be ready although they have this shocking news,” he said.
“They were not at their best emotionally but I believe they will be focused for the game,” added Saudi winger Khalid Alghannam.
Sinner thrashes Vukic to roar into Wimbledon third round
LONDON: World number one Jannik Sinner demolished Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic 6-1 6-1 6-3 in a Center Court masterclass to move ominously into the third round of Wimbledon on Thursday.
The Italian was streets ahead of the 93rd-ranked Vukic who barely laid a glove on the top seed in the opening two sets before saving some face with a bit of third-set resistance.
Sinner, bidding to win the title for the first time, never loosened his grip on a one-sided contest although he did need six match points to finish off Vukic in a prolonged final game, banging down his 12th ace.
The 23-year-old has yet to drop serve and has conceded only 12 games in the six sets he has played so far and will now train his sights on unseeded Spaniard Pedro Martinez.
