Home Archives for July 2024
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Report Claims Red Bull Confirmed Sergio Perez’s Departure to Verstappen Family After Belgian GP


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The Belgian Grand Prix was supposedly Sergio Perez’s last chance to prove to Red Bull he deserved to stay in the team. But after his disappointing performance, it looked like he might get replaced. A recent report even claims that the Verstappen family was told by Red Bull management after the race that the Mexican would be replaced.

However, that was not the case eventually as Red Bull confirmed that Perez would keep his spot till the end of the 2024 season. The report from f1-insider.com stated,

“Even the Verstappen family was surprised. Before leaving the Belgian Grand Prix, both Red Bull team boss Christian Horner (50) and Red Bull chief advisor Helmut Marko (81) gave them clear statements: “Perez is gone. Max Verstappen will get a new teammate at the first race after the summer break at the home race in Zandvoort.”

Marko had been vocal in recent times about how the team was only going to wait till the Belgian GP to see whether they can continue with the Mexican driver or not. However, Perez was of the opinion that he would stay with the team and did not want to comment on the speculations of his departure. Perez is currently 146 points behind his teammate and championship leader Max Verstappen.

There were rumors of a performance clause in the Mexican’s new contract that he needed to stay within 100 points of his teammate to stay with the team. While Perez did not meet this condition, another report has now come out to explain why Red Bull decided to extend the 34-year-old’s stay.

Liberty Media urged Red Bull to reconsider decision to sack Perez

The Formula 1 circus generates a huge amount of revenue every year because of the sport’s global popularity. And the job of Liberty Media, F1’s commercial rights holder, is to make sure the revenues continue to grow.

According to the F1 Insider report, Liberty Media had spoken to Red Bull to reconsider the dismissal of Perez, who is a big personality when it comes to the Mexican Grand Prix each year. Liberty Media feared that getting rid of Perez would result in a huge drop in revenue for F1 during the event in Mexico.

The report read, “Formula 1 rights holder Liberty Media asked Red Bull to reconsider the Perez dismissal. They feared a huge drop in revenue at the Mexican GP on October 27 without national hero Perez. But Marko hinted: “The cards will be reshuffled for 2025.”

This suggests that Red Bull has made up their mind to part ways with Perez eventually and that they would do the same in 2025.

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Nick Kyrgios’ ‘Cold’ Revelation Leaves Patrick Mouratoglou in Splits Ahead of UTS Tour Reunion in New York City


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Nick Kyrgios recently made a surprising admission about his approach to tennis that left coach Patrick Mouratoglou and fellow player Alexander Bublik in stitches. During a candid conversation, Kyrgios revealed that up until the 2022 season, he had never done a warm up before a match, preferring to come onto the court ‘cold’. 

This revelation, while amusing to Mouratoglou and Bublik, attracted criticism from lot of fans who slammed Kyrgios for his lack of dedication to the sport. 

 
 
 
 
 
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Kyrgios’ revelation quickly went viral. While some found his honesty refreshing and entertaining, many fans expressed their frustration and disappointment.

The Aussie’s casual approach is believed to be the reason why he has struggled to win Grand Slam titles and has only a handful of ATP titles to his name.

Critics argued that Kyrgios’ immense talent is being wasted due to his lack of commitment and rigorous preparation, suggesting that a more professional approach would benefit him more.

Despite the controversy surrounding his training habits, Kyrgios is set to make a much-anticipated return to tennis at the UTS Tour in New York City this year. He will compete in a men’s singles quarter-final match against the Norwegian tennis star, Casper Ruud.

Kyrgios’ presence at the UTS Tour is not just about his performance but also about the excitement and entertainment he brings to the sport. his participation is expected to be a major draw. His flamboyant style and on-court antics make him a box office star.

The UTS Tour has Mouratoglou as its founder and the Frenchman is fond of Kyrgios, as they share a friendly bond with each other. So he realises the Wimbledon 2022 finalist’s star power and would hope that he is fully fit and ready to take the tournament by storm and turn his fortunes around too.

The post Nick Kyrgios’ ‘Cold’ Revelation Leaves Patrick Mouratoglou in Splits Ahead of UTS Tour Reunion in New York City appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Evan Turner Takes Shots at Jayson Tatum After His Benching During USA-Serbia


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Team USA emphatically started their Olympic campaign after beating Serbia by 26 points. However, Jayson Tatum didn’t even get a single second of playing time in the blowout win. Team USA head coach Steve Kerr could have allotted at least a few minutes to the 2024 NBA Champion and All-NBA First Team talent. But he didn’t want to interrupt the rhythm of the team.

Meanwhile, Tatum’s benching prompted a whole lot of trolling on the Internet.

Former NBA athlete Evan Turner quipped that Tatum’s new haircut kept him at bay. The Celtics star came with a buzzcut hairdo at the beginning of training camp in Las Vegas.

Therefore, Turner took a dig at JT for getting a haircut for the Olympics only to sit on the bench the whole time. On X, he joked, “I wish I would cut my hair for the Olympics and you don’t play me”.

Turner seemingly took a shot at both Head Coach Steve Kerr and Tatum. He sarcastically said that coach Kerr didn’t take Tatum’s new haircut into account and played someone else. So JT’s new haircut was a waste due to lack of any playing time.

Jokes aside, Kerr’s decision was indeed baffling. Not assigning playing time to the only USA player on the 2024 All-NBA First Team was bound to raise questions.

To make matters worse, Tatum’s teammate Derrick White tallied almost 16 minutes. After the game, Kerr told the media that he had interacted with Tatum about potentially missing action during the Olympic Opener. 

Steve Kerr explains his decision

Kerr admitted that the return of Kevin Durant affected Tatum’s minutes. KD was on fire throughout the game and made all his eight shots in the first half, which gave Team USA the required momentum after an initial outburst by Serbia. Team USA HC didn’t want to upset the rhythm that was orchestrated by Durant and the combination around him.

He appreciated the way JT coped with the whole situation but admitted that relegating the elite Celtics Wing to zero minutes didn’t sit well with him. He promised that Tatum would get his due soon. Kerr relayed,

“It’s tough but Jayson handled it really well. I talked to him today before the game that it may play out this way just with Kevin coming back and lineups that I wanted to get to but that will change, Jayson’s gonna play… I felt like an idiot not playing him“

Kerr is spot-on about the necessity of allotting a ton of minutes to Durant at the Wing. But one can argue that Tatum could have at least gotten a couple of minutes when Team USA had already clinched the decisive advantage. But Kerr has assured that the 2024 champion will get to contribute in the upcoming games. 

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Raiders Fans Unhappy With An Unreal Andy Reid-Patrick Mahomes Stat


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In the Patrick Mahomes – Andy Reid era, being a Raiders supporter is not the best of places to be in life. Despite sharing a spicy rivalry off the field, the Raiders have only won 2 out of the last 12 matches against the Chiefs. To make matters worse, the latest stats show that the QB-HC combination of Mahomes-Reid has the most wins at the Raiders’ home stadium, even more than the Raiders’ QB-HC combinations of the last four years. Safe to say, the Raiders faithful are livid about this.

Before last year’s Super Bowl between the Chiefs and the 49ers, 4 wins was the most by a coach-QB combo in Allegiant Stadium’s history. The combo of Reid-Mahomes, Pierce-O’Connell, McDaniels-Carr, and Gruden-Carr were all tied at 4. Unfortunately for Raiders fans, the Chiefs with a Super Bowl win had the chance to make it 5 and they did as expected.

Granted the Allegiant Stadium has a short history of only four years. But still having to see your fiercest rivals’ coach-QB combo having the most wins at your own home stadium is the stuff of nightmares. Raiders fans were naturally upset with this stat and had a brutal assortment of words for their team.

But the Chiefs’ fanbase’ happiness knew no bounds reading this stat and thus took to social media to troll their rivals. It was not a surprise to them, since they believe it’s their home turf, just on the western side.

When the rivalry is so one-sided, a team in the Raiders’ position should not give the Chiefs an iota of incentives to look forward to the derby. Unfortunately for the Las Vegas-based team, their rookie safety has given all the incentive in the world for Mahomes to obliterate his team this season.

Trey Taylor’s Unnecessary Participation In Trolling Patrick Mahomes Raises The Stakes For Raiders

Last week, footage from Raiders’ training camp went viral where rookie safety was seen holding a “Kermit – the frog” doll wearing a wig eerily similar to Mahomes’ hair. The doll was clearly a play on the running gag about Mahomes’ voice being similar to the fictional character.

Chiefs fans were naturally upset with the act of mockery and were extra livid at the rookie for endorsing it. Even Mahomes’ trainer saw this as a war cry and sent warning shots by tweeting “We will remember,” in a reply to the viral footage.

All said, an angry Patrick Mahomes is the last thing that the Raiders need. While the Chiefs never needed a reason to defeat their rivals, this act might have made it a must-win match of the season for Andy Reid’s men.

On the other hand, the Raiders after last season’s Christmas win would look to thwart Mahomes’ winning run at Allegiant Stadium to restore some grace. Safe to say, we have one of the most anticipated games already in our hands.

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Kendrick Perkins ‘Begs’ Steve Kerr to Sub Out Joel Embiid in Opening Game Against Serbia


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The USA Men’s Basketball team clinched an emphatic 26-point win in their Olympic opener against Serbia after a slow start. The Nikola Jokic-led squad went on a 10-2 run to begin the game as Team USA looked outmatched on both ends of the floor initially. Joel Embiid was once again in the crosshairs of the critics as he fumbled a possession and looked like a mismatch against Jokic’s offensive skills. Therefore, ESPN contributor Kendrick Perkins ‘begged’ Team USA Head Coach Steve Kerr to sub out Embiid during the game.

Perk’s plea to Kerr indicated how much the 2023 MVP looked out of touch at the beginning of the game. On X, Perkins tweeted, “Please get Embiid out the game. I’m begging you Steve Kerr. Please”.

In the first half, Embiid collected just 2 points, 1 rebound, and committed 2 turnovers. Team USA went on a 30-11 run after Anthony Davis replaced him less than four minutes into the game. AD immediately shut down Jokic, stealing the ball twice from him within a few possessions.

These defensive plays helped USA sustain a decent rhythm on both ends of the floor as the team finally started to look like the assemblage of legendary players it is. This switch-up early in the game has vindicated folks who wanted to see AD start over Embiid.

Should Anthony Davis replace Joel Embiid as the starter?

Embiid has thus far not gelled well with the team. During the exhibition games, he did have decent numbers, but still struggled to be a factor early on in the game, which delayed his squad’s ability to set the tempo. The common pattern in these games was similar to the Olympic opener. The opening unit struggled with Embiid but the same set of players thrived with AD in the middle.

Therefore, the NBA fandom has been widely calling for Steve Kerr to switch the 2023 MVP with Davis in the starting lineup. The demand makes sense, not solely based on stats. USA’s current playing style doesn’t suit Embiid’s style as he needs multiple touches on the post regularly.

He needs various set pieces to work his offense, unlike AD, who can perform at a high level with minimal touches. Apart from that, the Philly Center has looked rusty after fighting through a ton of injuries during the 2023-24 NBA season. Let’s see if Kerr makes the starting lineup adjustment against South Sudan, a team that gave them a ton of trouble in the exhibition affair.

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Mercedes’ Tribute Car for the ‘Greatest Driver to Never Win F1 Title’ Fetches $3.7M in Auction


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The 2010 edition Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss was sold at RM Sotheby’s auction earlier today and fetched a staggering winning bid of $3.7 million (approx.). The 1950s-inspired sports car was a tribute to the legendary Sir Stirling Moss, who was one of the Silver Arrows’ most decorated drivers.

The SLR is a one-of-a-kind range from Mercedes-Benz. The German automobile giants launched the Stirling Moss edition as a tribute to Moss’ 1955 Mille Miglia win in the namesake SLR 300.

This particular variant of the SLR, that went under the hammer, boasts a powerful 5.4 liter supercharged V8 engine capable of producing 641 hp. The frame of the car is supported by a carbon-fiber monocoque and the SLR has a five-speed automatic transmission.

The SLR also resembles the storied legacy of McLaren and Mercedes in the world of motorsport. It was a collaboration between the duo that produced one of the most iconic flagship supercars of the 2000s. The Stirling Moss edition was only limited to 75 cars. Naturally, its auction price was going to be way clear of its $1.01 million price tag by Mercedes.

Why Stirling Moss is considered to be one of the greatest in F1 to never win a title

It is fair to say that Sir Stirling Moss is considered an icon of motorsport – not just Formula 1. In a career that spanned fourteen years, Moss won a staggering 212 races for many iconic manufacturers. Sixteen of those wins came in the form of F1 Grands Prix.

Throughout his career, he entered over sixty races in F1 but retired from 50% of those. This is what makes his tally of 16 race wins one of the most impressive the sport has seen. Yet, he never won a Formula 1 world championship. Moss finished second in the championship on four occasions (1955, 1956, 1957 and 1958).

He came closest to winning the coveted F1 title in 1956. Reigning world champion, Juan Manuel Fangio, however, went on to pick up the fourth of his five world titles, as fellow Briton, Peter Collins gave up his car to allow the Argentinian to grab the points required to beat Moss at Monza.

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Rafael Nadal vs Zinedine Zidane: Who is Richer Among The Two Sporting Favorites in Paris?


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Rafael Nadal and Zinedine Zidane are two players who don’t need any introductions. Both of them are considered to be legends of their respective sports. At the Paris Olympics, Zidane passed on the Olympic torch to Nadal as a tribute to the Spaniard’s 14 French Open title wins, a world record in tennis which is set to never be broken.

This incident took place at the latter stages of the torch rally, which is normally reserved for the sports stars of the host country of the Olympics only.

The duo shared another iconic sporting moment when Zidane handed Nadal his first-ever Grand Slam trophy when the Spaniard beat Mariano Puerta in the final of the French Open in 2005. Hence, life came a full circle for the Spanish tennis legend, in a way, on Friday.

Both the sportspersons’ off-the-sport activities and earnings from them, have attracted lot of interest among tennis and soccer fans alike. Starting with Nadal, the former World No.1 has an estimated net worth of above $323.61 million as of the start of 2024.

His career prize money figure is nearly $135 million, which is the second highest of all0time in tennis after Novak Djokovic. The Spaniard’s association with Kia Motors dates back to the year 2006 and the company has been sponsoring him ever since.

Top sportswear brand Nike has also been associated with Nadal for a long time and has also designed apparel specifically for the legend over the years. Lanvin Colognes, Quely (a Mallorca-based food company), Emporio Armani, and PokerStars are a few other brands endorsed by the 22-time Grand Slam winner.

Nadal’s total life earnings, which include his tournament winnings and endorsements, exceed $500 million according to Forbes.

On the other hand, as per World in Sport, the retired French soccer player’s net worth is estimated to be around $120 million, which is around $200 million less than the Spanish star.

Zidane, who was a professional soccer player for France, enjoyed an illustrious career that even included a FIFA World Cup win in 1998. He played for clubs such as Real Madrid and Juventus in his career, which formed a huge chunk of his earnings.

Post his retirement, he started working as a soccer manager and enjoyed immense success with Real Madrid where he earned a base salary of $14 million annually. Just like Nadal, Zidane too has associated himself with several brands like Adidas, Lego, Christian Dior etc., over the years to supplement his income, both as a player and coach.

In the year 2006, he became the sixth highest-paid soccer player in the world as his Real Madrid salary of 6.4 million euros combined with 8.6 million euros from brand associations.

Despite soccer being considered as more lucrative than tennis, Nadal perhaps came at a time when sponsorships and endorsements were on a rise across the world. The Spaniard was a star of the 2000s while Zidane was a product of the 1990s.

But Nadal’s marketability in more number of countries and the way his now business partner Carlos Costa handled his investments portfolio, also played a huge role in his riches.

Nadal and Zidane are two names who have shown that with lot of dedication to their craft and clever financial planning, youngsters can make it big in any sport they choose, no matter which country they are from.

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“He’s at His Best!”: Carlos Alcaraz Contradicts Carlos Moya With Reaction to Rafael Nadal’s Rumored Injury


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Even before the 2024 Olympics commenced, a plethora of ATP and WTA stars announced their withdrawal. Jannik Sinner, Elena Rybakina, Hubert Hurkacz, and Holger Rune are merely a few big examples. But, the tennis world seemed to be the most worried after learning that Rafael Nadal might be an addition to this list.

By wearing a bandage on his right thigh, it is evident that Nadal is dealing with pain in his abductor. However, things were blowing out of proportion when his coach Carlos Moya “couldn’t assure” his participation.

These anxious fans will catch a break though as Carlos Alcaraz put an end to these concerns on Friday. A few hours ahead of the opening ceremony, Alcaraz managed to turn the frowns upside down by giving a positive update on his doubles partner’s fitness.

“The guy is fine, he’s at his best. He’s always fine, like always,” Alcaraz said, per Clay.

Although Alcaraz directly contradicted Moya’s claim, the youngster was backed by David Ferrer, Spain’s Davis Cup captain and Nadal’s good friend.

“I’m sure Rafa will be in tomorrow’s doubles because he trained well today. Let’s see how he feels. The doubles requires less intensity than the singles, in which you have to be very well prepared physically and in full condition,” Ferrer said to the Argentine publication.

Supporters will also be pleased to know that Nadal did practice on Friday and in doubles, defeated the Pablo Carreno Busta-Marcel Granollers duo in their practice set alongside the 21-year-old.

The 22-time Grand Slam winner is expected to participate on Saturday and will play against the Argentine duo of Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni. However, there is still no update about the King of Clay’s participation in the singles event.

Nadal canceled his singles practice with Alexander Zverev on Thursday

A day ahead of the opening ceremony, Moya disappointed several fans with his update on Rafael Nadal’s thigh injury. He told reporters that Nadal’s participation in the Summer Games seemed doubtful.

“I can’t assure you Nadal will play.”

“Today it was decided to rest to give him more time to recover from the setback that occurred yesterday. Let’s see if he can be ready tomorrow,” Moya said.

These comments came after the Mallorca native abruptly canceled his training session with Alexander Zverev at the Philippe Chatrier Stadium. However, Rafa set foot on the court and practiced before the 48 hours allotted for his recovery. This is a great sign and gives fans the hope to see Nadal play his opening-round singles clash against Marton Fucsovics on Sunday.

 

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US Olympic Team Coach Bob Bryan Recalls Michael Phelps Taunt From Fans After 2008 Beijing Games


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Bob Bryan is all set to coach the US Olympic tennis team for the first time this year. In a recent conversation, Bryan shared his anecdotes from the past and what expectations and teachings will he be conveying to his team members.

When asked about the message he would give to the players this time, Bryan told Tennis.com that he would like the players to “soak it up” and enjoy the experience of being at the Olympics instead of taking the pressure of expectations. “I would just say enjoy it, soak it up,” he said. Bryan then further added,

“I think these players are going to remember this experience for the rest of their lives. I would say 95% of athletes aren’t there to win a medal. They are just so pumped to be there, so it’s a very joyful environment”.

Bob Bryan and his twin brother Mike Bryan made their first Olympics appearance in Athens in 2004, from where they returned empty-handed. However, in their very next appearance in Beijing 2008, the two won a bronze medal in the men’s doubles category.

While Bob Bryan shared how both he and his brother along with their coach were extremely happy to return with a medal and be able to add to the medal count of the US, their happiness turned sour when they were taunted by the fans in their home country for not bringing a gold. The fans compared the Bryan brothers’ success to that of Michael Phelps. 

“We were smiling ear to ear on the podium and all the way home. And when we got home, the fans said, ‘What happened? Why didn’t you bring home the gold? Michael Phelps won 12 (laughs). What’s wrong with you guys,’” Bob Bryan revealed.

The Bryan brothers then took this as a challenge and successfully managed to turn their bronze into gold at London 2012. The same year they also won the US Open men’s doubles title and then went on to grab the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon titles in the following year.

Speaking of the same, Bob Bryan said, “Winning that was really the pinnacle of our career and that feeling carried us on court for a couple of years after just because we were so happy. Any type of adversity on the court, down a break, was no big deal. And we had our greatest run“.

He further added, “We won the gold and then we won the US Open, Australian Open, French and Wimbledon. And it was all fueled by that confidence and great feeling from being on the podium here in London”.

Bob Bryan supports Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe for opting out of Paris 2024

Bob Bryan defended Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe’s decision to opt out of the Paris Olympics. He also said that playing on clay at the Olympics may not be beneficial for them as both players have to prepare for the upcoming US Open, a tournament played on hard courts. Bob Bryan said,

“Going from hard to clay to grass to clay to hard is challenging for anyone. If your goal is to peak at the US Open, it might not be the most ideal situation for you. So I support and am behind Ben and Frances, and I understand where they are coming from”.

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Logan Sargeant Has Allegedly “Cut Off” Only Lifeline to F1


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Logan Sargeant recently registered his best finish of P11 in Formula 1 at the Silverstone circuit. Despite his improvements in performance, there is no update about his future in F1. The American is perhaps the only driver on the grid not part of the rumor circles and not being linked to any other team. This isolation apparently has seeped within his current team as well. Reports suggest Sargeant is completely cut off from his only hope in F1.

Pit Debrief’s report is based on the comments of former F1 man Marcus Ericsson. There could be some truth in Ericsson’s statement as his current teammate in IndyCar is Kyle Kirkwood. Kirkwood just happens to be Sargeant’s good friend. Based on this connection, it is highly likely the information came directly from the isolated Williams man.

Speaking of Sargeant’s future, Ericsson said, “I was also told this weekend by some American friends who know Sargeant, that he doesn’t have fun in that team. He thinks it’s really hard, and apparently he and James Vowles, they don’t even talk with each other anymore. They barely greet each other. It’s completely cut off between them.”

Vowles was the one person on the entire grid who stood by Sargeant’s side when the general opinion was that the American wasn’t good enough. Vowles supported his driver all throughout 2023.

However, things have apparently changed in 2024. Now, even after his aforementioned Silverstone result, reports suggest that Vowles is not ready to back Sargeant.

Sargeant reveals the extent of the ignorance toward him at Williams

The American made a lot of headlines when he first broke into the tough F1 circle. One year later, it’s looking increasingly tough for the 23-year-old. The Floridian revealed he’s lost all the love and support he received initially. If not everyone, he’s been left to fend for himself by the team boss as they look to replace him in 2025 if not earlier.

Sargeant highlighted this scenario when he was asked about feedback from the team after the race in Silverstone. When asked if Vowles complimented or said something, he revealed, “No, not really.” Sargeant instead then shifted the focus of how the Williams team were working extremely hard back in Grove.

Sargeant added, “I want to come here and perform well for all the guys and girls who are working hard for me. Trying to maximize our performance every single weekend. Ultimately, I know when I perform well. So if I can do that and give back to them, that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Even if Williams do not part ways with Sargeant this year, the American’s future in the sport is indeed looking increasingly bleak.  If he loses the Williams seat, which seems to be the likely outcome, Sargeant might have to take his racing talents to a different discipline altogether.

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How Rafael Nadal Helped Andy Murray Prepare for the Olympics 2024


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Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray is all set to retire from tennis at the Olympics in Paris. But before coming to the ‘City of Lights’, Murray was in Greece. And this was because of Rafael Nadal inviting him to come to his academy there.

Murray’s presence was huge for the Rafa Nadal Academy despite the support from their legendary owner. The academy’s page wrote on Instagram about this experience:

“It was amazing to host SIR @andymurray at the @rafanadaltenniscentre ! Hope you enjoyed your stay! Best of luck at the Olympics! VAMOS‼”

Murray wants to bow out with a bang, looking to create history by becoming the first men’s singles tennis player to win 3 Olympic medals in the category. Despite having so much experience playing on clay, the Scot still needed to sharpen his skills and train on the surface before such an important event.

With Nadal’s world-class facilities and team there, Murray seemed to have a great time. It is the least Nadal could do for him, after missing out on his Wimbledon farewell recently. Their friendship goes way back and beyond all this.

Nadal and Murray’s friendship has lasted more than two decades

Their friendship dates back to the time when the two were teenagers, looking to make it big in the sport. They first met in Spain in an Under-16 European Championship tournament in Andorra. Nadal’s niceness impressed Murray, as the Spaniard was effusive in praise of the coaching available to him and in the country in general.

After being asked by Nadal to live and train in Spain, Murray then successfully convinced his parents back home at the age of 14 to relocate in order to boost his chances of success. The Brit is eternally grateful to the 22-time Grand Slam champion for that advice which changed his life.

The two even reunited in Brisbane in December 2023 to have a practice session together. 

Nadal even thanked Murray on social media for the session and wrote:

“Thanks @andy_murray for a great practice today. All the best for the tournament.”

Murray too replied saying:

“Thanks for the opportunity to be back on the court with you. Good luck with the comeback.”

Interestingly, the Paris Olympics will be the last time both the players will play at the marquee even. Seeing Nadal’s current ranking of 161 and Murray being 121st in the world, it is likely that the duo could play each other in either men’s singles or doubles if Spain and Great Britain are matched up against each other.

 

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Pierre Gasly Has Organized A Run In Memory of Anthoine Hubert 5 Years After His Tragic Death


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After a dramatic Hungarian GP, F1 moves on to Belgium to race on the legendary Spa Francorchamps circuit. While it is among the most loved and challenging circuits for drivers, it is also a reminder of the risks. Among those who recently lost their lives on the Belgian track are Anthoine Hubert and Dilano van ‘t Hoff. To honor their memory, Pierre Gasly has organized a run on the track.

The Frenchman was quoted as saying on X, “Once again, I have organized a run to remember my friend Anthoine Hubert, almost five years after his tragic loss, on Thursday evening. All F1, F2, and F3 Paddock personnel are welcome to run or walk the Spa circuit in his memory.”

“We will make a stop at Eau Rouge to honor Anthoine before moving on to the Kemmel Straight to pay tribute to Dilano van ‘t Hoff with our friends at MP Motorsport,” he added.

Hubert lost his life in a scary accident that engulfed four drivers in an F2 race. Giuliano Alesi lost control of his car after suffering a puncture and crashed into the left-side barriers on the crest of Raidillon. His teammate Ralph Boschung, coming from behind steered to his right to avoid the debris.

Hubert, who could not see where Boschung was going, collided with the back of his car and crashed into the right-side barriers. after ricocheting from the barrier, he landed in the middle of the track. An approaching Juan Manuel Correa shunted into the left of Hubert’s car. The impact saw both their cars split into two resulting in serious injuries.

While the doctors pronounced Hubert dead on arrival at the hospital, Correa suffered multiple fractures. An injury to the spinal cord led to the doctors putting Correa in an induced coma.

Pierre Gasly still loves Spa

While Hubert’s incident happened five years ago in 2019, the memories of Van ‘t Hoff’s horrific crash are still fresh. The accident happened last year during a Formula Regional race. The crash was almost identical to Hubert’s as Van’t Hoff’s car was T-boned on Raidillon.

Gasly led a run for Hubert last year which F1, F2, and F3 staff attended. They also held a moment of silence for Van ‘t Hoff. Despite horrific memories, Gasly, in a 2023 interview, admitted, “I experienced the worst emotions of my life here. And at the same time, it’s one of my favorite circuits, so it’s very contradictory.”

Hubert had another close friend from F1 in Charles Leclerc. Such was the bond between them that Leclerc dedicated his first win in F1 to Hubert. Coincidentally, that win came on Spa just a day after Hubert’s death.

The post Pierre Gasly Has Organized A Run In Memory of Anthoine Hubert 5 Years After His Tragic Death appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Fans Feel Joe Burrow Has Lost His ‘Aura’ With His New Haircut


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Nearly a week ago, the NFL world was stunned when reports first emerged of Joe Burrow cutting off his luscious locks for a buzz cut. Fans initially were in disbelief as the star quarterback has rarely experimented with his looks. Now that the dust has settled, most still hold the same opinion on the QB’s new look, with a few netizens noting a loss in Burrow’s “aura.”

For many NFL fans across the world, Joe Shiesty is undeniably one of the most charismatic QBs in the league. Part of his infectious charm was his babyface coupled with his silky locks and calm demeanor. But with his latest buzz cut, the picture of which recently surfaced online, fans are now seeing Burrow in a never-before-seen avatar, and they are simply not digging it.

Notably, “Aura” these days is the most common buzzword among netizens, which is used to describe the impression or the vibe that an individual exudes. As a result, fans are finding it hard to resonate with Burrow’s energy like they did previously.

Another section of fans, meanwhile, noted that the hairstyle change considerably aged him — a stark contrast to Burrow’s previous look, which made him come across as younger than his age. From drawing parallels to the looks of a serial killer to being called Derek Carr’s lookalike, the comment section is filled with polarizing reactions.

While it’s understandable where the fan outrage is coming from, it should be noted that the root cause of Burrow’s bold change in style can be attributed to his Paris Fashion Week appearance.

“Get Out of My Comfort Zone”: Burrow on His Bold Fashion Choices

Last month, the Bengals quarterback turned quite a few heads with his Paris Fashion Week debut, in which he walked the ramp in a simple backless suit. Netizens were stunned with the odd choice of clothing, but in an interview with Vogue, the QB revealed that he did it to “get out of comfort zone and grow as a person.”

Weeks later, Burrow was spotted with his controversial buzz cut. When one connects the dots, it’s not hard to attribute the QB’s buzz cut to his new fashion philosophy.

While we haven’t heard an official statement from the player’s camp regarding the buzz-cut controversy, the Bengals’ playmaker can take solace in the fact that fellow QB Baker Mayfield’s recent decision to shave off his beard is also not receiving positive reviews.

That said, such silly outrages are just the side effect of the boring part of the offseason — the calm before the storm. This discourse will soon vanish once the QBs step on the gridiron. Nothing silences critics like success.

The post Fans Feel Joe Burrow Has Lost His ‘Aura’ With His New Haircut appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Vikings Fans ‘Up in Arms’ After Another QB Gets Favored to Get More Reps Than JJ McCarthy


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JJ McCarthy has had a rough start to his NFL journey. Over the last few weeks, he has witnessed the passing away of a teammate [Khyree Jackson] and a friend [Andre Seldon Jr.]. To make matters worse for his personal life, rumors now suggest that Sam Darnold is slated to be the QB1 for the team, a complete 360 from the initial expectations.

After the 2024 NFL Draft, McCarthy, along with Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams, and Drake Maye, were considered the flag-bearers of the next generation of QBs. While the first three in the list have their QB1 position nailed, McCarthy’s positions seems to be on shaky ground.

According to recent rumors, former Jet now Viking, Sam Darnold, has been preferred in training camp and will receive the majority of first-team reps instead of McCarthy, who was expected to be the solution to the Vikings’ QB woes.

Ever since the news from the grapevine became public, the Minnesota faithful have been baffled and have taken to social media to share their two cents. See for yourselves:

The others, meanwhile, were pleased with the rumored decision, arguing that a rookie like JJ needs to spend time on the bench and not rush in immediately.

The rival fans, on the other hand, began their celebratory runs, believing there was now one less team in the competition. Similarly, Vikings fans also wondered if having McCarthy as a backup was the plan, then their team should have used their first-round pick on another position.

Regardless, what’s done is done. From the looks of it and by the HC Kevin O’Connell’s statement, Sam Darnold seems to be the man for the Vikings this season. But the question is, is he up for the job?

A Huge Chance for Sam Darnold

Darnold burst onto the NFL scene when he was drafted as the third overall pick by the Jets in 2018. Similar to JJ, expectations were high for the rookie out of USC. Unfortunately, he couldn’t meet the lofty standards set for him. His statistically best season with the Jets saw him record 19 TDs and over 3,000 yards.

As expected, these numbers aren’t enough from a starting QB, and thus began his journeyman career as a backup. Darnold eventually found himself as Brock Purdy’s backup at the 49ers last season. After the year-long stint, the Vikings signed him for a year-long contract after Kirk Cousin’s exit. Many saw Darnold’s entry as yet another depth signing, however, the latest reports have rightly baffled a few.

While it might seem a bit unfair for McCarthy right now, it’s important to note that Darnold was a huge prospect in his rookie years, which is why he was drafted so high. The talent is clearly there, and that’s why teams like the Panthers, 49ers, and now the Vikings have given him a chance.

With the Vikings, Sam undeniably has the last, and possibly the biggest, chance of his career in front of him. With a fan-favorite quality QB in JJ McCarthy as backup, this will truly be a defining season for him.

The post Vikings Fans ‘Up in Arms’ After Another QB Gets Favored to Get More Reps Than JJ McCarthy appeared first on The SportsRush.



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NBA Analyst Claims Victor Wembanyama and Co. Can Pull Off a Major Upset Against Team USA


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When the star-studded Team USA roster for the Paris Olympics was announced, the popular sentiment was that they would cruise to a gold medal win. But their five exhibition games have showcased that it won’t be as easy as presumed. Many now believe that Team USA could fall prey to an upset loss, with Tim Legler naming the Victor Wembanyama-led French team as the most likely candidates to pull off the win. 

On NBA Today, the analyst claimed that the San Antonio Spurs star and Rudy Gobert manning the paint together could cause massive problems for Team USA. Legler explained that FIBA rules give the duo a near-unfair advantage. He explained,

“If you have a frontline with Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert on the floor, the amount of ground they can cover around the rim, three-point shooting is going to be premium against that team and against that defense, and that’s gonna be a challenge for Team USA.”

Legler added that the duo would make life difficult in the paint and force Team USA to be content with attempting three-pointers. However, the shorter distance from the rim to the three-point line in international competitions would mean they could take one stride and get in position to contest a shot from beyond the arc.

He also claimed that France’s other stars like Nicolas Batum, Nando de Colo, and Evan Fournier could also pop off and cause problems on the offensive end to aid their centers’ defensive effort. However, Legler warned they won’t be the only legitimate threat at the Olympics.

Teams with fewer NBA Players will trouble Team USA 

The analyst also made another interesting claim. He opined that teams with fewer NBA players will challenge Team USA more than rosters with players from the NBA. He explained that teams with fewer stars could catch them by surprise.

Legler might have identified a fascinating trend. When Team USA took on Team Canada, a team packed with NBA players, they looked comfortable and registered a comfortable 14-point win. However, they struggled heavily against South Sudan and needed a vintage fourth-quarter takeover from LeBron James to beat them by one point. 

Team USA is still the heavy favorite to win gold in Paris. The roster hasn’t blown out every team they’ve faced like many expected them to, but is 5-0 so far. However, they should be wary that the pressure is on them to win the tournament and the other 11 rosters can play without any fear, a luxury Team USA cannot afford.

The post NBA Analyst Claims Victor Wembanyama and Co. Can Pull Off a Major Upset Against Team USA appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Charles Leclerc Names His Top Three Favorites as He Designs His Next Helmet Using AI


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F1 drivers love to sport new innovative designs on their helmets. Recently, Lando Norris had the Hungarian GP porcelain trophy design on his helmet for the weekend in Budapest. Now, Charles Leclerc resorted to the use of AI for creating a new helmet design and was quite impressed with the ease of the process.

Leclerc got together with Tom Shaw, a software developer, who helped the Ferrari driver create a helmet design using a generative AI tool, per Shaw’s recent YouTube video. However, the clip started with Leclerc revealing his top three helmet picks of all time.

When asked by Shaw to reveal his favorite helmet, Leclerc first picked his father, Herve Leclerc’s helmet design because it was simple and old school. He then picked the iconic helmet design of Ayrton Senna with the glorious Brazilian flag colors.

For his final design, the Monegasque picked one of his own — the helmet he wore in Monaco last year. It had a sharp look with Ferrari red and a mix of white with a design pattern of his father’s helmet.

Then, Shaw showed Leclerc the tool that they were going to use to design the helmet and explained that he only had to describe the design he wanted in words and the tool would do the rest.

Leclerc’s design prompt was, “I want a retro design with the main colors as red and white, with a small touch of baby blue. And add the number 16 wherever you want”.

Speaking of baby blue, Leclerc mentioned how it is his favorite color but he has never used it in his helmet design before. The 26-year-old then said that he will start using it from the next season and the tool might give him good inspiration for next year’s helmet.

Leclerc’s helmets take four to five months for completion

Shaw asked about the design process of Leclerc’s helmets and how long it usually takes for one helmet. Leclerc revealed that he works closely with renowned motorsport designer Adrien Paviot for the ideation and design and BS Designs for the helmet’s painting.

 

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A post shared by BS DESIGNS (@bs_designs_helmet)

Surprisingly, Leclerc revealed that his helmets take somewhere between four to five months to go from the first idea to a finished product. The Ferrari driver has to consult with his team to ensure everyone including the sponsors is aligned with the idea behind the helmet design.

As far as the design process itself, Leclerc mentioned it takes about a week to finalize the same.

The post Charles Leclerc Names His Top Three Favorites as He Designs His Next Helmet Using AI appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Caron Butler Claims That Anybody Who Says They Predicted Giannis Antetokounmpo to Be MVP Is ‘Fooling Themselves’


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When Giannis Antetokounmpo first entered the league, nobody, including his brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo, expected him to become the player that he is today. On a recent episode of Thanasis’s podcast, Thanalysis Show, Caron Butler talked about his experience observing the Bucks superstar at an early stage of his career. Butler stated that while Giannis showed enough promise to be a good player back in 2013, his rise to superstardom was something nobody saw coming.

Giannis was the 15th overall pick in the 2013 draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. In the same year, the Bucks signed Butler and that’s where the two met for the first time. The two-time All-Star told Thanasis that he remembers seeing Giannis for the first time on the court during their first practice together.

Butler had heard a lot about this young talent from Athens. But when he saw Giannis play for the first time, he understood the hype around his name. However, the 44-year-old still couldn’t see the full picture back then.

During the show, Butler was asked by Thanasis if he could foresee the meteoric rise of Giannis in 2013. The former NBA star said, “I thought, All-Star, great all-around player, playmaker, I didn’t see like, MVP, MVP, Defensive [player of the year] like you didn’t see all that.”

“Anybody that tell you that is fooling themselves,”  he emphatically added.

Even Thanasis agreed that he didn’t think Giannis would be able to climb these heights in his career.

So, it’s not that people underestimated the Greek star as a player when he entered the league. But the Greek Freak worked really hard on his game to transcend all expectations bestowed on him. Giannis averaged 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 41.4% from the field as a rookie.

When he won his first MVP in 2019, he averaged 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists while shooting 57.8% from the field. Since then, his average has stayed above 28-11-5 with an FG% of 55 and above.

The evolution of his skills has also allowed him to lead the Bucks to the 2021 NBA title without joining forces with other superstars in the league. Giannis still has many years left in his career and has already cemented his legacy as an All-Time Great.

The post Caron Butler Claims That Anybody Who Says They Predicted Giannis Antetokounmpo to Be MVP Is ‘Fooling Themselves’ appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Nuno Borges Replicates Federer, Djokovic For Outstanding Achievement After Defeating Rafael Nadal in Bastad


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Rafael Nadal had one of the most impressive weeks over the last few years of his career during the Swedish Open 2024. Playing at Bastad after 19 years, Rafa dominated the clay-court tournament per usual. However, his dream week was put to an end as Nuno Borges defeated the crowd favorite. As the Portuguese clinched a 6-3, 6-2 win, he achieved a feat that got him in the esteemed company of the “Big Four”.

Nuno Borges won his first ATP title by outclassing Rafael Nadal. It took the 27-year-old only 88 minutes to clinch a 6-3, 6-2 victory. With this, Borges joins the likes of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray as the 4th player to defeat Rafa in an ATP clay-court final in straight sets.

In 2009, Federer clinched a double 6-4 win over Nadal in the Madrid Masters. Further, the King of Clay suffered straight-set losses to Djokovic and Murray in 2013 and 2015: – 2-6, 6-7 in the Monte-Carlo Open and 2-6, 3-6 in the Madrid Masters, respectively.

Obviously, Nadal is significantly older and not as physically fit as he once was. However, he didn’t use his deteriorating fitness as an excuse for his first loss in an ATP finals in 2 years.

Nadal congratulates Borges for making the finals “difficult” for him

As expected, Nadal received a warm reception during the trophy presentation ceremony. However, the 22-time Grand Slam winner humbly kept the spotlight off of him and lauded Borges for a commanding display. He even claimed that he had fun on the court and played some good matches, but the final just wasn’t his day.

“Congratulations to Nuno. You played great all week. You deserve it more than anyone else. Enjoy your moment. It’s a special moment winning a title. I wish you all the very best for the rest of the season.

While Nadal could not lift the title, he’ll certainly gain confidence ahead of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, having clinched some impressive wins over the past week.

The post Nuno Borges Replicates Federer, Djokovic For Outstanding Achievement After Defeating Rafael Nadal in Bastad appeared first on The SportsRush.



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“Don’t Know What That Means”: When Roger Federer Ridiculed Players Like Novak Djokovic in 2018 For Adopting a Gluten-Free Diet


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When Novak Djokovic adopted a gluten-free diet in 2038, he was confident that it would have a major impact on his performance. However, his rival, Federer, refused to believe in such practices and took a stance that surprised fans.

Djokovic started eating gluten-free after meeting Serb nutritionist, Igor Cetojevic. Following this change, he achieved major success, proving the diet brought something significant to his game. He even mentioned about it in his book ‘Serve to Win’ when he wrote, “Suddenly there was an X factor, a change in my diet that allowed my body to perform as it should.”

Tennis legend Roger Federer was also asked if he likes to eat gluten-free food and has adopted the diet, to which he replied that he doesn’t know what that even means. He stressed that eating healthy food is the key and that’s what everyone should do.

“I don’t even know what that all means…I eat healthy, and I think that’s what people should do, too,” said the Swiss maestro.

Federer even stressed the need for moderation and a balanced diet on another occasion, highlighting how important it is to have tasty food at the same time. “The secret to a healthy and balanced diet stays all in moderation. Whatever you do, you have to do it with moderation, but you also need to enjoy food,” he said.

Despite Federer insisting that healthy food is the only option, Carlos Alcaraz decided to follow in Djokovic’s footsteps, making fans wonder why.

Alcaraz’s Journey to Gluten-Free Food

2024 Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz decided to follow in the footsteps of Djokovic and opted for a gluten-free diet on the advice of Juanjo Moreno, his physiotherapist. Although choosing a gluten-free diet meant that the Spaniard had to go without several items, including pasta, his mother made gluten-free versions, ensuring that her son gets to taste his favorite dishes occasionally.

The youngster is also provided with this diet when he’s traveling for tournaments. During the Australian Open in Melbourne, Alcaraz was provided with special dishes by the owner of a restaurant named Cambio de Tercio. A gluten-free diet can also be considered the secret behind his recent dominating performances, in Roland Garros and Wimbledon which helped him clinch both these titles.

Considering Alcaraz’s recent success and Djokovic’s incredible achievements, there are chances that more and more Tennis stars might join them in opting for gluten-free food in an attempt to mirror their lifestyle. Besides, with Roger not around anymore, the possibility of this influence is even greater.

The post “Don’t Know What That Means”: When Roger Federer Ridiculed Players Like Novak Djokovic in 2018 For Adopting a Gluten-Free Diet appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Carlos Alcaraz Comically Trolls Frances Tiafoe After Calling Him ‘Nicest Guy on ATP Tour’


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Carlos Alcaraz, in a recent interview, named his USA counterpart Frances Tiafoe as the ‘nicest guy’ on the tour. However, to the surprise of everyone present, Alcaraz took Tiafoe’s name not just once but four times, proving his friendship with the American tennis star.

Alcaraz taking Tiafoe’s name came as a shocker for most as it was not long ago when the latter called his opponents ‘clowns’. After winning the opening round of Wimbledon against Matteo Arnaldi, after being 2 sets down, Tiafoe made this statement while talking about his declining form in the recent past. 

“Literally this week last year I was 10 in the world and now I’m barely seeded here (at Wimbledon). Losing to clowns, I hate to say it but I’m just gonna be honest.”

However, as per Alcaraz, Tiafoe is the nicest guy on the tour. Not stopping at that, the Spaniard went on to take his name for three other questions, including “Who’s the funniest in the locker room?’, ‘Who would be your wingman?’, ‘Who do you hear before you see?”

This definitely gave fans a peek into Tiafoe’s personality indicating that the American star is humorous, a ladies’ man, and quite loud. It also proved that Alcaraz and Tiafoe are quite close despite being competitors. 

A fan approved of all the answers and commented, “Spot on, Carlitos…” while another fan wrote, “This is dope! Carlitos and Frances need to play a men’s doubles tournament together. One time for the one time.”

As fans poured in with their reactions to Alcaraz and Tiafoe’s friendship, we couldn’t help but get reminded of another hilarious exchange between the two.

When Tiafoe Told Alcaraz, ‘I Can’t Stand You’

Earlier, Alcaraz and Tiafoe played the US Open 2022 semifinal rematch at Wimbledon 2024 where Tiafoe challenged the former, claiming he was coming for the Spanish. The game ended in Alcaraz’s favor, who won the last two sets after being 2-1 down and giving fans a classic 5-set clash. 

However, the game also put their camaraderie on display as the two were seen sharing mutual respect. Alcaraz, at one point, even crossed the net to check on Tiafoe when he lay down on the court after a terrifying rally. The two also shared a few words while shaking hands after the end of the game.

While revealing what was said during the conversation, Tiafoe in the post-match presentation said, “Just ultimate respect. Him just saying, ‘It’s good to see you play like that.’ Me just saying, ‘I can’t stand you.’”

The post Carlos Alcaraz Comically Trolls Frances Tiafoe After Calling Him ‘Nicest Guy on ATP Tour’ appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Diana Taurasi Delivered An Expletive Speech to Team USA Following Embarrassing Loss to Team WNBA


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The US Women’s Basketball Team heading to Paris for the 2024 Olympics was served with a reality check during the WNBA’s All-Star Weekend. The star-studded roster suffered a humiliating 117-109 loss to Team WNBA, who fielded two rookies and a sophomore. Diana Taurasi was unsurprisingly miffed about the loss and gave Team USA an earful after the embarrassing defeat.

After the final buzzer went off, Taurasi, who finished the game with 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists, summoned her teammates in a huddle and made it clear in no uncertain terms that they should be upset about the defeat. The 42-year-old said,

“This sh*t f*cking sucks. It’s a good reminder, we gotta come to play no matter who we are. We got it!”

After delivering a war cry to her teammates, Taurasi complimented Team WNBA. During the post-game press conference, she called Team WNBA the second-best roster in the world behind Team USA and attributed her team’s loss to a rare off night.

The 20-year veteran had predicted that the star-studded would be rusty and would need time to get on the same page before their campaign in Paris got underway. In an interview with USA Basketball earlier this week, she said,

“The Olympic summer is tricky to navigate. Everybody’s on their own WNBA team, trying to get better, trying to win a championship, trying to win games…And then all of a sudden, you have to switch gears and you’re all, you know, on this team and you have to find a way to work together cohesively in a short amount of time, and try to go and beat the world.”

 

Taurasi is disappointed about the loss but won’t let her team stress too much about it. She was on the Team USA roster that lost to Team WNBA during the 2021 All-Star Weekend ahead of their trip to Tokyo for the Olympics.

As embarrassing as the defeat was, it didn’t affect their performance in Japan in the slightest. They went 6-0 during the tournament and returned home with the gold medal. The 2024 roster will look to emulate their predecessors and continue Team USA’s reign of terror at the Olympics. 

They have won the gold medal in nine of the last 10 editions and haven’t failed to win the tournament since 1996. Taurasi, playing in her sixth and final Olympics, will look to ensure that Team USA returns home with gold for the eighth straight time.

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