The Spaniard crushed Norway’s Casper Ruud in straight sets for a record-extending 22nd men’s singles major, two titles clear of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
French Open champion Rafa Nadal posed with his trophy in Paris on Monday (June 6), after winning Roland Garros for a record-extending 14th time.
Nadal, who has been suffering from a chronic foot injury, destroyed Norwegian Casper Ruud 6-3 6-3 6-0 to stay undefeated in Roland Garros finals.
The 36-year-old, who has won the season’s first two majors, now owns a men’s record 22 Grand Slam singles titles – two more than nearest rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
Nadal, a double Wimbledon champion, said he will play at Wimbledon, which starts on June 27, if his body allows him.
Nadal explained that he had played Sunday’s final with a numbed foot thanks to a series of injections throughout the tournament, but that he would not go through a similar procedure again for the grasscourt Grand Slam.
At the final in January’s Australian Open, Nadal, who turned 36 on Friday, came from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev and bag a second title there.
A couple of months earlier he was even considering retiring after a foot problem that has troubled him throughout his career resurfaced, forcing him to miss much of the 2021 season including Wimbledon, the Olympics and the U.S. Open.
The reigning middleweight SUPERKOMBAT kickboxing champion posted a photo proudly showing off his “Muay Thai” tattoo, only to be told it was actually a rude word.
Jimmy Vienot, 26, uploaded a shot of his right arm on Instagram on Monday showing off a tattoo that was supposed to read “Muay Thai” in Thai script. However, the letter “khor rakang” was used as the first letter for the word “muay” instead of “mor mah”. This wrong letter turned the word into a penis-related insult.
The letter “khor rakang” is often interchanged with “khor kwai” to write the insult on social media platforms that block the word.
Vienot’s “Muay Thai” post drew over 1,000 likes and hundreds of comments as of Tuesday afternoon.
Most of his Instagram fans pointed out the mistake, with many encouraging him to get it fixed as soon as possible.
“Noooo,” shouted one follower, while another named doydinch said: “Small mistake but it can change all meaning”.
Instagrammer Katwannisa said: “Oh no, you need to get it fixed”, while misspinkdinosaur sympathised, with “poor you”.
“The meaning has changed. This is curse word in Thai,” est_browning tried to explain, while “faiiaiifii” offered up the correct letter.
However, Instagrammer jankananaphat wondered if Vienot may have doctored his photo to get a response.
Vienot has many Thai fans, especially after he won the Lumpinee Stadium title in April 2019. He is the sixth foreigner to win this prestigious title so far.
A U.S. court on Monday issued warrants for the seizure of two luxury planes owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich under U.S. measures imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, court records showed. Gloria Tso reports.
AU.S. court has authorized the seizure of two luxury planes owned by Russian billionaire and Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich.
Abramovich made headlines after putting Chelsea up for sale in March following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a sale that was complicated by UK sanctions on the billionaire and completed just last month.
On Monday, a federal judge in Manhattan issued warrants for his planes on the grounds that Abramovich violated U.S. export controls imposed after the Russian invasion.
The U.S.-made planes were flown to Moscow three times in March, without the license required by U.S. export restrictions.
But the U.S. government’s likelihood of gaining control of the nearly $400-million aircraft remains uncertain.
A Department of Justice official says the planes aren’t yet in U.S. custody, and that the warrants will likely dissuade companies from helping to move the aircraft.
U.S. authorities are trying to pressure business leaders close to Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt what Moscow calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine.
Abramovich, who helped mediate talks between Moscow and Kyiv during the early days of the war, has also been sanctioned by the EU, but not the United States.
The U.S. Commerce Department may fine Abramovich nearly $1 million for the unlicensed flights, among other penalties.
A spokesperson for Abramovich did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He has denied having close ties to Putin.
The Swiss corruption trial relates to a $2 million payment that FIFA made to Platini
The trial in Switzerland of former FIFA officials Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini on corruption charges over a $2 million payment that soccer’s world body made to Platini is due to begin on Wednesday (June 8).
Both Blatter and Platini have repeatedly denied wrongdoing in the past over the incident, for which Swiss prosecutors indicted them in November 2021.
Prosecutors allege Blatter improperly arranged the payment to Platini, who captained France to victory in the 1984 European Championship, for consulting work. Blatter and Platini said the payment was for backdated salary.
Both are suspected of fraud and other charges amid what became part of the biggest corruption scandal to shake FIFA.
Blatter, who led FIFA for 17 years, resigned in 2015, followed by Platini as president of UEFA in 2016, shortly after stepping down from running for the FIFA presidency. Both were handed six-year bans for ethics violations.
The trial before the Swiss Federal Criminal Court is due to start on June 8 and last until June 22, the court said on its website.
The court said Blatter and Platini are accused of having unlawfully obtained, to the detriment of FIFA, the payment of 2 million Swiss francs ($2.15 million) and social security contributions worth around 229,000 francs for Platini.
Thitikarn Thapasit and Ausanee Udkamtiang shared the lead in the 15-18 girls flight after each opened their campaign with a 67 in Event #2 of the Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship at the Suvarnabhumi Golf and Country Club on Monday.
Thitikarn swapped a birdie on the first hole with a bogey on the 5th before firing five birdies in the last 10 holes to settle with a 67 as the second event of the 36-hole tournament got underway. The first event was already completed on Sunday with Natchanok Tunwannaruk setting the pace at 10 under-par-134. Only one player with the best score from the two events will earn a berth to compete in the November’s Notah Begay III Junior Golf World Championship in the US.
“I didn’t have a good start, my driving wasn’t good but my putter really helped me out there. I began to get into my momentum after the turn where I made a lot of birdies,” said Thitikarn from Bangkok.
To win the title and a slot into the World Championship, Thitikarn has to sign off with at least 11 under on Tuesday which will see her surpass the current leader Natchanok.
“I have no special game plan for tomorrow. Hopefully, I can win the title and get a ticket to the US. That means I have to shoot lower than five under,” she added.
For 15-year-old Ausanee, she could have ended up on top when she was up at six under after 16 holes. A bogey on 17 pushed her backward to five under, five behind the clubhouse lead.
Thitikarn, Ausanee Shares Lead in 15-18 Girls in Notha Begay Thailand Event#2
“I’m quite happy with my game today. I feel that my short approach shots are quite accurate and I was able make several crucial putts,” said Ausanee from Rayong.
“Too bad I made three putts on the 17th. I was a bit greedy but I was too tight and made a mistake. My plan for tomorrow is to be defensive and don’t over expect things. I need to work more on my short game to get ready for the final day,” said Ausanee whose round was highlighted with an eagle on the ninth and four birdies.
On the boys’ side, Supawit Mangkhalakhiri from Nakhon Panom carded five birdies against a bogey and a double bogey on the 13th for a 70, three behind current leader Kittipong Kamlangklee who was already done with his part in Event #1 on Sunday.
“My performance was quite O.K. but there were some holes where I hit too long and had to drop shots. I’m only three strokes behind and I hope I can shoot a lot of scores to turn the tide tomorrow,” Supawit said. In the 12-14 division, Ajalawich Anantasethakul shot an opening 68 to lead the boys’ category of Event #2 while Suchanan Boonrojsaree fired the best score of a 67 in the girls.
Ajcharaporn scores key points towards her team’s third win in Ankara
Thailand crowned their fantastic Volleyball Nations League week in Ankara with a sensational win over mighty China on Sunday. Playing their third five-setter in a row, Pimpichaya Kokram, Ajcharaporn Kongyot and their teammates came back from a set down to deliver a huge 3-2 (25-23, 13-25, 14-25, 25-23, 15-11) upset of their powerful Asian opponents and hand them their first defeat of the tournament.
“I would like to thank all the fans, the coaching staff, my teammates and everyone who is behind us for helping us play with such an amazing passion and attitude and win our last game in Türkiye,” an elated Ajcharaporn said after the match. “Tonight we didn’t play for ourselves. We played for our country and all Thai people who support us.”
The 26-year-old outside hitter scored nine points in attack at a 50% success rate and some of those came in key moments of the match. After China had denied the first two Thai set points in set four, Ajcharaporn finally took the responsibility to put it away for a 25-23 win. She also attacked successfully to deliver a quintuple match point in the tie-breaker and three rallies down the road converted it herself to the much anticipated victory.
But it was Pimpichaya who spearheaded Thailand’s attacks for the most part of the match. The 23-year-old opposite tirelessly hammered away and registered a 49% success rate in spiking to pile up the match high of 28 points, including an ace and a kill block. She shared the top scorer honours with China’s left-handed outside Yingying Li, who produced 27 kills at a 50% success rate and an ace.
These two players took over the top two spots in the best scorers’ chart of the tournament so far, with Pimpichaya in the lead with 97 points and Li right behind her with 91.
Pimpichaya spearheads Thailand in huge upset of China
A great battle unfolded in the first set, with frequent changes in the lead. An ace by Hattaya Bamrungsuk crowned a three-point series for 16-13 that left the impression that Thailand were breaking away, but China reacted swiftly with a 6-1 run to regain control. In the money time, a long rally decorated by several beautiful digs from Chatchu-On Moksri was finished off by Ajcharaporn for a 22-20 Thai advantage. Moments later, an elegant tip by Thanacha Sooksod brought Thailand to set point. Following a great save in defence by setter Tichaya Boonlert, Thanacha killed for the 25-23 close.
With Li on fire in attack, China stepped up their offensive efforts in set two, opened up a wide gap and took the set by an emphatic 25-13, with Xiangyu Gong hitting the winner from the back row. It was one of Gong’s 20 points in the match. Team captain Xinyue Yuan produced two of China’s three aces in that set and continued to deliver key break points in set three. The 2.01m-tall middle blocker raised a monster block for 16-12, then hit the overpass to score for 17-12, and once she went to the serving line, she scored an off-the-net ace for 20-13. China continued their almost error-free performance in the set until Li closed the set at 25-14 with a pulverising pipe.
The next two sets were all about Pimpichaya’s excellence in attack and Ajcharaporn keeping a cool head for the closing points.
Each of the two teams is leaving Ankara on a 3-1 win-loss record and a positive outlook for returning to the Turkish capital for the Finals next month. Before that, however, both will play in the pools in Quezon City and Sofia.
In the first match of the day in Ankara, Serbia claimed a narrow 3-2 (27-25, 25-16, 17-25, 22-25, 15-13) win over the Netherlands to finish week one on a 3-1 win-loss record and nine points, currently third in the standings, and leave the Dutch winless in four matches on two points. Serbian opposite Sara Lozo led the way with 24 points, including five stuffs and an ace, while Dutch middle Eline Timmerman piled up six kill blocks and two aces towards her team’s high of 19 points.
Wales ended their 64-year wait for a place in the World Cup finals as they beat Ukraine 1-0 on Sunday (June 5) to end the war-torn nation’s hopes of reaching Qatar.
An own goal from Ukraine winger Andriy Yarmolenko, who headed a Gareth Bale free-kick into his own net, decided the contest.
It was a cruel way for Ukraine’s qualification effort to end with Oleksandr Petrakov’s side, who beat Scotland in the playoff semi-final, again showing a level of football which would have certainly merited a place in November’s 32-team tournament.
With half the team not having played competitive club football since the Russian invasion in February and with their nation’s tragedy never far from their minds, Ukraine deserve huge credit for coming so close to making the finals for the second time in their country’s history as an independent nation.
“We did everything we could. I want to say sorry that we didn’t score but this is sport,” said Petrakov.
“I do not have any criticism of any player in the team.”
There were emotional scenes at the end of the game as Ukraine’s disappointed players showed their appreciation to their more than 2,000 supporters at the Cardiff City Stadium.
They were then joined by the Wales players who before undertaking their own lap of honour also saluted the Ukrainian fans.
The home crowd created a rousing atmosphere before the match with an outstanding rendition of their national anthem but despite the loud and passionate atmosphere, Ukraine were on top from the outset.
Wales keeper Wayne Hennessey was busy in the opening half making three vital saves to keep the score level.
Oleksandr Zinchenko had the ball in the net, from a quickly taken free-kick but Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz had not blown his whistle and the effort was ruled out.
Hennessey did well to deny Roman Yaremchuk after he found himself clear on goal and then the Wales keeper was alert to get down to a dangerous Zinchenko drive and then to smother the ball at the feet of Viktor Tsygankov.
It was against the run of play then when Wales grabbed the lead in the 34th minute, Bale fired a low free-kick from 25 metres out and Yarmolenko’s stooping, attempted header clear, flew into the net past the helpless Georgiy Bushchan.
Aaron Ramsey missed a great chance to double Wales’ lead after the break, side-footing wide from a great position and then Neco Williams drilled a well-struck shot against the post.
But Wales, who last appeared in the World Cup finals in 1958, had Hennessey to thank again as he pulled off a fine one-handed save from substitute Artem Dovbyk’s powerful header, six minutes from the end.
The crowd rightly sang Hennessey’s name in the final minutes, the first of many songs that are sure to be sung long into the Welsh night.
Wales will face England, Iran and the United States in World Cup group B in Qatar in November.
Lionel Messi netted all five goals for Argentina in their 5-0 friendly win over Estonia in Pamplona on Sunday
Lionel Messi scored all five goals for Argentina in their 5-0 friendly win over Estonia on Sunday and is now the fourth-highest international scorer of all time.
The Paris Saint-Germain attacker opened the scoring from the penalty spot after just eight minutes in Pamplona, before curling home the second from a tight angle just before half-time.
He then completed his hat-trick just two minutes after the break with a toe poke from close to the penalty spot to make it 3-0 to Argentina.
The fourth arrived in the 71st minute, when Messi advanced alone into the area and cut the ball back to wrong-foot the last defender and the goalkeeper before slotting into the empty net.
And the fifth came five minutes later as he pounced on a loose ball in the area, took one touch and slotted a low finish past the Estonia goalkeeper for 5-0.
Messi’s five goals take him to 86 for Argentina, surpassing the 84 scored by Hungary legend Ferenc Puskas.
The former Barcelona forward is now behind only three players: Malaysia’s Mokhtar Dahari (89), Iran’s Ali Daei (109) and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (117).
Ronaldo took his total up by two goals on Sunday after scoring twice for Portugal in their 4-0 win over Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League.
Rafael Nadal cruised to a record-extending 14th French Open title in style, sweeping Casper Ruud of Norway 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 in a one-sided final here on Sunday.
The fifth seed, who turned 36 on Friday, has now won 22 Grand Slam tournaments, two more than Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
Thitikarn, Ausanee Shares Lead in 15-18 Girls in Notha Begay Thailand Event#2
Pimpichaya spearheads Thailand in huge upset of China
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