beating

Speaking to BBC Sport’s Kal Sajad, WBO interim heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley says he would like to face undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk next, following his victory against Joseph Parker.

READ MORE: What next for heavyweight division after Wardley win?

A recent study has pinpointed the perfect spot to enjoy some sea air and unwind after decades of work

After years of toiling away in bustling towns and cities, it’s no surprise that many retirees crave a more peaceful existence. A recent study has pinpointed the ideal spot to enjoy some sea air and unwind after decades of graft, with a Welsh seaside town being hailed as the best place for a tranquil retirement.

This year’s list, compiled by Taking Care, is topped by the Victorian seaside destination of Llandudno. This charming town, nestled on the North Wales coast, clinched the top spot, outshining Glossop, Tynemouth and Ilfracombe.

The study took into account factors ranging from life expectancy to property prices to average care home costs, should they ever be needed.

Beyond the core statistics, the study also factored in the amount of green spaces, bingo halls, English Heritage properties and other amenities that contribute to an entertaining lifestyle.

With a population of just 19,700 according to the 2021 census, the town offers ample opportunities for socialising, but also plenty of quiet spots when you need a breather.

The town’s seafront is its heart, boasting a two-mile stretch of Victorian terraces intermingled with grand hotels, reports Wales Online.

There are numerous lovely shops, restaurants, churches, and museums to discover, and the pier boasts a selection of slot machines and a pub with views across the beach – something that residents are delighted to say feels like stepping back through time.

Ray, 80, who moved to Llandudno nearly three decades ago, told The Telegraph: “Living here is like going back 50 years.

“The older ladies still dress nicely. You can go out for walks after dark. There are no rough gangs going around swearing and fighting.”

Adjacent Conwy can also provide a delightful day trip to explore additional retailers and boutiques offering a much wider selection.

Helen Parkes, who relocated to the town with her family, added: “It’s [Llandudno] lacking in terms of retail and culture – Conwy next door has had more spent on it and has more independent shops – but living here, you do realise life’s not all about spending.”

While picturesque North Wales might be the perfect location for retirement, Scotland seems to have surfaced as one of the worst options, particularly its capital.

Amongst all the places evaluated, Edinburgh came last with an average life expectancy of 79 and an overall lifestyle score of 3.8/10, proving that city living can come at a cost.

The capital also proved to be expensive, with annual care costs in the city hitting nearly £40,000 on average, with just one care home for every 778 elderly residents.

Videos show German police officers beating pro-Palestine protesters in Berlin after authorities banned a planned demonstration. Around 500 people gathered near Berlin’s City Hall chanting slogans and waving flags, before several were attacked and detained.

A recent study named the cities in the country that are the safest to stay in or travel to – and this one took the number one spot

When choosing where to live, everyone will have their own preferences. Whilst easy access to green spaces and parks might be the top priority for some, others will focus on amenities and shopping facilities.

Nevertheless, many Scots would agree that few things matter as much as safety. Thankfully, Scotland’s villages, towns, and cities are typically very secure places to call home.

If you place safety above everything else, though, it can be challenging to know where in Scotland to put down roots. Luckily, a recent study has revealed the cities in the country that are the safest to reside in or visit.

OPINION

Milo Boyd

As reported by the Daily Record, the “safest cities” in Scotland were identified earlier this year by Reolink. Five cities across the nation were ranked by their ‘safety index’ score, which “shows the consistency of local police in managing crimes and maintaining peace within the city”.

Topping the experts’ list was Edinburgh. The Scottish capital achieved a high safety index score of 68.98. Reolink also discovered that 82 per cent of people living in Edinburgh feel secure. According to the experts, “continuous patrolling has been done in heavy traffic areas” of the city. Meanwhile, Edinburgh was found to have a ‘crime index’ of just 30.99.

Also, theft, dishonesty, and house break-ins are amongst the most common offences reported in the Scottish capital. Reolink declared: “Edinburgh is ranked as the safest city in Scotland. It has a safety index of 68.98 according to Numbeo, with the lowest crime index of 30.99. It usually reports cases of theft, dishonesty, house break-ins, and offences.”

“According to the reports, over 82 per cent of the residents feel safe living there. It’s a student-friendly city where continuous patrolling has been done in heavy traffic areas.”

Reolink also branded Edinburgh as being “significantly safer” than Glasgow. The specialists revealed that Scotland’s biggest city “has higher violent crime rates, which makes it less safe than Edinburgh”.

Trailing in second spot on Reolink’s ranking of Scotland’s most secure cities was Aberdeen. The Granite City was discovered to possess the “lowest violent crime rate and high safety standards”, achieving a safety index rating of 63.20.

Meanwhile, Inverness claimed third position as the nation’s safest city. Based on Reolink’s findings, the Scottish Highlands city boasts a safety index rating of 62.13.

Completing the top five on the ranking were Glasgow and Dundee. The former achieved a safety index rating of 54.56, whilst Dundee’s safety index rating stood at 51.40.

Beyond Scotland’s cities, Reolink revealed that Orkney and Shetland rank amongst the nation’s most secure regions. The specialists noted that the archipelagos maintain lower crime figures when measured against other Scottish locations.

Reolink stated: “Safety ranks as one of the major concerns for people visiting and living in Scotland. It is necessary to inquire about the safety of everywhere you stay or travel.”

An anime film slayed its Hollywood competition at the box office this weekend.

“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle,” already a big hit in Japan, was the highest-grossing movie domestically, beating new films “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” “The Long Walk” and “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.”

The film distributed by Sony Pictures and Crunchyroll opened with a better-than-expected $70 million in ticket sales from the U.S. and Canada, according to studio estimates, making it the biggest anime opening ever. It’s also the highest-grossing domestic debut of the year so far for an animated film.

Its global weekend for Sony, which owns the Crunchyroll anime brand and streaming service, totaled $132.1 million, which includes 49 international markets.

Globally, “Demon Slayer” had already made more than $272 million in box office revenue, with $213 million in Japan alone, according to data from Box Office Mojo.

The success of “Demon Slayer” is a relief to theater owners at a time when other genres are struggling, including superheroes, comedies and original animation. It’s the latest evidence of anime’s growing global clout.

The new “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” is part of a larger popular anime franchise.

It’s the first installment of a planned trilogy that will span the final showdown between the Demon Slayer Corps and the monstrous creatures the secret organization was created to defeat. A previous theatrical film, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — The Movie: Mugen Train,” was a box office hit in 2020.

The new “Downton Abbey” film from Focus Features launched with $18.1 million in ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada, which was good enough for third place behind the second weekend of New Line’s “The Conjuring: Last Rites.” Lionsgate’s “The Long Walk,” based on a Stephen King novel, opened in fourth with $11.5 million domestically.

“Spinal Tap II,” a sequel to the 1984 mockumentary comedy classic, opened with a weak $1.7 million.

It was picture day at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, one of those quaint baseball traditions that has endured long past its usefulness.

So the team set up three rows of aluminum risers in shallow center field and the players, wearing impossibly white uniforms, filed out of the clubhouse just before 3 p.m., passing up batting practice to pose for the cameras. For a sport that thrives on routine, the afternoon had a unique last-day-of-school vibe.

“It’s a weird day,” manager Dave Roberts agreed.

But picture day also serves to bring the end of the season into tighter focus since it usually happens in the final three weeks. And the players who climb those risers are the ones who will decide the team’s postseason fate.

That was especially true for the Dodgers, who rode another splendid pitching performance — this one from Emmet Sheehan — to a 7-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies. Sheehan, bidding for a spot in the playoff rotation, was backed by four homers, including a pair of solo shots from Teoscar Hernández, who had his first three-hit night in more than a month.

The win, the team’s third in a row, coupled with San Diego’s loss to Cincinnati, expanded the Dodgers’ lead in the National League West to two games over the second-place Padres with just 17 left to play.

“It’s getting down to the wire,” Roberts said.

The Dodgers’ starting pitching is already in postseason form, posting a 1.41 ERA over the past five games. On Tuesday it was Sheehan’s turn on the mound and he set down the first 15 Rockies in order, becoming the third Dodger starter in four games to take a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

He wound up scattering three hits and a walk over seven innings, striking out nine to earn his fourth victory in five decisions. The win was also Sheehan’s fourth victory in as many appearances against Colorado.

Roberts said his team’s starting pitchers are all competing to one-up each other, giving the significance of the games now.

“They’re feeding off one another,” he said. “The pitchers are of the mind that these are very, very important games. It’s kind of the playoff mentality. The catchers are calling games in that vein.

“The defense has been really focused getting off the baseball. There’s a heightened level of focus across the board.”

That even spread to the offense, said Mookie Betts, whose two-run home run in the third extended his streak of reaching base safely to 15 straight games.

Mookie Betts is very happy after his two-run homer in the third inning.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

“It’s really neat being on this side,” Betts, who had multiple RBIs for a fourth straight game, said of watching the Dodger pitchers work. “If you kind of take a step back and look at it, there’s a lot of teams that would ask for something like this. Those guys give us opportunity to win every day.

“It’s really important for us as on the offensive side not to take that for granted.”

Although the Dodgers entered Tuesday second to last in the majors with an average of 3.14 runs a game in September, against Colorado starter Germán Márquez (3-13), whose ERA (6.31) looks more like a mortgage rate, they ran out to a 5-0 lead after five innings. As a result the focus turned to Sheehan, who needed just 59 pitches to cruise through five perfect innings, striking out five.

“I probably knew,” Sheehan, pitching on the 60th anniversary of Sandy Koufax’s perfect game, said when asked if he was aware he was more than halfway to matching that. “But I was definitely not thinking about it.”

The right-hander said he tried to cross up the Rockies by moving away from his fastball and going with a slider to the glove side instead.

“I felt like I was executing the slider pretty well,” he said. “The more I throw it, the easier it gets to get it to that spot. It’s an important pitch for me.”

Kyle Karros ended the suspense when he lined Sheehan’s first pitch of the sixth inning over a leaping Max Muncy at third for a single. Two more singles brought Karros around to score, ending the shutout as well.

Still Sheehan (6-3) was more than good enough to win for the fourth time in five decisions, lowering his ERA to 3.32 and forcing his way into the conversation over a role on the postseason roster.

“He’s unflappable,” Roberts said. “He knows he’s talented and he knows how to execute pitches. He’s got good stuff. No moment is too big for him. So I can’t speak to what role, but I know that he’s a viable option for us now and going forward.”

Tuesday’s win also left Sheehan unbeaten on picture day, something he nearly skipped as the scheduled starting pitcher.

“I wasn’t going go out there,” he said. “But I was like, I missed the last two. I gotta be out there.”

After all, it’s a tradition.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Alejandro Zendejas scored in the 30th minute, Folarin Balogun added a goal in the 64th and the United States stopped a seven-game winless streak against top-25 opponents by beating a Japan team of mostly second-string players 2-0 in a friendly on Tuesday night.

The 15th-ranked U.S. was fresh off a 2-0 loss to South Korea on Saturday in the first of eight friendlies before coach Mauricio Pochettino calls in players for training ahead of the World Cup.

No. 17 Japan used essentially a B team, changing all 11 starters from Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Mexico and starting eight players who entered with 10 or fewer international appearances. There were no starters from the group that began the March match against Bahrain when Samurai Blue clinched their eighth straight World Cup berth, though some regulars entered in the 62nd minute.

The U.S. had not beaten a top-25 team since the CONCACAF Nations League final against Mexico in March 2024, including five straight defeats. The Americans dominated throughout before a sellout crowd of 20,192 at Lower.com Field, winning 2-0 for the sixth time in Columbus.

Zendejas took a long cross from left back Max Arfsten and volleyed with his left foot from near the penalty spot for his second goal in 13 international appearances.

Balogun scored his sixth international goal on Christian Pulisic’s through pass, beating goalkeeper Keisuke Osako with an angled shot inside the far post.

Central defender Chris Richards, right back Alex Freeman, midfielder Cristian Roldan, Zendejas and forward Balogun joined the starting lineup in place of Sergiño Dest, Diego Luna, Sebastian Berhalter, Tim Weah and Josh Sargent.

Richards, Tim Ream and Tristan Blackmon started as central defenders in a five-man back line, a formation coach Pochettino switched to in the second half Saturday.

Adams and Roldan had not started together since 2018, and Roldan made his first start in 26 months.

Japan’s Koki Ogawa hit the crossbar in the 70th, as did the Americans’ Jack McGlynn in the 83rd.

LONDON — A new mural by elusive street artist Banksy showing a judge beating an unarmed protester with a gavel has appeared outside a London court.

The mural depicts a protester lying on the ground holding a blood-splattered placard while a judge in a traditional wig and black gown beats him with a gavel. Banksy posted a photo of the work Monday on Instagram, his usual method of claiming a work as authentic. It was captioned “Royal Courts Of Justice. London.”

While the artwork does not refer to a particular cause or incident, activists saw it as a reference to the U.K. government’s ban on the group Palestine Action. On Saturday almost 900 people were arrested at a London protest challenging the ban.

Defend Our Juries, the group that organized the protest, said in a statement that the mural “powerfully depicts the brutality unleashed” by the government ban. “When the law is used as a tool to crush civil liberties, it does not extinguish dissent, it strengthens it,” the statement said.

Security officials outside the courthouse covered the mural Monday with sheets of black plastic and two metal barriers, and it was being guarded by two officers and a CCTV camera.

Banksy began his career spray-painting buildings in Bristol, England, and has become one of the world’s best-known artists. His paintings and installations sell for millions of dollars at auction and have drawn thieves and vandals.

Banksy’s work often comments on political issues, with many of his pieces criticizing government policy on migration and war.

At the Glastonbury Festival last year, an inflatable raft holding dummies of migrants in life jackets was unveiled during a band’s headline set. Banksy appeared to claim the stunt, which was thought to symbolize small boat crossings of migrants in the Channel, in a post on Instagram.

The artist has also taken his message on migration to Europe.

In 2019, “The Migrant Child,” depicting a shipwrecked child holding a pink smoke bomb and wearing a life jacket, was unveiled in Venice. A year prior, a number of works including one near a former center for migrants that depicted a child spray-painting wallpaper over a swastika were discovered in Paris.

Banksy has also created numerous artworks in the West Bank and Gaza Strip over the years, including one depicting a girl conducting a body search on an Israeli soldier, another showing a dove wearing a flak jacket, and a masked protester hurling a bouquet of flowers. He also designed the “Walled Off Hotel” guesthouse in Bethlehem, which closed in October 2023.

Last summer, Banksy captured London’s attention with an animal-themed collection, which concluded with a mural of a gorilla appearing to hold up the entrance gate to London Zoo.

For nine days straight Banksy-created creatures — from a mountain goat perched on a building buttress to piranhas circling a police guard post to a rhinoceros mounting a car — showed up in unlikely locations around the city.

Doye writes for the Associated Press.

Second seed Carlos Alcaraz took down 24-times major winner Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-6(4) 6-2 with clinical precision to reach the US Open final, prevailing in a highly anticipated showdown that packed the house at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The match on Friday was billed as the hottest ticket in New York and lived up to the hype, with a scoreline that belied its intensity, as the 2022 champion Alcaraz soaked in deafening cheers on match point.

Djokovic had won their two most recent meetings, including in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open earlier this year, but the 38-year-old showed wear and tear against the Spaniard 16 years his junior.

“It’s something that I’m working on, just the consistency on the matches, on the tournaments, on the year in general,” said Alcaraz, who won his fifth major title at Roland Garros this year and finished runner-up at Wimbledon.

“Just not having up-and-downs in the match. Just the level that I start the match, just wanted to keep that level really high during the whole match.”

Djokovic dropped his serve when he sent a shot past the baseline in the opening game and was unable to set up a single break point chance in the first set, which Alcaraz closed out with an unreturnable serve.

Urged on by the celebrity-packed stands, the seventh seed got in the fight in the second set, sending over a superb backhand to convert on a break point in the second game.

But Alcaraz had not dropped a set so far in New York and was not about to start as he put his foot on the gas, setting up a break point after surviving a 16-shot rally with one of his fine forehand winners and converting from the baseline.

Down 0-2 in the tiebreak, Djokovic outlasted his opponent in a cheeky exchange at the net and paused to take in the roars of the crowd, a reminder of the Serb’s perennial appeal two decades after his Flushing Meadows main draw debut.

But the Spaniard kept his nerve, closing out the tiebreak with two more unreturnable serves before Djokovic gifted him a break point with a double fault in the fourth game of the third set.

“It’s not easy playing against him, to be honest,” said Alcaraz, who hit twice as many winners as his opponent.

“I’m thinking about the legend, what he has achieved in his career. It’s difficult not to think about it. So that makes facing him even tougher.”

The writing was on the wall for Djokovic as he hit another double fault on the penultimate point of the match, and he leaned on the net as he congratulated his opponent with a grin after handing over the contest with a wide forehand.

“Of course, it’s frustrating on the court when you are not able to keep up with that level physically. But at the same time, it’s something also expected,” said Djokovic, who picked up the last of his four US Open titles in 2023.

“It comes with time and with age.”

Sinner overcomes spirited Auger-Aliassime challenge

Defending champion Jannik Sinner battled past 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-4 in the second semifinal to set up another blockbuster title clash with Alcaraz and renew one of the sport’s most compelling rivalries.

Shortly after Alcaraz wove his magic to dismantle Djokovic, the usually machine-like Sinner misfired at times but prevailed to ensure a third successive major final with the Spaniard.

The Italian world No 1 faced brief resistance in the fifth game of the contest but dialled up the intensity to hold and wrapped up the lopsided opening set when Auger-Aliassime sent a backhand wide.

Auger-Aliassime settled his nerves in his second New York semifinal, breaking for a 5-3 lead in the next set en route to levelling the match, before going toe-to-toe with Sinner in the third set, only for the momentum to shift again.

Sinner, who took a medical timeout for an unspecified issue earlier, found his groove to close out the third set and staved off a strong challenge from his reinvigorated Canadian opponent with some clutch serving in the next set to advance.

Sinner will face off against Alcaraz for the third successive Grand Slam final on Sunday. Sinner captured the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles this season but lost to Alcaraz in an epic five-set battle in the French Open final.

“Sunday is a very special day and an amazing final again,” said Sinner. “I feel like our rivalry started here (in 2022) playing an amazing match. We are two different players now, with different confidence too.”

“When we look at this game, it’s been a real opportunity for us just to put a mark on the World Cup.

“We made it very clear right at the start that we weren’t just coming here to compete in terms of being a number, we were here to get to the latter stages.

“We are in the latter stages and we believe that our performances have shown the progress we’re making and we want to keep progressing in this World Cup and this is a huge opportunity for us to do that.”

Scotland have made two changes to their front row from the side who beat Fiji last weekend, with hooker Lana Skeldon and tighthead Lisa Cockburn starting.

Elis Martin drops to the bench while Elliann Clarke misses out. Cockburn replaced Clarke during last weekend’s win against Fiji.

Lock Sarah Bonar will win her 50th cap, while Jade Konkel returns to the squad to take her place on a 6-2 bench.

Easson understands the scale of the challenge taking on a Canada side who have registered thumping wins over Fiji and Wales so far in the tournament.

However, he believes his side have been well prepared by their own victories over those two sides in Pool B.

“We’ve played against two sides of two different styles,” said Easson, who will step down as Scotland head coach after the tournament.

“Playing Fiji last week was actually a really good one for us because they were very physical, it was a real physical test, which Canada are as well.

“Canada also play fairly similarly in terms of, believe it or not, offloading more than Fiji, so statistically offload more than them.

“So we’ve had a fair idea of what we’re coming up against. We know the Canadians quite well, obviously a lot of the players play in PWR (Premiership Women’s Rugby) and we’ve watched a lot of their games, so it’s going to be a very, very difficult test, one however that we are very well prepared for.”

Should Osaka defeat Anisimova, she will become the first player to reach a Grand Slam final after becoming a mother since Victoria Azarenka made the 2020 US Open showpiece, which Osaka won.

And if the four-time major winner goes all the way in New York, she will be the first player since Kim Clijsters (in 2009, 2010 and 2011) to have won a Slam after giving birth.

Having struggled to put a dent in Muchova’s serve earlier in the first set, Osaka pounced decisively at 5-4 – going 0-40 up and closing out the opener at the second time of asking.

Muchova, who began grimacing because of an issue with her left leg in the sixth game, called for the trainer and received medical attention off court.

She returned with heavy strapping on her thigh, but it didn’t seem to hinder her tennis as she opened the second set with an early break.

Osaka struck back immediately, however, and there was little to separate the pair until a frustrated Osaka conceded serve at 4-4 with a series of unforced errors.

But, as Muchova stepped up to serve and force a deciding set, Osaka regained her composure and bounced back aggressively, breaking to love to level the set.

She took control in the tie-break, opening up a 4-1 lead which proved enough for her to wrap up the victory with a beaming smile.

“It was an incredibly difficult match,” Osaka added in her on-court interview. “She’s one of the best players in the world – every time I play her it’s so difficult.

She joked: “Last year she beat me here when I had one of my best outfits, so I was really upset.”

PHIL TAYLOR has broken down the blueprint that he believes is needed to topple Luke Littler.

The Nuke is one of the best at the oche at the moment and could become a legend of darts if he continues his current success.

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Littler, 18, is the current world champion and has won multiple major honours since his stunning breakthrough in 2023.

The Warrington thrower is seen as one of the most destructive players at the oche for his sky-high averages.

The world No2 is the youngest player to ever claim the triple crown as he won the Premier League, World Matchplay and World Darts Championship.

But legend Taylor, 65, reckons he knows the secret to disrupting Littler’s flow, which his rivals should take note of.

The Power has insisted that Littler’s rivals need to “slow down” matches with Littler.

Taylor claims that due to young stars practising by themselves are not used to a slower-paced match.

He revealed the blueprint during an interview with the MODUS Super Series of Darts.

He said: “Yeah, a lot of that [throwing the darts quickly] comes because youngsters practice on their own.

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“So, they don’t have that person slowing them down.

“I used to try and practice with somebody if I could to keep me in that rhythm of playing.

“So, that is why a lot when a player plays a younger player [like Littler], they start slowing them down to put them off because they are not used to it.

“Anybody who plays Luke Littler will slow their throw down.”

This year has been a success for Littler as he has already won the World Darts Championship, World Matchplay, Belgian Darts Open and UK Open among others.

Littler will be back in action at the Flanders Darts Trophy which begins TODAY.

He takes on Irish ace Dylan Slevin in round two on Sunday in the evening session.

CONOR MCGREGOR has drawn the ire of UFC fans with his latest training footage.

The promotion’s former poster boy is slowly but surely ramping up training ahead of his long-proposed return to the octagon.

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McGregor, 37, has been putting in the work on the Thai pads during his recent stay in Italy and has since started sparring.

Footage of the former two-division champion trading heavy leather with two young sparring partners started doing the rounds on social media last weekend.

McGregor didn’t take it lightly on his training partners for the day, throwing some full-pelt shots their way.

The Dubliner’s apparent refusal to take it easy on the youngsters annoyed several MMA fans, one of whom wrote on X: “Hmmm. Not a good look for McGregor.”

Another said: “Still an embarrassing show. He is such a shell of his former self.”

And another said: “Bullying young fighters.”

One remarked: “Embarrassing, TBH.”

Another chimed in: “McGregor beating up 12-year-old kids – what a downfall.”

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Several fight fans, however, believed McGregor was giving the youngsters some invaluable experience, with one saying: “He is doing them a favour.”

Another said: “He’s a great teacher ’cause nobody will take it easy in them in the octagon.”

And another said: “Great training opportunity!”

McGregor hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since breaking his left leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier over four years ago.

He was set to make his grand cage comeback last June against Michael Chandler but withdrew from the Sin City showdown after breaking his left pinky toe.

McGregor took a major step towards returning to the cage late last month by re-entering the UFC‘s drug testing pool.

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He submitted random samples to drug testers earlier this month, both of which came back negative for any banned substances.

If McGregor fights again, his next outing will be his first since he was found civilly liable for having assaulted Nikita Hand at a Dublin hotel in December 2018.

McGregor appealed the verdict turned in at Dublin‘s High Court but lost his bid to overturn the civil verdict in July.

If the opening day had the air of an exhibition at certain times, the finals night immediately felt like business.

From the start it brought the feel of a traditional US Open showpiece event, with a patriotic rendition of the national anthem and a group of US Marine Corps standing with an unfurled Stars and Stripes flag providing pomp.

Many feel the overhaul has devalued the mixed doubles as a major title. Some are even putting asterisks next to the champions.

Given that, the stadium announcer outlining what winning the title would mean for each player’s Grand Slam résumé felt like an attempt to add legitimacy.

The opening semi-final was played at a ferocious intensity – not surprising given the will-to-win of the characters involved – while Ruud calling for a VAR-style check on a Pegula shot was another indication of how seriously it was being taken.

At 3-3 30-30, the umpire confirmed the American had not reached over the net – following fervent discussion between the opposing players – with Pegula and Draper using the momentum to win the opening set.

But Pegula’s clasp of her head after they blew an 8-4 lead in the first-to-10 match tie-break summed up their bitter disappointment at missing a shot for the trophy.

Unsurprisingly, Errani and Vavassori were also seriously pumped up.

The duo mirroring Hulk Hogan-style underarm bicep flexes after winning their semi-final was one of the defining images.

While the energy on court ramped up, the emphasis on providing entertainment for those watching in the stands remained.

A pair of DJs were perched behind courtside decks, tasked with whipping up the crowd through a New York-inspired playlist including Jay-Z, Cyndi Lauper and the Friends theme tune, while the familiar sight of Celeb Cam and Dance Cam added to the party atmosphere.

Fashion icon Anna Wintour, who recently stepped back from her role as Vogue editor-in-chief, added further star-dust in a near-full capacity crowd.

Thousands stayed late until the end and were rewarded with a fine finale to a transformative tournament which looks destined to stay in the coming years.

Carlos Alcaraz says for half the matches of the tennis season, players “don’t feel that good” as the Spaniard secured a tour-leading 50th victory of 2025 at the Cincinnati Open.

The 22-year-old cruised past Serbian Hamad Medjedovic in straight sets 6-4 6-4 in the third round to also claim his 13th consecutive Masters 1000 win.

Alcaraz is the first player since 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic, from 2013 to 2016, to reach 50 wins in four consecutive seasons.

The world number two will face Italian Luca Nardi in the fourth round on Wednesday.

“You have to think positive and just play your best tennis possible that day,” said the five-time Grand Slam winner.

“I’m really happy that in really difficult matches I’m able to play my best tennis even though I’m not feeling the right way.

“I’m just happy and proud about it because it’s something I’m working on.”

Lucky loser Nardi, 22, led 16th seed Jakub Mensik 6-2 2-1 when the Czech retired from their third-round match.

England’s Chloe Kelly says she is ‘so proud to be English’ after she scoring the winning penalty in the final of Euro 2025 as the Lionesses beat Spain.

FOLLOW: England defend European title with dramatic shootout win over Spain – reaction & report

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World champion Luke Littler eased into the second round of the World Matchplay in Blackpool with a comfortable 10-2 win over Ryan Searle.

The 18-year-old’s maiden appearance at the Winter Gardens last year had resulted in a first-round defeat by Michael van Gerwen and he was keen to amends this time around.

He was too good for Searle from the outset, winning the first four legs with only 48 darts and he finished with a superb average of 108.92 and 52.6% on his checkouts.

The world number 19 had no answer to the onslaught from Littler who avoided the fate that befell world number one Luke Humphries who was beaten in his opening match on Saturday.

“I felt very comfortable out there,” Littler told Sky Sports. “I was well up for tonight and I’m just so glad to get that win and that winning feeling.

“As people know, I’m not a practiser, but I’ve been practising for this one and putting in more time at home. I’m glad it has paid off and I can’t wait to come back for the next game.”

Littler’s opponent in the last 16 will be Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena who beat 2021 champion Peter Wright 10-8.

Rob Cross, the 2019 winner also bowed out after a 10-8 loss to Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode but the 2018 champion Gary Anderson beat Luke Woodhouse 10-5 to advance.

The UK is not the first place that springs to mind when you think of beautiful beaches, but a new list has revealed two stunning stretches of sand that rival those in Greece and Thailand.

The UK might not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of stunning beaches, with most people’s thoughts drifting towards Spain, the south of France or even Australia.

Yet, a recent list has ranked two British beaches among the top 50 in the world, outshining spots in Greece and Thailand. Whitesands Beach, located near St Davids in Pembrokeshire, Wales, clinched the 28th spot on Enjoy Travel’s top 50 beaches.

This breathtaking expanse of white sand is nestled amidst dramatic cliffs, offering spectacular walks and awe-inspiring ocean views.

The beach itself is a beauty, boasting ample space for exploration without ever feeling overcrowded.

With excellent water quality, it’s an ideal spot for summer swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving. It even holds a Blue Flag status, assuring its safety for swimming, reports the Express.

The second British gem to feature on the list is the remarkable Luskentyre Beach in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides.

Ranked at number 12, this beach is renowned for its striking similarity to Caribbean locations, courtesy of its pristine white sand and crystal-clear turquoise waves lapping against the shore.

As the largest beach on the Isle of Harris, it frequently features on ‘best of’ lists due to its tranquil allure and stunning vistas.

Like Whitesands, Luskentyre Beach offers vast expanses often devoid of crowds, allowing visitors to fully appreciate its natural beauty.

If you’re keen to explore this award-winning beach, the ideal times are late spring and summer, courtesy of the extended daylight hours.

As the sun dips below the horizon, you’ll witness a breathtaking spectacle marking the end of the day.

Nonetheless, a winter visit offers equal beauty – just ensure you’re adequately layered up.

Brits looking for an adventurous scenic drive can check out the world’s best road trip destination with no need to go abroad – and there are routes you can do in just a few hours

The world’s best road trips for families have been revealed, and it’s great news for Brits who won’t have to go too far if they want to check out the top spot for themselves.

That’s because the Scottish Highlands have topped new rankings of the world’s most scenic drives, beating out iconic routes including the USA’s Route 66 and Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Considering the Highlands are already famed for their rugged and wild but breathtaking landscapes, it’s not difficult to see why they’re top of the list.

There are various routes that you can explore whether you want to follow the well-trodden paths, or try going off into more remote parts of the spectacular region.

For example, the Moray Firth Route can be completed in under two hours, with sweeping vistas across the likes of Beauly Firth, Cromarty Firth coast, and Dornoch Firth. Meanwhile the Highland Tourist Route offers up plenty of gorgeous landscapes in just under three hours, covering 116 miles. Oh, and that includes a chance to take in the Cairngorms, a must-visit in the Highlands.

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Another popular drive is the North and West Highland Route which can be completed in under four hours and is renowned for the remote landscapes it covers between Ullapool and John o’ Groats.

However, if you only do one drive then you may want to make it the North Coast 500. Hailed as the “ultimate Highlands road trip experience” by Visit Scotland, this 500-mile-long route can be completed in just under 14 hours if you aren’t going to stop, but it’s not one to power through. Instead, it’s worth spreading the drive across various days to enjoy the historic castles, lush green valleys and azure waters that make up the unrivalled landscape. Highlights include Dunnet Head, Handa Island,

If you’re thinking of planning a trip, then you may want to check out Visit Scotland’s useful guide to the nation’s best scenic drives.

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With so many gorgeous destinations, it’s therefore no surprise that the Scottish Highlands were unveiled as the best destination for a scenic drive, in a recent study by Ocean Florida. The research found that for Brits aged 29-44, road trips evoked some of their favourite memories. Meanwhile for those aged 18-28, road trips were top of the list for a ‘dream holiday’, with the US often featuring heavily on their bucket lists. (In fact, five out of the top 10 road trip destinations were in the USA.

Capturing photos in front of iconic landmarks, curated playlists and scenic stops were all among the top reasons for wanting to enjoy a road trip amongst intrepid explorers.

You can check out the world’s top 10 best road trips for families below:

1. Scottish Highlands, Scotland
2. Route 66, USA
3. Great Ocean Road, Australia
4. Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1), California, USA
5. Ring Road, Iceland
6. Miami to the Florida Keys, USA
7. Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland
8. Florida Fly Drive Adventure, USA
9. The Romantic Road, Germany
10. Blue Ridge Parkway, USA

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