Britons Jacob Fearnley, Toby Samuel, Harry Wendelken and Harriet Dart stand one win away from a place in the US Open main draw after coming through their second round qualifying matches in New York.
Fearnley showed great resilience in battling to a three-set victory over Frenchman Luka Pavlovic, which set up a meeting with Austria’s Jurij Rodionov.
The 25-year-old world number 100 recovered from a break of serve down to take the opening set, and held his nerve in the decider after his opponent levelled the match to clinch a 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 win.
Samuel, bidding to qualify for the US Open for the first time, produced a comeback victory against fellow Briton Billy Harris.
The 23-year-old, who made his slam debut at this year’s French Open, recovered to win 4-6 6-4 6-1 and set up a meeting with Chile’s former top-20 player Cristian Garin.
Wendelken, who has never contested the main draw at an overseas slam, saved a match point to come through a three-hour tussle with Switzerland’s Remy Bertola.
The 24-year-old, ranked 196th, appeared on the brink of elimination at a set and 5-2 down, but denied Bertola a match point to level at 5-5 before edging the second-set tie-break.
Wendelken took charge of the decider, establishing a 5-2 lead, but was forced to withstand a late fightback from his opponent before eventually clinching a 5-7 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 win. He will face Lithuania’s Vilius Gaubas next.
BIG screen star Jacob Elordi booked a hotel’s £60,000-a-night penthouse to impress girlfriend Kendall Jenner.
The Wuthering Heights Heathcliff actor splashed out on the Claridge’s suite so she could “see the stars” sources said.
Jacob Elordi and Kendall Jenner seen at posh Italian restaurant Cipriani in LondonCredit: GoffThe actor secured the penthouse suite at Claridge’s, which is billed as the most expensive in LondonCredit: Claridges
Reality TV star Kendall, 30, joined Jacob, 29, for his whistlestop London visit as he promotes Ridley Scott’s new post apocalyptic thriller, The Dog Stars.
The pair were pictured out with his dad John at posh Italian restaurant Cipriani in London on Wednesday night.
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Insiders said Australian Jacob secured the Mayfair suite, billed as the most expensive in London, for Kendall while he worked.
A source said: “Jacob is a proper romantic and he wanted Kendall to have that amazing view over London where you can see the stars.
Jacob splashed out on the suite at the posh London hotel to impress his new girlfriendCredit: AlamyKendall Jenner has been dating the actor since FebruaryCredit: Getty
“It costs £60,000 a night to stay there.
“But upgrading was worth the money.”
The couple arrived yesterday ahead of last night’s premiere in Leicester Square.
Two outcomes that scream failure on a baseball diamond are striking out and making an error. Jacob Wilson avoids both.
The third-year Athletics shortstop played his 111th consecutive game without an error Sunday, setting a major league record at his position.
Wilson, 24, also ranks among the top 5% of MLB players most difficult to strike out, making contact in more than 90% of his at-bats during his three-year career. The shortstop was a first-round draft pick out of Grand Canyon University in 2023 and played for Thousand Oaks High.
Failure is even more infrequent when he puts on his glove. Wilson surpassed Mike Bordick’s 2002 mark with the Baltimore Orioles for consecutive games played at shortstop without an error.
No wonder the A’s signed him to a seven-year, $70 million contract before the season.
Wilson, whose last error occurred July 6, 2025, credits his dad with prioritizing defense. Jack Wilson was a shortstop with elite range and a powerful arm during a 12-year MLB career from 2001-12, yet he never played a full season with fewer than 10 errors.
“He’s a very defensive-first guy for me growing up by teaching me defense first before the hitting side of things and making sure you’re always prepared to play defense every day,” Wilson told reporters after the Athletics beat the Boston Red Sox 4-3 on Sunday at Fenway Park.
Based on advanced metrics, Jacob doesn’t have the range of his father, but so far he has been more consistent. He made only eight errors in 124 games last season and none in 27 games after being called up from the minors in 2024. That’s a total of eight errors in 216 career games and 1,899 innings at shortstop.
“He definitely has the consistency side of things down pat,” fellow A’s infielder Tommy White told reporters. “The stats don’t lie. He really takes in the second half of the play. Everyone sees the glove, but it’s the accuracy of the arm.”
Putting the bat on the ball is also a Wilson trademark. He was the toughest player to strike out in NCAA Division I, whiffing just 12 times in 438 at-bats as a Grand Canyon sophomore and junior. At Thousand Oaks High, where his dad was head coach, Jacob struck out a mere five times in 343 plate appearances.
Likely out of reach is the MLB record for consecutive games without an error at any position, held by outfielder Robbie Grossman at 440 games, a streak that ended in 2022.
Meanwhile, Wilson plans to focus on staying healthy: He missed a month earlier this season with a dislocated left shoulder after diving for a ball, and missed a few more games when the shoulder flared up again in late June.
Making plays and putting the bat on the ball should continue as long as he’s on the field. Wilson was an American League All-Star last season and finished second in voting for Rookie of the Year to teammate Nick Kurtz after batting .311 and striking out only 39 times in 523 plate appearances.
Before this season, Wilson told Foul Territory that his focus was on improving areas he considered deficient — a quicker first step toward the ball on defense and putting on 10 pounds of muscle to increase his power at the plate.
As for avoiding errors and strikeouts, that should continue to come naturally.
“I know how to stay in my lane, do what I do and help this team win,” he said.
Fans are already “obsessed” with Prime Video’s recent release Sterling Point
Sully (Nikko Angelo Hinayo) and Ellis (Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie) in Sterling Point(Image: Sabrina Lantos/Prime Video)
A brand new coming-of-age drama has been released on Prime Video, and fans are obsessed.
Created by Megan Park, Sterling Point follows a 17-year-old girl named Annie Jacobson who finds herself inheriting an entire island in Canada which was was once owned by her grandad. Her life takes a turn and she finds new friends, budding romances and untold family secrets along the way.
Prime Video’s official synopsis reveals: “Sterling Point is a heartfelt, coming-of-age drama led by 17-year-old Annie Jacobson (Ella Rubin). Raised in New York City with her twin brother (Keen Ruffalo) and loving adoptive father (Jay Duplass), Annie’s life takes a turn when she inherits her mysterious grandfather’s island in Canada.
“There, she finds new friends, budding romances and untold family secrets. The cast also includes Amélie Hoeferle, Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie, Daniel Quinn-Toye, Bo Bragason, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Nikko Angelo Hinayo, Mabel Strachan, Elle-Maija Talifeathers, and Missi Pyle.”
Fans are already obsessed, calling for another season, as one person wrote on X: “Need a #SterlingPoint season 2.” Another echoed: “GUYS THIS SHOW IS AMAZING I NEED SEASON 2.”
A third added: “The first needle drop from this show being maggots for brains had me IMMEDIATELY locked in.” On Instagram, one person stated: “THE show of the summer”, as another admitted: “I’m already obsessed.”
But some may be wondering who star Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie is and how old he may be – here’s everything we know about the Canadian actor.
Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie’s age and background
Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie is a Canadian actor from Quebec who rose to fame following his performance in A Colony in 2018 – a performance which earned him a Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor. According to website Fandom, he is around 33 years old, having been born in 1993.
Fans may also recognise Jacob from his appearance in Billie Blue in 2023 and Bootlegger in 2021. He has also appeared in Troubled Waters where he plays character Billie. In 2023 he also appeared in Premier Trio as Xavier Laveau-Roy.
Now, in Sterling Point, Jacob has taken on the role of Ellis, who meets Annie after touching down in Toronto and immediately forms a connection with her. Previously speaking to Toronto Life, Jacob admitted that he had started acting from the age of 14, but up until 2021 had only acted in French.
Speaking about when he heard about his role, he said: “I was really emotional—this is the biggest project I’ve ever been a part of. I called my dad immediately. I was stunned.”
Former New York Sen. Jacob K. Javits, an apostle of progressive Republicanism for more than three decades and widely regarded in his time as one of the most brilliant people in Congress, died Friday night in West Palm Beach, Fla., after a lengthy illness. He was 81.
Javits, who lost his Senate seat in the conservative tidal wave of 1980, had suffered since 1979 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive muscle and nerve disorder also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease that reduced him from a human dynamo to a wheelchair-bound invalid.
He died at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Palm Beach after being brought in earlier in the day, a nursing supervisor said.
Javits was remembered Friday night by political colleagues as a tough and courageous fighter who, in President Reagan’s words, “was known for his intellect, for his integrity, for his dedication.”
“Especially in foreign relations–his chief abiding interest–Sen. Javits served our country with tremendous insight and skill, proving a staunch advocate of freedom around the world, and a particular friend of the brave state of Israel,” Reagan said in a statement released by the White House.
“He was a truly great American leader, courageous, committed, compassionate,” Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) said of his close friend. “To the very end, he taught us with his own inspiring example to care about those less fortunate than ourselves.”
Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) called Javits “one of the greatest intellects ever to serve in the U.S. Senate.”
“Perhaps his greatest contribution to us was his demonstration of courage in refusing to surrender to his illness,” said New York Gov. Mario M. Cuomo.
Before his illness, Javits usually worked 16 to 18 hours a day after several sets of tennis or a strenuous workout in one of the congressional gyms. When he finally went home at night, he nearly always took a stack of paper work with him.
“Idle time is something he never learned to live with,” John Trubin, Javits’ former law partner, best friend and campaign manager, said of him. “He had an agenda for everything–even relaxation. He wasn’t a guy who could sit around and schmooze (a Yiddish word for idle chatter).”
With his penchant for constant involvement, Javits made himself an expert on practically every major issue before Congress, from civil rights to foreign policy, from high finance to labor relations.
“Just name any important, significant area and Sen. Javits was a leading expert in it,” Sen. William Proxmire (D-Wis.) said.
It was not uncommon for Javits to pop in and out of half a dozen Senate hearings in a single morning, pausing long enough to pepper a witness with a few tough questions after getting a quick briefing from an aide monitoring the proceeding. If television cameras or a lot of reporters were present, Javits lingered a bit longer than otherwise.
Marriage Suffered
Although Javits’ compulsive work style undoubtedly benefited his career, it did not help his married life. He was always sensitive about his marriage because his wife, Marion, refused to live in Washington. Marion Javits, who was 20 years younger than her husband, was interested in the theater and the arts and found Washington “dull.” She and the couple’s three children once briefly tried life in the capital, but it did not work out.
“Javits was at the office from 8 in the morning until 11 at night so she just gave up,” said Patricia Shakow, a Washington lawyer-journalist who worked for Javits for years.
Jacob Koppel Javits was born in a tenement on Manhattan’s Lower East Side on May 18, 1904, one of two sons of impoverished Jewish immigrant parents. He later called his birthplace the “urban counterpart to a log cabin–a janitor’s flat in a tenement.”
His father, who died when Javits was 14, got a basement flat free because he was the janitor. His mother, who was illiterate until she was 55, helped out by peddling household goods from a pushcart. Javits later credited his fondness for public speaking to his days as a youngster helping his mother hawk chinaware.
No Embarrassment
“I never felt the least embarrassment or shyness about getting up in front of a crowd, even a hostile political one,” Javits wrote in his memoirs, published in 1981. “Public speaking is enjoyable for me, often exhilarating–something like the thrill a poet or a painter or a composer gets when his work is well done.”
It was a characteristic remark. Humility was not among Javits’ virtues. Although articulate and a skilled debater, he was no spellbinder as a public speaker. He had a patronizing style of speaking that frequently annoyed his Senate colleagues.
Yet even his critics, of whom there were many, agreed that Javits was a remarkably skilled and innovative legislator who had a talent for compromising diverse viewpoints.
“There isn’t another colleague of ours who has left his imprimatur on more pieces of legislation than Jack Javits,” said Sen. Claiborne Pell (D-R.I.), who served on two committees with Javits.
For his escape from poverty, Javits gave almost total credit to his late brother, Benjamin, 10 years his senior, who financed his own way through law school at night by working as a debt collector. Prodded by his brother, the younger Javits followed the same path.
Bankruptcy Law
After receiving his law degree, Javits joined his brother in the firm of Javits & Javits, which developed a highly lucrative practice specializing in bankruptcy cases. Both brothers eventually became millionaires.
After serving in World War II as a lieutenant colonel in the Army’s chemical warfare service, Javits decided on a political career. That year, 1946, was a good one for Republicans and Javits was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from a normally Democratic district on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
After four House terms, Javits ran for state attorney general in 1954 and defeated one of New York’s most famous political names, Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr., son of the late President. Two years later, Javits ran for the Senate and defeated another big Democratic name, Robert F. Wagner Jr., then mayor of New York City.
In the Senate as in the House, Javits was far out of the mainstream of his conservative party.
But Javits found the Senate the ideal forum to expound on subjects about which he felt passionately–defense of Israel, civil rights and the need of more progressives in the Republican Party.
Javits’ alienation from his party’s conservatives became almost total in 1964 when he refused to support Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.) for President. But time mellowed both men and they later became good friends. “One of the nicest things that has happened to me lately is the ripening of my friendship with Barry Goldwater,” Javits said in 1980.
Proudest Moment
Javits’ proudest moment came in 1973 when Congress overrode a veto by President Richard M. Nixon and enacted the War Powers Resolution that for the first time restricted a President’s authority to send U.S. troops into combat without the consent of Congress. Javits initiated the resolution. In 1980, Javits was defeated for renomination to the Senate by Alfonse M. D’Amato, a conservative. Javits subsequently ran in the general election as the Liberal Party candidate, and D’Amato again won.
Javits insisted the defeat wasn’t his biggest disappointment.
“My biggest disappointment was in not having been a candidate for President,” he said in an interview with The Times. “The one thing I didn’t go for was the gold ring, and I think I could have gone for it. It would have been a historic opportunity.” In his memoirs, he seemed more wistful of what might have been had he been reelected.
“After 24 years in the Senate minority, having become the ranking minority member on the Foreign Relations Committee, I was dismissed in the year that my party became the majority in the Senate, when I would have become chairman of the committee–a lifelong dream. I was shown the promised land but was not permitted to enter it.”
LEWIS Capaldi celebrated the end of two triumphant sets at BST Hyde Park with a massive boozing session with singer pal Jacob Alon.
Insiders spotted the Scottish Beyonce hitting The Golden Lion Bar backstage with a big group of family and friends who had travelled down from across the border to celebrate with him.
Lewis Capaldi celebrated his triumphant BST Hyde Park shows with a boozy backstage party alongside family and friends at The Golden Lion BarCredit: GettyInsiders said Lewis enjoyed a massive boozing session with singer pal Jacob AlonCredit: Getty
A source said: “Lewis and Jacob hit the bar hard on Sunday night, and that was after he sank a few with Sam Fender after their performance on Saturday.
“He was really in the mood to party, and so was his family.
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“Lewis’s dad Mark became the most popular bloke backstage after buying a round of beers for the people working at the Yeti Coffee van.
“On Sunday, Lewis took the time to go around every artist on the line-up to thank them for taking part.
A sopurce said: “He is the sweetest bloke in music and everyone backstage was grabbing selfies or drinking beers with him.”
On stage for his final night in London, Lewis was dishing out his best banter, joking with the crowd: “I won’t be around for long because I’m grossly overweight. KFC, KFC, Burger King . . .”
But giving fans something to get excited about, he added: “I’m going to go away after the summer and make an album for everybody, and when I come back, I hope you’re all still here.”
Lewis’s last album was 2023’s Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent, which gave him his second UK No1 album and spawned three UK No1 singles in Forget Me, Pointless, and Wish You The Best.
Insisting he’s now in a good place, he told the Hyde Park crowd: “I just want to say there was a point where I never thought this would be possible again.
“But we are here and we are playing it and we are having a great time.
“Having said that, there was a time where things were really bad.
“I have played in London a bunch of times and there has been a bunch of times that I haven’t really been enjoying it.
“But to be sat up here and to be honestly able to say that I’m f***ing having a buzz up here is a really special thing.”
It’s great to see him back on top form.
Ella showing decks appeal
Ella Eyre revealed she is branching out into DJ-ing as she works on new music, saying the move has opened up a whole new worldCredit: Getty
Ella Eyre is adding a new string to her bow as she works on the follow-up to her last album, Everything In Time.
During an exclusive chat backstage at BST Hyde Park, Ella said: “I’m starting to dabble with DJ-ing so that’s opening up a whole new world.
“What I’ve realised is that the music I love and listen to is not what I’m known for, and it’s allowed me to expand my ability to perform on stage in a different way. Watch this space.
“That stuff might come into play more in the next couple of years. I might be moving to Ibiza. Who knows?”
Everything, In Time, which came out last November, was the long-awaited follow-up to her debut record, 2015’s Feline.
Ella confirmed she has started working on new music, explaining: “I’m writing the next album now. I’m going to take my time with it to make sure it’s what I want it to be, but I don’t want it to take as long as the last one took.
“To go back to the drawing board is kind of scary and daunting, but I’m learning to be cut-throat.”
She added: “I can be quite bull-headed in the way that I approach things, so finding different avenues to express myself has really helped.”
Ella, who performed as a support act for Maroon 5 at BST at the start of the month, has more live shows coming up and joked she is simply looking forward to sleeping in her own bed again soon.
She revealed: “I cannot travel without noise-cancelling headphones because you don’t know who you end up sleeping near in the bus, and we have some snorers.
That’s my worst nightmare.
Kesha created a tranquil backstage oasis filled with plants at BST Hyde Park to help her stay calm before supporting PitbullCredit: Getty
Kesha had the most “zen” backstage area at BST Hyde Park to help keep her calm.
She had her own private oasis created behind the main stage before her set supporting Pitbull on Friday night.
An insider explained: “Kesha made her own tranquil paradise amid the madness of the festival.
“She had loads of plants on her rider, which were turned into a little garden for her to relax in.
“It was the most laid-back set up ever seen at BST.”
Zen’s Greek chic
Zendaya channelled a warrior look in gladiator-style heels while promoting Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey in New YorkCredit: GettyTom Holland and ZendayaCredit: Getty
Zendaya looked ready for battle in strappy gladiator-style heels as she continued her never-ending press tour in New York.
She wore an ivory minidress as she made her way to a telly appearance to promote Christopher Nolan’s new epic The Odyssey, which hits cinemas on Friday. The premiere comes ahead of the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which Zendaya also stars in, less than a fortnight later.
She appears opposite husband Tom Holland in both films, and it was Tom who gave her the news that she’d been cast as Athena in the adaptation of Homer’s Ancient Greek epic.
Zendaya said Tom, who plays Telemachus, the son of the main character Odysseus, handed her a script, recalling: “He [Nolan] was like, ‘Read it again.’ And I was like, ‘OK.’
“And he was like, ‘But now, think of Athena.’ I was like, ‘Stop right now! You’re joking!’
“He was allowed to be the one to tell me, and that was really special.”
Ed Sheeran is backing a £12.5 million Government-funded scheme to create dedicated music spaces in libraries across EnglandCredit: Getty
Ed Sheeran is teaming up with the Government to support its Music in Libraries programme.
The Ed Sheeran Foundation will aid the rollout of £12.5 million in government funding which will create dedicated music spaces in public libraries across England.
The Shape of You singer met with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy last year when they visited not-for-profit music and arts organisation Brighten The Corners in his home county of Suffolk..
Ed Sheeran Foundation CEO Dr Renuka Fernando said: “The Music in Libraries programme is an important step forward for music education.
“By expanding access to music beyond the classroom, our library network can help ensure that children and young people from communities across England have the opportunity to engage with music, regardless of where they live.”
Move to USA? Leigh-Anne has mixed feelings
Leigh-Anne Pinnock has revealed she wants to move to New York to boost her solo career, but footballer husband Andre Gray is not convincedCredit: Getty
Leigh-Anne Pinnock is in a tussle with her husband over relocating to the US because she doesn’t feel appreciated in the UK.
The Little Mix star said she wants to move to New York to further her solo music career, but footballer Andre Gray isn’t convinced.
Leigh-Anne, who is pregnant with her third child, said: “In the UK, I think there’s a lot of black female artists that aren’t getting the support they deserve, and people are coming to America for that reason.
“I definitely feel like there’s a market here for me and a fanbase that I can keep nurturing, but I have to be here.
“I’ll be honest, it is really hard with kids.
“My girls go to school in the UK. If I come here, I can only really do two weeks at a time.
“I want to move to New York, but my husband doesn’t want to.”
During an appearance on the Relations**t podcast, she also opened up about how filming her stint for the upcoming series of Celebrity Traitors helped her get away from toxic social media.
Leigh-Anne explained: “I didn’t realise how bad my mental health was until I came away from it.
“I filmed Traitors recently and didn’t have my phone, and I had a really good cleanse.
“I think social media is not made for mental health. It was really affecting me.”
Rihanna, and Bey help Jay-Z
Jay-Z made up for his delayed New York show by bringing out star guests Rihanna, Usher and Beyonce at Yankee StadiumCredit: Getty
Jay-Z pulled out all the stops at his New York show on Sunday, despite the fact it started four hours late.
It was after midnight before he arrived on stage at the Yankee Stadium, but he more than made up for it by bringing out special guests Rihanna, Usher and Beyonce.
Rihanna, who hasn’t performed since 2024 but sang Run This Town and Bitch Better Have My Money with Jay, told the crowd: “Y’all know I’m rusty, right? It’s been a while.”
She added: “I miss this s**t y’all. I love you guys.”
Other musicians who joined him during the two-and-a-half hour show included Teyana Taylor, Jermaine Dupri, Jeezy, The Dream, Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys.
However, given it didn’t end until 3am, I’m sure there were plenty of sore heads in the Big Apple yesterday.
Formula 1 fans are in for a treat after McLaren Racing announced a one-off show at London’s O2 Arena featuring top drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
The pair will be interviewed on stage, alongside other McLaren F1 talent, about the racing season. Tickets for the event, on December 14, go on sale on Friday.
New star on the Ho-Z1on
Rita Ora and rising star Z1onCredit: supplied
New artist Z1ON has already secured the backing of some of the biggest names in the industry, despite only dropping a couple of tracks online.
The rising star will this week release his new song Magazine Girl – with Cruz and Romeo Beckham backing him for success.
Last week, he was spotted with Rita Ora on a night out in London, while Liam Gallagher recently took to X to brand him a “spiritual dream weaver”.
I have no idea what that actually means, but I guess we are about to find out.
Chaka out Alex
Alexandra Burke transforms into Chaka Khan for the US singer’s biographical musical, I’m Every WomanCredit: PAThe real Chaka Khan on stageCredit: Getty
Ain’t Nobody compares to Alexandra Burke as she transforms into Chaka Khan for the US singer’s biographical musical, I’m Every Woman.
The Broken Heels singer beamed at the curtain call at 3 Mills Studios in East London during a special preview of the show, ahead of its launch at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, which kicks off next Wednesday and runs until September 27.
It’s a full-circle moment for Alexandra, whose late mum Melissa encouraged her to audition for The X Factor with Chaka’s song Ain’t Nobody back in 2008.
She said: “It’s very emotional being here. But I really feel and believe this is a gift from my mum.”
