Queens

“They’re coming to get you, Barbara” is the most famous line from 1968’s revolutionary “Night of the Living Dead.” It’s a mean taunt that comes from a sibling, unaware that civilization is crumpling around him. In a few moments, his sister will be fleeing across a field barefoot from an undead zombie (terms that are never used in the movie because it’s so ahead of its time) and any Boris Karloff impressions will quickly be forgotten.

The line also sounds remarkably comfortable coming out of the mouth of a drag queen — one of the many sides of shade served in the generously funny and sharp “Queens of the Dead.” Directing and co-writing the film is 42-year-old Tina Romero, daughter of George Romero, “Night’s” original progenitor, whose death in 2017 was met with the kind of belated cultural praise usually reserved for Oscar winners.

Tina Romero understands the legacy of her father better than most. It’s not just a matter of gathering a bunch of bickering survivors inside a besieged location — here it’s a converted Bushwick warehouse — while the outside world goes to hell. (Adding to the film’s bona fides, legendary makeup artist Tom Savini makes a cameo as the city’s mayor on TV: “This is not a George Romero movie,” he warns.) Shrewdly, “Queens of the Dead” also foregrounds the deeper meanings that gore-obsessed knockoffs sometimes miss: the idea that working together across differences is harder than it seems and maybe the monster is already calling from inside the house.

Pink-hued and queered so aggressively that only a prig won’t be able to find some RuPaul-adjacent enjoyment in it, “Queens” stars Katy O’Brian, last seen as Kristen Stewart’s sculpted lust object in “Love Lies Bleeding.” Here O’Brian has much more to do emotionally as Dre, a wanna-be impresario with big dreams for her drag event, Yum, even if her attractions keep bailing and her target audience of influencers is in the process of turning into lumbering flesh-eaters. (They still clutch onto their cellphones, a nice touch.)

Within the makeshift club — a dressing room, a bar, some dance cages that will figure later — tensions flare and Dre has her hands full. Ginsey (Nina West), a hardworking diva, holds down the fort while unreliable protégé Sam (Jaquel Spivey) chooses this moment to show up and ruffle feathers. Unhappy with second billing, a younger queen (Tomás Matos) insists on being called Scrumptious while a gruffly accommodating handyman named Barry (Quincy Dunn-Baker, a smart inclusion of George Romero’s blue-collar streak) tries to keep all the pronouns straight.

Confidently, Tina Romero makes room for a wonderfully dumb makeover montage and a daring escape via Pride Parade float. If the comedy overcompensates at the expense of landing every gag, then good on her. It’s long overdue and there’s something touching to the idea that the end of the world might unleash leadership qualities in those who’ve had a rough time existing in the old one.

But a film this well-made and cut (the pacy editing by Aden Hakimi calls back to the elder Romero’s own cutting of his major titles) shouldn’t be relegated to just one kind of audience. Anyone who appreciates horror should find something to smile at here. Maybe it’s the side plot — as satisfying as a worn-in pair of shoes — of Dre’s wife, Lizzie (Riki Lindhome), a hospital nurse, racing across town in an old Impala.

Or, true to zombie movie form, there’s the mid-film arrival of a game-changing character, the synthesizer music pumping. Here it’s Margaret Cho on a motor scooter, cruising through a cloud of exhaust. “You all look healthy enough,” she tosses off, an action hero in the making. And yes, that’s as thrilling as it sounds.

Linfield have reached the second round of the BetMcLean Cup with a 2-0 win over Queen’s University at Windsor Park.

Chris McKee, who had an early effort ruled out, opened the scoring when he headed home Charlie Allen’s cross in the 18th minute.

Queen’s University, who have impressed since they earned promotion to the Championship, had a chance to equalise when Tommy Smyth’s header forced David Walsh into a save.

McKee struck the woodwork shortly before the interval but Matt Yates added a second for David Healy’s side in the 51st minute from Sam Taylor’s cross.

Holders Cliftonville take on Coagh United in one of 14 first round ties on Tuesday, 7 October, while Ards’ tie with Dungannon Swifts completes the last 32 on Wednesday, 8 October.

In a change for this year’s competition, the winners of the BetMcLean Cup will automatically go into the Irish Premiership’s European play-off final from next season.

A SUSPECTED Epstein victim claims she met Prince Andrew, sat on the Queen’s throne, and was taken inside Buckingham Palace, according to bombshell files from Jeffrey Epstein’s so-called “birthday book.”

The woman – whose name has been redacted – penned a glowing tribute to the disgraced financier for his 50th birthday in 2003, saying he had transformed her life.

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In the entry, the unidentified woman described how she had once been “a 22-year-old divorcee working as a hostess in a hotel restaurant” before meeting Epstein.

It is unclear who the woman is – but she describes the same circumstances of being lured in and jetted around the world that many of Epstein’s victims experienced.

She claimed: “I have met Prince Andrew, President Clinton, Sultan of Brunei, Donald Trump, Antonio Verglas, Naomi Campbell, Stephanie Seymour, Peter Brant, Kevin Spacey, Chris Tucker, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, brilliant scientists, lawyers and business men.”

The alleged victim went further, boasting she had “seen the private quarters of Buckingham Palace, sat on the Queen of England’s throne” and taken part in lavish adventures ranging from skydiving to attending a Victoria’s Secret fashion show.

The entry was accompanied by bikini shots of the woman on a beach – captioned in handwriting: “And thought you might like.. Some bikini Shots! Bye-bye! XX”.

It also featured a photo of a man and woman walking arm in arm with his hands stuffed down the back of her trousers.

A bold “Thank you!!!” was scrawled underneath.

In the same entry, she praised Epstein directly: “Jeffrey, there are no words to describe how much I appreciate and admire you.

“I believe you are the most extraordinary person I’ve ever met and can’t believe how lucky I am to have become a part of your life.”

The explosive claims were made public as part of a new tranche of documents released by the US House Oversight Committee.

It includes Epstein’s will, his infamous address book, and the 238-page “birthday book.”

The book, compiled for Epstein’s milestone birthday, contains messages and photographs from around 40 friends, colleagues and associates.

They were divided into categories such as “friends,” “business,” and “science.”

But names under “family” and “girl friends” were redacted.

Committee chairman James Comer said the release was part of a broader push to obtain full transparency around Epstein’s network, though he accused Democrats of “cherry-picking documents” for political purposes.

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Other high-profile names appear in the collection, including entries attributed to Bill Clinton and Lord Peter Mandelson, who has since said he “very much regrets” ever being introduced to Epstein.

Epstein – the convicted sex offender whose connections stretched from royalty to Hollywood – died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.

Prince Andrew has long denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.

The “birthday book” revelations add fresh controversy to an already notorious royal link: it is known that Ghislaine Maxwell once posed on a throne at Buckingham Palace and that she and Epstein were invited to Balmoral, the late Queen’s Scottish retreat, as guests of Prince Andrew.

As for Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate from whom the “birthday book” originated, she’s currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.

In recent months, she was quietly transferred to a minimum-security federal prison camp in Texas following interviews with the Department of Justice.

Critics have slammed the move as unusually lenient.

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THE final batch of £1 coins featuring the late Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait will enter circulation for the last time – and they could be worth a pretty penny.

More than 23million of the coins are being released today, Wednesday August 20 by the Royal Mint has said.

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That means you could spot one in your change in the coming weeks.

These pieces will be the final ones bearing Elizabeth II’s portrait to enter circulation.

Plus, the Royal Mint said these coins dated 2022, are the rarest £1 coins in active circulation.

If you are keen to spot the coin, there are a few details you can spot.

The front, or heads side, of the coin features a portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth and the date 2022.

While the reverse, or tails side, features an image of a crown with an English rose, Scottish thistle, Welsh leek and Northern Irish shamrock.

The coin joins a raft of other rare £1 pieces, including the 2011 Edinburgh City coin that has sold for 95 times its face value.

These coins have a mintage of just 935,000, making it a rare find.

Back in June, the coin sold for £23 on eBay after 21 bids.

The coin was part of a series depicting the four capital cities of the UK and is the only £1 coin with a mintage below one million.

In comparison, a recent bidder paid £7.53 for one of the coins after fighting off bids from five others.

But coins are only worth what sellers are willing to pay for them.

So another piece may sell for a higher or lower price later down the line.

It comes as the official maker of UK coins is also set to release 7.5 million new King Charles III £1 coins.

The 50p and £1 are the only denominations with Charles’s portrait to have entered circulation so far.

The King’s £1 coins feature an intricate bee design on the reverse and are part of the Definitive collection, inspired by the flora and fauna of the British Isles.

Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint, said: “This release represents a pivotal moment in British coinage history.

“As we release more of the King Charles III £1 coins into circulation alongside the final coins of Queen Elizabeth II, we’re witnessing the physical representation of our monarchy’s transition.”

She added: “This dual release creates an exceptional opportunity for both seasoned numismatists and those new to coin collecting.”

“Finding these new coins in your change could spark a rewarding hobby that connects you with the heritage, history and craftsmanship behind British currency.”

And that is not the only rare coin that collectors are keen to get their hands on.

The Kew Gardens 50p recently fetched £205 on eBay after 29 buyers battled it out for the piece.

Other rare coins to keep an eye out for are the Atlantic Salmon 50p,

How to spot rare coins and banknotes

Rare coins and notes hiding down the back of your sofa could sell for hundreds of pounds.

If you are lucky enough to find a rare £10 note you might be able to sell it for multiple times its face value.

You can spot rare notes by keeping an eye out for the serial numbers.

These numbers can be found on the side with the Monarch’s face, just under the value £10 in the corner of the note.

Also, if you have a serial number on your note that is quite quirky, you could cash in thousands.

For example, one seller bagged £3,600 after spotting a specific serial number relating to the year Jane Austen was born on one of their notes.

You can check if your notes are worth anything on eBay, just tick “completed and sold items” and filter by the highest value.

This will give you an idea of what people are willing to pay for some notes.

But bear in mind that yours is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it.

This is also the case for coins, you can determine how rare your coin is by looking a the latest scarcity index.

NEW YORK — Zohran Mamdani was a state lawmaker unknown even to most New York City residents when he announced his run for mayor back in October.

On Tuesday evening, the 33-year-old marked his stunning political ascension when he declared victory in the Democratic primary from a Queens rooftop bar after former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo conceded.

While the race’s ultimate outcome has yet to be confirmed by a ranked choice count scheduled for July 1, here’s a look at the one-time rapper seeking to become the city’s first Muslim and Indian American mayor, and its youngest mayor in generations.

Mamdani’s mother is a famous filmmaker

Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, to Indian parents and became an American citizen in 2018, shortly after graduating from college.

He lived with his family briefly in Cape Town, South Africa, before moving to New York City when he was 7.

Mamdani’s mother, Mira Nair, is an award-winning filmmaker whose credits include “Monsoon Wedding,” “The Namesake” and “Mississippi Masala.” His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is an anthropology professor at Columbia University.

Mamdani married Rama Duwaji, a Syrian American artist, earlier this year at the City Clerk’s Office. The couple live in the Astoria section of Queens.

Mamdani was once a fledgling rapper

Mamdani graduated in 2014 from Bowdoin College in Maine, where he earned a degree in Africana studies and co-founded his college’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter.

After college, he worked as a foreclosure prevention counselor in Queens helping residents avoid eviction, the job he says inspired him to run for public office.

Mamdani also had a notable side hustle in the local hip-hop scene, rapping under the moniker Young Cardamom and later Mr. Cardamom. During his first run for state lawmaker, Mamdani gave a nod to his brief foray into music, describing himself as a “B-list rapper.”

“Nani,” a song he made in 2019 to honor his grandmother, even found new life — and a vastly wider audience — as his mayoral campaign gained momentum.

Early political career

Mamdani cut his teeth in local politics working on campaigns for Democratic candidates in Queens and Brooklyn.

He was first elected to the New York Assembly in 2020, representing a Queens district covering Astoria and surrounding neighborhoods and has handily won reelection twice.

The Democratic Socialist’s most notable legislative accomplishment has been pushing through a pilot program that made a handful of city buses free for a year. He’s also proposed legislation banning nonprofits from “engaging in unauthorized support of Israeli settlement activity.”

Mamdani’s opponents, particularly Cuomo, have dismissed him as woefully unprepared for managing the complexities of running America’s largest city.

But Mamdani has framed his relative inexperience as a potential asset, saying in a mayoral debate he’s “proud” he doesn’t have Cuomo’s “experience of corruption, scandal and disgrace.”

Pro-Palestinian views

Mamdani’s outspoken support for Palestinian causes was a point of tension in the mayor’s race as Cuomo and other opponents sought to label his defiant criticism of Israel as antisemitic.

The Shia Muslim has called Israel’s military campaign in Gaza a “genocide” and said the country should exist as “a state with equal rights,” rather than a “Jewish state.” That message has resonated among pro-Palestinian residents, including the city’s roughly 800,000 adherents of Islam — the largest Muslim community in the country.

During an interview on CBS’ “The Late Show” on the eve of the election, host Stephen Colbert asked Mamdani if he believed the state of Israel had the right to exist. He responded: “Yes, like all nations, I believe it has a right to exist — and a responsibility also to uphold international law.”

Mamdani’s refusal to condemn calls to “globalize the intifada” on a podcast — a common chant at pro-Palestinian protests — drew recriminations from Jewish groups and fellow candidates in the days leading up to the election.

In his victory speech Tuesday, he pledged to work closely with those who don’t share his views on controversial issues.

“While I will not abandon my beliefs or my commitments, grounded in a demand for equality, for humanity, for all those who walk this earth, you have my word to reach further, to understand the perspectives of those with whom I disagree, and to wrestle deeply with those disagreements,” Mamdani said.

Marcelo writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Jake Offenhartz in New York contributed to this report.

Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool became the first all-British pairing to win the men’s doubles title at Queen’s in the Open era with victory in a match tie-break over Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus.

Cash and Glasspool won 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 10-6 to earn their third ATP Tour title of the season and their fourth since beginning their partnership last year.

“It’s been a great year so far,” Cash said. “It’s really nice to start the grass season strong. Hopefully we can push on to a good run at Wimbledon.”

The Britons dominated the first set and were on course to wrap up victory with a break in the second before Croatia’s Mektic and New Zealand’s Venus fought back to take it to a tie-break, which they edged.

But in the match tie-break – played to 10 points and in lieu of a deciding third set – Cash and Glasspool got an early mini-break and then broke again before sealing victory on their first match point.

“I think we’ve been a really strong team this year and hopefully he [Julian] can continue making these tie-breaks a lot easier when he serves and the ball doesn’t come back,” said Glasspool, who was runner-up here in 2022 with Finland’s Harri Heliovaara.

The victory marks a successful couple of weeks on grass for the pair after they also reached the final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch last weekend and they will continue their warm-up for Wimbledon by competing at Eastbourne next week.

Britons to have won the doubles title here include Andy Murray, Neal Skupski and Jamie Murray but the only other all-British team to contest the Queen’s men’s doubles final in the Open era (since tennis went professional in 1968) were 1978 runners-up David and John Lloyd.

There was more British doubles success on grass in Germany, where Olivia Nicholls and her Slovak partner Tereza Mihalikova won the Berlin Open women’s title.

They came from behind to beat Italians Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini 4-6 6-2 10-6 to win their first title as a pair.

Jack Draper’s hopes of winning Queen’s were ended by Jiri Lehecka when the British number one was beaten in a thrilling semi-final while suffering from tonsillitis.

The 23-year-old, who lost 6-4 4-6 7-5, had been feeling unwell for a few days but said he “wouldn’t have pulled out for anything” as he chased a childhood dream to reach the final on home soil.

Draper had battled back from losing the first set to take the second and then went toe-to-toe with his Czech opponent in the third.

But Lehecka got a crucial break at 5-5, prompting Draper to smash his racquet into the advertising hoardings as he knew just how damaging that was to his chances.

And so it proved as Lehecka served out the victory in west London to advance to Sunday’s final, where he will face either top seed Carlos Alcaraz or Roberto Bautista Agut.

He goes through to his fifth ATP Tour final but the wait continues for a first British singles champion since five-time winner Andy Murray’s most recent victory in 2016.

Draper will now take a few days rest before resuming his preparations for Wimbledon, which starts on 30 June.

“Today’s probably the worst I have felt,” said Draper, who was diagnosed with tonsillitis on Friday.

“Did I think about withdrawing? No, not at all. I’m in the semi-finals at Queen’s. I’d probably go on court with a broken leg. I wouldn’t have pulled out for anything.”

Impressionist Josh Berry asks questions in the accents of Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal & John McEnroe to Queen’s stars including Carlos Alcaraz & Emma Raducanu.

WATCH MORE: Draper into world’s top four by beating Nakashima

Pictures courtesy of LTA and ATP Media

Draper had got off to the perfect start against Nakashima with an early break but the rest of his day was far from straightforward.

But, as he has increasingly been showing in a year that has taken him to a career-high fourth in the world, he manages to bring out his best tennis in the most difficult moments.

From the second-serve ace that warded off a break to a brave drop shot at 15-40, Draper showed he is not afraid to take risks and this confident approach is paying off here.

Having lost the second set to world number 32 Nakashima when he sent a forehand long, Draper tightened up on his errors in the third and broke serve in the seventh game with one of the stunning forehand winners that have become a hallmark of his game.

He had thought he had sealed the game on the previous point with a backhand but the automatic line call of “out” had been drowned out by the crowd’s cheers.

He had to save a break point while serving for the match at 5-4 but recovered to seal victory after two hours and 22 minutes, delivering a 14th ace during that final game.

Draper will now play only his second last-four match on home soil after reaching the semi-finals at Eastbourne in 2022.

His progress here will help his preparations for Wimbledon, which starts on 30 June, and the top-four seeding is a bonus for him going into the grass-court Grand Slam where he will be viewed as the great home hope.

“It’s a definite huge step for me,” Draper added.

“I remember last year going in ranked around 30 or 40. To be inside the top four come Wimbledon one year around, that’s massive progress.

“I live and breathe the sport, and I’m obsessed with progressing and obsessed with becoming the player that I want to become all the time and achieve the things I want to.

“It’s another step in the right direction.”

Fearnley has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the last 12 months, rising from outside the top 500 to now sitting at 60th in the world.

This was just his sixth tour-level match on grass but it did not look like it as he played some brilliant tennis at times that Moutet had no answer for.

The British number two came back from 0-40 down in his first service game of the match before immediately breaking Moutet to take control of the opener.

It looked like a straightforward afternoon for Fearnley as Moutet grew increasingly irked but the Frenchman regained his composure to dominate the second set, the momentum swinging after three double faults by the Scot in his first service game.

However, Fearnley found an extra level in an excellent third set and Moutet had no answer to his big hitting, with his frustrations boiling over as he received a time violation after arguing with the umpire.

But Fearnley kept his composure well to serve out victory and join compatriot and British number one Jack Draper in the last eight.

All eyes have been on Draper this week as he takes on the pressure of being the great British hope with Wimbledon approaching at the end of this month.

The 23-year-old has said he is comfortable dealing with that weight of expectation, and underlined that belief with this battling display.

He did, however, start slowly as a run of 11 consecutive points for Popyrin – briefly interrupted by an unexpected sudden gust of wind that sent a hat and bits of paper on to the court – led to the Australian taking the first set.

It was the second match in a row where Draper has taken his time to get into his groove and he revealed he had been struggling a bit with illness this week.

“I’ve not been feeling great actually, to be honest, the last day and a half,” he told BBC Sport.

“I was a bit flat out there. My body feels good but I was a bit under the weather.”

Draper will have his eyes firmly set on claiming a maiden title at Queen’s but he will have another incentive to keep progressing as reaching the semi-finals will mean he is seeded fourth at Wimbledon.

That would mean avoiding facing the likes of defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and world number one Jannik Sinner.

“It’s obviously a big thing,” Draper said. “I think it would definitely help. But at the same time, I don’t think I will think about that at all.

“I can’t control who I’m playing, can’t control any of those things, but I can control what I do between now and the next match, and I’ll prepare the best I can.”

Evans is looking to rebuild his ranking, having dropped from a career-high 21st in the world a couple of years ago to 199th.

Given a wildcard entry at Queen’s, the 35-year-old was handed a tough start against American Tiafoe, who reached the quarter-finals of the French Open this year.

But Tiafoe has often struggled on grass and Evans took full advantage, playing some of his best tennis in years to claim an impressive straight-set win.

Evans dropped more than 110 ranking spots last year when he opted to focus on partnering Andy Murray in the doubles at the Paris Olympics, so it was apt that this impressive display came at the arena newly named after the Scot.

The pair reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, with the match the last of Murray’s long and illustrious career.

Asked afterwards about how much Murray has inspired his own career, Evans said: “Not just mine but the whole of British tennis.

“He always has time for everyone and it’s fitting he has an arena called after him.”

Evans started strongly against Tiafoe, fending off a break point before securing the break himself at 3-3.

Tiafoe broke back immediately when Evans overcooked his forehand and momentum appeared to swing the American’s way in a 10-minute spell where his opponent had little answer to him.

But Evans, encouraged by the vocal home crowd, dug in and battled from 5-4 down to secure a second break before closing out the set – helped on his way by coming out on top of a gruelling 37-shot rally.

The momentum was now with Evans and a five-game winning streak put him 2-0 up at the start of the second set.

Evans got a stroke of luck at 3-1 up when his forehand clipped the net cord to drop over and secure a double break.

From then on he closed out the match before receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.

“Days like today, whatever happens this week, is why I’ve been carrying on – to get out here and put my game on the court and enjoy it,” Evans added.

Maria went an early break up in the first set, drawing errors out of Anisimova, before a thumping backhand winner from the American put it back on terms.

However, Maria kept Anisimova on the move, visibly frustrating her, and a netted forehand gave Maria the break back, before she served out the set with ease.

The numbers told the story, with Anisimova committing 10 unforced errors to Maria’s three in the opener, and the momentum stayed with the German as she broke at the first chance in the second set.

A mammoth fourth game saw seven deuces and Maria saving two break points for 3-1, before a brilliant scamper to a drop shot in the next allowed her to go a double break up.

Anisimova, who won the WTA 1000 title in Qatar earlier this year, went for broke, pummelling her shots to rescue a break and keep in touch.

But Maria, backed by the packed crowd, kept her nerve to serve out to 30 and secure her place in Queen’s history.

Maria is due to compete at the Nottingham Open, which begins on Monday, but said she will celebrate with her family first.

“This doesn’t happen every week so we have to celebrate with something,” she added.

“I think the kids will probably want some crepes with Nutella!”

There was reason for Raducanu to be confident against Zheng, who is still finding her feet on the grass court and has a serve that can waver when under pressure.

World number 37 Raducanu had also made relatively serene progress through her first two matches, dropping just eight games across four sets.

But, as Raducanu found against Iga Swiatek in Melbourne and Paris, and Coco Gauff in Italy, there is a different, consistent level needed to beat the players for who winning is a habit.

In an edgy start, Raducanu put pressure on Zheng’s serve while saving break points in her own games.

But Zheng broke through at the seventh attempt, a blistering backhand down the line silencing the crowd, who had earlier voiced their displeasure after Zheng had to change her shoes midway through the game.

Raducanu kept up the pressure, creating an immediate break-back opportunity, but Zheng’s huge groundstrokes kept her at bay, and a rushed forehand into the net handed the top seed the first set.

Raducanu left court for a medical timeout on her back but took advantage as Zheng’s first serve all but disappeared on her return.

With the wind picking up, Raducanu produced a series of ruthless returns to Zheng’s second serve and quickly found herself 3-0 up.

But Zheng wrestled a break back and upped her intensity when needed, creeping forward to attack Raducanu’s serve. A double fault handed Zheng the break back and she reeled off four games in a row to close out the match.

Despite the loss, there will be enough for Raducanu to be confident she can perform well on the grass – but she will know there is still a gap to be bridged when it comes to challenging the very best.

Boulter may have sat at the top of British women’s tennis for two years but, with Raducanu looking back to somewhere near her best, we could see the two battling for the top spot in British women’s tennis on a regular basis.

Boulter is looking forward to the challenge.

“It’s going to be fun for me to chase her now, and I think she’s been doing that for a while. Now it’s kind of my turn,” she said.

“I’m very happy for her to be British number one.”

Boulter, who won the title in Nottingham this time last year, had been trying to reach a seventh quarter-final on grass.

There were plenty of positives to take in a first set which she said featured “some of the best grass court tennis” she has played.

She continually caused problems behind her first serve – something she had suggested she would be working on in the build-up to this match after struggles earlier this week – and went a double break up on her way to taking the first set.

But by the time the umpire suspended play because of a downpour, Boulter was down a break at 4-1 in the second set and in trouble on serve again.

After a 20-minute rain delay, she returned to have her serve broken for a second time and, despite recovering one break, she could not prevent Shnaider from forcing a deciding set.

Boulter once again came under pressure in the opening game, wiping out three break points to secure the hold as problems on serve returned with a vengeance.

She saved more break points in her next service game, only to double-fault and concede the break.

From there, Boulter struggled to regroup and went down a double break.

She could not find a way back as Shnaider set up a meeting with American second seed, and Australian Open champion, Madison Keys.

Boulter got a feel for the grass in her doubles victory alongside Raducanu on Monday but faced a tough challenge in Tomljanovic in her first singles match of the season on the surface.

Having navigated a tricky hold where she saw off break points before impressively breaking to love, she missed the opportunity at 5-4 to serve out the set.

Instead, Boulter relied on her serve to get her out of trouble in the first-set tie-break, smashing a forehand winner to take the set in just over an hour.

But things spiralled rapidly for Boulter in set two as she struggled to find any rhythm, falling down a double break and struggling to find the answers.

And, having relied so heavily on a strong serve in the first set, she double-faulted on the first point of the opening game in the decider, laying the foundations for Tomljanovic to break.

Now on a run of six games without a win for Boulter, the home crowd was flat and struggled to provide the Briton with the boost she needed.

That came soon after, though, as Boulter immediately broke back and rediscovered some momentum to win three games in a row.

More to-ing and fro-ing followed as neither player could hold their serve but Boulter eventually kept her calm at 4-4, holding serve before taking the match when Tomljanovic’s forehand dropped long.

She will face Poland’s Magdalena Frech or fifth seed Diana Shnaider in the next round.

Watch as Britain’s number one and two Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu book their place in the second round of the women’s doubles at Queen’s with a straight- sets victory over Xinyu Jiang and Fang-Hsien Wu.

FOLLOW: Queen’s Tennis – Day One

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But it was about so much more than just money. Playing conditions were primitive. Surfaces were dirt pitches that doubled as car parks on matchdays and changing rooms were sheds crammed with up to 30 people and fitted with inadequate showers that would always quickly run out of hot water.

“We didn’t ask for the same financial earnings, because you also have to be aware of what men’s and women’s football generate, but we did deserve to play on a decent pitch and to have a decent locker room,” she said.

To add insult to injury they also had to pay their own travel expenses to get not only to and from the ground for training, but also on matchdays. When they asked if they could be reimbursed for their travel costs, they were told the money was not available. All the men’s teams, however, either had a bus organised for them or would be picked up by the club.

And up until 2017, women were still wearing men’s kit for both playing and training.

“When I arrived, we did our laundry at home. They gave us two or three sets, I don’t remember exactly how many, and we washed them at home,” Unzue said.

“They would give us the smallest sizes but even that was too big for us.”

Getting to away games was another ordeal, Unzue explained: “We travelled almost always by bus, except for the longer trips, like Barcelona-Seville, where we flew.

“But from Barcelona to the Basque Country, by bus; to Madrid, by bus; to Valencia, by bus… it was a long bus ride, you arrived super tired, you had to play the game at 12 noon, return late, and on top of that, people were still working.

“There were a lot of people who arrived late at night and had to go to work the next day.”

The club’s much vaunted academy, La Masia, was also out-of-bounds for the women until very recently – women have only been admitted into the La Masia residency since 2021.

Things have improved considerably but there is still a massive divide. Bonmati is not just the greatest woman player on the planet, she is also, deservedly, the highest paid. Her earnings last year were €1m (£840,000). Her team-mate Putellas was the second-highest earner on €700,000 (£590,000). Barca’s star striker for the men’s side, Robert Lewandowski, is paid €30m (£25.3m).

Don’t let this captivating series based on an unbelievable true story fly under the radar

Disney+ is now streaming a six-part series that’s absolutely essential for any fans of Netflix’s hit drama The Queen’s Gambit.

The series starring Anya Taylor-Joy as chess prodigy Beth Harmon captivated millions of viewers during the pandemic and spurred a huge boom in the classic game’s popularity.

Now, the rival streamer has acquired a new drama that originally aired in France last year about an equally gripping chess tournament. The biggest difference? This one’s based on a true story.

Starring Christian Cooke as Russian grandmaster Garry Kasparov, this addictive miniseries follows his historic rematch against the first computer to win a game of chess, IBM’s groundbreaking Deep Blue.

Speaking to Express Online about his approach to playing Kasparov, British star Cooke teased the intensity of this incredible true story.

“I equated it to boxing,” he explained. “It really is the same in that it’s one person against another opponent and that’s the kind of mindset.

“With each move you’re kind of sussing your opponent out and trying to lure them in and then jabbing and jabbing and then you go for the kill.

“That was helpful for me, in terms of how he thinks about his opponents and how he might stare them down over the board. Or after a game, you shake hands like boxers who embrace afterwards.”

Elaborating on the challenge on portraying the real life Russian chess pro, Cooke added: “I didn’t want to imitate Garry in any way but I wanted to capture who he was, which is this very focused person with a healthy amount of aggression to succeed and win.

“Or maybe unhealthy, occasionally, but that’s just what it takes to be the top of any discipline, on the top of the tree. You do have to sacrifice a lot and you have to be slightly cutthroat and apologetic and driven, and that’s how he was.”

Disney+ is streaming the series from today (Wednesday, 21st May), but it’s already scored rave reviews from fans who caught the initial release in France last year.

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A five-star review on Google read: “Absolutely amazing. Gripping and exciting until the very last second.”

Another raved: “Captivating. I watched all 6 episodes in one go.”

Someone else gave an ecstatic reaction: “It’s amazing whether you like chess or not, we’re 200% into it.”

An enthusiastic IMDb reviewer called Rematch a “masterpiece”, claiming: “this is [a] high class series.

“Have fun watching it is breathtaking all along the 6 episodes. Interesting high class.

“Worth a 9/10 and up for those who like or don’t like chess you will appreciate it. I watched the 6 [episodes] in a row!!!”

For fans of The Queen’s Gambit – which is pretty much everyone with a Netflix subscription – adding Rematch to the top of your watchlist is an absolute no-brainer.

Rematch is available to stream on Disney+.

Near the end of an evening ruled by queens, a king was keeping Chaka Khan waiting.

“Stevie Wonder’s in the house tonight,” Khan said late Sunday as she stood in the spotlight at Inglewood’s Kia Forum. “I don’t know where he is.” The veteran soul-music star wandered over to the edge of the stage, the black fringe of her bedazzled cape swaying with every step, and peered out into the crowd. “Steve, you over there?”

Khan was in the middle of her set to close Sunday’s installment of a traveling R&B revue called “The Queens” that launched last week in Las Vegas and has her on the road through the fall with three fellow lifers in Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight and Stephanie Mills. (One longs to have been in the room when they decided who plays last.) She’d come out singing “I Feel for You” — saucy, casual, effortlessly funky — then glided through “Do You Love What You Feel” and “What Cha’ Gonna Do for Me.” Now her would-be special guest was nowhere to be found.

Chaka Khan performs with Stevie Wonder.

(Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times)

“Stevie Wonder!” she said again, attempting to summon him to the stage. “We go back a long, long way. I remember once we did a tour, he and I — must have been back in the ’80s, the ’70s or something. It was that long ago. We were on tour for dang near two years. Two friggin’ frack years.” Khan went on for a minute about a vexing old record deal then seemed wisely to think better of that. “Call him,” she instructed the crowd, which started up a “Stevie” chant.

“What?” boomed a voice at last over the sound system. It was Wonder, shuffling out from the wings wearing his signature shades and beret to join his old friend for — well, for what? Khan had set up Wonder’s cameo by saying they should do “I Feel for You” again since Wonder played harmonica on the original record in 1984. But Wonder didn’t appear to have gotten that note: After clasping hands with Khan, he started telling the story of writing “Tell Me Something Good” a decade earlier for her group Rufus, which led Khan to cue her backing band on that number instead.

And what a number it was — that slinky up-and-down riff still a marvel of rhythmic ingenuity that inspired Khan and Wonder to go off in a volley of ad libs like the seasoned pros they are.

Patti Labelle performs.

(Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times)

Signs of life such as that one are precisely the reason to go to a concert like “The Queens,” in which the vast experience of the performers — Mills was the youngest at 68, LaBelle the oldest at 80 — serves not as a safeguard against the unexpected but as a guarantee that whatever might happen is fully roll-with-able.

Mills got up there Sunday and discovered an unwelcome climate situation — “I wish they would cut that air off,” she said, “it’s blowing so cold on me” — but went ahead and sang the bejesus out of “Home,” from “The Wiz.” LaBelle put out a call for willing men from the audience — “Black, white, straight, gay,” she made clear — then presided over an impromptu talent show as each guy did a bit of “Lady Marmalade” for her. And then there was Knight’s handler, who seemed to show up a few beats early to guide her offstage after “Midnight Train to Georgia.” No biggie: He could just stand there holding her arm gently for a minute while she traded “I’ve got to go’s” with her background singers.

Gladys Knight performs.

(Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times)

Another reason to go to “The Queens,” especially on Mother’s Day, was to behold the finery displayed onstage (and in the crowd). Knight wore a crisp red pantsuit with glittering figure-eight earrings, Mills an off-the-shoulder mermaid gown. LaBelle showed off two outfits, emerging in a silky blue suit before changing into a long tunic-style dress. During “On My Own,” she kicked off her heels, sending them hurtling across the stage; later, she spritzed herself from a bottle of fragrance then spritzed the front row for good measure.

As a three-hour program — Knight opened at 7 p.m. on the dot — Sunday’s show moved quickly, with a rotating stage that whirred to life after each woman’s set. And of course nobody stuck around long enough to offer up anything but hits. The musical pleasures were the ripples of detail in all those familiar tunes: a little ha-ha-ha Knight used to punctuate “That’s What Friends Are For”; LaBelle’s frisky vocal runs in “When You Talk About Love,” which she sang as a stagehand came out to help put her in-ear monitor back in; the way Khan toyed with her phrasing in “Through the Fire,” slowing down when you thought she’d speed up and vice versa. (Nobody wants to start a fight here, but Khan was undoubtedly the night’s best singer.)

Stephanie Mills performs.

(Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times)

After bringing the Mother’s Day audience to its feet with “I’m Every Woman” — somewhere out there was Khan’s own 91-year-old mom, she said — she started to make for the exit when her band revved up the throbbing synth lick from “Ain’t Nobody.”

“Oh, one more?” she said to no one in particular. “S—. One more!”