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Roger Federer introduces a new definition of retirement. It has been nearly 21 months since the Swiss tennis maestro marked an end to his legendary career in the world of tennis. Fans started to see things in a different way when Serena Williams used the word ‘evolve’ instead of ‘retire’. As Roger Federer recently took center stage to address fresh graduates, he elaborated on his vision to see the retirement of athletes with a different vision.

Roger Federer’s agent Tony Godsick has always been more than just a professional associate. While his daughter Bella graduated from Dartmouth’s 2024 batch, the former pro did the honor of addressing the future generation with an enlightening speech at Dartmouth’s commencement. Dressed in black as a graduate himself, the Swiss tennis maestro started to see a similarity between the students and the players who dropped their studies to dedicate their lives to the sport.

Explaining how he sees graduation as a procedure in the world of tennis, Roger Federer said, “I’m even more impressed because I left school at the age of 16 to play tennis full time. So I never went to college but I did graduate recently. I graduated tennis.” While the statement lacked clarity, the former pro took a moment to explain the meaning behind the words.

“I know the word is ‘retire’ “Roger Federer retired from tennis” ‘Retired’, the word is awful! You wouldn’t say you retired from college, right? It sounds terrible! Like you, I’ve finished one big thing and I’m moving on to the next,” he explained.

Although the statement might seem to be unique in its own way, it came up with a close resemblance to the thoughts of Serena Williams. The former pro was the first one to oppose the word retirement openly.

Roger Federer’s words ring true with Serena Williams’

Serena Williams hung up her racket for good close to the time when Federer did. Even she didn’t find the word ‘retirement’ suitable and therefore coined a new term for it. In an interview with Vogue back in September 2022, the WTA legend mentioned the fact that she’s not retiring from tennis but actually evolving from it.

“I have never liked the word retirement. It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me….Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me,” Serena said, enlightening the co-players and the whole tennis world with a thought that struck her mind while she planned to mark an end to her professional career.

The way Roger Federer explained the true meaning of retirement, not only enlightened the students but also gave players a new vision to look at their careers. As it found a close connectivity to that of Serena Williams, it also dropped a reminder to the good old days when they took the courts together.

GOLF

Jay Monahan & Tiger Woods’s Presence Adds ‘More Progress’ but PIF Merger Future Still Disappoints Fans

Once again, the golfing community is met with disappointing news! The idea of a deal between the PGA Tour and PIF arose a year ago, igniting anticipation among fans and professionals. The merger was supposed to be finalized by December 31 of last year, and it is now almost 6 months delayed. With each subsequent update, there’s speculation that it might happen this time, but has it come to any conclusion? Unfortunately, no!

The involvement of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy kindled similar hopes this time around, leading fans to believe that the PGA Tour might finally reach a definitive conclusion. The anticipation was high with McIlroy’s stance toward LIV and Woods’s recent assumption of the vice chairman position in the PGA Tour enterprises. However, is there any concrete update, even with esteemed figures like these?

What happened between the PGA Tour and PIF in the New York meeting?

Recently, reports surfaced revealing that Jay Monahan, Rory McIlroy, and the PGA Tour’s transaction committee, alongside Tiger Woods and Fenway Sports Group’s John Henry, met with Yasir Al-Rumayan and his team in New York. With the involvement of these officials and the anniversary of the deal’s inception, many speculated that the PGA Tour and PIF might establish some common ground.

However, instead of confirming the deal, what occurred was described as “more progress was made,” according to a post from @NUCLRGOLF on X, without any official confirmation or updation of the deal. In the same post, it also revealed that “the PGA TOUR Enterprises Transaction Subcommittee and the PIF have been meeting multiple times weekly to work through potential deal terms and come to a shared vision on the future of professional golf.”

Even after a year, the leagues continue to discuss potential deal terms without reaching any sort of conclusion. With no confirmation of specific dates or the duration the deal might require to get finalized, the statement “We remain committed to these negotiations, which require working through complex considerations to best position golf for global growth.” It suggests that further discussions are likely; therefore, the $3 billion merger would indeed be delayed further. It remains uncertain how much more time it will take for golf to unify. NUCLR GOLF’s post on X was inspired by the statement that came via Biran Keogh aka @IrishGolfDesk on X.

Just like the golf fans, the golfers are also getting tired of the delay. Keegan Bradley already shared similar sentiments after the first round of the Memorial Tournament.

What did Keegan Bradley say about the PGA Tour-PIF deal?

After the conclusion of the first round, Bradley joined the press conference at Muirfield Village and came across the question, “We’re one year out from the January 6th framework agreement announcement this last year. What’s the sense you’re getting now that we’re a year in? Are we getting closer or…”

Before the interviewer could finish, the 37-year-old responded, “I think a year later, it seems like there’s a lot of rumors and everything’s the exact same, so I don’t know. I haven’t seen a single difference since that day.”

The golfer highlighted similar facts: there hasn’t been any significant change in the golf world since the merger news, aside from some updates. Talking about majors, Bradley also revealed, “I’ve heard a lot of things that could happen. I’m thankful for Fenway Sports Group. I have no clue what’s going to happen with PIF. I hear a new rumor every day.“ And it seems he is somewhat correct, considering there is still no confirmation of what will happen next.

TENNIS

Iga Swiatek Refuses to Take Away Serena Williams’ Crown Despite Matching Her Unique Feat at French Open

Do you remember the 2014 US Open? It took Serena Williams just 75 minutes to win (6-3, 6-3) against Caroline Wozniacki at Flushing Meadows. The tennis star dropped to her back behind the baseline and wept. It was an emotional moment for her. But with the win, the American earned three consecutive singles titles at a single Grand Slam. Fast forward to 2024, and Iga Swiatek has achieved the same feat as Williams did in 2014.

Yesterday, Swiatek continued her dominating run to defeat Jasmine Paolini of Italy in the summit clash (6-2 6-1) and win her fifth Grand Slam title. In the process, she also won a hat-trick of French Open titles, winning here in 2022, 2023, and 2024, just like Williams’s hat-trick. Swiatek also won four of the past five French Open titles and is the youngest woman to do so.

Following Swiatek’s brilliant victory, the US Open Tennis’ official Twitter handle shared a reminder of her achievement. But what did the Polish star have to say about this comparison with Williams? She refused to give in to the comparisons. Iga Swiatek took to X and commented, “Mighty @serenawilliams,” along with a crown emoji. What a humble reaction from the 23-year-old!

But apart from Williams and Swiatek, there are two players with this achievement: Monica Seles and Justine Henin. The former won the Roland Garros in 1990, 1991, and 1992, whereas Henin won seven grand slams in her career. Four of them were at Roland Garros (2005, 2006 and 2007).

Well, Serena Williams’ ex-coach Rennae Stubbs had already predicted Iga Swiatek’s victory after her match against Naomi Osaka. On May 29, Stubbs posted on Twitter, saying, “That was an amazing match!!!!!!!! The forehand that Naomi missed serving for the match up 30-15 to go up two match points is one she is going to see in her sleep (nightmares) tonight! After this win, i think IGA now just plows thru everyone else after that match.”

Swiatek happened to glance at her prediction. The top-ranked player in the world responded with a Kermit the Frog GIF on Saturday, following her sixth Grand Slam victory. “Had ya back!” Stubbs responded.

However, this is not the only feat that Swiatek has matched with that of Williams. Earlier this year, she achieved the most WTA ranking points since Serena Williams in 2015 after winning the Italian Open title. She rose to 11,695 points, which was the first time in her career that she crossed the 11,000 mark. However, the Polish tennis star has had to overcome the pressure and emotions of the huge expectations placed on her.

Going into the finals of the French Open, Swiatek was the favorite to win the title. As a result, there was massive pressure and expectations on her. Following her victory, the Pole revealed how she managed to overcome this burden.

She said, “When I talk about pressure, I usually put pressure on myself because of pressure of the outside. Obviously, I’m a perfectionist, so there is always pressure behind me. But I think I’m fine with handling my own pressure. It’s when the pressure from the outside hits me, then it’s a little bit worse. But I managed it really well at this tournament.”

Further, she went on to add, “It was an emotional win because I felt, you know, a lot of stress yesterday and today in the morning. And I knew if I’m going to just focus on tennis, I can kind of fight through it, and at the end it all went how I wanted. So I just felt really proud of myself.”

With Iga Swiatek coming out on top of the expectations set for her, she can soak in the sweet success of her victory. With age by her side, she has a long way to go in her career, and the signs look positive for her to overcome more records that Serena Williams set in her illustrious career.

BOXING

Tim Bradley Reveals Only Boxer Who Can Beat Terence Crawford – It’s Not Canelo Alvarez, David Benavidez, or Gervonta Davis

Undoubtedly, Terence Crawford is the pound-for-pound king, having dominated all 40 opponents in his decorated career. And he is expected to do the same to Israil Madrimov on August 3 at BMO Stadium, Los Angeles. So, the question is—is there anyone who can beat the former undisputed champion? Tim Bradley seems to have the answer!

And no, it’s not Canelo Alvarez, David Benavidez or even the face of boxing Gervonta Davis. Ahead of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s debut event in America featuring Crawford vs. the boxer from Uzbekistan, Bradley appeared in an interview with Fight Hype today, sharing his verdict on the upcoming fight and unravelling who can beat ‘Bud’ Crawford.

Coming off his dominant win against Errol Spence Jr. last year, Madrimov is set to be Crawford’s first fight of 2024. So, when Bradley was asked about what the outcome of the fight may look like, the former champion seemed more than confident about Crawford’s win.

“Madrimov is strong, but you know he’s… a regular fighter [for] me. No disrespecting [to him in] anyway. I just don’t see anything really glaring at me”, said Bradley. Suggesting Madrimov does pack a punch, Bradley said, “He got a puncher’s chance for sure”.

However, Bradley thinks Crawford is levels above Madrimov, and would most likely emerge victorious in the much-anticipated fight. Bradley even went on a limb to reveal the only boxer who can beat Crawford, saying, “The only person that can beat Crawford is himself at this point”.

The upcoming fight will be Crawford’s first bout in the 154-pound division, as he looks to swipe Madrimov’s WBA super welterweight title alongside the WBO interim super welterweight title. Meanwhile, even the recently crowned undisputed heavyweight champion has similar beliefs about Crawford’s abilities!

Oleksandr Usyk brands Terence Crawford a very smart man

Ever since ‘Bud’ defeated Errol Spence Jr., his goal has been to face Canelo Alvarez after climbing three weight divisions. While Canelo had initially brushed off the idea, he has indicated the right offer can make the fight a reality.

Even HE Turki Alalshikh is adamant about making the fight late this year or early next year. So, while appearing in the Three Knockdown Rule podcast not too long ago, Oleksandr Usyk shared his verdict on the fight. And let’s just say, Canelo won’t like it!

“Terence is my friend, but he’s a crazy man. I say Terence wins. Listen, Terence is a different man. Terence works in two stances, he’s a very, very, very smart man,” said Usyk.

If Tim Bradley and Oleksandr Usyk are right, it will be a long night for Israil Madrimov on August 3. And as far as beating Crawford, it’s safe to say that no one stands a better chance than himself.

BOXING

Playing Under Exemption, Tiger Woods Fails to Grab Fans’ Trust at 2024 U.S Open: ‘He Will Miss the Cut’

Only four days remain for the 124th U.S. Open to start and for Tiger Woods to play his third major of the year. The 82-time PGA Tour winner has won the U.S. Open three times in his life but to get into the 2024 edition, Woods received a special exemption from the USGA as he could not qualify through any other criteria.

The 15-time major champions last victory on the U.S. Open was in 2008 and since then, the title has eluded Woods. Nonetheless, the 48-year-old has reached the U.S. Open venue Pinehurst No. 2 to start early for the third major. The NUCLR Golf uploaded about Woods playing at the range on Tuesday.

The update posted on X (previously Twitter) read, “Tiger Woods was seen striping it during a practice round today at Pinehurst No. 2.” Woods will be playing the U.S. Open after missing it for the past three years. Coming back, the Jupiter resident will hope to hon his swing before the competition starts.

In the practice video, Woods can be seen taking a stance to play a shot with full focus. He makes a perfect shot on the fairway. However, seeing the post of Woods “striping” at the range did not sit well with the golf enthusiasts. It felt redundant for many as they recalled the past performances of Woods which overshadowed his good practice rounds.

The golf world predicts Tiger Woods’s future at the 124th U.S. Open!

The 88th Masters was the second tournament of the year that Tiger Woods was playing. There were high hopes surrounding his return to Augusta National, as Woods withdrew from the last event. However, shattering the expectation, the 5-time Masters winner finished 60th on the leaderboard after similar hype was created. The fan recalled that and said, “Sadly we heard the same thing at the masters.”

Woods’s score at the Masters was 16 over 304 and at the PGA Championship 7 over. Seeing a pattern in his gameplay, this golf enthusiast took a jibe at the veteran pro. They sarcastically predicted Woods’s U.S. Open score and commented, “+12 this week come on guys.”

Having played only three tournaments so far, Woods has withdrawn from one, completed the Masters, and missed the cut at the 106th PGA Championship being 7 over 149. Before he teed up at Valhalla, Max Homa stated that Woods’s game was decent and he still hit it great. However, the reality was something else. This fan poking fun at the situation, assumed, “Same story different major. They’ll report a few pro’s saying “he has all the shots” and “he can still win” and then!!…..he’ll miss the cut.”

Before every major or even PGA Tour event starts and if Woods is in the field, social media gets the buzz of the 82-time PGA Tour winner’s various videos practicing at the range and hyping that Woods might still win again. But that isn’t always the result. One user was getting fed up with the trend and asked, “Petition to stop posting tiger during major weeks… his run is OVER.”

Woods has stated that his body feels stiff after undergoing several surgeries throughout his career. The 15-time major winner finds it difficult to recover every day after playing golf and thus, his weekend rounds in Augusta were ordinary. The golf enthusiast highlighted Woods’s struggles and said, “The guy can’t walk after 36 holes. What’s it matter if he’s striping it 4 days before he tees it up.”

Tiger Woods has been struggling to put up an exemplary performance in the majors.

BOXING

Floyd Mayweather Roped In to Prove Only Way Terence Crawford Can Beat Canelo Alvarez

The Terence Crawford– Canelo Alvarez face-off remains an elusive dream. However, until the fight is on the horizon, there shouldn’t be any harm in discussing it as if the fight were happening for real. From whether the match should happen at all to its tentative outcomes, social media is rife with a multitude of talks and discussions. The general consensus is that, unless the fight takes place at a catchweight, Canelo Alvarez, as the top dog of the division, stands a better chance of winning.

For whatever is said and done, as a welterweight, Terence Crawford might have to follow Jermell Charlo‘s suit. Only the former’s would be a three-division jump, not two like Charlo. In fact, the weight difference remains the key challenge hindering the fight. But when reached out for his views on the Crawford-Alvarez match-up, former world champion Timothy Bradley believes the Nebraskan can turn the tables on the Mexican. Only he might have to take down some notes from the playbook Floyd Mayweather Jr. left many summers ago.

So soon after Timothy Bradley wrapped up his response to the FightHype reporter’s query on the upcoming Terence Crawford and Israil Madrimov came the next poser on Canelo Alvarez. The reporter asked, “People were saying that he wouldn’t fight Crawford regardless of any type of money.” Bradley immediately took up Jermell Charlo’s example. The ‘Iron Man’ scaled up two divisions to meet Canelo Alvarez. But the fact remained that he just barely managed to survive against the Mexican icon’s onslaught. But that’s not the case with Terence Crawford. He is one of the pound-for-pound best boxers in the world. Whereas Charlo has never been ranked likewise.

‘Bud’ has been chasing Alvarez for some time now, Bradley said. But more significantly, the ‘Desert Storm’ stressed that Crawford could in fact make the grade against the super middleweight champion. Like everyone else, he has his concerns since Canelo Alvarez is a powerful hitter. However, one only needs to look at what Floyd Mayweather Jr. did when he took on the Mexican champion back in 2013.

Delivering a boxing clinic, Mayweather Jr. completely outboxed and outclassed Canelo Alvarez. So, Bradley stressed, skill-wise, Crawford shares a lot of similarities with ‘The Money’. “I mean as long as he’s not catching too many of them and he’s using his legs and his athleticism and defense to get out of the way, he should be able to beat Canelo man. Slow plotting forward, good jab, got good quickness, you know, throws a lot of hooks, cord, just get away from all of those, get underneath them, bro, he should be able to beat Canelo,“ said the ‘Desert Storm’ during the conversation. However, as it appears, ‘Tim’ Bradley may not be the only one with umpteen faith in ‘Bud’ Crawford’s skills.

Believers in brilliance

Oleksandr Usyk has also opined that Terence Crawford will win if ever the fight with Canelo Alvarez comes. ‘The Cat’ was speaking with Steve Kim and Mario Lopez on ”The 3 Knockdown Rule’. He especially mentioned Crawford’s skills as a switch hitter. He said, “I like Terrence; it’s… my friend, but it’s it’s crazy man. Listen, I… I say Terence win yes, …Terence win, but listen, Terence, it’s different, man. Terence work in two… two sides—right and left, but it’s it’s very smart, man. It’s very, very, very smart, but feel distance and the place…”

‘The 3 Knockdown Rule’ hosts, however, didn’t allow the Ukrainian champion to go away so easily. They quizzed him about the apparent weight difference between the two. The first undisputed heavyweight champion of this century couldn’t help but agree; the Mexican champion came off a bit bigger on the physical side. He is also a fantastic boxer. So, when push comes to shove, Terence Crawford would still emerge as the winner stressed Usyk.

If this fight comes to fruition, it will undoubtedly earn a place among legendary bouts like Floyd Mayweather Jr.- Manny Pacquiao’s ‘Fight of the Century’ or Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s ‘Ring of Fire’. That is the kind of impact the Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez fight carries. But the bigger question still remains. Will that fight ever come to fruition? So many, from some of boxing’s key stakeholders to fans, want to see two of the biggest faces of boxing clash.

GOLF

Has Sam Alexis Woods Graduated From High School?

It’s been half a year since anyone has seen Sam Alexis Woods out on the golf course. Is she focused on her studies, or perhaps she’s dedicating her time to soccer? Maybe it’s a mix of both. Sam Woods surprised the golf community with her appearance at the PNC Championship last December. However, since the tournament ended, she hasn’t been spotted in public.

Tiger Woods’s last professional outing was on the Valhalla greens, which came to a relatively early end. The 82-time PGA Tour winner failed to make the cut at the second major of the season. While the PGA Tour will be next seen at the Pinehurst No.2 there’s curiosity about his eldest daughter’s whereabouts. It’s possible that she’s feeling the pressure of high school. Sam is presently enrolled at the Benjamin School, just like her brother. However, unlike Charlie Woods, Sam is a senior this year, set to graduate as part of the class of 2025.

Certainly, the senior year of high school brings with it a significant amount of pressure, with final exams, projects, and other responsibilities to manage. In addition to academics, Sam also has a passion for soccer, which she excels in. Given these factors, it’s reasonable to assume that Sam Woods has currently redirected all her attention toward her studies and her favorite sport.

During last year’s PNC Championship, Tiger Woods made a last-minute decision to have his daughter caddie for him. It marked her debut appearance at the PNC Championship alongside her father. Prior to that, her last time caddying for the 15-time major champion was during the 2015 Masters in the par-3 contest. This unexpected and thrilling moment was a surprise for both Tiger and his fans, as Sam typically stayed away from the golf course. However, this time, she was right there on the greens. It’s been some time since Sam was last seen on the golf course.

Sam Woods and her regional final dreams

Sam’s dedication to soccer led her to join the Benjamin Buccaneers, where she competed at a regional level. Things were looking promising until February when everything took a turn after an unfortunate match. Sam and her team were on the brink of making it to the Florida High School Athletics Association’s Class 3A Girls Soccer Regional Finals. With an outstanding 17-0 season record, the Benjamin Buccaneers were leading Class 3A, second in Florida, and ninth in the US rankings. They were heavily favored against the King’s Academy Lions, who had an 11-4-2 record.

However, when facing the Lions, Sam’s team started to struggle. Despite the absence of their star player, Lola Hathorne, the match remained tied at 0-0 after 20 minutes of overtime. Sadly, during the penalty shootout, the Lions secured the win, bringing an end to Sam’s team’s unbeaten run.

GYMNASTICS

Simone Biles ‘Twisties’ Withdrawal Met With Full Support By Paris Olympics Qualified Gymnast Rhys McClenaghan

For a gymnast, there are few things more important than having spatial awareness. Imagine doing a routine involving flips, jumps, and twists, and while performing it, you lose sight of everything around you – where the mat is, where your body’s supposed to land. All of it. Yes, muscle memory takes over at some point, but until then, spatial awareness is a gymnast’s best friend. Well, that loss – commonly referred to as “twisties” – made Simone Biles withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics. It’s what made her feel like the world would hate her.

Turns out, it was the exact opposite. “I had no idea where I was in the air. I could have hurt myself,” Biles said at the time. “I thought the world is going to hate me. That was my first thought. I thought I was going to be banned from America.” Instead, she received tons of support from almost everyone who heard her story, including Irish gymnast Rhys McClenaghan, who not only supported Biles but also empathized with her.

24-year-old McClenaghan secured automatic qualification for the Paris Olympics by retaining the pommel horse title at the World Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp in October 2023. When Simone Biles got the “twisties” – planning a 2½ twist but only managing 1½ before losing her bearings in the vault – McClenaghan was making his Olympic debut, finishing seventh in the pommel horse event in Tokyo. When he learned about what the American was going through following her withdrawal, she spoke up (or rather, wrote) in support of her.

“Mental blocks ain’t no joke, I’ve experienced this firsthand throughout my career, and they are still the most challenging times I’ve faced,” he tweeted on X, adding, “Only people who have experienced this can fully understand the stress that comes with it.” Since then, three years have passed, and McClenaghan himself has been diligently working on his mental approach.

As reported by the Irish Independent, Rhys McClenaghan faced a significant challenge when he suffered a panic attack for the first time just weeks before his gold medal triumph at the 2023 World Gymnastics Championships. However, he acknowledged the importance of collaborating with his coach, Luke Carson, and sports psychologist, Jessie Barr, especially after a difficult time at the 2023 Paris World Cup. Recalling his experience, McClenaghan shared, “My body was completely healthy, I was physically ready, but my mind wasn’t quite happy if I’m honest.”

This was similar to what Simone Biles had said when critics called her out for quitting. “For anyone saying I quit, I didn’t quit. My mind & body are simply not in sync.” Considering how dangerous competing in that state can be for one’s safety, she added, “I put health first.” As for Rhys McClenaghan, he continued, “Even in the warm-up before my routine in Paris, I was more nervous than I had ever been before – and, quite honestly, had a bit of a panic attack before I competed. It was a very strange feeling – a feeling that I had never experienced before.”

Despite this challenge, McClenaghan persevered and conquered it and is now vying for Parisian glory, much like Biles envisioned after the Tokyo 2020 withdrawal. The American probably had the worst time dealing with the debilitating “twisties.” It can be likened to the yips in golf (an involuntary, unforeseen wrist muscle spasm), hindering players from performing optimally. British gymnast Claudia Fragapane seemed to have undergone something similar.

She competed in Rio 2016 and fell on the uneven bars and the balance beam. Fragapane even emphatically quipped to the BBC: “[I] understand exactly how Simone was feeling. It’s really dangerous if you doubt yourself a little bit or you find it really hard. You can really, really hurt yourself. I’ve been in her shoes, and I ended up hurting myself.” And she’s not the only one. Former gymnast Jacoby Miles had a tumultuous bout of the “twisties” mid-air, where she struck her neck, only to break it in the process.

In a post on Instagram, Miles wrote, “It only took one time of getting lost in the air for me to break my neck and leave me paralyzed, most likely for life.” She exclaimed that Biles’ hiatus was justified. “I’m so so glad [Biles] decided to not continue until she’s mentally recovered.” Now, it looks like Simone Biles is back to her dominating self, where her mind and body are in complete sync.

Simone Biles rises akin to a phoenix from the ashes

Simone Biles dazzled the world with her comeback at the 2023 World Championships in Belgium, snagging an impressive four gold medals and reaffirming her unmatched talent in gymnastics. Starting off this season with a bang, she cruised to victory at the Core Hydration Classics, leaving no doubt about her readiness for the upcoming Olympics. She took home the all-around title with a dominant 59.500, courtesy of a gold medal-winning performance on the floor and silvers on the uneven bars and balance beam.

With Paris on the horizon, Biles is pouring her heart and soul into training, determined to leave the ghosts of Tokyo behind. She shared her newfound focus on self-care and balancing life’s priorities. She continues to dominate events like the U.S. Classics and Xfinity Championship this year, even winning a record ninth all-around title.

As she put it after winning the Xfinity Championship, “Just making sure I’m healthy mentally and physically, and I think at this point, mentally is just as important as I physically feel. So just making sure I go to my therapy sessions weekly.” The world eagerly awaits her moment of glory, anticipating another unforgettable performance from the incomparable Simone Biles.

GYMNASTICS

Second Behind Simone Biles, 18-Year-Old Gymnast’s Paris Olympics Dreams in Danger Post 2024 Xfinity Scratching

The Xfinity Gymnastics Championships has seen some high-profile withdrawals just before the Olympic Trials. The latest addition to this list is 18-year-old Kaliya Lincoln. Just months after her exceptional silver medal performance behind gymnastics superstar Simone Biles at the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Lincoln’s Paris Olympics dreams hit a potential roadblock at the final major meet before June’s Trials.

Lincoln’s journey on the mat has been nothing short of remarkable. However, in a surprising turn of events, she has put a sudden pause to her ascending career by withdrawing from the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships after the first two rotations and petitioning for a Trials spot. This unexpected development raises questions about whether Lincoln, will be in peak form as she vies for one of the coveted spots for Paris.

“Kaliya Lincoln has withdrawn from the second day of #XfinityChamps and has petitioned to compete at Olympic Trials” read the X post by USA Gymnastics. Lincoln’s surprise exit robs her of valuable qualification points and casts a cloud over her Trials readiness just weeks out. The Xfinity meet had been her final chance to boost her national team claims before the Paris 2024 roster is finalized at Trials on June 27-30.

This year Lincoln has competed in the Winter Cup and the Core Hydration Classic. On both occasions she ended up as the silver medalist in the floor exercise. Dubbed Biles’ likely successor after matching the GOAT’s senior career with a senior debut at the 2023 Winter Cup, winning gold on floor, Lincoln has grown as a performer.

She won two gold medals at the Pan American Games in Chile last year. Earlier, she won the silver medal on the floor exercise at the U.S. Classic, tied with Joscelyn Roberson. She then finished second in the U.S. National Gymnastics Championships, with only superstar Simone Biles in front of her, showcasing what she is capable of.

She has achieved this success despite suffering a setback in 2021. A stress fracture in her shin at the end of the year took her out of competition for the start of the 2022. This was followed by a diagnosis of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in her knees that would require surgery, effectively ending her season. However, Lincoln came back strong next year with her winning effort at the Winter Cup.

Lincoln started her journey at the age of five after being inspired by watching US Gymnastics icon Gabby Douglas on live TV. Her journey with Douglas started on the TV program “Undercover Boss: Celebrity Edition.” In disguise, the veteran gymnast helped three young athletes seeking to reach her success, including Lincoln. Douglas then coached Lincoln and the two have been friends ever since.

The Xfinity Championships also saw Shilese Jones withdrawing citing a flared up shoulder injury. Interestingly, Douglas also withdrew from the meet at the very start, citing an ankle injury, which ended her Paris dreams.

Lincoln may also be forced to watch from home after her untimely Xfinity withdrawal. USA Gymnastics stayed tight-lipped on the specifics behind her withdrawal, offering no update on potential injuries or other issues. Still, there is a new journey awaiting Lincoln this fall.

Kaliya Lincoln to join LSU Tigers in the fall

While she has withdrawn from the Xfinity Championships and petitioning for the Trials, her future is secure. Lincoln will begin the next phase of her career as an LSU Tiger later this year. She committed to the school following her official visit last fall. On November 8, 2023, she signed her National Letter of Intent to confirm her status as a Tiger.

Speaking about her decision she said, “As soon as I was able to talk with the coaches, they were super nice and really supportive with all my goals, so as soon as I went on campus and got to meet all the girls and see the environment and campus I knew that was the place I wanted to be.”

She will aim to bring success for her team, but for now Paris will be in focus. Given her impressive recent run, Lincoln’s withdrawal might be signaling not a retreat but a strategic pivot as she aims for Olympic glory.

UPDATE-

Shortly after the Xfinity gymnastics competition concluded on June 2, Sunday evening, USA Gymnastics announced that they approved Kaliya Lincoln’s petition to take part in the upcoming U.S. Olympic trials scheduled for later this month. It is anticipated that Lincoln will join Simone Biles, Skye Blakely, as well as 13 other gymnasts at the trials, which will commence on June 27th in the city of Minneapolis.

TENNIS

Baffled by French Open’s Greedy Move, Serena Williams’ Ex-Coach Fights for Players’ Rightful Share in Ticketing Money

The French Open is in its final lap! While the tournament ended without any controversy, Serena Williams‘ former coach has something that can create chaos and leave tennis fans and speculators questioning the move. Apparently, now that there’s only the final championship round remaining, the idea of collecting money from the crowd shocked Rennae Stubbs.

The Australian tennis coach recently took to her Twitter handle and dropped a bomb, talking about how the French Tennis Federation has created more money than usual. She wrote, “FFT are ticketing the semis separately?!! So if u want both matches that are back 2 back, u gotta pay!? WHAT?! On the same day session!? they really are trying to reap as much $ as possible out of this tourney. Now i would be ok with that if they split it 50/50 with the players.”

Not only that, but she also significantly highlighted that if a person wanted to watch any semi-finals, they would have to pay a separate amount for each game. Tickets for the women’s semifinals presently run from $1,144 to $2,214, according to Championship Tennis Tours. Depending on the players involved, these prices may change closer to the event.

The same pricing range applies to tickets for the men’s semifinals. Fans can, however, purchase a package that includes unlimited food and drink as well as entrance to both men’s semifinal matches for $6,415. When the competition moves into the second week and the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals, tickets to the French Open may get rather expensive.

On the other hand, the location of the court affects prices. According to Championship Tennis Tours’ ticket cost, grounds passes, which grant access to smaller courts, are typically more reasonable. They range from $200 to $400, depending on whether it’s a day or night session.

The tickets for the two main courts, Suzanne Lenglen Court and Court Philippe-Chatrier (Center Court), are more costly. For example, during the first round, tickets for Court Philippe-Chatrier might cost anything from $470 to $2,294. However, the French Open also spread its wings with an amazing deal they signed with Lacoste.

French Open’s deal continues to partner with Lacoste

The French Open extended its partnership with Lacoste until 2030. Subsequently, till 2030, Lacoste will continue to be an official partner of the French Tennis Federation (FFT) and a premium partner of Roland-Garros.

It seems logical to extend the collaboration from 2026 to 2030, considering the intricately entwined histories of Roland-Garros and Lacoste. Constructed in 1928 to host the Davis Cup, the Roland-Garros stadium was named after René Lacoste and the other Musketeers’ triumph over the United States in the previous year.