History awaits Djokovic in 'super Sunday' clash with Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will lock horns in a sequel to last year’s Wimbledon title blockbuster
By Shailesh SolankiJul 13, 2024
IN A highly anticipated 'super Sunday' match in Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic is set to make history as he bids for his 25th Grand Slam title, aiming to surpass Margaret Court's record for the most Grand Slam singles titles.
A victory on Sunday (14) would not only secure Djokovic this prestigious milestone but also equal Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon men’s singles titles, making him the fourth player in history to achieve this feat, joining the ranks of Federer, Martina Navratilova, and Helen Wills Moody.
Furthermore, Djokovic would become the first player to win eight or more singles titles at two different Grand Slam events.
Djokovic produced some of his best tennis to outclass Italian 25th seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-4 7-6(2) 6-4 on Friday (12) to reach the final.
Source: ITF
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz is vying for his fourth Grand Slam title in as many finals. If successful, he would become the eighth player in history to win his first four Grand Slam men’s singles finals and the second in the Open Era to do so after Federer, who won his first seven.
A win for Alcaraz would also see him retain the Wimbledon title, becoming the ninth man in the Open Era to do so. Additionally, he would be the sixth man in the Open Era to claim both the French Open and Wimbledon titles in the same year, and only the second Spanish man to win multiple Wimbledon titles.
Alcaraz finally found his A-game to tame Daniil Medvedev and reach his second straight Wimbledon final, as the champion overcame an erratic first set to beat the Russian 6-7(1) 6-3 6-4 6-4 on Friday.
"I'm aware of what's on the line. Any Grand Slam that I play, there's always history now on the line," said Djokovic. "I will try to use that as a fuel to play my best tennis."
Djokovic will be playing in his 10th Wimbledon final and 37th at the 75 majors in which he has played.
"It serves as a great motivation, but at the same time it's also a lot of pressure and expectations," added the Serb.
"Every time I step out on the court now, even though I'm 37 and competing with the 21-year-olds, I still expect myself to win most of the matches, and people expect me to win 99% of the matches that I play."
Source: ITF
Alcaraz, 16 years Djokovic's junior, is in his fourth Grand Slam final and is looking to add a second Wimbledon to his 2022 US Open breakthrough and French Open title from last month.
Alcaraz hopes to make it a super Sunday for Spain by winning the Wimbledon final before the country's national football team face England in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin.
"Being a Spaniard, yeah, it would be a perfect Sunday," said Alcaraz. "It's going to be a really fun day for Spanish people watching my final, watching the Euros final."
However, regardless of Sunday's outcome, Jannik Sinner is guaranteed to retain his position as the world No. 1 when the new ATP rankings are published on Monday (15). Djokovic and Alcaraz will hold steady at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, ahead of Alexander Zverev and Medvedev.
RANI MAKES RETURNDoctor Who acclaimed actress Archie Panjabi added to her diverse body of work by playing the iconic villain Rani in the recently concluded series of Doctor Who. She reprised the role originally portrayed by Kate O’Mara decades ago. Unfortunately, the series – available on BBC iPlayer – has been plagued by problems and suffered plummeting ratings, largely due to poor storylines. As a result, Archie and fellow cast member Varada Sethu are unlikely to return in future episodes.
Doctor Who
SINDOOR SHOW
Although many interpreted Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wearing sindoor at the recent Cannes Film Festival as a nod to India’s strike on Pakistan, it may have held a more personal meaning. After months of speculation about a possible split from Abhishek Bachchan, the gesture appeared to reaffirm that her marriage remains strong. It followed her recent Instagram post sharing a happy photo with her husband and daughter.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
DEY’S LONDON DATE
Brilliant Indian bassist Mohini Dey will deliver one of this summer’s standout concerts at the world-famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London on July 9. She has been unstoppable in recent years – releasing an acclaimed self-titled album in 2023 and collaborating with music legends such as Zakir Hussain, Quincy Jones and AR Rahman, as well as touring North America with Willow Smith. The only female bassist in MusicRadar’s Top 10 Bassists of the 21st Century, she promises a unique musical experience.
Mohini Dey
SHIVALI CASTS A SPELL
After being one of the leading lights of devotional music, Shivali launched a bold new chapter in her artistic journey with the sold-out one-woman show Queen of Wands in London last month. This powerful solo performance brought her spoken word album to life through a dynamic blend of music, poetry, storytelling, immersive visuals and diverse themes. The British talent received a standing ovation for the thought-provoking and relatable show. Shivali said: “The experience was sublime, a different kind of feeling. I discovered I’m allegedly a comedian. It was one woman, but I had the backing of a team that rivals Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. We are just starting conversations to take the show forward – and New York might be the first stop. More will be revealed soon.”
Queen of Wands
DISAPPEARING TV DRAMAS
While most people in India can cope with Pakistani celebrity social media accounts disappearing, the inability to watch drama serials from across the border has not gone down as well. The ongoing conflict has led to streaming platforms and YouTube channels blocking access to episodes of hit Pakistani dramas like Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.
Although tech-savvy viewers have found ways around the restrictions, others are being forced to seek alternative shows to binge-watch.
Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum
DUD-LOOKING HISTORICAL
Riteish Deshmukh has unveiled the first-look poster of his passion project Raja Shivaji, which he is writing, directing, starring in, and releasing in multiple languages.
Unfortunately for him, the historical drama – based on the life of Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj – features a line-up of past their-prime co-stars that audiences no longer seem interested in, including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Genelia Deshmukh and Bhagyashree.
Deshmukh’s inexperience as a filmmaker will only add to the challenges Raja Shivaji faces ahead of its scheduled release on May 1, 2026. The only stone-cold certainty is that – like several recent Bollywood films about historical rulers – it will probably distort facts and lean heavily into jingoism.
Raja Shivaj
JINXED KAIF SISTER
After more than a decade of trying – and failing – to find her footing in Bollywood, it may be time for Isabelle Kaif to read the room. Her 2022 film Time To Dance vanished without a trace, and just as she was supposed to get a long-delayed ‘break’ with the clumsily titled Suswagatam Khushamdeed, that too disappeared. A lack of interest led to the film being quietly pulled from a recent cinema release without explanation. Perhaps the producers finally realised they were throwing good money after bad. Being Katrina Kaif’s younger sister might have opened a few doors for Isabelle, but it clearly has not been enough to turn her into a star. It may be time for her to reconsider her career path entirely – whether that means working behind the scenes or stepping away from Hindi cinema altogether. At the very least, she needs to make smarter choices and find better people to advise her.
Suswagatam Khushamdeed
COPYWOOD KHAN
Promotions for Sitare Zameen Par are in full swing ahead of its release on June 20. Lead star and producer Aamir Khan will be hoping Bollywood audiences avoid watching the Spanish original Campeones, which his comedy-drama is a remake of. That 2018 film – along with its 2023 American remake Champions – is available on streaming platforms.
Social media users have already begun drawing comparisons between the original and scenes from the trailer, which could make it harder for June’s big Bollywood release to succeed. This does not bode well for Khan, who has a lot riding on his not-so-original film after two major failures – Thugs of Hindostan and Laal Singh Chaddha.
Sitare Zameen Par
ARIJIT SET FOR STADIUM SHOW.
Tickets are now available for Arijit Singh’s upcoming concert at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 5. This landmark event will be the biggest show ever headlined by a South Asian artist outside India – a testament to the singer’s global appeal.
The unassuming star is looking forward to returning to London. He said: “I’m just an ordinary person who happens to sing, and I’m incredibly humbled that I have the opportunity to share my songs and perform in London again. If that means I make history, then I will be very blessed.
“It makes me happy when the world sings my songs with me, and my London fans are the absolute best.” This milestone adds to Arijit’s remarkable list of achievements, including being the most followed artist on Spotify and featuring on Ed Sheeran’s forthcoming single Sapphire. It also marks a major moment for show organisers TCO Group and Vijay Bhola’s Rock On Music.
Arijit Singh
SNEHA SHANKAR IS JUST SENSATIONAL
I was really impressed with Indian Idol 15 finalist Sneha Shankar after watching her make her UK stage debut. The gifted 19-year-old has incredible versatility – ranging from the raw power of Sufi sensation Jyoti Nooran to the gentle finesse of Bollywood music queen Shreya Ghoshal. Although she did not win the reality TV show, her multi-layered vocals could turn her into a future superstar, if paired with the right songs. It is no surprise she secured a lucrative contract with India’s biggest record label, T-Series. She is destined for greatness.
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Devotees offer prayers at Shree Krishna Mandir in Leamington Spa
A HINDU temple in Warwickshire has applied for permission to sink twelve marble statues into the sea off Dorset's Jurassic Coast as part of an ancient religious ceremony, reported the BBC.
The Shree Krishna Mandir in Leamington Spa wants to carry out a Murti Visarjan ritual in Weymouth Bay this September, which involves the ceremonial submersion of deity statues to represent the cycle of creation and dissolution in Hindu tradition.
The unusual request comes as the 30-year-old temple is being demolished and rebuilt, meaning the existing statues cannot be moved to the new building. Temple chairman Dharam Awesti explained that the statues must remain whole and undamaged to be suitable for worship.
"The murtis can't go into the new temple in case they get damaged, they have to be a whole figure," Awesti said. "Members of the public are sponsoring the cost of the new murtis but we are not sure of how much they will be because they are coming from India."
The ceremony would involve transporting the statues by lorry from Leamington Spa to Weymouth, where a crane would lift them onto a barge for the journey out to sea. Five of the twelve statues are human-sized and weigh 800kg each.
"Before the statues are lowered onto the seabed we will have a religious ceremony and bring our priest with us," Awesti explained. "Instead of dumping them anywhere, they have to be ceremoniously submerged into the sea safely so we can feel comfortable that we have done our religious bit by following all of the scriptures."
The temple chose Weymouth Bay because another Midlands temple had previously conducted the same ritual at the location. Awesti stressed the religious significance of water in Hindu beliefs.
"Life, in Hinduism, starts with water and ends in the water, even when people are cremated we celebrate with ashes in the water," he said.
The chairman added that the marble statues would not harm the marine environment or sea life. The statues, which are dressed in bright colours while in the temple, would be submerged in their original marble form.
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is currently reviewing the application, which requires a marine licence for approval. A public consultation on the proposal runs until June 22, allowing local residents and stakeholders to voice their opinions.
"The marine licencing application for the submersion of Hindu idols in Weymouth Bay is still ongoing," an MMO spokesperson said. "Once this is completed, we will consider responses received from stakeholders and the public before making determination."
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BBC Three documentary uncovers new details in Kim Kardashian Paris robbery case
Nearly ten years after Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in a Paris hotel, the story is being revisited in a new documentary coming to BBC Three and iPlayer. Titled The Kim Kardashian Diamond Heist, the film digs into one of the most talked-about celebrity crimes of the last decade, offering fresh access and unheard accounts from those closely involved in the case.
Kim Kardashian Paris robbery case revisited in new BBC Three documentaryGetty Images
New voices and untold moments from the night that shocked the world
The 45-minute documentary features first-hand interviews with close family friends, French police officers, and journalists who followed the robbery from day one. It takes viewers back to that October 2016 night, when Kardashian was tied up and robbed of jewellery worth millions of pounds inside her private apartment at a luxury hotel during Paris Fashion Week.
The film doesn’t stop at the crime itself. It moves forward to recent developments, including the court case in which Kim finally came face-to-face with her assailants last month. Eight people were found guilty, nearly a decade after the robbery made global headlines.
Kim Kardashian 2016 diamond heist case brought eight people to justice nearly a decade after the robberyGetty Images
Beyond gossip: A look at the cost of digital fame
This BBC Three documentary goes beyond the headlines and Instagram timelines. It examines the role of social media in the robbery, where public posts may have tipped off the thieves, and the emotional fallout Kim faced in the aftermath.
Nasfim Haque, Head of Content at BBC Three, says the film “cuts through the noise and looks at the real-life consequences of being so visible in the digital age.” Firecracker Films, the production company behind the documentary, also hopes the film helps viewers understand how the case was solved and the emotional cost behind the glamour.
Kim Kardashian arrives at the Assize Court for the trial Getty Images
Directed by Ben Bryant and produced by Jessica Sartenaer, The Kim Kardashian Diamond Heist will be available on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer later this month. Executive producers include Jes Wilkins and Sam Emmery, and the documentary will be distributed globally by Passion Distribution.
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“Stop whining and get to work,” urging people to push ahead with climate solutions
Arnold Schwarzenegger has called on environmentalists to stop complaining about US President Donald Trump’s climate policies and instead take action. Speaking at the Austrian World Summit in Vienna on 3 June, the actor and former California governor said focusing on local efforts could still make a difference.
“I keep hearing, ‘What’s the point of fighting for a clean environment when the US government says climate change is a hoax?’” Schwarzenegger said. “You can’t just sit around and make excuses because one guy in a very nice White House on Pennsylvania Avenue doesn’t agree with you.”
He told critics of the Trump administration, “Stop whining and get to work,” urging people to push ahead with climate solutions regardless of federal setbacks.
His remarks came after US Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced the cancellation of nearly $4 billion in clean energy project grants, a major blow to American emissions reduction efforts.
Schwarzenegger, a Republican who endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris in the last presidential election, said people must focus on practical, visible improvements—such as clean transport and renewable energy—that improve daily life and public health.
The Austrian World Summit is part of the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, which promotes global climate cooperation.
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The Pyramid Stage awaits Sir Rod Stewart’s return after more than two decades
Sir Rod Stewart has called off a series of concerts in the US as he recovers from a bout of flu, just weeks before his anticipated set at Glastonbury Festival. The 80-year-old singer, who was due to perform six shows across Nevada and California in early June, announced that four have been cancelled and two will be rescheduled.
Sharing the update on Instagram, Rod apologised to fans and expressed his frustration at having to take a break. “I’m devastated and sincerely sorry,” he wrote. “I’ll be back on stage and will see you soon.” The cancelled dates include multiple shows in Las Vegas and Stateline, Nevada, while the California concerts will now take place in September.
Despite the setback, Stewart’s headline appearance at Glastonbury is still very much on. He’s set to take over the festival’s famous Legends slot on Sunday, 29 June, more than two decades since he last played the Pyramid Stage in 2002. At the time, he performed alongside Coldplay and Stereophonics, but this time he’ll return as the oldest artist ever to headline the Legends slot.
Speaking on The Peter Crouch Podcast, Stewart revealed he was only allocated 75 minutes for his Glastonbury set but has requested an extra 15. “I play for over two hours every night, 90 minutes is nothing,” he said. He also shared that Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, his former bandmate from Faces, will join him for part of the show, making it a mini-reunion.
Cancelled ShowsInstagram/sirrodstewart
Slowing down but not stopping
Though Stewart has hinted that this might be his final major tour, he’s not ready to retire just yet. “This will be the end of big world tours, but I’m not hanging up the mic,” he said. Instead, he’s eyeing more intimate venues for future performances, possibly exploring a swing or Great American Songbook setlist.
Rod Stewart set to reunite with Ronnie Wood at GlastonburyGetty Images
Rod has faced several health issues this year, including strep throat and a recent round of vocal rest. Still, he seems determined to power through Glastonbury with his charm and energy. With hits like Maggie May and Da Ya Think I’m Sexy, fans can expect a career-spanning set worthy of the Sunday slot.