Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Venus says she was 'killed by grass' after Wimbledon defeat

Williams, 43, slipped on the Centre Court grass and fell to the ground in agony

Venus says she was 'killed by grass' after Wimbledon defeat

VENUS WILLIAMS said she was "killed by the grass" after the five-time champion suffered a nasty tumble during her 6-4, 6-3 defeat to Elina Svitolina in the Wimbledon first round on Monday (3).

The American started strongly against her Ukrainian opponent, who reached the semi-finals in 2019, winning the first two games.


But the 43-year-old slipped on the Centre Court grass and fell to the ground in agony, clutching her strapped right knee as Svitolina pulled the score back to 2-1.

She limped back to her chair and the trainer was called but she was able to continue.

Williams came out aggressively, seeking to fire off winners, but was broken again in the fifth game and fellow wild card Svitolina went on to take the opening set 6-4.

The American had a mountain to climb after she was broken in the first game of the second set and former world number three Svitolina repeated the feat for a 4-1 lead.

The 28-year-old, who gave birth to a girl in October and is currently ranked 76th, served for the match in the eighth game but Williams, battling hard, broke back to make the score 5-3.

However, she failed to build on her momentum as Svitolina broke again, wrapping up the set 6-3, with the match decided on a video referral.

Williams was given a standing ovation as she walked off Centre Court, turning and waving to the crowd.

The American, who said she did not know the extent of her injury, was sanguine after her defeat.

"Grass is inherently going to be slippery," she said. "You're going to fall at some point. It was just bad luck for me.

"I started the match perfectly. I was literally killing it, then I got killed by the grass.

"It's not fun right now. I felt like I was in great form coming into this tournament, and great form in the match. It's all very shocking at the moment. This is sports."

The American, who made her Wimbledon debut in 1997, was playing at the All England Club for the 24th time -- the most appearances for any player in the Open era.

At the time of that first appearance, 53 of the players in the 2023 draw were not yet born. Svitolina was just two years old.

The Ukrainian said she was happy that Williams could continue after her fall, admitting she was "shaken up" by the incident.

"She tried, and the champion she is, she fought, she gave her everything," she said.

(AFP)

More For You

OpenAI Restricts ChatGPT’s Image Feature After Viral Ghibli Trend

Altman addressed the impact of the popular Ghibli-style image trend on OpenAI’s resources

Getty

OpenAI limits ChatGPT’s image generation feature amid viral Ghibli image trend

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has announced temporary limitations on the company’s image generation feature in response to overwhelming demand driven by a viral trend. On Thursday, Altman addressed the impact of the popular Ghibli-style image trend on OpenAI’s resources, particularly its reliance on GPUs (graphics processing units). Altman revealed that the surge in demand for ChatGPT’s image generation tool has led to significant strain on the company’s infrastructure, prompting the introduction of temporary speed limits for users.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Altman shared the company’s response to the unexpected demand, stating, “It’s super fun seeing people love images in ChatGPT, but our GPUs are melting. We are going to temporarily introduce some rate limits while we work on making it more efficient. Hopefully won’t be long! ChatGPT free tier will get 3 generations per day soon.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Salman Rushdie to release first major work since stabbing
Rushdie was stabbed about 15 times: in the head, neck, torso and left hand, blinding his right eye and damaging his liver and intestines. (Photo: Getty Images)

Salman Rushdie to release first major work since stabbing

BRITISH-AMERICAN novelist Salman Rushdie will publish his first major work of fiction since the brutal stabbing that blinded him in one eye, his publisher said on Thursday (27).

The Eleventh Hour, is a collection of short stories examining themes and places of interest to Rushdie who narrowly escaped death during the 2022 attack. It will be released on November 4, 2025.

Keep ReadingShow less
Aamir Khan’s ‘Laapataa Ladies’ Audition Goes Viral – But He Lost the Role!

Dressed as a cop and chewing paan, Aamir Khan delivers his lines in the viral audition clip from Laapataa Ladies

Youtube Screengrab/Aamir Khan Talkies

Aamir Khan auditioned for ‘Laapataa Ladies’ but lost the role: Video goes viral!

Aamir Khan’s attempt to play a small-town cop in Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies has sparked conversation among fans, thanks to a newly surfaced audition tape. The Bollywood star, who also produced the film, had initially hoped to take on the role of Sub-Inspector Shyam Manohar. However, director Kiran Rao ultimately chose Ravi Kishan for the part, a decision that many now agree was the right call.

The audition tape, shared on Aamir’s recently launched YouTube channel, Aamir Khan Talkies, shows the actor in a police uniform, chewing paan and trying out a rural accent. The video also includes bloopers, giving fans a insider view in to his efforts to embody the character. While Aamir is known for his dedication to roles, viewers were quick to point out that something felt off. Many felt his polished screen presence made him seem out of place as the rustic and rough-around-the-edges cop.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK-business-district-Getty
The Canary Wharf business district including global financial institutions in London. (Photo: Getty Images)

Economic growth in 2024 slightly higher than estimated: ONS

THE UK economy grew slightly more than first estimated in 2024, according to official data released on Friday, providing a small boost for the government after it revised down its growth forecast for 2025.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said gross domestic product expanded by 1.1 per cent in 2024, up from an initial estimate of 0.9 per cent.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hrithik Roshan to Helm ‘Krrish 4’ – A New Era for Bollywood’s Superhero

Hrithik Roshan gears up for his directorial debut with ‘Krrish 4,’ bringing fresh vision to India’s biggest superhero franchise

Getty Images

Hrithik Roshan to direct ‘Krrish 4’: Bollywood’s biggest superhero franchise gets a sequel

Hrithik Roshan is stepping into new territory by making his directorial debut with 'Krrish 4,' the next chapter in India's biggest superhero franchise. Known for his powerful performances, the actor will now take on the dual role of leading man and director for the much-anticipated sequel. The film will be co-produced by Yash Raj Films, led by Aditya Chopra, alongside Rakesh Roshan’s FilmKraft Productions.

The 'Krrish' series began in 2003 with 'Koi… Mil Gaya,' introducing audiences to the sci-fi story. The franchise took a superhero turn with 'Krrish' in 2006 and 'Krrish 3' in 2013, solidifying its place as India's premier superhero saga. Each instalment has brought together action, emotion, and visual spectacle, making the franchise a massive box-office success.

Keep ReadingShow less