All posts tagged: title

Russell starts title fightback with Barcelona pole as Hamilton qualifies second

Russell starts title fightback with Barcelona pole as Hamilton qualifies second

Published by Sam Flores

George Russell took a morale-boosting pole for Sunday’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix and will line up alongside a resurgent Lewis Hamilton on the front row in Spain. Russell, who has had a torrid few weeks in which he has fallen 68 points behind Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli in the title race, told his team it was “nice to feel the groove again” as he returned to the pits. The British driver beat Antonelli by over three-tenths of a second at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to continue his fine form from practice. Hamilton, who has profited from Russell’s recent struggles to move into second in the championship, very nearly pipped his former Mercedes team-mate to pole. The seven-time world champion was up on Russell’s time midway through his final push lap, but lost time in the final sector to finish 0.064sec behind. Hamilton’s Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc suffered a heavy shunt in Q3, bringing out red flags while marshals carried out repairs to the barriers. It follows the Monegasque’s race-ending crash in Monaco last weekend, since when he …

The Knicks Could Take the Title Tomorrow, but New York Has Already Won

The Knicks Could Take the Title Tomorrow, but New York Has Already Won

Published by Jenni Sidey

This is an edition of the newsletter Pulling Weeds With Chris Black, in which the columnist weighs in on hot topics in culture. Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Thursday. The NBA Finals have been unavoidable this year. The New York Knicks, who haven’t won a championship since 1973, appear to be poised to shut down their formidable opponents from the forgettable city of San Antonio, Texas, led by a 22-year-old French guy who is 7’4” and trains with monks in his free time, and New York is absolutely insane. People are happy and friendly to one another; people who don’t party anymore are having six beers on a Monday night at a bar, hugging strangers, and you are seeing more of the hideous (sorry) team colors than ever before. This NBA Finals feels like an actual monocultural event; everyone is locked in, even if they aren’t risking half of their meager media job salary on Polymarket or buying limited-edition New York or Nowhere merch (Jeremy Lin, do better). The stakes …

Who are England’s modern-day WAGs at this year’s World Cup – and would they even accept the title?

Who are England’s modern-day WAGs at this year’s World Cup – and would they even accept the title?

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Few acronyms carry the cultural significance of WAG. In the last two decades, its meaning has transcended far beyond what it actually stands for – wives and girlfriends, in case you didn’t know. Depending on who you ask, the term itself could have many signifiers, from oversized sunglasses and shopping addictions to mild alcoholism and some of the most brazen misogyny pop culture has ever witnessed. A quick recap for those unfamiliar with the WAG era that transformed the way we talk about the female partners of male athletes: it started 20 years ago in the spa town of Baden-Baden, Germany, where 2006’s World Cup was being held. Thanks to its quiet and low-key atmosphere, it was here that the friends and family of …

Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje title fight at UFC Freedom 250: All to know | Mixed Martial Arts News

Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje title fight at UFC Freedom 250: All to know | Mixed Martial Arts News

Published by Sam Flores

In what is being promoted as the biggest mixed martial arts bout of 2026, Ilia Topuria will face Justin Gaethje in the main event for the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight Championship on June 14 in Washington, DC. The blockbuster 155-pound (70kg) fight will headline the UFC Freedom 250 event, taking place outdoors on the lawns of the White House and with the US President Donald Trump expected to be in attendance, along with other celebrities. Topuria, who is unbeaten, vacated his lightweight title in late 2025 due to personal reasons and despite being the challenger now, will start as the favourite against interim belt holder Gaethje of the United States. Here is all to know before the fight: Why is there a UFC event at the White House? The UFC event is planned as a part of the Freedom 250 celebrations organised by the Trump White House, running parallel to the congressionally funded, bipartisan America250 series of events celebrating the United States’s 250th anniversary, going back to the signing of the US Declaration …

Title to lose? Antonelli set for F1 history either way

Title to lose? Antonelli set for F1 history either way

Published by Sam Flores

LONDON, June 8 : Kimi Antonelli will either be Formula One’s youngest world champion, well before the end of the season on current form, or the first driver to win five races in a row in a single campaign and not take the title. A place in the sport’s history is his either way and while the crown may appear to be the 19-year-old Italian’s to lose, the question being asked now is whether it is still Mercedes teammate George Russell’s to win. Antonelli mastered the streets of Monte Carlo on Sunday with a dominant run from pole with fastest lap while Russell failed to score for the second successive race. The championship leader has moved 66 points clear of Ferrari’s seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton – who has now been runner-up in the last two races – after five wins in six starts, and is 68 ahead of Russell. WOLFF CITES VERSTAPPEN 2025 EXAMPLE Team boss Toto Wolff’s post-race comments, about Russell’s ability to bounce back, smacked more of boosting the Briton’s morale …

Nelly Korda Wins U.S. Women’s Open Title With Perilous Final Putt, Claiming Her 2nd Straight Major

Nelly Korda Wins U.S. Women’s Open Title With Perilous Final Putt, Claiming Her 2nd Straight Major

Published by Sam Flores

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Although Nelly Korda is deep in one of the most dominant seasons in recent golf history, her first U.S. Women’s Open title still hung on the rim of the 18th hole at Riviera for one heart-stopping moment. Her 2 1/2-foot putt to win caught the left edge, and it toured half the circumference of the hole while the gallery watched in disbelief. When it finally fell amid an outburst of gasps and roars, Korda put her hand over her open mouth before she laughed at the absurdity of her sport. “It’s even sweeter, especially with that ice cream swirl on the last hole,” the world’s top-ranked player said. This trophy was the cool treat Korda wanted more than anything: She won the 81st U.S. Women’s Open on Sunday for her second consecutive major victory, holding off Charley Hull and Gaby Lopez by one shot. The 27-year-old Korda claimed her fourth major overall with a steady 2-under 69 in the final round — but only after her second putt on the 18th …

Mirra Andreeva marches to French Open title and it should be the first of many

Mirra Andreeva marches to French Open title and it should be the first of many

Published by Sam Flores

Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of Maja Chwalinska v Mirra Andreeva in the women’s French Open final. What a tantalising match-up this promises to be. Poland’s Chwalinksa, the world number 114 has stunned Roland Garros these past two weeks after coming through qualifying and is one win away from a fairytale triumph. If she succeeds, she will write her name into the history books by becoming only the second qualifier in the Open Era to win a major after Emma Raducanu’s 2021 US Open victory. It would also provide a fitting ending to a French Open that has been defined by chaos and shock results. Less than a week ago, Chwalinska was jokingly asking for help paying for a hotel room, but as she sank onto the red brick dust of Philippe-Chatrier after clinching a place in the final, she tripled her career earnings during her time in the French capital. “Let’s not pretend someone expected it,” she said after her 7-6, 6-4 semi-final win over Diana Shnaider. “I was outside the …

Granollers and Zeballos retain French Open men’s doubles title

Granollers and Zeballos retain French Open men’s doubles title

Published by Sam Flores

PARIS, June 6 : Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos successfully defended their French Open men’s doubles title with a dominant 6-4 6-2 win over Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten on Saturday, claiming their third Grand Slam title as a pair. Spaniard Granollers and Argentine Zeballos, who initially paired up in 2019, won the French Open and U.S. Open last year and justified their top seeding, having not dropped a set in their 2026 Roland Garros campaign. Finland’s Heliovaara was error-prone with his serve throughout the match as the second seeds, who have also won two Grand Slams together, struggled to keep up with their opponents’ well-placed winners from close to the net. “I’m 41 years old (and) this is one of the best moments of my career. So it’s never too late for anybody,” said Zeballos, whose partner, Granollers, is 40. A Heliovaara double fault handed the first break to the holders in the third game. Although the second seeds broke back to make it 3-3, Granollers hit two forehand winners to break in the …

Alexander Zverev closes in on first major title after reaching French Open final – Sports

Alexander Zverev closes in on first major title after reaching French Open final – Sports

Published by Sam Flores

Alexander Zverev fended off first-time semi-finalist Jakub Menšík in four sets (7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3) to reach the French Open final. A long-awaited first Grand Slam title is now in sight for the German. Friday’s all-Italian semi-final was called off when Matteo Arnaldi withdrew due to illness, leaving Flavio Cobolli to advance to his first-ever major final.  The World Cup favourites are beginning to touch down in America, with all of Germany, Argentina, and England due to play warm-up matches in the main host country on Saturday evening. For the Three Lions, a friendly against New Zealand comes in the midst of a two-week training camp in the Florida heat. Lionel Messi was back in full training with Argentina after a hamstring issue, while Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti had a positive update to give on Neymar’s fitness. French cyclist Célia Géry sprinted to a surprise victory on stage seven of the women’s Giro d’Italia at Salice Terme. Anna van der Breggen remains in the overall lead, despite a mid-stage crash, with two stages to go. Source …