Sports
French Open: Venus Battles To First Round Victory
Former world number one, Venus Williams battled to victory over Paula Ormaechea in round one of the French Open.
Williams, currently ranked 53rd in the world, won 4-6 6-1 6-3 and will next face either third seed Agnieszka Radwanska or Bojana Jovanovski.
Elsewhere, 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova saw off Mirjana Lucic 6-1 6-3 and 2008 winner Ana Ivanovic thrashed Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino 6-1 6-1.
Angelique Kerber, seeded 10th, overcame Zhang Shuai 6-3 6-4.
Williams insisted that just being at the French Open was an achievement because she has been battling Sjogren’s Syndrome, an energy-sapping illness.
She did not play from the 2011 US Open until returning to action in March, during which time her world ranking slipped to 134.
“It’s a huge accomplishment just to be here. The biggest challenge was to learn how to live with it and that the key is to be here and to try my best right now,” said the 31-year-old American.
“Sometimes I think is this all my fault. Did I do something wrong to cause it?
“My main goal is the Olympics. If I reach that then I will be home free, you might not see me again.
“I would love to play doubles here with [sister] Serena but my goal was to peak in singles for the Olympics. All of my energies are towards that.”
Williams looked in big trouble as she dropped the first set against French Open debutant Ormaechea.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion made 17 unforced errors compared to just eight from her Argentine opponent.
But the second set told a different story as the American took control, hitting 13 winners to one from Ormaechea, ranked 120th.
Breaks were exchanged twice in the third set before unseeded Williams struck again to take a 4-3 lead.
She then held serve to move 5-3 up and Ormaechea struggled to cope with Williams’s power and accuracy thereafter.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.