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.
Port Harcourt the capital city of Rivers State will be at the centre stage in Nigeria as Port Harcourt Arsenal Community will hold her maiden edition of Football Fans Fiesta (FFF).
The Fiesta scheduled to hold on the 13th December, 2025, at Eddiz wine bar GRA, promises to be all football fans carnival in the State , as there will be a lot of fanfares.
The Coordinator of Port Harcourt Arsenal Community (PHAC), Ugochukwu Oputa has said that the forthcoming Football Fans Fiesta was basically to promote peace, unity and love among football fans in irrespective of the cub.
He stated that sports is a catalyst to bring peace, love and Unity in any given society, hence the occasion was initiated.
Oputa said this in an interview with sports journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, saying that arrangements are on top gear for a successful programme.
” This event is for all football fans irrespective of your club. It is basically to promote peace, love and Unity among fans.
“It is like stating the obvious that football is the catalyst of peace and unity in the world. So the Port Harcourt Arsenal Community want to use this avenue to bring people together and foster friendship.
“There is no gate fee, but it is expected to put on jersey of your club as to make the event look unique” Oputa said.
The Coordinator used the forum to advice football fans in the world to love one another, and equally urged fans that will attend the occasion to be of good conduct and behaviour.
Tonye Orabere
Liverpool’s season of abject misery worsened as they were beaten with embarrassing ease by a hugely impressive Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
Arne Slot’s Premier League champions were looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Manchester City, but instead ran into a Forest side revitalised under new manager Sean Dyche and looking back to their best.
Liverpool head coach Slot gave £125m British record signing Alexander Isak a start, but he was totally anonymous once more and only lasted 67 minutes.
Forest went ahead after 33 minutes when defender Murillo shot powerfully past fit-again Liverpool keeper Alisson to subdue an already anxious Anfield.
Igor Jesus had a second ruled out for handball, but Forest doubled their advantage 39 seconds after the break when former Liverpool defender Neco Williams set up Nicola Savona for a crisp finish in front of The Kop.
Liverpool could barely raise a response in a desperate display, Forest increasing their lead 12 minutes from time when Morgan Gibbs-White scored after Alisson saved from Omari Hutchinson.
It means Liverpool, who lie 11th before Saturday’s late fixture, have now lost six of their past seven Premier League games as Slot’s near £450m summer spending spree comes under further scrutiny.
Forest, meanwhile, are surging away from the relegation zone and are up to 16th.
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