British number one Emma Raducanu suffered a first-round defeat against Diane Parry at the Internationaux de Strasbourg in her first match since March.

The former US Open champion was beaten 6-4 7-6 (7-4) by the French world number 94 on Tuesday.

She had been sidelined for over two months with a post-viral illness following a heavy defeat at Indian Wells.

Double faults prove costly on clay

The 23-year-old recently reappointed her Grand Slam-winning coach Andrew Richardson ahead of the European clay-court swing.

Despite showing sharp early movement to take a 4-2 lead in the opening set, the British star struggled to maintain her advantage.

A succession of double faults allowed a heavily strapped Parry to secure three consecutive breaks and claim the first set.

The Frenchwoman entered the contest full of confidence after winning a WTA 125 event in Paris on Sunday.

French Open preparations take a hit

A mirror image of the first set played out in the second as the former world top-10 player again squandered a 4-2 advantage.

An eighth double fault from the Briton gave her opponent the chance to serve for the match.

Although she showed resilience to break back and force a tie-break, crucial late errors handed the victory to the home favourite.

The defeat leaves her heading into the French Open, which begins on 24 May, with severely limited preparation on the red dirt.

Former British number one Tim Henman recently backed her coaching change as perfectly timed for a crucial summer schedule.

Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin has reflected on his famous stoppage-time Champions League goal against Real Madrid and an undefeated domestic season under manager Jose Mourinho.

The 24-year-old Ukrainian made global headlines when he headed home a 98th-minute winner against the 15-time European champions to secure knockout stage qualification.

It was a moment so extraordinary that even his own mother struggled to believe the final scoreline.

“She was thinking maybe she was being stupid or something,” Trubin said. “It was a funny moment.”

Life after the spectacular header

Four months on from the wild celebrations at the Estadio da Luz, the Lisbon-based shot-stopper admits the dramatic intervention changed his life.

The former Shakhtar Donetsk prospect still receives regular messages about the incident, including humorous remarks from rival Barcelona supporters.

Despite the bitter sting of defeat, Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois sought out the victorious goalscorer immediately after the final whistle.

“He came up to congratulate me right after the game,” Trubin recalled. “Even when his team had lost the game, he still had the strength to do that.”

An undefeated domestic campaign falls short

While European exploits provided incredible highs, the Portuguese league campaign proved deeply frustrating for the Eagles.

Benfica completed an ‘invincible’ domestic season without suffering a single defeat, achieving a feat not seen at the club since 1978.

However, an astonishing 11 draws meant Mourinho’s side could only manage a third-place finish in the top flight.

“Not losing and winning are two different things,” the Ukrainian international admitted. “Our fans do not accept any other result than winning and being in first place.”

Developing a cold head under pressure

Despite the collective disappointment of falling short in the title race, the towering goalkeeper believes his individual game has matured significantly.

The 24-year-old highlighted an increased calmness as his most crucial developmental step over the past season.

“I like that in difficult moments, I can still keep a cold head,” he explained.

Looking ahead, the commanding number one insists he is not trying to emulate his peers, but rather forge his own unique path in European football.

Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman admits Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber is unlikely to be fit for next month’s World Cup because of an ongoing groin injury.

The versatile full-back has been sidelined since mid-March, leaving his availability for both club and country in severe doubt ahead of a crucial end to the season.

Arsenal face Paris St-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest next week, just days after a Premier League title decider against Crystal Palace.

Mikel Arteta is desperate to have the defender available following a significant leg injury to Ben White earlier this month.

‘A rollercoaster ride’

Koeman described the former Ajax star’s rehabilitation as a turbulent process.

“He is training again to see if he can make the Champions League final, and be available for the World Cup, but it does not look rosy at the moment.”

Ronald Koeman

If the London club’s medical staff cannot declare him fit, it will serve as another major blow for a national squad already severely depleted.

The Oranje will travel to the tournament without centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, midfielder Jerdy Schouten and forward Xavi Simons.

Depay on track for Japan opener

While the defensive crisis deepens, there is more positive news regarding the country’s all-time record goalscorer.

Memphis Depay has not featured for Brazilian side Corinthians since sustaining a thigh problem in late March, but his international manager expects an imminent return.

“He still has three matches with Corinthians before we get together as the Dutch national team. He really needs to get minutes in those matches.”

Ronald Koeman

The Dutch boss remains confident that the 32-year-old will secure valuable playing time before joining the national camp.

“I assume that will happen, and if everything goes well, he might even play 90 minutes in the final match. After that, we still have two weeks until our first World Cup match against Japan.”

Ronald Koeman

The Netherlands face Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia in Group F, hoping to improve upon their quarter-final exit to Argentina in 2022.

Arsenal have moved a step closer to the Premier League title with a tense 1-0 victory over Burnley, leaving manager Mikel Arteta hoping for a favour from Bournemouth against Manchester City.

The Gunners secured their 13th single-goal league win of the season following another defensively resolute display.

Despite naming an attacking lineup featuring Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz, the north London side were forced to endure a nervy finale against their relegated opponents.

The visitors failed to register a single shot on target but controlled 67% of possession during the final 20 minutes.

A tense wait for the Spaniard

Arteta will now watch from home as his childhood friend Andoni Iraola attempts to derail Manchester City’s title charge.

Iraola’s Bournemouth side host the reigning champions, who are managed by Arteta’s former mentor Pep Guardiola.

A positive result for the Cherries would put destiny firmly in Arsenal’s hands ahead of the final day of the season.

“I thought the amount of hair I have would never go away, and this job is going to test it to the limit.”

The 42-year-old manager joked about the immense pressure following another agonisingly tight encounter.

Defensive solidity masks attacking nerves

Pundits including Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville had previously suggested the title race was practically decided after West Ham were beaten.

However, this narrow victory served as a stark reality check for any supporters expecting a stress-free conclusion.

The title contenders struggled to kill the game off and lacked their usual attacking fluidity.

Instead, they relied heavily on a formidable backline that has not conceded from open play since last month’s defeat to City.

Final day looming against Crystal Palace

If the title race does extend to the final weekend, a difficult trip to Selhurst Park awaits the league leaders.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has already promised a fierce test for the visiting title hopefuls.

“I will play the strongest team against Arsenal.”

Arsenal fans will be desperately hoping their former youth prospect Iraola can render that final fixture completely meaningless.

Ryan Garcia will make the first defence of his WBC welterweight title against British challenger Conor Benn in Las Vegas on 12 September.

The 27-year-old champion revealed the blockbuster showdown during a television appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show in the United States.

This eagerly anticipated contest will pit the American titleholder against an opponent he claims to have a deeply personal rivalry with.

A bitter transatlantic feud

The Californian fighter explained that the animosity stems from an unprovoked physical altercation at an awards ceremony two years ago.

“He pressed up on me, grabbed me, so it’s a little personal.”

Confident of retaining his belt, the newly crowned champion promised a punishing night for his international rival.

“I’m going to really put a whopping on this man and we will send him back to the UK sipping on some tea.”

Contrasting paths to Las Vegas

The defending champion claimed his coveted belt in February by dethroning Mario Barrios with a wide unanimous decision.

During that impressive performance, the lightning-fast striker floored his opponent in the opening round to set the tone for a dominant victory.

Meanwhile, his upcoming opponent brings a formidable 25-1 professional record into this high-stakes desert encounter.

Benn building momentum

The British contender recently defeated former 140lb world champion Regis Prograis by unanimous decision in late April.

Prior to that victory, the explosive orthodox fighter engaged in two memorable stadium battles against domestic rival Chris Eubank Jnr.

Those consecutive main-event bouts saw him successfully avenge an initial defeat to win their spectacular 2025 rematch.

Former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu has ended a 2,300-day wait for a singles title by winning on the lower-tier ITF Tour following years of injury struggles.

The Canadian stunned the tennis world in 2019 when she defeated Serena Williams to claim the major crown as a 19-year-old.

However, her promising career was quickly derailed by a series of severe physical setbacks and an extended absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Injury nightmares and a dramatic rankings drop

The former world number four endured knee, abdomen, and ankle problems before an appendectomy delayed her 2025 season.

These persistent issues caused her ranking to plummet to 228 earlier this year, forcing a radical change in her comeback strategy.

Rather than continuing to struggle on the main WTA Tour, the 25-year-old opted to return to the developmental ITF circuit at the start of 2026.

This level of professional tennis offers starkly different realities, including total prize pots of just £26,000 and an absence of basic tournament luxuries.

Learning to ask for help

The recent tournament victory earned the Grand Slam winner a modest $3,000 (£2,200), a fraction of the $3.9m (£2.9m) she secured at Flushing Meadows.

Reflecting on her meteoric rise, she admitted she was utterly unprepared for the intense spotlight of becoming a major champion.

“I don’t think it’s possible to really prepare yourself, especially if you haven’t gone through that before but I wish I had a little bit more guidance after the US Open,” Andreescu told BBC Sport.
“You think you know everything at 19, and I just remember I’m not one to ever ask for help, but I am a little bit better at that now. So maybe if I did, things would have been different.”

Embracing a new perspective

Her current coach, Dusan Vemic, believes the difficult journey has ultimately forced his player into necessary personal growth.

“She had to grow up fast from a carefree teenager to a young woman that she is now,” Vemic explained.
“Being a tennis player, being an athlete, you suddenly have a different role. You become a role model for many youngsters.”

Competing against rising youngsters and veterans trying to regain form, the former prodigy has finally taken the first step towards reclaiming her status at the top of the sport.

Donovan Mitchell has propelled the Cleveland Cavaliers into the Eastern Conference Finals after sinking an extraordinary half-court buzzer-beater to eliminate the top-seeded Detroit Pistons.

The dramatic banked shot sealed a stunning series victory for the Ohio franchise over the heavily favoured number one seeds.

The spectacular effort was launched from beyond the mid-court line as the final seconds ticked away to close out the decisive contest.

A monumental upset in the East

Advancing to the conference finals represents a major milestone for the Cavaliers after overcoming the formidable regular-season leaders.

The dynamic shooting guard cemented his reputation as an elite post-season performer with this phenomenal game-winning strike.

Defeating a top-seeded team demands exceptional moments, and this defining shot off the glass provided exactly the magic required.

Next stop for the Cavaliers

Securing this series victory guarantees the resurgent squad will now compete for a coveted spot in the NBA Finals.

Their opponents in the upcoming round remain to be determined as the rest of the playoff bracket continues to unfold.

Meanwhile, the devastated Michigan-based roster must process an abrupt and heartbreaking end to a previously dominant campaign.

Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar is poised to become the star attraction at the French Open following his rapid rise up the rankings and the absence of compatriot Carlos Alcaraz.

The 19-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric ascent from outside the world’s top 900 just a year ago to his current ranking of 34.

World number one Jannik Sinner recently lauded the youngster, writing “What a player!” on a television camera lens after defeating him at the Madrid Open.

From college tennis to ATP titles

The former US Open boys’ singles champion was still playing American college tennis for the University of Virginia last year.

Since joining the professional circuit, the lightning-fast returner has accumulated an impressive array of milestones in 2026:

His recent success has been built upon a vastly improved serve and his rapid development into one of the sport’s most formidable returners.

Keeping a small inner circle

Despite his growing profile, the Madrid native maintains a remarkably small entourage, with only his father and coach, Rafael, sitting in his player box.

Former British doubles player Colin Fleming praised this minimalist approach but expects the support team to gradually expand.

“He’s not getting caught up in any fanfare or any hangers on. Just a small team, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see his team grow slightly as he develops more in the elite level.”

Colin Fleming

Calls for physical reinforcement

Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli believes adding a fitness specialist is the crucial next step for the rising star.

“Sometimes you have boxes of eight to 10 people but having just his dad in his box is working for him. I would advise him to bring in a fitness coach because you can tell on the fitness side when it gets intense during matches, he gets a little bit tired.”

Marion Bartoli

As Roland-Garros approaches, all eyes will be on whether the Spaniard can maintain his spectacular trajectory on the Parisian clay.