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Serena Williams starts ‘countdown’ to retirement – ARN News Centre

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GLYN KIRK/ AFP

Serena Williams said on Tuesday that she is “evolving away from tennis” and planned to retire from the sport she dominated with 23 Grand Slam titles following the US Open which begins later this month.

On Monday, Williams played only her second singles match since she returned to action at Wimbledon in June after a year-long absence from competition, beating Spain’s Nuria Parrizas Diaz to reach the second round of the Toronto Open.

But the 40-year-old said after that match that she could see the light at the end of the tennis tunnel in her career.

“I have never liked the word retirement,” Williams wrote in a Vogue article.

“Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.

“A few years ago I quietly started Serena Ventures, a venture capital firm. Soon after that, I started a family. I want to grow that family.”

Williams won her last Grand Slam in 2017 and has been chasing an elusive 24th crown that will draw her level with Margaret Court who holds the record for the most majors.

She came tantalisingly close to achieving that feat, featuring in four major finals since giving birth to daughter Olympia in 2017.

“There are people who say I’m not the GOAT (greatest of all time) because I didn’t pass Court’s record, which she achieved before the ‘Open era’ that began in 1968,” former world number one Williams said.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want that record. Obviously I do. But day to day, I’m really not thinking about her. If I’m in a Slam final, then yes, I’m thinking about that record. Maybe I thought about it too much, and that didn’t help.”

Williams later talked in an Instagram post about the time to move in a “different direction.”

“That time is always hard when you love something so much,” she added. “My goodness do I enjoy tennis.

“But now, the countdown has begun. I have to focus on being a mom, my spiritual goals and finally discovering a different, but just exciting Serena. I’m gonna relish these next few weeks.”

Williams announced herself on the grandest stage by winning the 1999 U.S. Open, a tournament she would go on to claim five more times.

In a storied career during which she dominated rivals like no other athlete, she also claimed seven Australian Open titles, three French Open titles and seven Wimbledon crowns.

Williams also owns 14 women’s Grand Slam doubles titles with older sister Venus and has won four Olympic gold medals: singles (2012), doubles (2000, 2008, 2012).



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Journalist for 25 years with leading publications in India and UAE such as The National, Mumbai Mirror, DNA, Indian Express and former Sports Editor of eIndia.com. Now managing editor of Headline.ae, part of MEMc (https://www.memc.co)

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Hyderabad set new IPL record for highest total in 31-run win over Mumbai – ARN News Centre

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Sunrisers Hyderabad hit the highest total in Indian Premier League (IPL) history on Wednesday, posting 277-3 against Mumbai Indians, setting the stage for a 31-run win.

Hyderabad surpassed the previous record of 263-5, set by Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013, propelled by Heinrich Klaasen’s unbeaten knock of 80 runs from 34 balls which included four boundaries and seven sixes.

Travis Head (62) scored his half-century in 18 balls, a franchise record for the fastest 50, before Abhishek Sharma (63) scored his in 16 balls.

Mumbai started the chase well, but the five-time champions fell well short, posting 246-5. Hyderabad, who lost their opening game to Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday, secured their first win of the season, rising to third place in the points table.

Mumbai, who have lost both their matches so far, are ninth in the league.

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Mumbai missed a trick by holding back Bumrah in IPL run-fest, Klaasen says – ARN News Centre

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Mumbai Indians missed a trick by holding back Jasprit Bumrah in the opening six powerplay overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad batter Heinrich Klaasen said after his side pummelled the five-times champions to post the highest Indian Premier League (IPL) total.

Fans were left scratching their heads when Mumbai, under new captain Hardik Pandya after he replaced Rohit Sharma this year, opted to take Indian paceman Bumrah out of the attack after he bowled the fourth over on Wednesday.

Bumrah returned in the 13th over, by which time Hyderabad had made 173-3. Klaasen went on a late onslaught to score 80 off 34 balls while Aiden Markram hit 42 off 28 balls.

With Travis Head earlier scoring 62 and Abhishek Sharma putting up 63 Hyderabad finished 277-3 in 20 overs.

Mumbai pushed hard in reply but lost the game by 31 runs, posting 246-5.

“They didn’t bowl their best bowler in the powerplay … that was our plan,” Klaasen told the official broadcaster.

“They missed a trick up front. We’ve got incredible strikers up front in our batting line-up. They just set the tempo, so our work was basically done.”

Bumrah finished 0-36 in four overs of work.

Former Sunrisers coach Tom Moody echoed South African Klaasen’s views while analysing the game for ESPNcricinfo.

“I totally get if they want to use a couple of swing bowling options in the first or second over,” the Australian said. “But Bumrah has to bowl two overs in the powerplay because of what he brings to the table.

“One of the priorities in powerplay is wickets and he’s your best wicket-taker. He always will be. For him and Mumbai to be starved of that opportunity to try and stem the flow of this onslaught is crazy.

“It doesn’t seem right.”

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Sinner breezes into Miami Open semis – ARN News Centre

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AFP

Jannik Sinner rolled past Tomas Machac 6-4 6-2 to reach the semi-finals of the Miami Open on Wednesday where the second seed will face either defending champion Daniil Medvedev or Nicolas Jarry.

The first set of the match played in humid conditions hinged on a Machac service game at 3-3 where the unseeded Czech’s forehand missed its target on break point to give Sinner a 4-3 lead.

The Italian would wrap up the set with a love hold when Machac was unable to put a second serve back in play.

In the second set, Machac’s forehand sailed long to give Sinner the break and a 2-1 lead. Sinner would break again with a backhand winner for 4-1 and closed out the contest with a serve out wide that Machac could not get back.

Sinner, who was a finalist at the tournament in 2021 and 2023, produced 16 winners to four unforced errors in a stress-free victory.

The win was Australian Open champion Sinner’s 20th of the year and sets up a potential rematch with Medvedev in the semis after the pair met in last year’s Miami Open final and January’s Melbourne Park final.

Sinner has lost just one match this year, falling in the semi-finals of Indian Wells to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz.

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