James Gray

The Olympics faces an 'existential threat' in Trump and Putin's new world order This week's IOC presidential election takes place under a geopolitical storm cloud, with Russia plotting to start a rival event to the pinnacle of world sport

The Olympics faces an 'existential threat' in Trump and Putin's new world order

This week's IOC presidential election takes place under a geopolitical storm cloud, with Russia plotting to start a rival event to the pinnacle of world sport
inews.co.uk/sport/olympi...
@jamesgraysmith.bsky.social

The World Men's World Curling Championship gets underway this week in Canada.

In a city called Moose Jaw.

I would love that to be my address.

Channel 5 bid against ITV for rights to Chelsea and Man City Club World Cup games The 32-team tournament will lasts for a month between June and July

You've probably forgotten all about the Club World Cup - but it's happening, for a month this summer, and both Chelsea and Manchester City will compete in the 32-team tournament.

There is currently no UK TV deal - but I'm told both ITV and Channel 5 are actively bidding

inews.co.uk/sport/footba...

Emma Raducanu will be 'chaperoned everywhere' after stalking ordeal The former US Open champion will have an overhauled security operation after being targeted by a man with 'fixated behaviour' in Dubai

Emma Raducanu is due to make her "comeback" (she only had a week off) after the awful stalking incident in Dubai.

Spoke to my colleagues out in Indian Wells compellingly and openly about what she went through last month - and what has changed in her life.

👇👇👇

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The ‘invisible security’ that could be the answer to Emma Raducanu’s horror week High-profile female athletes like Raducanu need to think about close protection services in 'a different kind of way' to their male counterparts, industry experts say

After a week where Emma Raducanu's security was compromised in Dubai, I took a deep dive into the world of close personal protection.

Experts explain how celebrities and athletes deal with the threats of being a high-profile individual.

inews.co.uk/sport/tennis...

Thanks Mert!

I'm an Olympic medallist with MS - this is why I went public with my diagnosis Team GB athlete Lina Nielsen is starting treatment for multiple sclerosis – a decade after being diagnosed. She tells The i Paper she now wants to help others too

Meet Lina Nielsen, a Team GB runner who refused treatment for her MS for 10 years because she was worried what it would do to her career.

Now she's finally become an Olympian, she's getting treatment - but has hopes of running even faster.

inews.co.uk/sport/olympi...

Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina's coach Stefano Vukov has been banned for a year by the WTA.

As per Matt Futterman and Charlie Eccleshare, they found his relationship with Rybakina to be "toxic" and that he subjected her to "mental abuse", pushing her beyond her limits and making her ill.

I asked Chinese AI bot DeepSeek about Peng Shuai - the results were chilling The Chinese tennis player has disappeared from public view since accusing a former high-ranking Communist Party official of sexual assault in 2021

One second this Chinese AI was giving me a detailed answer about Peng Shuai, then five seconds later, it censored itself and deleted it.

I asked large language model DeepSeek about Peng Shuai - and it did not surprise but did shock me with its answers.

inews.co.uk/sport/tennis...

Emma Raducanu does not need a new coach - she needs two The 22-year-old should look at how some of the world’s best have approached their coaching set-up and take note

Emma Raducanu is on the lookout for a new coach - but maybe needs to think about more than just one appointment.

Djokovic, Sinner, Alcaraz... they all employ two coaches. Maybe it's time to copy them?

👇👇👇

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Novak Djokovic currently warming up on Rod Laver for his clash with Carlos Alcaraz.

His chosen practice partner? British No 3 Jacob Fearnley, who will shortly head to Japan for the Davis Cup.

#AusOpen

Goran Ivanisevic confirms that his trial period coaching Elena Rybakina is over after the Australian Open.

Ivanisevic had said before the tournament that he was "here, for now" with Stefano Vukov, Rybakina's preferred coach, currently banned by the WTA.

#AusOpen

Three key battles that will decide Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic Djokovic holds a narrow 4-3 record lead over Alcaraz in the head-to-head, with the pair set to clash in a blockbuster quarter-final at the Australian Open on Tuesday

Incoming, the anticipated match of the tournament.

I've broken it down to three key areas.

Due on court around 9.30am UK time.

inews.co.uk/sport/tennis...

A statement from Tennis Australia on behalf of Novak Djokovic, regarding his boycott of the Channel 9 interviews on Sunday.

"Novak acknowledges the apology has been given in public as requested, and is now moving on and focusing on his next match."

#AusOpen

Elo system gave Raducanu less than a 20 per cent chance of beating Swiatek.

And Swiatek has beaten plenty of players ranked between 6 and 20 in Elo by similar scoreline. Can and does happen.

Hmm. Without a deep understanding (not a mathematician) I couldn’t say - but Jeff did say that when you use the ratings to predict results it is better than using raw WTA rankings.

The stat that proves Emma Raducanu is world-class, and has a shot at Iga Swiatek A more opponent-based analysis shows Raducanu is the 13th-best player in the world

Great when you do a piece and it changes your perception of things.

Working with Jeff Sackmann of Tennis Abstract on this did exactly that.

What is Emma Raducanu's real world ranking?

Jeff's Elo rankings have her at No 13.

inews.co.uk/sport/tennis...

WHAT A WIN!

Jack Draper wins the longest match of his career, beating Thanasi Kokkinakis and 10,000 Aussies over five sets and more than 4.5 hours.

Incredibly gutsy in very challenging conditions, two days after the previous longest match of his career.

#AusOpen

I try to be impartial almost universally when at tennis tournaments - but you can't help but enjoy it when Naomi Osaka wins.

Infectious enthusiasm.

#AusOpen

There was a period in the 2010s when Andy Murray seemed to be forever in the fourth set of a thriller at around 5.30pm.

He has retired and been replaced by Katie Boulter in the third set at around 10.30pm.

Plus ca change.

#AusOpen

The worst second serve of the tournament - but Emma Raducanu still won The 22-year-old is through to the second round after a scrappy win over Ekaterina Alexandrova

If you're just waking up, Emma Raducanu is through to the second round of the Australian Open.

It was straight sets - but she also served 15 double-faults because her serve "had a mind of its own", in her words.

👇Analysis and reaction from Melbourne👇

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Edinburgh's Jacob Fearnley currently giving out a high-profile tennis lesson to Nick Kyrgios.

There are 10,000 Aussies in the John Cain Arena and Fearnley's 7-6, 3-0 lead has silenced just about every one of them.

#AusOpen

The new shoes, machismo and tactics behind the Murray-Djokovic alliance Djokovic will play his first Australian Open match next week with Murray in his box

Ahead of the Australian Open and his off-court debut with Novak Djokovic, here is a long read on Andy Murray the coach.

With input from his own coaches, rivals, former team-mates and more.

#AusOpen

inews.co.uk/sport/tennis...

Emma Raducanu and Jodie Burrage hitting on a perfect day in Melbourne.

#AusOpen

'Emma Raducanu is learning how to be the CEO of her own little world' The 22-year-old is three years removed from winning the US Open but is still 'adjusting' to the business of tennis, says Tim Henman

Tim Henman talks about how being a professional tennis player is like being CEO of your own business - but you have to do it at 19 or 20.

Emma Raducanu, he says, is still adjusting.

inews.co.uk/sport/tennis...

Order of play for Day 1 of the #AusOpen
(UK times, on Saturday night/Sunday morning)

RLA
12.30am - Todoni vs Zheng, Ruud vs Munar
8am - Sabalenka vs Stephens, Pouille vs Zverev

MCA
12.30am - Virtanen vs Fils, Vekic vs Parry
8am - Lehecka vs Tu, Blinkova vs Saville

And to cover up my lack of haircut (now rectified)

Novak Djokovic Conquered Tennis. What’s Next? After winning Olympic gold last summer, the 24-time Grand Slam champion took care of the last thing he had left to accomplish in the sport. Where he plans to turn his relentless energy next—wellness, ...

An interesting interview with Novak Djokovic in GQ, particularly talking about his rivals.

- "Both of [Federer and Nadal] maybe liked that in the early days"
- "Maybe it’s a little bit early for Alcaraz to think about history"

Worth a read.

www.gq.com/story/novak-...

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I’ve arrived (unrested) in Melbourne for the Australian Open.

I’ve grown a moustache to try and fit in. Mullet pending.

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