Author: The Guardian

Coco Gauff arrived in New York this month with a lot of unnecessary baggage. While she didn’t get off to a bad start to the summer, a series of frustrating defeats in important matches left her mired in disappointment. In stark contrast to her situation last year, when she capped off the best performance of her life as a first Grand Slam champion, she returns to the US Open still searching for her best form.In front of a thrilling crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Gauff took a positive step forward as she used her resilience and problem-solving skills to recover…

The Instagram ads started a few weeks ago. After some confusion, (“Why am I seeing a tulip … in August?”), I realised my cookies had caught up with more organised gardeners, and I should think about ordering bulbs.Yes, spring bulbs: what people traditionally start planting in October, but the more hectic among us, myself included, don’t get around to until January. For what it’s worth, you can plant them in January, and they will still come up fine – I find it gives the squirrels less time to dig them up. But this week I want to talk about bulb ordering…

STurn off all the clocks, cut off the phones…prevent hackers from barking with their transmission drones. Depends on how much you like this kind of thing: either here or here! …or it’s almost over, almost over! Sports fans, the grand slam of the European transfer window arrives tonight at 11pm BST.Chelsea’s quiet transfer window looks to be over with Napoli sensation Victor Osimhen …But Ahly appear to have swooped in with their pesky Saudi wealth, splashing out a whopping £135m on the Nigerian striker on a four-year deal. So all eyes are on Brentford Ivan Tony So move eight miles…

Karaca, 53, LondonOccupation Works for an investment bankVoting record Once voted for Labour, under Corbyn, otherwise mostly GreenAmuse bouche Performed as a backup dancer in an alternative beauty contest at the Wilderness festivalMark, 49, LondonOccupation An engineering manager in tech; currently unemployedVoting record Historically voted Liberal Democrat, but Green this time, even though its politics are to the left of his, since the environment is the most important issueAmuse bouche Used to be in an alt-rock band called SugarheadFor startersKaraca Mark arrived before me; we chit-chatted about Mexican food.Mark He was a really nice guy, very smart, articulate.Karaca He doesn’t drink, I drink…

A Thai court has sentenced YouTube chef Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, a member of a famous Spanish entertainment family, to life in prison for premeditated murder in a shocking case that shocked Spain.The 30-year-old was convicted of the August 2023 murder of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, a 44-year-old plastic surgeon from Colombia, while the pair were on Koh Phangan, Thailand Vacation.The case attracted huge attention in Spain because the defendant’s father, Rodolfo Sancho, is a well-known actor, and dozens of Spanish journalists flew in to attend the trial.Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho arrives in court to hear the sentencing of Daniel Sancho Bronchalo.…

Nudes are a major feature of the newest exhibition at Marseille’s Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations – and not only on the walls.The museum, Mucem, is allowing visitors to discover their relationship to naturism by viewing the works of art naked, except for their shoes.Eric Stefanut, of France’s FFN naturist organisation, said there was no objection to bare feet but insisting on footwear was a precaution against the museum’s parquet flooring. “It’s to avoid getting splinters,” he said.Nude visits to the Naturist Paradises exhibition are run in partnership with the French Naturist Federation one evening a month, when the…

Jesus, if I remember correctly, usually travelled by donkey or by foot. Today’s corporate saviours, however, have more elevated tastes. Last week Starbucks made headlines after it was revealed its new CEO, Brian Niccol – who has been described as the “messiah” the ailing coffee company had been searching for – will be commuting to the office via private jet. Niccol, you see, is generously going to abide by the company’s policy of being in the office three days a week. But since he lives in California and the Starbucks HQ is more than 1,000 miles away in Seattle, a…

nitrogenEverything is certain except death, taxes, and death chelsea Want to buy more players. With the deadline approaching, the club may have more than 40 players, but it seems they may try to add more members before the door closes (well, at least until the winter window, when the squad may reach 100 players) .The latest player linked with Todd Boley’s super squad is not being pursued by Chelsea, though. On the contrary, it is Victor Osimhen Who is pushing for an offer from the Blues. this Naples The forward has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia but…

Sven-Göran Eriksson, England’s first overseas manager and winner of multiple honours at club level, has died at the age of 76.Eriksson revealed in January 2024 that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and that he likely had “at best” about a year to live. He had stood down from his final job, as sporting director at Karlstad in his native Sweden, the previous February because of what he described at the time as “health issues which are under investigation”.Eriksson’s death was confirmed by Bo Gustavsson, the former Lazio coach’s agent in Sweden, via his UK PR agent, Dean Eldredge…

“II would say, if I had a grade on my own game, I’d have played B or C tennis so far this year,” Ben Shelton said. “I don’t think I’ve played my best tennis this season. I don’t think we’ve seen my peak yet this year.Sheldon had just left Wimbledon when he told me this. At the same Grand Slam tournament, he played three grueling five-set matches and two doubles matches in one week before losing to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the round of 16. At the beginning of the game, he also suffered a bone injury in…