Sports

French Open: Alcaraz Moves to Final Following Musetti’s Retirement Due to Injury

Published

12 months ago

June 7, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz edged closer to defending his Roland Garros title on Friday, reaching his second consecutive final in Paris after Lorenzo Musetti had to retire during their semifinal match. The 22-year-old Spaniard was ahead 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-0, 2-0 when Musetti, struggling with a left leg issue, withdrew after two hours and 25 minutes of intense play.

Musetti, who had previously upset Novak Djokovic in the tournament and had a successful clay season, requested a medical timeout at 0-5 in the third set. He briefly continued but was clearly in pain and could no longer meet the demands of Alcaraz’s relentless baseline play.

—

“It’s never ideal to win a match this way,” Alcaraz commented in his on-court interview. “Lorenzo is an exceptional player who has had an outstanding clay season. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him back on the court soon.”

—

This victory marks Alcaraz’s fifth appearance in a Grand Slam final, making him the fifth-youngest player in the Open Era to achieve this milestone. Among active players, only Novak Djokovic (37 finals) and Daniil Medvedev (6) have reached more major finals.

Despite losing the first set, Alcaraz maintained his composure, displaying aggressive baseline positioning under the closed roof of Court Philippe-Chatrier.

He eventually overwhelmed Musetti with precise shots and superior movement, particularly after clinching the tightly contested second set in a tiebreaker. After that, it was a one-sided affair.

“The first two sets were quite challenging,” Alcaraz reflected. “Winning the second set gave me some relief, and in the third set, I knew I had to push him to his limits and stay aggressive. I couldn’t let him take control.”

Now unbeaten in Grand Slam finals (4-0), Alcaraz awaits the winner of the much-anticipated second semifinal between Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic—a match the Spaniard is eager to watch.

“This matchup is one of the highlights of tennis right now,” Alcaraz said with a smile. “Sinner against Djokovic… I’m definitely going to watch it and enjoy it. I’ll also be picking up some tactics from that match.”

—

Sports

Bengaluru Police Issue Advisory Ahead of RCB’s IPL 2026 Final

Published

1 week ago

May 30, 2026

Namma Kudla

IPL 2026 :Bengaluru police have urged people to celebrate responsibly during and after the IPL 2026 final. RCB will play the final match on Sunday.

Police have banned public celebrations, bike rallies, road blockages, and stunt riding. Bursting crackers and setting up public LED screens without permission are also not allowed.

Authorities have asked people not to drink alcohol in public places or create disturbances. Citizens have also been warned against spreading rumours or posting offensive content on social media.

The advisory comes after a stampede during RCB’s victory celebrations last year, which claimed 11 lives. Police have appealed to fans to maintain peace and cooperate with officials to ensure public safety.

Sports

Tim David Faces Criticism for Obscene Celebration against Mumbai Indians

Published

4 weeks ago

May 11, 2026

Namma Kudla

IPL 2026 : In a dramatic IPL 2026 clash, Royal Challengers Bengaluru player Tim David has landed in controversy for allegedly making an obscene gesture after his team’s thrilling win against Mumbai Indians.

The incident took place during the 54th match of the Indian Premier League in Raipur. Batting first, Mumbai Indians scored 167 runs in 20 overs and set a competitive target for RCB.

While chasing the target, Royal Challengers Bengaluru needed 15 runs in the final over. The match went down to the last ball, where RCB required two runs for victory. Rasikh Dar helped the team secure a thrilling win in the final delivery.

Soon after the victory, Tim David, who was in the dugout, was seen allegedly showing his middle finger towards the Mumbai Indians camp during the celebrations. The video of the incident quickly went viral on social media and triggered criticism from cricket fans.

Reports suggest that match officials could take disciplinary action against the Australian batter. Under the ICC Code of Conduct, obscene or offensive gestures are considered a serious offence.

Such behaviour usually falls under Level 1 or Level 2 breaches of the ICC rules. Players found guilty can face fines ranging from 50 percent to 100 percent of their match fees. Demerit points may also be added to their disciplinary record. Repeated offences can even lead to suspension from matches.

Similar incidents have happened in the past as well. In 2012, Virat Kohli was fined 50 percent of his match fee for showing the middle finger to spectators during a match in Sydney.

Cricket is widely known as a “gentleman’s game,” and players are expected to maintain discipline and respect on the field. Tim David’s celebration has now sparked debate among fans and experts about sportsmanship in modern cricket.

Sports

Pooran Super over Call Sparks Criticism

Published

1 month ago

April 27, 2026

Namma Kudla

Sports: Lucknow Super Giants’ captain Rishabh Pant faced criticism after a failed Super Over decision against Kolkata Knight Riders. LSG sent Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram to bat, with Pooran on strike against Sunil Narine.

Pooran was bowled on the first ball, leading to heavy criticism from fans. Many questioned the decision, especially because Narine had earlier troubled Pooran in a past Super Over.

LSG coach Justin Langer defended the move. He said the team trusted Pooran as he has faced Narine many times and has a strong record against him. He added that teams must back their best players even in difficult moments.

Langer also said Pooran is one of the best T20 players in recent years but is currently low on confidence. He assured that the team is working hard to help him regain form

Despite being at the bottom of the table, LSG remains hopeful. Langer said the team will use the break to improve and aim to win their remaining matches.