Sports

Tennis icon Roger Federer, who retired from the sport in 2022, has cemented his legacy in a new, unprecedented way: by becoming the seventh athlete in history to reach billionaire status. According to estimates by Forbes, the Swiss star now boasts a net worth of $1.1 billion. While his on-court earnings were impressive, they were not the sole source of his fortune. Instead, Federer’s financial empire was built on strategic off-court endeavors and savvy investments, particularly his minority stake in the Swiss shoe and apparel brand On. His financial success provides a new blueprint for athletes, proving that a career’s true earnings can extend far beyond the final point.

At just 16 years old, the spotlight of professional tennis is falling on Julieta Pareja. This year, the American teenager, fresh off a breakthrough season that saw her become the world’s No. 1 girls’ player, has received a wild card into the main draw of the US Open. Yet, in a sport defined by intense pressure and high stakes, Pareja seems remarkably relaxed. For a player who views the biggest stage in her sport as simply an opportunity to learn, her debut in New York isn’t just a single tournament; it’s the next step on a carefully plotted journey to the very top.

On a quiet clay court in Alicante, Spain, six years ago, a future rivalry began. Two teenagers, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, engaged in a spirited match on the ATP’s Challenger Tour, a back-and-forth battle that foreshadowed their ascent to the top of the tennis world. That first meeting, won by the younger Alcaraz, was a “rollercoaster” that set the stage for a rivalry now poised to define the current era of men’s tennis. With both players sharing an uncanny dominance, their every match is a blockbuster event, filling the void left by the “Big Three” and promising a new golden age for the sport.

Professional sports, at their best, are defined by skill, grace, and human excellence. But as the world of online sports betting has grown, a darker, more troubling side of the game has emerged. Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina recently became the latest, and most prominent, example of this growing crisis. Following her quarterfinal loss at the National Bank Open, Svitolina was deluged with hateful online abuse from frustrated gamblers, including death wishes and vile messages celebrating the war in her home country. Her experience is a stark and deeply troubling reminder of the abuse athletes are now facing, with their on-court performance linked directly to the financial fortunes of angry bettors.

If you ever saw Bob and Mike Bryan on a tennis court, you knew they were a force of nature. For the better part of two decades, the identical “mirror” twins were the undisputed kings of men’s doubles, an enviable dream partnership that seemed to possess a telepathic connection. With a record 119 titles, including 16 Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal, they were truly a “two-headed monster.” Yet, on the eve of their induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the brothers revealed that behind the scenes, their partnership was forged not just in harmony, but in fiery conflict and “blowouts.” This is the story of an unbreakable bond that could withstand anything—even an MMA fight in a backseat.

The US Open has never been one to shy away from spectacle, but this year, it is taking its reputation to a new level. With a historic $90 million purse—the largest in tennis history—and a radical new mixed doubles format, the tournament is making a “deliberate and concerted effort” to revolutionize the sport. This bold approach, fueled by a massive financial investment and a desire to attract the biggest names in tennis, has sparked both praise and outrage, raising crucial questions about the future of the game.

Before this summer, Victoria Mboko didn’t even have a picture on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) website. Now, the 18-year-old is the talk of the tennis world. In a stunning display of talent and composure, the Canadian wild card defeated four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka to claim her first WTA Tour title at the Canadian Open in Montreal. Her meteoric rise from an unknown to a champion in her home country is not just a fairy tale story; it’s a powerful statement that a new generation of tennis greats has arrived.

The lights of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center have dimmed on a storied career. For two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, her final match at the US Open was not a fairytale victory, but an emotional and dignified farewell. After a hard-fought 6-1, 6-0 loss to France’s Diane Parry, Kvitova revealed that her preparation had been hampered by a recent bout with Covid-19. Despite not being at her physical best, her determination to end her career on her own terms was unwavering, marking a final chapter defined by the resilience and grace that have long been her hallmarks.

Spanish football club Villarreal announced the signing of midfielder Thomas Partey this week, a move that would typically be celebrated as a significant acquisition for the team. However, the news has sparked outrage and a fierce debate within the football community. The reason? The signing comes just weeks after the Ghanaian international was charged in England with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. This decision has forced a crucial conversation about talent, integrity, and the ethical responsibility of sports clubs in the face of serious criminal allegations.

The air in Buenos Aires was electric with the anticipation of a heated Copa Sudamericana clash. But what began as a high-stakes football match between Independiente and Universidad de Chile quickly descended into a scene of chaos and peril. Shortly after the second half began, the stadium became a battlefield as fans stormed rival sections, hurling objects and forcing the match to be abandoned. The event was a stark and violent reminder that in the world of South American football, the intense passion that defines the sport can, in an instant, turn to dangerous and unacceptable chaos.