Archive of posts tagged actor

Venus Williams Returns To U.S. Open At 45 With Wild Card Entry

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At 45, Venus Williams has received a wild card entry into the 2025 U.S. Open, marking her return to Grand Slam singles competition after a two-year hiatus. Williams, a two-time U.S. Open singles champion, last competed in a major tournament at the 2023 U.S. Open and hasn't secured a singles win there since 2019.

This wild card entry makes Williams the oldest player in the singles draw since Renee Richards in 1981. Her return follows a 16-month absence from the tour, during which she made a comeback at the DC Open, becoming the oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match since 2004.

In addition to her singles participation, Williams will compete in the newly introduced mixed doubles event alongside fellow American Reilly Opelka. The mixed doubles tournament, offering a $1 million prize, is scheduled for August 19-20 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Williams' return has garnered significant public interest, not only for her on-court achievements but also due to her recent engagement to Italian actor Nicholas Hammond. Her participation in the U.S. Open adds to the excitement surrounding the tournament, as fans eagerly anticipate her performance on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows.

The 2025 U.S. Open is shaping up to be a memorable event, with Williams' return adding to the rich history of the tournament. As the competition approaches, tennis enthusiasts are looking forward to witnessing the resurgence of a legend in the sport.

Granby Tennis Club

Sabalenka Set to Appear with Dude Perfect At Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day

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By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, August 7, 2025
Photo credit: Al Bello/Getty

Aryna Sabalenka will launch her US Open title defense joining forces with Dudes to entertain kids at Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day.

2BYG

World No. 1 Sabalenka will partner Dude Perfect at Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day on Saturday, August 23, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the USTA announced today. The USTA said there will be free admission to the US Open grounds and all on-site activities.

Reigning US Open champion, who will launch her return at this month’s Cincinnati Open, shared and update of her time off from tennis on her YouTube Channel.

 The Dude Perfect crew – Tyler “The Beard” Toney, “The Twins” Cory and Coby Cotton, Garrett “The Purple Hoser” Hilbert, and Cody “The Tall Guy” Jones – will perform their popular sports entertainment stadium show for the fourth consecutive Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, at a new time: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Dudes are scheduled to do a meet and greet with fans afterward, the USTA said in a statement.

Here’s more info on Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day from the USTA press release today:

Following the Dude Perfect show, a blockbuster lineup of young music and entertainment stars will headline the Fountain Plaza Stage for fans of all ages to enjoy. The lineup includes: R&B vocal group 2BYG; multi-talented vocalist and actor Liamani; singer-songwriter and TikTok sensation Magnus Ferrell; breakout singer, rapper and actress That Girl Lay Lay; and rising actor and hip hop artist Young Dylan, who will also co-host the show. Fountain Plaza Stage performances will run from 1-3:30 p.m.

A festival atmosphere will permeate the National Tennis Center on Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. Featured practices starring some of the game’s most popular players will entertain fans in the US Open’s main stadiums, while many of the field courts will feature tennis activities for kids. On-court lessons, drills, contests and competitions will take place from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET, while the rest of the grounds will offer plenty of off-court fun, such as face-painting and temporary tattoos, storytelling, hair-braiding and beading,balloon artists and roving entertainers. The US Open also will offer a specially priced $10 meal for kids and their families.

Venus Williams shares how she would raise her kid if she ever became mother

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Venus Williams says if she were ever to become a parent, she would definitely raise them the way she and her sister Serena were raised.

In the game of tennis, the Williams sisters left a major mark and paved the path for future generations of Black players to have success in the game. However, their journey wasn't the easiest as they have been open over the years about how challenging it was to succeed or be accepted just because of the colors of their skin.

Since 2017, Serena has welcomed two kids. On the other side, Venus hasn't achieved her motherhood dreams. However, if the moments comes for that to happen, the 45-year-old knows how she will want her kids to be raised.

Venus Williams: I'd want my kid to be proud of out African American heritage

“I was thinking, gosh, if I have kids, I really have to raise them the way my parents raised us – just to be proud of who we were, to know our history as African Americans. So, me being there was not necessarily even special. It was like, I am who I am. Looking back, I'm glad I had that level of oblivion," the seven-time Grand Slam champion told Marie Claire UK.

Just last week, Williams revealed in an Instagram post that a year ago, she had surgery to remove fibroids and a large focal adenomyoma from her uterus. In her message, the former world No. 1 also said that she was misdiagnosed for years and that she was also told by the doctors that conceiving her own child was impossible. But after finding the right doctor, she solved her problem.

"I was told I was inoperable. I was told I could bleed to death on the table. I was told to get a surrogate and forget the hope to carry my own children. I was misdiagnosed. I went untreated for years and years and years," Williams wrote.

Recently, Williams also confirmed that she is in a happy relationship and engaged to Italian actor Andre Pretti.

Joaquin Niemann shares how he bounced back after a tough week at The Open

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actor

LIV Golf UK attracted the attention of the public, and the main actor of the second day was the Chilean golfer, Joaquin Niemann, with 8 under par (63 strokes). Niemann thus took the leading position with a score of 14 under par. 

Niemann gained a huge lead, with the second-place player trailing him by as much as six strokes.

Niemann started the round with three consecutive birdies, ending the day with as many as nine birdies and one bogey. 

The fans expect that the Chilean golfer will keep the lead, and in the interview with the media, Niemann referred to something worse last week, revealing a recipe for dominance in this tournament. 

The popular golfer knew that he had to take concrete steps if he wanted to celebrate in this tournament.

"Yeah, you know what, to be honest, at the beginning of the week I was not feeling bad. I was going to say another word. But I was feeling a little bit weird after a bad week at The Open. Obviously the expectations were pretty high, and the way I played wasn't my best. On the greens wasn't the best.

Just positive talk, having a nice team around, that support group that I have, I love them, so it's great to have that group behind, and I'm able to go out and play golf freely and have the game of Seve and how he plays."- he said.

Joaquin Niemann's goals: What can we expect?

Fans expect that the Chilean golfer will have an easy task in the last round, having strong foundations to record another victory at LIV Golf.

Joaquin is certainly one of the more famous names on the controversial Tour, and a golfer who has great potential to achieve many more victories by the end of the season.

While a lead of six strokes is very optimistic, it is difficult to give a real answer as to whether Joaquin will be equally dominant in the final round.