'First Old Firm could be defining moment in Martin's reign'

We asked for your views on Rangers' Scottish Premiership fixtures and how they will be faring after 10 games.Here's what some of you said:Brian: This is the great unknown going into first 10 games under a new manager that most of us are unsure about - I am anxious and not overly confident. It could be exhilarating and the start of a new era of success or it could become toxic ending in a total meltdown. Loyalty to the club says sitting on top on maximum points with a goal difference that speaks volumes of a team totally dominating Scottish football.Sue: If the recruitment is right and Russell Martin instils a sense of belief and resolve into his team, then I fervently hope Rangers are on top after 10 games and creating headlines with scintillating football - the first Old Firm could be the acid test and a defining moment in Martin's stint as manager.Jon: The manager's tactics and mentality will take up to the first 10 games for the team to be fully embracing the high press he wants, so for me if we are in second place but easily within touching distance of the league leaders I'll be happy. It's a long season with many twists and turns ahead.Willie: I think there is so much apprehension regarding the new management team and the squad, however I'm really excited about the league (not so much about the Euro tie), but following the opening 10 I anticipate a 100% return and being five points clear of Hibs in second...

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The Sun

33 minutes ago

• The Sun

Tennis star Jiri Lehecka's girlfriend breaks down in tears live on BBC after his win over Brit Jack Draper

JIRI LEHECKA scored a brilliant win over Jack Draper - and it was all too much for girlfriend Lucka Neumannova. The Czech ace stunned the British No. 1 to book his place in Sunday's final at Queen's Club. 5 5 5 5 Lehecka smashed 16 aces on his way to a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 win in the London sunshine. And watching on from the Queen's terraces was stunning partner Lucka. Lehecka's energy-sapping win proved too much for the Czech athlete as she was overcome by emotion. She was spotted bursting into tears while applauding her man's efforts in scorching 30c heat. Lucka was spotted supporting Lehecka in January as he advanced to the 4th round in the Australian Open. The pair have reportedly been dating since last year. A track and field athlete, Lucka has been embracing the London life over the past week. She uploaded a series of snaps to her 129,000 Instagram fans ahead of Saturday's semi-final at Queen's. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK The 22-year-old tucked into strawberries and cream, before heading for a run around a nearby park. Lehecka will face either World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz or Roberto Bautista Agut in Sunday's final. Medical emergency stops Jack Draper's Queen's match as distressed fans are picked up on TV The win was one of the biggest of his career and sees him reach a first-ever grass-court final. Lehecka said: "It means a lot, you don't beat a player like Jack every day. "I want to say thanks to [the crowd] for making it fair. "I know your favourite didn't win today, but I really appreciate you being fair and clapping when I hit a few good [shots]." It proved a day to forget for No. 2 seed Draper, who had been an overwhelming favourite to reach tomorrow's final. He let his frustration boil over midway through the match, smashing his racquet to bits and appearing to break the courtside ad hoardings. Despite failing to break a nine-year run without a Brit winner at Queen's, Draper's run to the semis was crucial for his ranking. Draper has now climbed above Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz, cementing a top-four seeding at Wimbledon. He will therefore avoid Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner until the semi-finals.

The Sun

33 minutes ago

• The Sun

Moment furious Jack Draper breaks advertising board after smashing racquet in shocking Queen's meltdown

JACK DRAPER broke the electronic advertising hoardings as he smashed his racquet... and crashed out of Queen's. The British No1 was desperate to book his place in the final in West London. 9 9 9 9 9 But he came up just short against Czech ace Jiri Lehecka, losing an agonising semi-final 6-4 4-6 7-5. And Draper's temper boiled over when he lost his serve at a crucial time late in the deciding set. The world No6 - who will be seeded fourth at Wimbledon - was beaten by a stunning clean backhand winner from his opponent to seal the break. And as Draper ran across the back of the Andy Murray Arena court, he let his frustration out. Careful not to damage the manicured lawn, the Sutton star whacked his Dunlop racquet into the electronic board at the side of the court. But as he did so, the screen - ironically showing a red-and-white advert for his own sponsors Dunlop - crackled and then cut out. The top part of the hoarding also came away. But it appeared the damage was not limited to the screen. Because Draper also cracked right through his frame to break his racquet, sending his shock absorber flying. And it appeared he may have hurt himself too as he checked his hand and hobbled gingerly to his chair for the changeover with blood on his knee. Draper was given a code violation warning for unsportsmanlike conduct by umpire Adel Nour - having earlier escaped punishment for blasting a ball in anger - to go with his time violation warning. BBC Sport commentator Andrew Cotter said: "Again, the anger shows which you understand. "That racquet has seen better days. He's done a bit of damage and maybe damage to his hand. "Adel Nour had no option at all. Yes, you understand it, this is a big, big event for Draper." After digging a fresh racquet out of his bag, the former US Open semi-finalist could not get the all-important immediate break back as Lehecka served out the win and book his place in the final. But tennis fans on social media were disappointed with Draper's furious outburst. One said: "Striking the hard-to-maintain grass court in front of your home fans and your knee like a psycho after losing a point, you will never make me like Jack Draper." Another wrote: "Some weak umpiring meant Draper didn't get a warning when he fired a ball earlier. Furious at getting broken at 5-5 in the third he goes after the ad board signage and… breaks it." A third added: "Lehecka breaks and Draper smashes the billboard… hefty fine coming for the Brit." A fourth commented: "Kids will be watching and follow his abysmal behaviour, just like McIlroy launching his golf clubs through the air. There is absolutely no excuse." And a final user wrote: "Pathetic from Draper. Misses a shot and smashes his racquet into the advertising board. Can't stand that sort of behaviour." It is not the first time Draper has destroyed a racquet in recent times. Draper obliterated his frame in Great Britain's Davis Cup defeat to Canada in November and did the same at the Italian Open in Rome last month. But he will be hoping he can channel his concentration into a deep run at Wimbledon, which gets underway next Monday. 9 9 9 Wimbledon ditching line judges a double fault for British tennis By Joshua Jones THE absence of line judges at Wimbledon will be a sad sight. For as long as I can remember, the men and women decked out in their Ralph Lauren outfits have been part of the furniture at the All England Club. Yes, they provided some mild entertainment on the court when one would call "fault" with plenty of extra, and unnecessary, gusto and volume that boomed around Centre Court, prompting a snigger from the fans. Then there was the ongoing game of dodgeball they had to play when a big serve nailed a mammoth ace down the line and they had to take rapid evasive action or take a whack to the top of the head. And challenges provided some audience participation, excitedly joining in the clapping countdown before the inevitable "oooh" when the graphic showed just how close the ball was to landing in or out. Purely objectively, Wimbledon's decision to replace line judges with Hawk-Eye Live makes total sense. The accuracy and consistency of calls in real-time will speed things up, save time and should mark the end of arguments over the tight incorrect calls - well, until the technology malfunctions. And Wimbledon's hand was somewhat forced to ditch tradition for their standing in tennis. The Australian Open and US Open already use electronic line calling and the ATP Tour is adopting Hawk-Eye Live across all of its tournaments from 2025. Wimbledon's refusal to comply would leave them lagging behind and exposed to the threat of needless controversy over human error. But the impact - as is so often the case in these decisions - has ramifications further down, below the surface with very little impact on Wimbledon's Championships or the players. It is on the line judges themselves. Approximately 300 officials - aged from 18 to 80 - covered more than 650 matches at Wimbledon. A fraction travel internationally with the circuit but the vast majority of those are part-time line judges based in the UK, earning up to £180 per day to work at the prestigious tournament and their chance to play their part at Wimbledon. For many, they will help out at British tournaments throughout the year, spurred on by the possibility of taking to the lawns of the All England Club. But it is understood many of those officials would be reluctant to work at the lower-level tournaments without the carrot of Wimbledon dangling in the summer. That in turn will put a major stumbling block in the pathway for British tennis umpires, who grind up through the ranks to reach the pinnacle of the sport. Like football with referees, tennis needs umpires and line judges. So the inability to call "out" at Wimbledon could prove to be a major "fault" for the future of the UK's tennis officials and therefore the state of the sport on these shores.

BreakingNews.ie

38 minutes ago

• BreakingNews.ie

Nicolas Jackson says he is ‘so angry at myself' after red card in Flamengo loss

Nicolas Jackson apologised after his costly sending-off in Chelsea's Club World Cup implosion against Flamengo. The Senegal striker was shown a straight red card – just four minutes after coming off the bench – for an aggressive studs-up challenge on Ayrton Lucas in Friday's 3-1 defeat in Philadelphia. Advertisement It came amid a calamitous six-minute spell in the second period in which the Blues also conceded two goals to surrender their half-time lead. Jackson (centre) was dismissed after fouling Ayrton Lucas. Photo: Chris Szagola/AP. It was also Jackson's second dismissal in just four appearances having also been given his marching orders for a forearm crack on Newcastle's Sven Botman in a Premier League match last month. 'I want to say sorry,' Jackson wrote on Instagram on what was a 24th birthday to forget. 'To the club, the staff, my teammates, and all the fans watching, I let you down. 'Another red card… And honestly, I'm so angry at myself. I work hard every day to help the team not to put us in this kind of situation. Advertisement 'I still don't fully understand how it happened. But one thing is clear: it wasn't intentional. Just a moment in football that went the wrong way. 'No excuses. I take full responsibility. I'll reflect, I'll grow, and I'll come back stronger for the badge and for everyone who believes in me. 'Sorry. Sorry, Sorry.' 🔴⚫️ A comeback win for @Flamengo ! #FIFACWC — FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) June 21, 2025 Jackson's moment of madness, in which he forcefully caught Lucas on the shin, effectively ended Chelsea's hopes of getting back into the Group D contest at Lincoln Financial Field. Advertisement Enzo Maresca's side were already reeling after Pedro Neto's well-taken 14th-minute opener was cancelled out by Bruno Henrique after 62 minutes and quickly followed by another goal for veteran Danilo. Wallace Yan wrapped up the scoring seven minutes from time, putting Flamengo in charge of the group and potentially making Chelsea's route through the tournament complicated. Defender Marc Cucurella suggested discipline was an area Jackson needed to work on. The defender told DAZN: 'He is young player, he has a lot of quality, he maybe needs to improve this a little bit. We are here to improve, we are not perfect so it is part of the game.' Advertisement Maresca did not deny the sending-off was damaging, though he tempered criticism by claiming it was not a clear-cut decision. Maresca said: 'Those six minutes completely changed the dynamic of the game. 'I'm not 100 per cent sure that it's a red card compared to the Newcastle one, but it can be and the referee decided it. 'It's a little bit of a bad moment for Nico in these things. He knows very well that both situations were not something good for the team.' Advertisement Former Chelsea defender Filipe Luis, now the manager of Flamengo, backed Jackson to bounce back. 'It was a little mistake,' he said. 'It was a clear red for me but it is a small detail for a player who can be one of the biggest strikers in the world.' Chelsea, who now have three points from their opening two games, face ES Tunis in their final group game on Tuesday night (2am Wednesday BST).