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What French Open told us about Olympic favourites

The French Open is over for another year – but the clay courts of Roland Garros will be back in use sooner than you think.

The iconic Paris venue will host the tennis tournaments at this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It is the first time since Barcelona 1992 that tennis at the Olympics will be played on the surface.

So, has the French Open given us any hints about the gold-medal contenders?

‘Toughest challenge’ is beating Swiatek in Paris
Iga Swiatek has a 35-2 win record at Roland Garros

It’s hard to look past Iga Swiatek for women’s singles gold.

The 23-year-old has won four Grand Slam titles since the last Olympics in 2021, with three of those triumphs arriving on the clay courts of Roland Garros.

“I love it here,” Swiatek said after winning her third straight French Open title with a commanding victory over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini.

Paolini told Swiatek afterwards that playing her in Paris is “the toughest challenge in this sport” – and she’s not wrong.

That final victory stretched the Pole’s winning streak at Roland Garros to 21 matches.

It also rounded off a dominant clay-court season for Swiatek, who added to her wins in Madrid and Rome to become just the second player after Serena Williams to claim the ‘Triple Crown’ in a calendar year.

Not even Swiatek’s three closest-ranked rivals – Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina – have been able to defeat her on the surface this year.

Keeping her away from the gold medal will be difficult.

Djokovic faces fitness fight in bid for missing piece

Olympic gold is the one thing missing from Novak Djokovic’s trophy collection.

And at 37, time appears to be running out for the Serb to triumph at a Games.

In April, Djokovic said Paris 2024 was “a priority” this year.

However, his Olympic dream has been hampered by a medial meniscus tear in his right knee that caused his withdrawal from the French Open quarter-finals.

Not only did that end Djokovic’s hopes of winning a record 25th Grand Slam title, it also means he faces a race against time to be fit in time for the Olympics.

Djokovic earned a bronze medal at Beijing 2008, but he has lost the third-place match twice in his three Olympic appearances since.

Long-term rivals Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray have both won gold in the men’s singles, while Roger Federer took silver in 2012.

The men’s singles draw is wide open

While Swiatek is the nailed-on favourite for gold in the women’s draw, it’s harder to call on the men’s side.

Even if Djokovic is fit in time for the Olympics, the 24-time Grand Slam champion has struggled for form this year, failing to reach a final.

Carlos Alcaraz will head into the Games as the reigning French Open champion after claiming a maiden title at the tournament many always thought he was destined to win.

However, it was anything but an easy run for the Spaniard, who needed five sets to win his semi-final against Jannik Sinner, while Alexander Zverev also took him to five in the final.

Runner-up Zverev is the defending Olympic champion, and the German will take confidence from reaching the showpiece after failing to win his three previous semi-finals in Paris.

New world number one Sinner made his best run in the French capital, while fellow semi-finalist Casper Ruud can also be considered a key contender having made two of the past three finals at Roland Garros.

Brits are in ‘best place’ on clay before Paris
Andy Murray won gold in the men’s singles at London 2012 and Rio 2016

This year’s French Open was a tournament to forget for the British singles players.

The six Britons – Andy Murray, Katie Boulter, Cameron Norrie, Jack Draper, Dan Evans and Harriet Dart – all lost their opening matches in the first three days.

A poor showing in Paris doesn’t bode well for Team GB at this year’s Olympics, but Evans said British tennis was in the “best spot” it had been on clay for a long time.

Two-time Olympic gold medallist Murray came close to winning the title at Roland Garros in 2016, losing to Djokovic in the final.

Paris 2024 is likely to be the 37-year-old’s last chance to compete at a Games, having said earlier this year he is not planning to “play much past this summer”.

Hewett and Reid have big chance of Paralympic gold
Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid won doubles silver at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020

Team GB might stand a better chance at the Paralympics when it comes to tennis.

Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid will be favourites to win men’s doubles gold in Paris after sealing their fifth straight French Open triumph on Saturday.

The pair, who have won 20 Grand Slam titles together, will be keen to better their silver-medal results from 2016 and 2020.

World number one Hewett will also want to get his hands on the gold medal in the singles, after losing out to Reid in Rio in 2016.

He lost in the French Open singles semi-finals this year, with Japanese teenager Tokito Oda winning the title for the second year running.

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IOC Urges Global Leaders To Prioritise Sport

On the occasion of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP), the global governing body of Olympism delivered a strong call to action from the United Nations headquarters in New York, “We need sport more than ever”.

On Monday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) convened in New York City for a high-level event held at the United Nations (UN) headquarters, encouraging governments, policymakers and global leaders to formally integrate physical activity as a vital element in public policies geared towards sustainable development. With eyes fixed on the upcoming World Summit for Social Development, scheduled for November 2025 in Doha, Qatar, the IOC used the platform to position sport as a powerful, yet often overlooked, driver of progress.

The gathering, titled ‘Advancing Social Inclusion Through Sport: Towards the Second World Summit for Social Development,’ was co-organised by the Permanent Missions of Qatar and Monaco to the UN, in partnership with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). It brought together diplomats, athletes and institutional representatives to explore the role of sport in tackling systemic inequalities and furthering the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Delivering the keynote speech was Colombian journalist and diplomat Luis Alberto Moreno, IOC Member and Permanent Observer to the UN, who made a compelling case for sport as a tool for advancing social cohesion. “Sport alone cannot create development or peace. That is our shared responsibility,” he said. “However, sport can catalyse and support social development and inspire peace.”

Moreno put forward a firm appeal, asking decision-makers to ensure that sport has “a rightful place in the debates of the World Summit for Social Development,” particularly now, when, as he emphasised, it is needed “more than ever.” His message was direct and urgent: sport must not remain a peripheral concern in the architecture of development policy. “We cannot afford to overlook the role of sport in shaping the future of social progress,” he stressed. “If we truly want to build inclusive societies, sport must be a central pillar of our strategies, not an afterthought.”

The day-long reception highlighted a shift in policy thinking across multiple countries, where governments have begun to hierarchise sport-based projects as instruments of social cohesion. At the Sport for Sustainable Development Summit held ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, world leaders and sport sector stakeholders signed pledges to increase investment in sport as a vehicle for sustainable development. Later, at the Finance in Common Summit (FiCS) in Cape Town in February, leading development finance institutions committed to helping governments leverage sport for national progress.

Still, as the South American IOC member pointed out, sport’s full potential in the social sphere remains underused, according to the IOC’s statement. Nevertheless, change is within reach. “There are more opportunities than ever for governments to embrace sport as a low-cost, high-impact tool that can benefit everyone,” Moreno explained.

One of the most resonant parts of Moreno’s address was his reflection on sport’s ability to unify—particularly relevant in a world facing rising tensions and polarisation, from geopolitical unrest to economic protectionism, including the current tariff paradigm initiated by US President Donald Trump. Against this backdrop, the 71-year-old businessman held up the Olympic Games as a living example of peaceful coexistence. “Athletes from the 206 National Olympic Committees, and from the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, competed fiercely against one another, yet lived peacefully together in the Olympic Village. That is not only an inspiring story, it is a lesson for all of us,” he added.

The Paris 2024 Games, he noted, were also a landmark for equality and sustainability. “It was the first Games with full gender parity on the field of play, demonstrating that equality in sport is not just an aspiration, but an achievable reality. Moreover, the event set “new standards for future global competitions and their legacies” through its sustainable and socially responsible practices.

In his remarks, Moreno, also a former Colombian Minister of Economic Development, invoked the UN’s historical embrace of sport as a tool for transformation. He recalled the Political Declaration adopted at the first World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen in 1995, which already recognised sport as a key facilitator for inclusion and growth.

That same vision now drives the IOC’s Olympism365 strategy, launched under the Olympic Agenda 2020+5 reform framework. The initiative aims to embed Olympic values into everyday life, far beyond the Games, by promoting access to sport, advancing health and wellbeing, and reinforcing the social fabric within communities worldwide. Currently, Olympism365 reaches tens of millions of people through 550 programmes and socially impactful initiatives across 176 countries. Through close collaboration with institutional and community partners, the IOC is working to ensure that sport contributes meaningfully to the building of more inclusive, healthier, and more resilient societies

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Rugby Makes Progress In Enugu As State’s Association Set For Inauguration

The Enugu State Government is set to make a bold statement in youth sports development with the inauguration of a Rugby Association, marking another step towards empowering young athletes and expanding the footprint of rugby in Nigeria.

In a significant move, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Enugu State, Barr. Lloyd Ike Ekweremadu Jr., a seasoned barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, has accepted the role of Patron of Rugby in Nigeria, underscoring his commitment to youth engagement through sports.

During a strategic meeting with a delegation from the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF)—comprising General Manager Azeez Ladipo, Chief Operating Officer Babatunde Adeluola, and General Secretary Chinedu Osuoha—the Commissioner pledged full support for the growth of rugby in the state.

“I am honored to be chosen as a patron of rugby in Nigeria,” Ekweremadu stated. “I assure you that the Enugu Rugby Association will be inaugurated to drive the game’s development across the state. As for the Annual General Meeting (AGM), we will assess what is required and explore the possibility of hosting it.”

Speaking on behalf of the NRFF, General Manager Azeez Ladipo emphasized the federation’s commitment to providing the necessary support to ensure the smooth establishment and operations of the association.

“We will offer technical assistance, workforce training, and grassroots development programs to introduce rugby in schools, communities, and universities across Enugu State,” Ladipo said.

The delegation proceeded to inspect various facilities across the city, and according to the General Manager of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), “The facilities are simply outstanding. With what we’ve seen on ground, nothing is stopping rugby in Enugu.”

With this initiative, Enugu joins a growing list of states investing in rugby, reflecting a broader movement toward diversifying Nigeria’s sports landscape and creating more opportunities for youth participation. Further deliberations will continue on the state’s potential role in hosting the federation’s next AGM.

This marks a new chapter for rugby in Enugu, and stakeholders are optimistic about its impact on youth empowerment, talent discovery, and the overall growth of the sport in Nigeria.

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How Corruption Stalled My Guinness World Record Fight in the Past 19 Years – Bash Ali

African Boxing Ambassador, Nigerian Bashiru Lawrence Ali, OON, has made a clarion call to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in order for the country to see the dream of staging the Guinness World Boxing Championship during his tenure in office.

Ali, who is fondly called Bash Ali by his teeming admirers believes that the situation has gone to the level that a presidential intervention from a good man like Tinubu can make the dream come to reality, especially with the way official corruption has allegedly hindered the organisation of the epic world boxing fight in Nigeria over the years.

“Sir, for almost 19 years the FGN has failed me. The FGN has extorted millions from me. The FGN has blackmailed me. The FGN has scammed me and despite several juicy offers to fight outside of Nigeria I still refused to give up on my country, Nigeria. I want to fight in my country, Nigeria so help me, please,” the World Boxing Federation (WBF) cruiserweight champion lamented in a letter he wrote to the president on Wednesday, 2 April 2025.

Bash Ali wrote: “Corruption has killed millions of Nigerians and has left most confused and frustrated. If someone had told me that after almost two years into your administration my Guinness World Record Boxing Championship fight would still be stalled, despite my several meetings and discussions with you on the subject matter, I would have punched the person in the mouth.

“For almost 19 years, to make this historic event a reality in Nigeria, the FGN has on three occasions, November 9, 2006, January 7, 2014, and May 21, 2019 inaugurated the Bash Ali Boxing Project Local Organizing Committee with the three arms of government, legislative (Senate and House of Representatives committee chairmen on sports), executive (office of the chief of staff to Mr. President) and the judiciary (office of the Attorney General of the Federation) as members. The private sector will provide the funds while the FGN will provide an enabling environment for a successful show, but corruption has stalled it.”

The African Boxing Ambassador went on to inform President Tinubu that “it is imperative to inform you that the FGN is not putting up a KOBO but to provide an enabling environment and in the process earn the glory, honour and money from hosting this historic event.

“My President Sir, after the FGN has collected $12m and extorted millions of Naira from me in the disguise of putting in place the promotional structures, the FGN has stalled the process of hosting this historic fight because I say NO to further extortion,” he said.

Bash Ali told Tinubu that out of frustration and to get justice, “I had to go to court, and the matter is again coming up on April 7, 2025. I did not leave my comfort zone in Oakland, California, United States of America to fight the FGN in a court of law but to fight in a boxing ring to bring honour, glory and financial growth to FGN but I am in court because I have no choice.

“Sir, the people who extorted millions of Naira from me on behalf of the FGN and those who were not successful are still in your cabinet and have sworn that this historic fight will not see the light of the day unless I cooperate with corruption.”

The ageless pugilist pleaded with Tinubu to intervene by “asking that the court case against the FGN be settled out of court. I am respectfully asking for the immediate re-inauguration of the Bash Ali Boxing Project Local Organizing Committee and that all the unnecessary obstacles caused by corruption by the FGN should be removed so this historic fight can hold in our great country, Nigeria.”

Bash Ali did not end his letter to the president without revealing the immediate benefits of staging the Guinness World Record Boxing Championship fight in Nigeria. He said: “All Guinness World Record Boxing Championship fights have been held in the United States of America so mine would be the first outside and the most lucrative in the history of Pay Per View Television Revenue, sales of souvenirs, sponsorship, advertisement etc. No fewer than 132 countries are coming to Nigeria to be part of the Boxing History and the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has written to the World Boxing Body to guarantee in Nigeria the safety of their members and that the Ministry of Youth & Sports, now the National Sports Commission (NSC) will follow up to ensure timely payment of their Approval Fee which is domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria by the private sector.