Serena Williams loses to Maya Joint in Wimbledon singles return
via The Namibian3 min read
Serena Williams' return to singles play at Wimbledon after a four-year absence ended in a 6-3, 6-7 6/8, 6-3 defeat against Australia's Maya Joint. The 44-year-old, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, saved two match points and pushed the match to a deciding set before Joint secured the victory. Williams' last Grand Slam singles match was at the US Open against Ajla Tomljanovic, and she had come out of retirement earlier in June, playing doubles events before accepting a wild card entry into Wimbledon singles. She is also competing in the doubles tournament with her sister Venus. Williams' daughters Olympia and Adira, her husband Alexis Ohanian, and Venus watched from the players' box. Joint, 20, who is ranked world number 87, broke Williams in the first set and ultimately prevailed in the two-hour and 22-minute match.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
France secured a 3-0 victory over Sweden in the World Cup, with Kylian Mbappe scoring two goals and Michael Olise delivering an impressive performance. The win sets up a last-16 match against Paraguay. Mbappe opened the scoring just before halftime, and Bradley Barcola added a second goal in the 53rd minute, assisted by Olise. Olise then provided another assist for Mbappe to complete the scoring in the 74th minute. Mbappe's two goals bring his total to six for this World Cup, equaling Lionel Messi's current tally, and his overall World Cup goal count to 18. France dominated the match, with Sweden struggling to create chances. Coach Didier Deschamps, who is set to step down after the tournament, was embraced by Mbappe after his first goal. France will face Paraguay in the last 16, a repeat of their 1998 World Cup encounter.
Erling Haaland scored a late winner for Norway, securing a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast in Texas and setting up a last-16 World Cup clash with Brazil. Haaland's goal in the 86th minute marked his fifth of the tournament and Norway's first knockout game win in the competition's history. Antonio Nusa opened the scoring for Norway six minutes before halftime. Manchester United's Amad Diallo, who came on for Ivory Coast after an hour, equalized in the 74th minute. Norway will now face five-time champions Brazil on Sunday in New Jersey. The match, held in an air-conditioned stadium, saw Ivory Coast's Yan Diomande, a 19-year-old winger, making an impact. Martin Odegaard assisted Nusa's goal, and Norway's goalkeeper Orjan Nyland made a crucial save from Diallo's free kick at the end of the game.
Must ReadDaron Namibia has denied allegations of misappropriating funds from a N$40-million Democratic Republic of Congo DRC fishing venture, which is now the subject of a High Court dispute involving Standard Bank Namibia and Hodago Fishing. Daron managing director Luther Mostert stated that the company is being wrongly portrayed as having control over investor funds. The money, deposited by the DRC's state social fund into a Standard Bank account, was intended for a fishing partnership. By early May this year, the account was empty, and the fish were not fully caught. Daron Namibia, a maritime supply and logistics company, is accused of using N$10 million from a protected account to settle its loan with Standard Bank, while Hodago Fishing, 45% owned by Swapo, is accused of misappropriating N$13.5 million. Mostert rejected any suggestion of wrongdoing, stating Daron's role was limited to operating and maintaining the fishing vessel MV Venus 1. He clarified that Daron did not receive or control N$40 million for its own benefit, and funds that moved through Daron-related banking arrangements were used for operational costs. Daron also denied improperly benefiting from escrow funds or diverting them to settle its debt, asserting that Standard Bank was aware of the arrangements. The company claims it was brought in to assist a failing vessel operation and is now being blamed for a venture involving other parties. The DRC's state social fund, the Fond Social de la R茅publique D茅mocratique