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Why Red Bull sacked Christian Horner now, after a year that never stopped spiraling

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This was never the way that Christian Horner would have expected his time in charge of Red Bull’s Formula One team to come to an end.

As recently as last month, Horner said his commitment was “100 percent” to Red Bull Racing, with a contract running to the end of the decade. In 20 years, he’d overseen the team’s transformation from a floundering midfielder that was sold to the energy drink giant for £1 to one that conquered the F1 world with unprecedented levels of success.

In January 2005, a 31-year-old Horner waited in the car park of the team’s factory while the former Jaguar F1 boss was being dismissed, before being introduced to the workforce as the youngest team principal in F1 history upon the rebrand to Red Bull Racing. In the book Growing Wings, published last year, Horner revealed he only knew one person in the room, getting an otherwise frosty response from the stunned workforce.

Twenty years later, Horner knew every single person who assembled for his speech on Wednesday morning when he informed them he would no longer be serving as team principal. In footage of the speech obtained by Sky Sports, Horner described the news as a “shock”, calling his time at Red Bull “the biggest privilege of my life” as he paid tribute to the team members. He was subject to a big round of applause when he took a moment to gather himself after becoming emotional.

It was evidence of the widespread support that Horner retained from the workforce within Red Bull Racing, which had persisted even in the wake of an investigation into allegations of misconduct and inappropriate behavior made against Horner by a female Red Bull employee last year. The grievance was dismissed after an internal investigation, a decision upheld on appeal. Horner denied the allegations.

But with the team tracking for its worst championship finish in a decade, and continued questions being asked over star driver Max Verstappen’s future, Red Bull Racing’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH, has decided to act and confirmed on Wednesday that Horner had been “released from his operational duties.”

It’s a significant break point in the recent history of Red Bull, and although the tensions have been bubbling away in the team for some time, the sudden nature of Horner’s departure makes it a big shock for the entire F1 paddock.

The long-running power struggle

Since the death of Red Bull’s founder, Dietrich Mateschitz, in October 2022, the struggle for power at Red Bull Racing has been rumbling in the background between the two ‘sides’ that own the parent company, Red Bull GmbH.

The Austrian arm of the company owns 49 percent of shares, overseen by Mark Mateschitz, Dietrich’s son and heir. The remaining — and crucial — 51 percent belong to Chalerm Yoovidhya, the son of Chaleo Yoovidhya, who co-founded Red Bull with Dietrich Mateschitz in the 1980s

The fact that Yoovidhya had the majority share meant that, through all the internal power struggles that may have played out at Red Bull, his support was critical to Horner. Yoovidhya was a notable attendee at last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix — days after the grievance against Horner was dismissed, and a cache of unverified messages and photos purportedly sent by Horner to the complainant were anonymously sent to numerous international media members and high-ranking F1 figures — and spent time with Horner on the grid, as well as in parc ferme while celebrating Verstappen’s victory. Yoovidhya most recently attended the Austrian Grand Prix, Red Bull’s home race, at the end of June.

Traditionally, decisions taken by the shareholders were made in consultation with Horner, Red Bull Motorsport consultant Helmut Marko (who has always been close to the Austrian side of the company), and Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull GmbH’s CEO of corporate projects and investments. Last year, Marko’s position came into question amid scrutiny over his potential role in the message leaks, only for talks with Mintzlaff to lead to him staying in his position. Verstappen had warned when the initial question marks over Marko’s future arose that he could not continue racing for the team if the Austrian were to depart.

Last week at Silverstone, Horner spoke of Red Bull Racing having “very tight senior management” and “a very strong structure.” While this may have been true for the team itself, with key personnel reporting to Horner, there was always an awkward struggle for power playing out behind the scenes — one that would only be definitively decided by those at the very top.

Horner’s dismissal suggests that the all-important support from the Thai side of the company had disappeared, and there is an alignment between the shareholders that a change was required. The Athletic has approached Red Bull GmbH for comment.

The messaging from Red Bull in the wake of the news has been one of gratitude. The press release announcing Horner’s exit included a quote from Mintzlaff thanking the Briton for his “exceptional work.” The team’s social media post about the news was almost word-for-word the same as Mintzlaff’s quote.


Red Bull’s troublesome second seat is one of many issues at the team (Andrej Isakovic/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

But why now?

What separates the Red Bull of July 2025 from any other point in its recent history under Horner is its on-track fortunes. This year, they have not been wholly positive.

Verstappen has hauled his Red Bull RB21 car to two race wins, putting in majestic displays at Suzuka and Imola to snare victory away from the dominant McLarens. Otherwise, the 27-year-old’s immeasurable talent has been enough to compensate for the shortcomings of Red Bull’s car, which has proven troublesome since midway through last season.

The issues with the car have been illustrated most plainly by the ‘second’ Red Bull car, which hasn’t recorded a top-five finish in over a year. Sergio Pérez’s spiraling form led to his exit at the end of last year, with Red Bull preferring to pay out for his contract for 2025 instead of keeping him in the car. His replacement, Liam Lawson, lasted just two races before being dropped for Yuki Tsunoda, who has scored only seven points and is still far behind Verstappen.

As much as Red Bull may insist the car is not built around Verstappen, the truth is only the Dutchman has tamed its difficult nature to score regular points. Verstappen is responsible for 165 of the team’s 172 points this year, or 95.9 percent, a reliance and lack of support from the other side of the garage that could also have bred some frustration within the Verstappen camp. The lack of two drivers fighting at the very front will always hurt championship potential.

The failure to remedy the struggles with the car that emerged midway through last year and keep pace with McLaren has also occurred against the backdrop of a series of major departures. The highest-profile exit was that of Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s chief technical officer and the most successful designer in F1 history, who quit after 19 years last year before a move to Aston Martin. This followed the exit of chief engineering officer Rob Marshall at the start of 2024, who joined McLaren as a technical director and has since been instrumental in the team’s success.

Newey wasn’t the only big name to leave Red Bull last year. Jonathan Wheatley, Red Bull’s sporting director, departed at the end of the season to become the Sauber team principal, while head of strategy Will Courtenay is set to join McLaren next year as its new sporting director.

Horner has consistently downplayed the potential impact of these exits, instead talking up Red Bull’s strength in depth and its ability to bring more engineering talent through its ranks. However, observers from rival teams up and down the paddock have privately commented that it doesn’t point to a stable team to have so many names leaving.

The big concern for Red Bull’s shareholders will be the struggle for on-track performance compared to its rivals. At present, Red Bull sits fourth in the constructors’ championship and is effectively relying solely on Verstappen for its returns. Barring an uplift in form, it’s tough to envisage the team clawing past either Mercedes or Ferrari, with McLaren already well on its way to a second straight constructors’ title. Fourth would be Red Bull’s worst constructors’ finish since 2015, bringing with it a reduced prize money return running into the tens of millions compared to the historic double title-winning 2023 season.


Verstappen and Horner ahead of FP2 at the British GP (Sipa USA)

The impact of Verstappen’s future

Another critical piece of context at this time is the spotlight being placed on Verstappen’s future amid continued speculation about a potential switch to Mercedes for the 2026 season.

Horner has always dismissed this as “noise” and pointed to Verstappen’s contract that runs to 2028. Although he acknowledged at Silverstone that there was a need to plan for a post-Verstappen era at Red Bull, it wasn’t one he outwardly recognized could happen soon. Verstappen has recently batted away questions about his future, yet also passed on opportunities to firmly state he will be racing for Red Bull next year.

Verstappen’s father, Jos, was one of the most outspoken critics of Horner at the height of the investigation into the now former Red Bull team principal last year. He warned after the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix that Red Bull would be “torn apart” if Horner stayed in charge, showing just how poor relations had grown between the two men. There has been little outward sign of improvement since.

In a crammed media session, the images of which have since been widely shared on social media, at Silverstone last Thursday, Max Verstappen was asked if there was any truth to rumors that his camp was pushing for Horner’s exit. Verstappen replied: “I don’t know anything about that.”

Verstappen’s personal social media account shared a message on Wednesday that struck a similar grateful tone to the Red Bull GmbH statement, accompanied by a picture of him embracing Horner. “From my first race win to four world championships, we have shared incredible successes,” Verstappen wrote. “Winning memorable races and breaking countless records. Thank you for everything, Christian!”

Unquestionably, Horner’s exit will have an impact on Verstappen’s decision-making as he weighs his next move. He’s been clear in his frustration about the team’s struggle for form this year, long brushing off thoughts of retaining his world title. To him, the most important thing is performance.

And one thing Verstappen has always stressed is the need to bring that out, particularly in the early months of 2024, is a calmness and peace around him; the right conditions in which to get the best out of himself. Should this change bring about that peace by defusing any power struggle, that would only be seen as a positive step toward keeping Verstappen in place.

Yet changing the man at the top does not immediately guarantee on-track success. It took Andrea Stella 18 months to get things to click with McLaren, while Fred Vasseur’s Ferrari honeymoon is well and truly over. Horner’s replacement, Laurent Mekies, is well-known and well-liked within the Red Bull setup.

However, a significant task will be convincing Verstappen that it remains the best place for him to race next year and beyond. If the doubt is so great that a move away is desired, then Red Bull would end up losing its most prized asset of all.

(Top photo: Sipa USA)



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Best Prime Day laptop deals LIVE — My top day 3 picks now on MacBooks, Chromebooks and more

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July 10, 2025

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Samsung’s mighty Galaxy Book 5 Pro 360 is $300 off

(Image credit: Future / Tom’s Guide)

We called the Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro the MacBook Pro alternative with a bigger OLED display and a lighter design, so if you’re a fan of Windows, this model should be on your radar, as it’s $300 off.

You’re getting an Intel Core 7 Ultra CPU, a 3K (2,880 x 1,800) OLED touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate and even an S Pen thrown in for good measure. For workers on the go and even students, this Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro 360 is a worthy companion.

Yes, RTX 4070 laptops are cheaper than ever!

MSI Katana A15 AI

(Image credit: MSI)

So here I was, minding my own business, when I saw an RTX 4070 gaming for just $1,349! I did some backtracking and yep, it’s one of the cheapest prices I’ve ever seen!

You may not get the multi-frame gen goodness of the 50-series GPUs, but with DLSS 4, you’re getting stellar performance throughout this entire system. On top of that, the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS is a screamer, paired with a whopping 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB SSD.

Any game running on that QHD panel up top will take full advantage of that 165Hz refresh rate!

$300 off one of our favorite AI laptops

Lenovo Yoga 7i

(Image credit: Future)

Curious to try out one of these new-fangled “AI laptops” Microsoft has been promoting?

Now’s a great time because you can save some serious cash on a brand-new Lenovo Slim 7i. Amazon has the Aura Edition of this killer ultraportable on sale for a cool $300 off.

It’s a capable productivity machine that’s nearly as light and as thin as a MacBook Air. And as you can read in our Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition review,

This special edition has extra features like Smart Care (for real-time tech support) and Smart Modes, which make it super-easy to customize your laptop to your needs!

The latest Dell 14 Plus just hit a new low price!

Dell 14 Plus on table with Tom's Guide Prime Day badge

(Image credit: Future / Tom’s Guide)

Last time I saw this deal, it was at $949. Well, the Dell 14 Plus has now dropped even further to $849!

It’s part of Dell’s rebrand of its laptop lineup, so you’ll be getting the latest with an Intel Core Ultra 7 chip, a mighty 32GB of DDR5X RAM and a helpful 1TB SSD. Not bad for a strong laptop such as this, especially if you’re a student or need a reliable laptop while on the move.

This RTX 5050 laptop is now $400 off!

HP Omen Transcend 14 (2025)

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)

Amazon Prime Day deals aren’t just relegated to Amazon, as other vendors are also slashing prices across the board. Right now, the HP Omen Transcend 14 is $1,429 at HP. That’s not too bad considering you’re saving $400 thanks to this sale. Anyone who might be new to the world of PC gaming or who wants a relatively affordable gaming laptop should give HP’s machine a serious look—especially at this reduced price.

HP Omen Transcend 14: was $1829 now $1429 @ HP

Get $400 off this RTX 5090 gaming laptop

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 2023

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

Think high-end RTX 50-series gaming laptop deals were only hitting the entry-level models? Think again.

The powerhouse RTX 5090 is also seeing serious discounts — and this Legion Pro 7i is a perfect example. Packed with an Intel Core Ultra 9-275HX processor, 32GB of RAM, a massive 2TB SSD, and of course, that beastly RTX 5090 GPU, this machine is built for domination. Add in a sharp QHD display and a sleek, minimalist design that fits right into any setup, and you’ve got a dream rig.

With support for DLSS 4 and multi-frame generation, the only real drawback so far has been the premium price tag. But now? There’s a hefty $400 discount making this monster a lot more tempting.

Looking for the Windows MacBook Air? Look no further

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition

(Image credit: Future)

The Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition is a great ultraportable that packs a whole lot of power into a slim, sleek and utilitarian package. Seriously premium with an all aluminum shell, featuring a gorgeous 14-inch OLED display, Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB SSD.

This is a great all-rounder for getting things done by day and entertaining by night, and it’s 18% off right now.

Swipe this Acer Swift X 14 creator laptop with a $400 drop!

Acer Swift 14 X on table with Tom's Guide Prime Day badge

(Image credit: Future / Tom’s Guide)

This is one for the creators out there. The Acer Swift X 14 is a great choice for graphics designers or photo and video editors, all thanks to its 14.5-inch (2880 x 1800) OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Along with its RTX 4060 GPU, it’s able to handle graphically intensive tasks, and that even includes gaming.

Better yet, the Acer Swift X 14 is now down to just $1,099, which is $400 off the cost. Not bad savings for an OLED laptop with some commendable specs.

In the UK? Grab this RTX 5070 Alienware laptop deal

Alienware 16 Aurora gaming laptops with one closed and one open on surface with tom's guide price drop badge

(Image credit: Dell / Alienware)

While those in the U.S. can enjoy this Alienware 16 Aurora with an RTX 5060 for $1099, if you’re in the U.K., then you’ll be happy to know that its even more powerful sibling is on sale, and it comes with an RTX 5070.

The Alienware 16X Aurora with an RTX 5070 is £300 off at Amazon, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a gaming laptop packing this kind of heat at a similar price. It sports an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, RTX 5070, 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB SSD. Even better, it’s glorious 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) display comes with a 240Hz refresh rate, which you’ll see shine thanks to Nvidia’s DLSS 4.

Better act fast, though, as stock appears to be low!

Wait…a MacBook Air for $699!?

MacBook Air 2022 unveiled at Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2022

(Image credit: David Paul Morris/Getty)

Apple Silicon may have a shelf-life, but it’s super long. The M2 chip is still a serious performer in 2025, which is what makes this dirt cheap M2 MacBook Air so attractive!

It’s impressively fast and power efficient all at once, and you get that same sleek, utilitarian chassis that you get with the M3 and M4 Airs. This is a solid shout of a laptop and it’s $100 off right now.

Feeling Pro? The MacBook Pro M4 is cheaper than ever!

MacBook Pro 14 M4 on table with Tom's Guide Prime Day badge

(Image credit: Future / Tom’s Guide)

I love the MacBook Pro — packing peak performance and shockingly good power efficiency into a sleek, premium aluminum shell that looks ready for work (especially in space black). And right now, the latest and greatest M4 systems are cheaper than ever.

Whether you’re eyeing the base M4, the more capable M4 Pro, or the powerhouse M4 Max, you can now knock at least $150 off the price. As someone who edits video, codes, and occasionally dives into some gaming, I can say the MacBook Pro more than keeps up. It’s a machine built for people who push their gear to the limit—and now it’s finally a bit easier on the wallet too.

This RTX 5070 gaming laptop is SHOCKINGLY CHEAP!

Asus TUF Gaming A18 on table outside with Tom's Guide Prime Day badge

(Image credit: Future / Tom’s Guide)

Asus’ TUF series has evolved beyond its budget roots, and the Asus TUF Gaming A16 is proof of that. This machine packs serious power — and now it’s seeing a serious discount in what might be one of the best anti-Prime Day deals around.

Right now at Best Buy, you can score the Asus TUF Gaming A16 with an RTX 5070 for just $1,399, a sharp drop from its regular $1,699 price. That $300 discount gets you a whole lot of performance: an AMD Ryzen 9 270 CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD — a top-tier spec sheet for gamers and creators alike.

Sure, the display isn’t ultra-premium, but the 16-inch FHD+ panel (1920 x 1200) with a 165Hz refresh rate still delivers crisp visuals and buttery-smooth gameplay.

If you’re looking for serious gaming horsepower without paying premium-brand prices, this is the deal to beat — and it’s beating many of Prime Day’s so-called “best” offers. It’s only a tad smaller than the Asus TUF Gaming A18 I’ve tested with the same GPU, and I’m having a blast with that.

Snag this seriously lightweight LG Gram for over $250 off

LG Gram on table next to mouse with Tom's Guide Prime Day badge

(Image credit: LG)

The MacBook Air may be one of the thinnest laptops around, but this LG Gram 14 isn’t far behind it. In fact, it’s actually lighter, and comes with a great discount thanks to Prime Day.

The LG Gram 14 is now over $250 off at Amazon, boasting Copilot+ AI capabilities thanks to its latest Intel Core Ultra 7 255H CPU, along with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. It’s amazingly thin at 0.67 inches (the MacBook Air M4 is 0.44 inches), and is incredibly lightweight at 2.47 pounds (2.7 pounds for the MacBook Air).

As a laptop that can power through multitasking without breaking a sweat in a portable, featherweight design, the LG Gram 14 is a great shout for students and workers on the move.

Bag my favorite budget laptop (that doesn’t even feel budget) for less than $500!

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x

(Image credit: Future)

When I tried the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3X a few months ago, I was confident that this could be the budget laptop to beat in 2025 — managing to find the right balance between ergonomics, performance and power efficiency without breaking the bank.

And now, it’s even cheaper with $180 off the list price, which brings this Snapdragon X system down to just $499.

Yep you read that right, Snapdragon. That means snappy single-core performance for opening apps in a zip, and sipping that battery to make it last well over all-day long. Pair that with a big 15.3-inch display, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, and you’ve got a stellar cheap Copilot+ PC!

Snag the perfect back-to-school Chromebook for under $350

Acer Chromebook Plus 515 review unit on a desk

(Image credit: Future)

If you’re looking ahead to going back to school and need a cheapish machine to handle the basics, a Chromebook could be the way to go.

The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is a solid example of what you can do with Google’s laptops — there’s enough power to keep the lightweight OS smooth and the vivid and bright 1080p touchscreen helps too.

And with all the Google AI additions such as Gemini and NotebookLM, a Chromebook Plus is the best way to go with a better service in mind. You can get 23% off one right now.

The power of an RTX 5070 Ti for $400 less!

Asus ROG Strix Scar 18

(Image credit: Future)

Right, now this is an RTX 5070 Ti gaming laptop that can handle the heat. It’s still pricey, but getting $400 off this beast offers huge value for a gaming PC upgrade. Yes, the RTX 5070 Ti will perform brilliantly in the latest games, but it’s the rest of what this Asus ROG Strix G16 offers that pulls it all together.

This Asus ROG Strix G16 with an RTX 5070 Ti is now $400 off, which means you can now grab it for under $2,000. But it also offers the latest (and powerful) Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB SSD. Moreover, it boasts a 16-inch 2.5K (‎2560 x 1600) Nebula display with a 240Hz refresh rate, 16:10 aspect ratio and speedy 3ms response time. Oh, and a MUX switch to boost gaming performance and a way to customize the RAM, SSD and fans without needing a screwdriver.

Now that’s a powerful machine, and for under $2,000, it’s a gaming laptop you’ll want to check out.

A Windows 11 laptop for under $250? The deal is here!

Acer Aspire Go 15 review unit on desk

(Image credit: Future)

Who said Chromebooks were the only pocket-friendly laptops you can get? We were already big fans of this Acer Aspire Go 15 due to its price, but it’s now cheaper than ever thanks to a $50 price cut!

Right now, the Acer Aspire Go 15 is down to $249 at Amazon, and that’s amazing savings on a Windows 11 PC. It’s made for simple, everyday tasks like writing in documents, browsing the web and watching shows with its 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) display, so don’t expect a complete powerhouse here. But you’ll find over 10 hours of battery life, a comfy keyboard and a premium-feeling design.

As a family laptop or for students who need something affordable for studying, this is a great choice.

Now $150 off MacBooks! Easily one of the best laptops deals right now

MacBook Air 13-inch M4 shown on tabletop

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)

Let’s talk about easily one of the best laptops you can buy right now. The 13- and 15-inch M4 MacBook Airs pack a lot of performance and insane power efficiency into a slim, sleek shell with a gorgeous display, strong webcam and impressive ergonomics. What more could you want!?

And now, the 13-inch is $50 off, and you’re getting $150 off the 15-inch model!

Welcome to Day 3

Amazon Prime Day shipping boxes

(Image credit: Amazon)

We are now on the third day of a four-day Prime Day — making me absolutely certain that Amazon has lost track of time in knowing what a “day” actually is! But at least the laptop deals are oh-so sweet in the US and UK!

We’ll be rapid-firing every single big saving that is actually worth it in this live feed — the kind of laptop deals I’d recommend to my friends and family.

For a good start, check out our listed deals above. And of course, the second we spot anything new, we’ll be sharing it here.



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Wimbledon women’s semifinal results: Iga Świątek dominates, Amanda Anisimova advances to final with win over Aryna Sabalenka

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1 hour ago

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July 10, 2025

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The Wimbledon final is set. American Amanda Anisimova will take on Poland’s Iga Świątek on Saturday. The winner will walk away with the first Wimbledon title of their careers.

Anisimova punched her ticket to the final first with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win over Aryna Sabalenka. It was a fantastic, back-and-forth match, but Anisimova came out on top in the end.

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The American relied on a fantastic serve, which registered just two aces, but put Sabalenka in tough positions all game. While Anisimova showed signs of frustration and poor body language during the match, she recovered enough to take a huge 4-1 lead in the final set. While Sabalenka battled back, that gap proved to be too big. Anisimova pulled out a narrow 6-4 win in the final set to advance to her first Wimbledon final.

The second match of the day proved to be far less dramatic, as Świątek dominated Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-0 to advance to the final. Świątek played a phenomenal match and looked absolutely determined to reach the final at Wimbledon for the first time in her career.

Her serve was dominant, registering two aces and contributing to Świątek’s 26 winners. While she made more unforced errors compared to Bencic, Świątek excelled everywhere else. She was 6-for-6 on net points and 5-for-5 on break points.

While Świątek will hold the advantage in the final, Anisimova could prove to be a difficult opponent. The two have never faced each other in a singles match, which could provide Anisimova with an opportunity to surprise Świątek in the final.

Catch up below on all the action from Thursday’s Wimbledon women’s semifinals:



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Wimbledon 2025 live: Novak Djokovic suffers injury scare plus Swiatek vs Bencic score and result

Published

3 hours ago

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July 10, 2025

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NEW: Novak Djokovic cancels practice session ahead of Jannik Sinner showdown at Wimbledon

The 38-year-old suffered an awkward fall very late on in his quarter-final victory over Flavio Cobolli on Wednesday.

He picked himself up to finish off the four-set victory but admitted afterwards he would likely not know the full effect until Thursday, and the signs did not appear positive when Djokovic first delayed and then cancelled his scheduled practice session at the All England Club.

Kieran Jackson10 July 2025 18:28

Bencic struggled to hold serve against Swiatek (Getty Images)
Swiatek and Bencic embrace after match point
Swiatek and Bencic embrace after match point (Getty Images)
Swiatek will play in her first Wimbledon final next
Swiatek will play in her first Wimbledon final next (Getty Images)

Alex Pattle10 July 2025 19:00

Swiatek breezes past Bencic and into her first final at Wimbledon

Report from Centre Court:

Alex Pattle10 July 2025 18:49

Swiatek is asked what music she listened to on her way onto court

Swiatek: “Same as every time, I like to keep my routines, so there’s some AC/DC, Guns ‘N’ Roses, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones.

“Yeah, I mean, before the match [I like rock music]. Everybody’s asking me if I listen to that all the time, they keep buying me vinyl records and everything.

“And I’m like, ‘Guys, if I would listen to that all the time, I wouldn’t be able to sleep,’ so it’s just pre-match, just to pump myself up.

“But off the court, when I don’t compete, I’m more of a pop, jazzy, something, I don’t know…”

Alex Pattle10 July 2025 18:20

Swiatek speaks after reaching first Wimbledon final

Swiatek: “Honestly, I never even dreamt that it’s gonna be possible for me to play in the final.

“So, I’m just super excited and just proud of myself, and I don’t know… Tennis keeps surprising me.

“I thought I lived through everything, even though I’m young. I thought I’d experience everything on the court, but I didn’t experience playing well on grass, so that’s the first time, so I’m just enjoying it.

“Every opponent is different, so every match I also need to adjust my game, but for sure I feel like I improved my movement, and I’m serving really well.

“And I feel really confident, so I’m just going for it – and for sure it’s working, so I’ll keep doing that.”

A victorious Switaek on Centre Court
A victorious Switaek on Centre Court (Getty Images)

Alex Pattle10 July 2025 18:17

GAME, SET AND MATCH! SWIATEK BOOKS FINAL SPOT

Bencic gets ahead at 15-0, but Swiatek turns the game around for 15-30.

The former world No 1 then drags a forehand into the net, 30-30.

But she brings up match point on the next go…

Saved! Credit to Bencic, who bravely takes on a forehand. Somehow, Swiatek gets it back, and the next shot, but Bencic eventually slams home a smash. Deuce.

A slight slip from Bencic, and she nets a backhand. Another match point for Swiatek…

TAKEN! A winner, past a stranded Bencic, and Swiatek reaches her first Wimbledon final!

She bagels Bencic in the second set, wow.

Alex Pattle10 July 2025 18:13

Bencic really struggling here

Swiatek races up to the net, then pings a forehand just inside the baseline. Bencic’s return effort is valiant, but the ball floats narrowly long. 0-15.

Bencic with a better serve this time, and Swiatek’s return is nowhere. 15-15. Same again! 30-15.

The pair exchange backhands on the next point, before Swiatek puts a forehand near Bencic in the corner. Although it’s close to her, it slightly wrongfoots her, and Bencic bows her head as she’s beaten. 30-30.

Swiatek’s next return fails to beat the net, though. 40-30.

Swiatek saves one game point by pushing Bencic into the corner, where the Swiss stretches and can’t get much on her backhand. Deuce.

Double fault, and Swiatek has a break point on advantage… Saved! Swiatek’s forehand in the corner is just wide.

But more poor serving gives Swiatek a break point again, which she takes with a powerful forehand in the corner. Again, Bencic just can’t get anything on it.

(Getty Images)

Alex Pattle10 July 2025 17:55

Deja vu

For the second set in a row, Swiatek rushes to 3-0.

It would take a tennis miracle for Bencic to pull this one back.

But stranger things have happened, it’s why we love this sport.

Alex Pattle10 July 2025 17:49



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