Entertainment
Iga Swiatek to become No.1? Aryna Sabalenka’s China Open pullout spices up race
Aryna Sabalenka’s withdrawal from the China Open opens the door for Iga Swiatek to close the gap in the race for the WTA No.1 ranking. A strong run in Seoul and Beijing could bring Swiatek within striking distance of the top spot.
The battle for the women’s World No.1 ranking has taken a sudden twist after Aryna Sabalenka announced she would skip the 2025 China Open in Beijing. The Belarusian, currently holding the top spot with 11,225 points, said she is dealing with a minor injury she picked up at the US Open.
Get Sports Updates on WhatsApp
Join our WhatsApp channel to receive breaking sports news and insider stories.
Join us on WhatsAppMissing this WTA 1000 event not only keeps her out of competition but also costs her 215 points, since she had reached the quarterfinals in Beijing last year.
I am sad to announce my withdrawal from the China Open this year after sustaining a small injury after the US Open. I am going to focus on being 100 per cent healthy for the rest of the year,” Sabalenka said in a statement provided by organisers.
This opens the door for Iga Swiatek, the current No.2 with 7,933 points, roughly 3,300 points behind in the official rankings. In the Race to Riyadh, which tracks results from 2025 alone, Swiatek is closer, trailing Sabalenka by about 2,077 points.
What’s the equation for Iga Swiatek?
Swiatek did not play in Beijing last year, meaning she has no points to defend. Every win in China will directly add to her total, giving her a real chance to narrow the gap. Sabalenka could face more pressure soon, as she is the defending champion at the Wuhan Open, where 1,000 points are at stake. Any slip there—through injury or loss—would boost Swiatek’s chances even further.
Currently, Swiatek is competing at the WTA 500 in Seoul. A title there would give her both momentum and 500 ranking points ahead of Beijing. A deep run in China afterward could bring her within striking distance of Sabalenka. Should Swiatek win both Seoul and Beijing, she could earn 1,500 points in total, leaving her only about 600 points behind Sabalenka for the season.
For now, Sabalenka still leads, but her absence from Beijing has reignited Swiatek’s hopes. The next few weeks may determine if the WTA will crown a new year-end No.1.
Entertainment
Paige Spiranac’s surprising NFL fandom confession triggers heated debate over loyalty, authenticity, and fan culture
The 2026 NFL Draft starts Thursday night in Pittsburgh, and the spotlight isn’t only on prospects and front offices. Golf influencer Paige Spiranac has again found herself pulled into NFL conversation, this time for her open support of multiple teams.
Get Sports Updates on WhatsApp
Join our WhatsApp channel to receive breaking sports news and insider stories.
Join us on WhatsAppWith the Steelers hosting the first round, her long-standing connection to Pittsburgh has resurfaced. But it’s not just about hometown ties. Her broader fandom, which stretches beyond one franchise, continues to draw mixed reactions at a time when fan loyalty is often treated as non-negotiable.
Paige Spiranac roots for 2 NFL teams: Who are they?
Paige Spiranac has never hidden where her loyalties lie, even if they don’t fit the usual mold. She has consistently pointed to her roots while leaving space for other allegiances.
“Both my parents are from Pittsburgh so I’ve been a Steelers ..fan since the day I was born. I also love the Bills. It’s a complicated relationship…Who’s your team?” she previously asked her followers. It’s a candid admission, one that reflects personal history more than calculated fandom.
Still, the reaction has been sharp. NFL culture tends to rew ..
Entertainment
Quiet moments on the course can say a lot about what’s coming next.
Sometimes the most important work happens when nobody is really watching.
Lexi Thompson was out on the 18th green, working through her putting during a practice round ahead of the Chevron Championship in Houston.
Get Sports Updates on WhatsApp
Join our WhatsApp channel to receive breaking sports news and insider stories.
Join us on WhatsAppIt’s a simple scene, but it shows the kind of quiet preparation that goes into these big tournaments—getting the feel of the greens, adjusting to conditions, and building trust in every stroke.
These are the small details that can shape how a player starts when the pressure kicks in.
Entertainment
Predicting what will happen to Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson if LIV Golf collapses
It looks like LIV Golf is over.
Get Sports Updates on WhatsApp
Join our WhatsApp channel to receive breaking sports news and insider stories.
Join us on WhatsAppThe Saudi Public Investment Fund has reportedly decided that this league simply isn’t worth the hole it’s burning in their pocket, and they’re pulling funds at the end of 2026.
That gives them less than a year to seek new investment. While CEO Scott O’Neil seems confident, it’s going to be extremely difficult to secure funding for a league that is operating at such eye-watering losses.
So this probably pulls the curtain closed on one of the most turbulent, frustrating, confusing, and ridiculous eras in golfing history. Hopefully, we can all return to some reality after the year is over.
But there is still so much uncertainty surrounding golf’s future thanks to this. Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed saw the signs early and jumped ship, but they did that with some leverage. So what on earth is going to happen to the rest of these players who didn’t take the olive branch when it was offered to them?
Feelings will be hurt, and careers will be ended. Let’s take a look.
Jon Rahm rejoins the PGA Tour
Koepka returned to the PGA Tour under the returning member program, which saw him pay $5 million to charity, accept that he’ll receive no FedEx Cup bonus money, and agree he cannot be a sponsor exemption for the 2026 signature events.
That same deal was offered to Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. They didn’t accept it, but a similar offer will likely be handed out to them again.
If LIV Golf folds, Rahm will not hold the same leverage as Koepka did, but he is a bigger star at this stage of his career. Make no mistake, the PGA Tour will want him back immediately.
But Rahm does risk leaving himself without any options at all. Reed didn’t come straight back to the PGA Tour, so he’s spending a year on the DP World Tour first. You’d imagine Rahm would consider doing the same, but it might not be so easy for him.
Rahm is in a feud with the DP World Tour, as the only one of eight players to reject a deal which would have seen him retain his full-time membership. If Rahm agreed to play in six DP World Tour events this year, then he could have played on both LIV Golf and the tour. He did not agree.
For now, his membership is at risk. So, will it be possible for him to spend a season on the DP World Tour like Reed? Maybe not. That makes it all the more likely that Rahm will be back on the PGA Tour the moment LIV folds.
Bryson DeChambeau does YouTube full-time
With DeChambeau, I don’t think it’s as much of a done deal that he returns to the PGA Tour. Not immediately anyway.
He’s been negotiating his contract with LIV, which expires at the end of this season. During these negotiations, he’s made it very clear that he is completely willing to step away from full-time competition and be a full-time YouTuber.
DeChambeau’s channel has over two million subscribers, so he could feasibly do that with all of the money he’s making there.
He was annoyed to see LIV move to a four-day format, so he could commit himself fully to being the content king. It would be a wild thing to do, but it’s also exactly the kind of move you could see the two-time major winner making.
He could qualify for The Open Championship and the US Open, and earn enough points there to play The Masters and the PGA Championship. It’s possible.
He does seem to live for competition, so maybe YouTube won’t quite scratch the itch, but it is on the table for DeChambeau. At least for a year until his suspension expires. Out of Rahm and DeChambeau, the American is absolutely the least likely to take a deal.
-
Entertainment5 months agoLindsey Vonn Turns Heads in Vibrant Red Swimwear During Tropical Getaway
-
Entertainment1 year agoFreakin’ Hot Ski Racer Lindsey Vonn Holds Second-Highest Super-G World Cup Wins
-
Entertainment1 year agoEmma Raducanu Living a Luxury Life: A Rising Star’s Glimpse into the Glamorous World
-
Entertainment1 year agoBra-less Charley Hull turns head by showing off bright red body …’
-
Entertainment1 year agoLexi Thompson Flaunts Her Athletic Physique on the Cover of Golf Magazine
-
Entertainment1 year agoCharley Hull Sizzles in Style: The Golf Queen Turning Heads On and Off the Course
-
Entertainment1 year agoPaige Spiranac posts 15 private photos: Everyone is talking about
-
Entertainment1 year agoCharley Hull Hits the Beach After a Long Day of Golfing
