Related items

• 'Ambitious' Alcaraz targets career grand slam in 2025

  Carlos Alcaraz says he "wants more" as he targets earning a career grand slam in 2025.

  The Spaniard enjoyed his best year in terms of grand slams in 2024, winning his first French Open title before successfully defending his Wimbledon crown by beating Novak Djokovic in July.

  He has won four major titles in his career, having also won the US Open in 2022, but is yet to triumph at the Australian Open.

  Alcaraz reached the quarter-final on his most recent attempt, his best finish in Melbourne, losing out to Alexander Zverev in four sets.

  Only eight men have ever completed a career grand slam – Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic – while Alcaraz would be the youngest man to ever achieve the feat if he triumphs in January, overtaking Nadal.

  "I am a very ambitious person, and I want to win the Australian Open to complete the career Grand Slam," said the world number three.

  "I want 2025 to be even more exciting. Let's say I want more. Australia is what I want to tattoo, even if my father doesn't like it very much. Being champion there is my main goal for next season.

  "It was a year of ups and downs, but still positive. I still get emotional when I watch the videos of Roland-Garros and Wimbledon.

  "I [will] start a hard month of training, but spending Christmas and New Year at home is wonderful and gives me a break. Sometimes it's difficult to find happiness, but I want people to have fun with me."

• 'Icon' Nadal chose to retire at 'right time', says Henman

  Tim Henman believes it was "the right time" for Rafael Nadal to retire after he bowed out following the Davis Cup Finals in November.

  Nadal retired with 22 men's Grand Slam titles, 92 ATP-level singles titles, including 36 Masters titles and an Olympic gold medal.

  He also won five Davis Cup titles throughout his career, in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2019.

  The Spaniard, who struggled with injuries during the last two years of his career, represented his country on home soil but lost his final-ever match in straight sets to Botic van de Zandschulp as Spain were knocked out in the quarter-finals.

  Nadal did bow out by claiming one last bit of history though, becoming the Spaniard player with the most matches played in the competition in the last 30 years, with that his 43rd and final appearance.

  Henman believes Nadal bowed out on his own terms at the right time for him.

  "From the outside looking in, I think it was the right time," Henman told Eurosport. "He's given so much to the sport.

  "The sport takes so much out of him physically and mentally. And I just don't know whether his body could take it any longer.

  "So, I think it was a good time to step down and give Rafa the time to reflect on just the incredible achievements that he's had in this sport."

  Following his last match, Nadal was welcomed back onto the court in Malaga to address the crowd, while an emotional tribute with messages from his rivals played.

  "Look, I think when you talk about retirement for any player, it's really not straightforward to plan it," Henman added.

  "And with the injuries and all the different challenges that Rafa had and with the schedule, I think to be representing your country in the Davis Cup in your home country is very special. So, I think it was a good send-off.

  "And I hope Rafa felt comfortable with that. He's just been an absolute icon of our sport. But for the Spanish people to get to see him one last time at home, I think was very, very special."

• Jamaican Olympian Juliet Campbell launches community initiative with Kids Fest and Yard Sale in Harbour View on December 22

  Retired Jamaican Olympian and current Marketing Manager for Running at Puma, Juliet Campbell, is set to give back to her roots with an initiative aimed at uplifting the communities in Eastern Kingston where she grew up. On December 22, Campbell will host a Kids Fest and Community Yard Sale at Harbour View Primary School, marking the start of her efforts to make a meaningful and lasting impact in the area.

  “So, I am from that area,” said Campbell, a three-time Olympian, 2000 World Indoor 200m gold medalist, and 2003 World Championships 200m bronze medalist. “I can pretty much claim to be from Rockfort, all the way back to Shooters Hill in Bull Bay, with a little stint in Hagley Gap out in St Thomas. Went to Harbour View Primary, went to Donald Quarrie Secondary before I left for St Jago High School.”

  

  The event, she explained, is the first step in her broader plans to support and engage the community. “I am putting on a Kids Fest and a community yard sale on December 22 at the Harbour View Primary School, just to meet the people and let them know what’s going on and start from there. It’s a stepping stone in big plans that I have for Harbour View, especially Harbour View Primary, where I am going to be very intentional about helping them to develop their sports programme. That field right there is where my athletic career started.”

  Alvin Walters, Principal of Harbour View Primary welcomes the initiative and is cautiously optimistic about what lies ahead.

  “We appreciate the initiative and we look forward to see what comes of the Kids Fest, the proceeds of that, in part, would go to the school to assist us with our sports programme,” he told Sportsmax.TV.

  “It is something that would be ongoing and as an Olympian, she is looking forward to seeing how that impacts us positively as a school.”

  

  Campbell has quietly supported the community for years but is now moving toward a more structured approach. “I do stuff in the area, privately, but now I am branching out with a foundation, helping and doing more with the community and the kids there. This is just kind of an initiation to test the waters to see what direction I’m going.”

  Her commitment to giving back stems from her upbringing and the example set by her mother. “I have helped so many persons through my mother (Ms Lorraine). I remember there was even a child who had a disability and needed some special shoes. I paid for the shoes. My mother takes money and cooks for the elderly, takes food for the shut-ins. I have paid medical bills, school fees, you name it, I have done it in the community.”

  This event will fund further initiatives. “The vendors who are coming in to sell their goods will have to pay a fee to secure their spots, all that money will be donated to Harbour View Primary,” Campbell said. “The reception so far has been really good but regardless of how it turns out, it won’t stop me from continuing the plan. It’s just for me to get a feel of the temperature of the community.”

  

  Among Campbell’s future plans is a bakery initiative that would provide both skills and employment opportunities. “I know of an organization overseas, a Fortune 500 company. Their charity of choice is that they go into countries and communities and set up state-of-the-art bakeries for young people to enhance their skills and earn a living by baking,” she said. “I know quite well the persons that run that initiative, that’s among the initiatives I have planned.”

  Campbell’s concerns extend to the youth in Shooters Hill, where she sees opportunities for intervention. “I really don’t like what I see when I drive up there. The young people seem so lost, they’re just hanging out and that can’t be good. I know that there are opportunities in the country for these persons to develop themselves to gain skills and to earn, but the motivation doesn’t seem to be there, so I am going to try to inject a little positivity and energy.”

  Campbell is determined to uplift the community that shaped her. “I am looking forward to going in and working with and developing our community,” she said.

  The Kids Fest and Community Yard Sale represents just the beginning of Campbell’s ambitious plans, and her commitment to Eastern Kingston is sure to inspire others to follow her lead.