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T’is the season to be jolly! The saying couldn’t hold any more true for the 11X LPGA Tour champ. Lexi Thompson had earlier decided to spend the holiday season with her mother all the while bringing in a new member to the family. Still, it seems the Christmas gifts did not stop for the Thompson household as they welcomed yet another addition a while back.

The American golfer shared a post on her social media handle, not too long ago, as she showcased her love for the newest addition to the family. Well, her fans couldn’t get enough as they showered the professional with wishes while taking to the same to express their surprise!

Lexi Thompson welcomes new addition to household
Known for her love for family, the athlete has taken to the internet many a time to express her love for her family, be it her human ones or her pets. However, this time around, the 1X major champ took to her Instagram handle to share the happy news of the birth of her nephew.

The 28-year-old shared a picture, a while back, on her profile. The snap showcases a smiling Thompson looking into the camera while holding a small baby in her arms, none other than Maverick Cole Thompson, her brother’s son. No wonder she seems emotional!

The picture was uploaded with the caption, “The newest addition to the Thompson family,” as she shared the news. Adding on, the athlete also couldn’t hold in her joy as she wrote, “Couldn’t be happier for my brother and his wife” all the while dubbing her newborn nephew as nothing short of “precious.”

Well, she was not alone in those sentiments as her followers also took to her Instagram post to share their joy at the happy news. Even the LPGA Tour pro would have been surprised at the amount of love that her nephew received via the internet!

Thompson’s adorable nephew throws the internet into a frenzy
The golfing world went ahead to react under the athlete’s post all the while showering her and her family with wishes. The responses ranged from those commenting about the newborn baby’s future to wishing the golfer a wonderful year in 2024. Let us take a quick look at some of them

Having a famous golfer as an aunt would surely bode well for the baby’s future if he is to play the game of golf. Moreover, that is exactly what a follower pointed out as he took to comment, “When he gets old enough to realize who Aunt Lexi is he will want private lessons and lots of selfies with his gorgeous aunt!!” Another golfing enthusiast went ahead to mention, “He will be a great golfer teach him well!” It seems the baby has his future set out for him.

Lexi Thompson Looks To Start LPGA Season With A Bang

A fan did come forward to wish the golfer for the future. However, it was not for the new year nor the baby they went ahead to give the greetings but for an entirely different matter. The follower commented, “You’re going to make a great Mom one day too..” all the while expressing their belief in the LPGA Tour pro’s ability to become a mother.

Well, some supporters of the pro went ahead to respond how adorable to duo looked in the photo. They couldn’t help but emphasize the same as they went ahead to react, “Absolutely gorgeous photo” under the snap.

Thompson has a new moniker now! From being known as a 1X major champ to an 11X LPGA Tour winner, she has now helmed the mantle of a caring aunt to her nephew, as referred to by a fan in their wish; “Congrats, auntie!!”

Lexi Thompson makes first ace in Grant Thornton Invitational history - PGA  TOUR

Maverick Cole Thompson. A truly wonderful name for the little guy. Even the fans think so as a certain follower went ahead to point out the same while mentioning, “Powerful name for the little man!! Congrats!!!”

Not every comment was about the newest addition to the family. A fan went ahead to wish the golfer for the upcoming year. It’s the new year soon and an ardent loving follower did wish the same to the athlete; “LEXI!!! WARMEST NEW YEARS WISHES DEAR!”

One can’t help but feel happy for the professional as she embarks on the next year on a high note with her baby nephew and family. T’is truly a special day for the golfer!

Garbine Muguruza, the Spanish tennis professional, is gearing up for the upcoming grass-based Grand Slam. The former World no.1 gave a subpar performance during the clay-court season because of an injury. However, after suffering a minor bump in her career, she now looks more energetic than ever.

The Spaniard has started preparing for the upcoming outdoor tournament. Further, Muguruza recently shared a clip of herself getting ready for a practice session on the grass.

Garbine Muguruza on Instagram
Muguruza took to Instagram to brighten her fan’s day by disclosing the things she takes care of before starting a long day of practice. The World No.10 shared a video and wrote, “Get ready with me. Tennis time. Behind the scenes.”

Further in the clip, the right-handed tennis ace is seen spraying and wrapping her feet with Pointer sisters’ Jump playing in the background. To which some fans responded by writing, “Wonderful way to prevent injuries,” and “I like your preparation!”

While the 28-year-old’s equipments swayed others as they wrote, “That ankle brace though!,” “What’s the spray?” And “What is the name of that tape ??”

Muguruza’s season so far
The 2016 French Open champion failed miserably in this year’s tournament. Though in her defense, she was struggling with a shoulder injury, which she incurred towards the end of the hard-court season. However, now that Muguruza has had an entire season embedded with early exits, her fans are hoping to see her have a long run in the upcoming tournaments in the grass-court season.

Further, she has an impressive record on grass, as she defeated the seven times Grand Slam champion Venus Williams to claim the trophy at 2017 Wimbledon championship. In addition, the Spaniard played six matches in the grass courts last year, out of which she came out victorious in four.

Though since 2017, Muguruza has only played 11 matches on grass. Thus, there are high chances if her shoulder injury resurfaces and causes problems in the upcoming major, her experience on the surface wouldn’t keep her afloat.

US alpine skiing legend Lindsey Vonn recently came across a comment to her latest post that didn’t sit right with her. The Olympic gold medalist counted down all the good and the great things she saw in 2023. However, the opinionated comment marred her experience of looking back at her 2023 highlights.

The new year brings new possibilities as well as new problems, and Lindsey Vonn encountered hers fairly early. However, the skiing champion expertly handled the words directed at her and gave a fitting reply to the comment. In fact, Vonn was lauded for the way she tackled the situation by several of her fans.

Lindsey Vonn takes care of uninvited words
Lindsey Vonn added a new video on Instagram displaying her speeding through a ski track. The video showed Lindsey Vonn finishing with a velocity of 133 km/h while skiing in the night. Instead of appreciating the great speed achieved by Vonn, a comment asked her to slow down. The comment said, “Time to slow down, settle down, and have kids!”

The uninvited comment raised a lot of eyebrows, but the 39-year-old dealt with it quite gracefully. Lindsey Vonn replied, “mmm really? Not a fan of this comment for many reasons… but mainly bc you think that bc I’m a woman I need to slow down and settle down to have kids? Not everyone does things the same way or in the same time frame buddy. But all the best to you in 2024.”

While the commenter ignored her great skiing ability, Lindsey Vonn made her stand clear swiftly, just like she does while skiing past the ice-clad curves and turns. In fact, She has been living her life on her terms post-retirement.

Lindsey Vonn Is Feeling Like a 'Boss' in Suede Brown Power Suit and  Effortless Glam - Sports Illustrated Lifestyle

Vonn continues to reign beyond the slopes
While Lindsey Vonn may have retired, her tank is still overflowing with fuel. The skiing expert has taken on several different sports and is mostly seen outdoors with various sporting icons. Moreover, it didn’t take her long to go on adventures as soon as she got discharged after her knee surgery. While kids may or may not be on her agenda, Vonn definitely will continue living her life to the fullest. And while doing this, Vonn has the support of her fans. The latest tussle is another testament to it as many of them stood beside her.

One of them said that while everyone can have kids, speeding through a ski track like her isn’t an easy feat to achieve. Some advised Vonn just to ignore the haters. One fan said a straight-faced thank you to Vonn for her reply. Got any thoughts on this? Pour them down in the comments.

The new year has begun with one less WBA belt in existence.

Devin Haney was formally removed as WBA ‘Super’ lightweight champion in the sanctioning body’s latest ratings update which published Tuesday. Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis is now the sole recognized WBA titleholder at the weight, having previously held WBA ‘Regular’ status.

The move was expected, when Haney (31-0, 15KOs) declared in late November that he was prepared to abandon his unified lightweight championship to fully compete at junior welterweight. The announcement was made prior to his WBC 140-pound title win over Regis Prograis. Haney delivered a tour-de-force performance atop a December 9 DAZN Pay-Per-View event from Chase Center in his birth town of San Francisco, California.

Despite his prior declaration, Haney was still the recognized WBA ‘Super’ lightweight champion as of the December 1 WBA rankings and headed into his fight versus Prograis.

Baltimore’s Davis (29-0, 27KOs) has yet to publicly comment on his newfound status as full titleholder. The only recent round of news involving the two-division titlist and boxing superstar was his recent conversion to Islam and that he chose the name Abdul Wahid (“Servant of The One”) upon his acceptance of Allah.

Gervonta Davis changes his name like Muhammad Ali: What's his new Muslim  name? | Marca

Monday’s development barely changes things for Davis, whose current title reign dates back to a December 2019 twelfth-round knockout of Yuriorkis Gamboa. The only real change is the absence of a primary title ahead of his belt, which means he is free to further unify the division if that is the road he chooses to travel. The only other active lightweight titlist is Shakur Stevenson, who claimed the vacant WBC belt in a twelve-round, unanimous decision win over Edwin De Los Santos last November 16 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The IBF and WBO belts are both currently vacant. The IBF belt will iikely be at stake in a proposed Vasiliy Lomachenko-George Kambosos fight targeted for this spring. Denis Berinchyk would then become the leading candidate to fight for the vacant WBO title versus an opponent to be determined.

Davis has not fought since a seventh-round knockout of Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20KOs) last April 22 at T-Mobile Arena. The bout was fought at a 136-pound catchweight in a non-title fight, with Davis’ WBA title not at stake.

Team Gervonta Davis Does Not Believe Fight With Jose Valenzuela Would Last  More Than Three Rounds - Boxing News

It mattered little to the masses; the fight sold a reported 1.2 million pay-per-view units and generated an estimated $22.8 million live gate atop a Showtime Pay-Per-View that served as the highest grossing event of 2023.

Davis last defended his WBA title in a stoppage win over previously unbeaten WBA junior lightweight titlist Hector Garcia after nine rounds. Garcia (no relation to Ryan) moved up in weight to unsuccessfully challenge Davis last January 6 at MCI Center in Washington, D.C.

No decision was yet made by the WBA as to whether Davis will be ordered to make a mandatory title defense; his last such obligation came in a May 2021 knockout win over then-unbeaten Rolando Romero.

Isaac Cruz and William Zepeda—a pair of contenders from Mexico—are the highest-ranked WBA lightweight contenders. Both have frequently expressed an interest in facing Davis.

Gervonta Davis' plea deal rejected after 2021 hit-and-run crash

Cruz has been teased as a leading candidate to next face Davis. Such a fight would represent a rematch to their December 2021 meeting, won by Davis via unanimous decision which snapped his sixteen-fight knockout streak. Cruz has since won three in a row, including a unanimous decision over Giovanni Cabrera last July 29 in Las Vegas.

Zepeda is due to fight in the first quarter of 2023, though an opponent was not yet identified as this goes to publication. The 27-year-old southpaw earned knockout victories over Jaime Arboleda and Merctio Gesta for his two bouts in 2023.

Tyson Fury’s promoter believes that Francis Ngannou has earned a rematch following their first clash.

The pair fought in October last year and Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion who was making his boxing debut, shocked the world, as he took WBC heavyweight champion Fury the distance and came close to emerging victorious.

Ngannou performed surprisingly well against Fury
Ngannou performed surprisingly well against Fury

Ngannou knocked Fury down in the third round and lost by a narrow split decision, although many people believed the Cameroonian had done enough to claim victory.

As such, Top Rank CEO Todd DuBoef thinks that Ngannou deserves a rematch.

“That’s an earned ability to get the rematch. He earned that,” Du Boef told Sky Sports.

“His performance dictated that, ‘Woah, he has a chance. We never thought he had a chance’ and in that situation I think absolutely.

“I think Tyson is regretful. He blamed himself. He thought he had an off night.

Was Francis Ngannou knocking Tyson Fury down the biggest boxing upset in  2023? | Video | Watch TV Show | Sky Sports

“He said: ‘I took it lightly. It was all on me.’ Didn’t point fingers, which was good.

“Ngannou outperformed anybody’s expectation and as a result of that you have all the components to say, hey, I want to see this again and that creates and warrants a rematch.”

For the time being, however, Fury is occupied as he has an upcoming undisputed heavyweight world title clash with Oleksandr Usyk on February 17.

The bout could see the first undisputed heavyweight champion crowned in the four belt era.

Emma Raducanu will make her comeback against Elena-Gabriela Ruse at the ASB Classic.

Emma Raducanu has Express Sport readers divided as she prepares to make her comeback at the ASB Classic in Auckland. The 21-year-old has been sidelined since undergoing three surgeries in May and will be back in action on Tuesday to face Elena-Gabriela Ruse.

Emma Raducanu
Emma Raducanu has left fans split with their predictions for her comeback

Raducanu is set to play her first match in almost nine months after receiving a wildcard into the ASB Classic. There is little to go off of given that Raducanu had been playing with injured wrists from the end of the 2022 season until her latest match – a 6-2 6-1 beatdown in Stuttgart back in April.

A former world No 10, she currently sits at No 301 following months of inactivity. It has left fans conflicted as to how she will fare, sending the Brit mixed messages about what she can achieve on her return. As she prepares to face Ruse in her first match back, 39 per cent of Express Sport tennis fans said that Raducanu would crash out in the first round.

But 38 per cent believe that she will be able to win a match before exiting in the second round, where she would face either Caroline Wozniacki or Elina Svitolina. 13 per cent are backing Raducanu to make it to the quarter-final while there are a few hopefuls that can see her going further and potentially winning the tournament.

Emma Raducanu underwent surgeries on both of her wrists and one ankle last May
Emma Raducanu underwent surgeries on both of her wrists and one ankle

And it’s not just her immediate comeback results that have fans split, as her Australian Open fate is also up for debate. Raducanu entered the first Grand Slam of the year with her protected ranking of No 103 in the world – a few spots too low for the main draw cut-off of No 99.

Unless several players withdraw in time, or she receives a wildcard, Raducanu will need to compete in the qualifying event from January 8. It’s a feat she has achieved before – famously coming through qualifying to win the 2021 US Open. But after months of rehab and recovery, three rounds of qualifying could be a big ask.

53 per cent of Express Sport readers are still throwing their weight behind Raducanu, voting that would be able to qualify for the Australian Open. But 47 per cent fail to see her making it into the first Grand Slam of the year.

Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Stuttgart 2023 - Day 4
Emma Raducanu has not played a match in almost nine months

Raducanu has also been given mixed signals over her ranking goals, with most fans falling into the camp that she will either re-enter the top 200 or the top 100. 32 per cent believe that, by the time Wimbledon comes around, the 21-year-old will have climbed up to anywhere between No 51 and No 100 in the world.

But another 32 per cent of readers also think that she will be sitting between No 101 and No 200 in the world. Some supporters are aiming higher, with 16 per cent backing her to get back into the top 50 before Wimbledon. Others are struggling to see Raducanu climb back up the rankings as 20 per cent believe she will stay outside of the top 200.

Emma Raducanu: I feel reborn – I'm no longer weighed down by my US Open win

While there are plenty of unknowns, one thing that seems certain is that fans will see a rejuvenated Raducanu when she takes to the court on Tuesday. “I feel reborn in a way, I feel fresh. I feel ready, I feel happy, I feel excited,” the 2021 US Open winner said of her comeback. “So overall I’m feeling positive and lighter. For two years after the US Open I felt maybe a bit more like with a weight on my shoulders, but now I feel completely fresh.”

For the last few weeks, things have gone south for Green Bay Packers safety Jonathan Owens after his confession about his initial days of dating Simone Biles. However, at the onset of the Green Bay Packers’ storming into the season finale on Sunday, January 7, the remembrance of the team’s safety looked more glittery. The December 19 premiered, ‘The Pivot’ podcast highlighted several nooks and crannies of Jonathan Owens’ personal life and his humble beginnings.

Meanwhile, the Podcast was fairly engaged with NFL hobnobs like Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder. All they wanted to know was the gradual transformation of the shoulders Green Bay Packers rely on. Jonathan Owens catered to them nicely.

Jonathan Owens opens up his youthhood persona
In the Pivot Podcast, Ryan ‘RC’ Clark, the former safety in Washington Commanders couldn’t hold his curiosity from the Green Bay Packers’ safety’s phantasmagoria. He threw his quest veiling in the shade of ‘starting in St. Louis and ending in Missouri Western’ wordings. Following this, Owens began reminiscing to reveal the truth. However, the extraordinary part came when he conceded: “I was trying to get a scholarship, man because I knew my mom wasn’t going to be able to afford college so they gave me a full scholarship and I had Pell grants so I was able to get a little refund check.” That left the RC and his ilks in the room stunned.

The 28-year-old safety closed the chapter with RC’s question with an affirmative, “That was all I needed at the time you know so that was that’s how that happened”.

Olympic Legend Simone Biles Hypes Husband Jonathan Owens for Packers' TD vs. Lions | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report

The quagmire settling with Jonathan Owens
In the same interview, Jonathan Owens acknowledged that his ‘flappings’ were awkward since his growing up days. The reason was simple as previously Owens divulged his childhood kenspeckle. “I was a late bloomer athletically. In high school, I was a good player on the team but I hadn’t I wasn’t like totally sure of myself yet” was his version. So the journey from that not-so-obvious childhood to get a scholarship in college was nothing short of a magic run, which has been quite the case in his Green Bay Packers’ stint.

So the ethereal sangfroid culminated in Jonathan Owens is from his mother and his humble beginnings . That part was also visible in the same vicinity that claimed uproar in the last weeks.

Djokovic might be handing the proverbial baton to Alcaraz.

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz played a meaningless exhibition this week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia which Alcaraz won in three sets 4-6 6-4 6-4. The point of matches like this is twofold. One is the players make a lot of money, likely at least around $1 million each for Djokovic and Alcaraz for the Ryadh match. Two is to play tennis in front of people who do not normally get to see such great players.

Tennis Star Carlos Alcaraz Is Training Guests at the One&Only Palmilla –  Robb Report

Do the players care who wins? Probably not very much. They play hard, sure, but they are not competing as they would have had the match been a Grand Slam final. Some exhibitions are likely planned out before the match on who wins, though I am not implying Djokovic versus Alcaraz was. The other point is not to get hurt before the real matches begin for the 2024 tennis season.

But some of the comments made after the match were quite interesting. Alcaraz pointed out that Djokovic still plays like a 20 year old, which also happens to be Alcaraz’s current age. Carlos Alcaraz also said he dreams of being in Djokovic’s lofty position one day – Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slams and 40 Masters 1000s, for instance.

Five things to know about tennis star Carlos Alcaraz – NBC New York

Novak Djokovic gives Carlos Alcaraz some high praise
On the court after the match, Novak Djokovic revealed who he thinks will be running tennis for the next decade-plus. That would be Carlos Alcaraz. And Djokovic was effusive in his praise.

Djokovic said, “It’s fantastic to have Alcaraz in our sport. He is one of the leaders of this sport today and he is going to carry our sport for the next 10 to 15 years. We are going to see a lot of him, tennis is in good hands.”

So is Djokovic simply handing the reign of tennis over to Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner? Likely not. While there is little doubt that Djokovic’s words were genuine, he also isn’t one to give up and let King Carlos rule. Even though the match this week was an exhibition, Djokovic will still probably use the result of the match as fuel for his internal fire when playing Alcaraz in a match that matters in the future.

The new year is here, and with it comes a lot of excitement and anticipation for the upcoming golf season. LIV Golf has shaken up the golf world and is set to kick off its second full season in February and the third season overall. On the contrary, the traditional PGA Tour is starting its 2024 season in just a couple of days! Both of the leagues now feature some of the biggest names and talents that the golf world has! But what might be the “hottest” prediction for the backway league’s upcoming season?

On the New Year’s occasion, LIV Golf’s official Instagram account posted a picture of Brooks Koepka along with a burning question. The Saudi-funded league asked fans to make the wildest prediction for the 2024 season, saying, “Drop your hottest LIV Golf prediction for the 2024 season.”

With many young and established golfers in the league, fans had their share of picks. The golf enthusiasts were quick to respond, and the post received thousands of likes and hundreds of comments.

Fans go overboard with their predictions
The fans’ responses varied, as everyone almost had a different ‘hot’ prediction to mention The array of interesting comments reflects the diverse opinions and expectations of golf fans.

One user made the prediction based on the assumption that LIV Golf players will still be eligible to play in the four major championships. He wrote, “Liv players takе 50% of thе majors.” However, it’s not impossible; they can participate if they meet the qualification criteria.

One of the most surprising and unlikely comments was from a user who predicted Tiger Woods would join the LIV Golf League in 2024. He simply wrote, ‘Tigеr Joining’. Notably, there were speculations that the 15x major winner was reportedly offered $700 million from the league, which he rejected.

Wanting for the orange man to join the league, one user commented, “Rickie Fowler joins LIV.”

One of the fans predicted that “Brooks and Cam Smith win another major.” Notably, Brooks Koepka has won five majors and became the first LIV golfer to win a major tournament. Their fans would love to see the other side add another major trophy to their collection in 2024.

Jon Rahm joined LIV Golf in December for reportedly $566 million. People in the golf fraternity are excited about his first season, and one fan had a prediction for the Spaniard’s debut season. “Rahm wins at least three events,” wrote the fan.

Another “hottest” prediction is that Adam Scott is probably signing with Cameron Smith’s team, the Rippers GC. He wrote, “Adam Scott signs with Rippеrs”.

One excited user didn’t make one prediction; he made three. First, ‘Rahm wins multiple events’, second, “Bryson wins the championship, and lastly, ‘LIV players take 50% of majors’, which is a common prediction of many fans.

Which prediction do you think will be correct? or do you have anyone of your own? Let us know in the comment section below!

Paige was the most Googled golfer in four states and second in 32.

Paige Spiranac, the charismatic 30-year-old golf sensation turned influencer, has swung her way into the limelight by securing the second spot in 2023’s list of the most popular figures in golf. While the golf world continues to be dominated by the legendary Tiger Woods, Spiranac’s social media prowess has garnered significant attention.

With a staggering 3.9 million followers on Instagram and nearly one million on X, Spiranac has proven to be a force to be reckoned with in the digital realm.

Video thumbnail

Her popularity extends beyond social media, as she was the most Googled individual golfer in four states and clinched the second spot in 32 others, according to Vegas Insider.

Hunting for first place
Despite Tiger Woods retaining his throne as the most searched-for personality in golf, Spiranac’s humorous response to the rankings reveals her competitive spirit: “On the campaign trail in 2024 to lock up more states.”

The golfdiva has not only conquered the digital landscape but has also solidified her presence on the golf course, challenging norms and stereotypes.

Paige Spiranac teeing up success as second most influential golf...

Spiranac’s rising popularity has translated into financial success, accumulating an estimated wealth of $3.7 million. Her influence is not just limited to the golfing community, as she commands $11,900 per Instagram post, showcasing her commercial appeal.

Addressing skeptics who doubted the authenticity of her hole-in-one video, Spiranac emphasized the credibility of her achievements in the golfing world.

Dismissing claims of fakery, she stated, “No one would ever be dumb enough to risk that. We take pride in showing genuine reactions. The good and bad.”

Paige Spiranac dubbed as 'the world's hottest golfer' will make your  jaw-drop in these pictures | Photogallery - ETimes

Towards 2024 and beyond
As 2023 drew to a close, Spiranac reflected on her journey, expressing pride in challenging herself, trying new endeavors, and stepping out of her comfort zone.

Looking ahead to 2024, she vowed to be more creative and ambitious, promising her audience exciting content and a continued evolution in her career.

Spiranac’s journey is a testament to the power of embracing discomfort for growth, and her vision for 2024 is poised to inspire and empower her ever-expanding fan base.