Knoll fans, rejoice! The two-time champion faces a tough challenge from 22-year-old local hope Giovanni Mapetschi Pericard in the opening round of the men’s singles competition at the 2026 French Open on Sunday, May 24. The 39-year-old looked happy and comfortable at the end of a grueling two-hour and 51-minute encounter on Court Philippe Chatrier in Paris.

The win came hours after seventh-seeded Taylor Fritz Compatriot Nishesh Basavareddy dropped In the opening round of Roland Garros.

There were continuing concerns about a serious shoulder injury, derailing her preparations for the clay-court Grand Slams; However, Djokovic brushed aside those fears. She celebrated with a light-hearted, energetic on-court dance after weathering Maphetshi Pericard’s storm in four sets, recovering from a set down to win 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 in the opening round.

The Paris crowd erupted in joy as the post-match celebration turned into a heartfelt family celebration, with Djokovic’s children joining him on the historic Chatrier clay.

Djokovic had played only one match on clay before arriving in Paris, a surprise second-round loss to Dino Prizmich at the Rome Masters in the first week of May. Despite this lack of match practice, he was determined to capture a record-breaking 25th major title. Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal from the tournament may have further boosted his ambitions, but many pundits were still curious to see how his body would fare, especially after shoulder problems following his run to the Australian Open final in January.

Much to the delight of his global fan base, Djokovic looked completely comfortable in terms of his physical fitness, with no visible signs of shoulder trouble. However, there was an undeniable layer of competitive rust that had to be removed before the match could really settle in.

great service giovanni

The 22-year-old Giovanni, united by a partisan home crowd, was unwilling to make life easy for the champion. In the opening set, the giant server was in sensational form, winning 91 percent of his first serves compared to Djokovic’s 80 percent.

The Frenchman’s blazing serve made all the difference early on. The young contender was firing shots at an average speed of 215 km/h, which was 28 km/h faster than Djokovic’s own average.

As a result, Djokovic was unable to muster a single break point in the opening set, while Empetshi Pericard converted a solitary, crucial opportunity to win the opener 7–5.

There was no immediate disappointment from the youngster as he held serve and returned with immense authority to put the pressure on Djokovic. The Serb fought hard to get break points, but whenever danger loomed, Mpetshi Pericard responded with a ferocious first serve to get out of trouble.

The Frenchman mixed up his targets beautifully, firing the ball wide at some points and low off the ‘t’ at others to keep Djokovic guessing.

Finally, the veteran superstar found his rhythm. He converted a crucial break point in the twilight of the second set, and successfully escaped the tie-break lottery to level the match.

After winning such a hard-fought set, Mpetshi Pericard looked somewhat disappointed in the third set. Sensing his opponent’s sudden drop in temperament and intensity, Djokovic immediately improved his game. The Frenchman lost almost 20 km/h of speed on his first serve, allowing Djokovic to create break points at will and he won the third set 6–1.

Djokovic started the fourth set with an immediate break and it looked as if the match would be one-sided from that moment on. However, Mpetshi Pericard showed great courage to make an immediate comeback and hold her next serve to put the pressure back on the champion. The youngster did everything in his power to stay within touching distance, but Djokovic completely found his range, and overcame the difficult moments with trademark composure to win 6–4 and wrap up the match.

Speaking on court after the bout, Djokovic heaped praise on the world number 83, paying particular tribute to his tremendous serves and the remarkable control with which he executes them.

Djokovic addressed the Paris crowd in French, saying, “I played against Giovanni for the first time this evening. I’m sure it would feel different if I played him five or ten times, but his serve is really very good. It’s difficult to read that kind of serve and it’s probably the first or second time in my career I’ve had to face that kind of delivery. He’s made life incredibly difficult for me.”

Why peppy dance?

When Djokovic was questioned about the little dance he did to celebrate the win in front of his watching family, he reflected on his career mentality.

“To be honest, throughout my career, I have always focused a lot on dedication. I bring full commitment to my tennis, but I also want to experience enjoyment. I want the enjoyment of playing with patience and experiencing these great matches.

“I’m always looking for that beautiful feeling, that alive feeling on the court. It’s a great opportunity to play here at Roland Garros and I’m very grateful for it.

“But when you’re in the heat of a tournament on a big court, it’s hard to do everything. Sometimes I smile to escape the heavy emotions and take the pressure off. Playing against a French player in Paris is always a tough challenge, so instead, I try to dance.”

Djokovic will now face world No. 74 Valentin Royer, another French player, in the second round. After receiving two days off, the Serb will return to the practice court to prepare for his first meeting with Royer, who advanced after defeating Bolivian qualifier Hugo Dellien in straight sets.

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Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards used a UAE-based procurement network to secretly acquire advanced Chinese satellite communications equipment linked to Tehran’s drone and missile program, according to leaked commercial and shipping records reviewed by the Financial Times.The revelations reveal how a company operating out of the United Arab Emirates helped supply sensitive communications technology to the same branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that later launched a massive bombardment of the Gulf state with drones and missiles during Iran’s retaliation against US-Israeli attacks. The documents also highlight the sophisticated methods used to conceal the final destination of shipments and avoid investigation despite years of Western sanctions targeting Iran’s military procurement apparatus.Records show that in late 2025, the IRGC Aerospace Force acquired military-grade Chinese satellite antenna equipment through Teleson, a company based in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. The equipment, manufactured in China, was shipped from Shanghai and via Dubai’s Jebel Ali container port before ultimately reaching Iran.The UAE later became a major target of Iran’s retaliatory campaign following US-Israeli attacks on Iranian assets. According to the report, Tehran launched more than 2,800 drones and missiles at the Gulf state, including in attacks on civilian locations.These revelations are particularly sensitive given Abu Dhabi’s traditionally hardline stance towards Tehran. Yet despite political tensions, the UAE has long remained an important commercial hub for Iranian businesses operating offshore. Analysts have repeatedly warned that the country’s vast free trade zones, where oversight can be weak, create opportunities for sanctions avoidance and illicit procurement networks.According to invoices, customs declarations, packing lists and freight records seen by the FT, Teleson arranged the delivery of a 4.5 meter motorized satellite antenna manufactured by Chinese manufacturer Starwin. The consignment, weighing approximately 1.8 tonnes, was described in customs records as “antennas and accessories”.The equipment was initially transported on the Chinese container ship Zhong Gu Yin Chuan from Shanghai to Dubai’s Jebel Ali Container Terminal 1. Shipping records reviewed by the newspaper show the ship arrived in Dubai on August 28, where it offloaded containers later collected by an Iranian ship named Rama III.Documents indicate that Rama III stopped at the same pier on 23 November and departed a day later carrying a shipment to Iran.However, an FT analysis of marine GPS data and satellite imagery shows that the Iranian ship deliberately transmitted false navigational information in an apparent attempt to conceal its activities.According to the report, GPS signals from the Rama III indicate that the ship moved away from the Gulf and stopped briefly near Oman. But satellite imagery reportedly taken on November 25 showed that the ship did not exist at the coordinates sent to nearby ships.The discrepancy strongly suggests that the ship was “spoofing”, a deceptive maritime practice in which ships transmit false location data to disguise their true routes and destinations.On November 29, satellite images captured a ship matching the size, shape and appearance of Rama III berthed at Iran’s Shahid Razai port in Bandar Abbas. The same port was listed in the shipping documents as the final delivery destination for the consignment.The shipment was sent to Ertebat Faragostar Kish (EFK), an Iranian telecommunications company. According to a contract reviewed by the FT, Telesan purchased equipment on behalf of EFK for a project involving another Iranian entity, Saman Industrial Group.The U.S. Treasury approved the subpoena in December 2023, alleging that the company acted as a commercial front for the Aerospace Force Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization, the research and development wing responsible for the Guard’s ballistic missile, drone and electronic warfare programs.US officials have accused Saman of helping Iran acquire drone-related technology through intermediary companies operating in multiple jurisdictions. The alleged devices included antennas, servomotors and other components applicable to unmanned aerial vehicles.The European Union has also sanctioned the Self-Reliance Jihad organization, accusing it of supplying Iranian drones to Russia.The EFK itself is not currently subject to Western sanctions.The shipping agent handling the Iranian side of the transaction was identified on the bill of lading as Blue Calm Marine Services. The US had imposed sanctions on the company in 2023, accusing it of facilitating shipments to another entity linked to the Iranian Defense Ministry’s missile propellant development program.Teleson publicly describes itself as a UAE-based supplier of fixed and mobile satellite communications systems in the Middle East and North Africa, providing services “from design to installation and commissioning”.Neither Teleson nor the UAE Foreign Ministry responded to FT’s questions regarding the allegations. Iran’s embassy in London also did not respond.The report adds to growing scrutiny over technology transfers involving China supporting Iran’s military infrastructure. Last month, the FT reported separately that the IRGC Aerospace Force had secretly acquired a satellite launched by Chinese company The Earth Eye. The satellite was reportedly used to monitor US military bases and Gulf infrastructure before the attacks in March.Earlier this month, Washington imposed sanctions on The Earth Eye for allegedly supporting Iranian military operations.The US State Department said, “The United States will continue to take action to hold China-based entities accountable for their support of Iran.” “Targeting U.S. service members and partners will not go unanswered.”The revelations are likely to raise concerns among Western governments over Iran’s use of Gulf commercial hubs and international logistics networks to evade sanctions imposed on its military procurement ecosystem. The revelations could put renewed pressure on the United Arab Emirates to tighten oversight of companies operating within its free trade zones, amid fears that sensitive military technology is flowing to Iran despite years of sanctions and surveillance efforts.

Suggest that many researchers are copying without checking

Bengaluru: As a flood of AI-generated fake citations enter the scientific literature, a new study estimates nearly 1.5 lakh fabricated references entering the record by 2025, with the majority moving from preprints to peer-reviewed journals.This is the central finding of a large-scale study by researchers at Cornell University, UCLA and UC Berkeley, which analyzed 111 million citations in 2.5 million research papers published between 2020 and 2025 on arXiv, BioRxiv, SSRN and PubMed Central. The study, titled ‘LLM Hallucinations in the Wild’, tracked citations whose titles could not be verified against major academic databases including Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex and Google Scholar. By comparing trends after 2022 with a pre-ChatGPT error baseline, the researchers isolated the potential contribution of AI-generated hallucinations to the increase. The fastest growth began in mid-2024, about 18 months after ChatGPT’s public release, as AI tools evolved from writing assistants to citation-generation engines. The contamination is clearly not concentrated in the fraudulent papers. The researchers found that fake references are generally sparsely sprinkled into otherwise legitimate manuscripts, suggesting that many researchers are copying AI-generated citations without verifying them. Existing security measures are failing. Approximately 78.8% of duplicate citations passed arXiv moderation, and 85.3% of the duplicate citations in bioRxiv preprints subsequently published in PubMed Central-indexed journals made it into the final published versions. Researchers warn that the problem may now be self-reinforcing: As fabricated references embed themselves in open-access repositories and citation databases, future AI models trained on that corpus risk absorbing and reproducing the same hallucinations.Study in Lancet also warns In a separate study titled “Fabricated citations: an audit across 2.5 million biomedical papers,” published in The Lancet, researchers found a sharp increase in fabricated citations in biomedical research papers. The study, conducted by researchers at Columbia University and other institutions, analyzed biomedical papers published between 2023 and early 2026. It found 2,810 peer-reviewed papers contained more than 4,000 fabricated references. The audit found that the rate of fabricated references had increased dramatically over a three-year period. In 2023, approximately one in 2,828 papers contained at least one fabricated citation. By 2025, this figure had worsened to one in 458 papers, and by early 2026, it had reached one in 277 papers. One of the most striking examples cited in the study involved a 2025 paper in an open-access oncology journal on ureteral surgical techniques. The researchers found that 18 of the paper’s 30 verified references (60%) were fabricated. The authors link this increase partly to the widespread adoption of LLMs that are known to “hallucinate” fake citations. Warning that fabricated citations could compromise clinical guidelines and systematic reviews, researchers urged publishers to introduce automated reference verification systems before accepting papers for publication. The study said that about 98% of the affected papers did not face any publisher action at the time of the audit.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce fans are facing fresh online drama after viral screenshots showed the NFL star no longer follows Swift on Instagram, while ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn still does. Fans debated whether the move was intentional, with some calling it suspicious and others claiming that the couple avoided social media followers to prevent breakup rumors and unnecessary media speculation.

fans of Taylor Swift And travis kels Every detail of the couple’s online behavior is once again being analyzed after a viral social media post raised questions about why the Kansas City Chiefs star still doesn’t follow Swift Instagram.Conversations escalated after users compared Kelce’s account activity to Swift’s ex-boyfriend joe alwynWho reportedly still follows the pop icon online. What started as a casual observation soon turned into a full-fledged fan discussion, with supporters offering different explanations for the digital option.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s fan reactions take over social media

The original viral post read:“Social media really sells the illusion of fake relationships, right?On one hand, we have Travis Kelce, who is the person who shows the most love for Taylor Swift through his actions, but does not follow her.On the other hand, we have Joe Alvin, who was indifferent towards her, but still pursues her.Screenshots attached to the post showed Kelce’s Instagram following list appearing in search results without Swift’s account, while Alvin’s account was still following her page.Then a fan added another layer to the debate, writing:“But why exactly does Taylor’s fiancee follow nearly 1700 people and not follow him?”That comment quickly drew responses from other users trying to explain the situation. One reply simply said:“None of them follow each other kkkkk”Another user argued that the decision may actually have been deliberate:“To avoid problems with the press! If there is a bug and it stops stalking or does not show that it is stalking, it will appear on all the gossip sites, they will say the relationship is over and we will need Tree to deny it.”A different fan posted echoing the same theory:“A very obvious move, isn’t it?! They avoid any speculation about whether to follow or not”

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift continue to fuel online curiosity

The discussion highlights how closely fans follow celebrity relationships in the social media age. Every follow, unfollow, like, or missed conversation can become headline material within minutes. For Swift and Kelsey, the attention has only increased as engagement rumors continue to circulate online.Still, many fans pointed out that the couple’s public appearances and obvious support for each other mattered more than Instagram activity. Kelce has frequently attended Swift’s Chiefs events, while Swift has attended several Chiefs games since their relationship went public.For many supporters, real-world presence is more important than any social media follow button. Yet in the age of Internet sleuths and viral fan theories, even a lost Instagram connection can dominate conversations for days.

The mother of a man shot and killed by Secret Service officers near the White House has said she was shocked after learning about the incident online, insisting that her son was “never violent”.A woman identified as the mother of 21-year-old Nasir Best told The Washington Post that she learned of the fatal shooting through a social media post before authorities contacted her.“No matter what people were posting, it was never violent,” he said.Best was killed on Saturday evening after allegedly opening fire near a White House security post Washington DC. According to US Secret Service officials, a bystander was also injured during the shooting and is in critical but stable condition.The shooting occurred shortly after 6 p.m. near the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, close to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House complex.Police said Best fired toward Secret Service officers stationed near the checkpoint. The officers returned fire, seriously injuring him. He was later declared dead in the hospital.us President donald trump They were inside the White House at that time but they did not suffer any harm. No Secret Service officers were injured. Best had previous encounters with law enforcement near the White House and a documented history of mental health problems. He was arrested in July 2025 after allegedly attempting to enter the White House grounds near another security checkpoint. During that incident, he allegedly ignored police orders, claimed to be ‘Jesus Christ’ and asked officers to arrest him. He later spent time in a psychiatric facility.The shooting sparked panic around the White House complex, with viral videos showing reporters and television crews running for cover after hearing gunshots.CBS journalist Aaron Navarro described the moments of confusion after the shots were fired.He told the BBC, “As soon as we heard it, we fell silent and I saw other journalists start running away, and soon you heard Secret Service officers saying ‘Get in, get in’.”ABC correspondent Selina Wang also shared footage showing reporters taking cover on the White House grounds.Saturday’s incident marks the third armed security threat near the president in the past month. Earlier incidents included an armed man disrupting a White House correspondents’ dinner and another suspect being shot by Secret Service agents near the Washington Monument.After the shooting, Trump praised the officers involved in the response.“Thank you to our great Secret Service and law enforcement for the prompt and professional action they took this evening against a gunman near the White House,” he wrote on social media.

A woman saved luigi mangione And she sparked outrage after claiming she would kill her mother if she became a health care executive like the slain UnitedHealthcare CEO. Brian Thompson.Lena Weisbrot, 32, made the comment on Instagram after reports identified her mother, Rena Natero, as an executive at CVS Health who oversees prescription drug insurance coverage rules.Weisbrot first attempted to downplay his mother’s condition after the information became public.“He’s an activist,” she wrote in a text message screenshot, which she later shared to her Instagram Story, according to the New York Post.After this he escalated the controversy with shocking comments.“If my mother had been a health insurance executive I would have shot her myself,” Weisbrot wrote.He continued to imagine a hypothetical scenario in which he inherited money from his mother after such an act.“If she were a health insurance executive like Brené [sic] Thompson, and I were the same person I am now and if I had known what I would do now (not likely because I am coming from and [sic] extremely wealthy family would make me a fundamentally different person), and I was still in the will and I thought I could get away with it, I would inherit the money and redistribute it to all the families he destroyed with his murderous company,” she wrote.He added, “But it’s so far from my reality, it’s just a fantasy. A fantasy that makes me…wet.”In another Instagram Story post, Weisbrot wrote: “Debate: If my mom was a health insurance CEO would I really comment on that.”He added: “When it comes to me arguing about hypothetical situations that don’t exist: no.”Weisbrot is known online as one of several self-described “Mangionistas”, a group of supporters and independent bloggers who have attended Luigi Mangione’s court hearings using press credentials issued by the City of New York.Mangione is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, whose death sparked online debate over the US healthcare system. Some consider his death justified, while others say Mangione is another ruthless killer.Outside a recent court hearing, Weisbrot caused further backlash after saying that Thompson’s children are “better off without her”.He said, “He has to learn not to be like his father – and enjoy blood money.”