Starmer’s rebuke to Trump as he prepares for Canada trade talks

Keir Starmer is to put trading relations with Canada back on track with a rebuke to Donald Trump and the tariffs which have sent global trade into turmoil.

The prime minister has flown out to Ottawa for a bilateral meeting with newly elected Canadian PM Mark Carney ahead of a G7 summit in Alberta next week.

Downing Street has made a point of wanting to “retain Britain’s status as a free and open trading nation”, as Sir Keir flew across the Atlantic.

The line was a direct rebuke to the strategy pursued by Donald Trump with his tariffs ahead of an expected bilateral meeting with the US president at the summit.

Nevertheless, the G7 summit is set to pivot from trade issues to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, as well as a failure to bring peace to Ukraine.

Speaking to journalists on the flight to Canada on Saturday, Sir Keir boasted of his relationship with Trump.

He said: “I have got a good relationship with President Trump, and that’s important, as you can see from the fact that we had a discussion yesterday about the urgent situation in relation to Israel and Iran. I think the G7 is our opportunity to look at, as we are, the global economy, security in that global economy, trade and the economy as well, and more matters of national security.”

He continued: “I’ve been saying, for probably the best part of six months now, we’re in a new era of defence and security, a new era for trade and the economy. 
And I think it’s really important for Britain to play a leading part in that, and that’s what I’ll be doing at the G7, talking to all of our partners in a constructive way.”

But he also made it clear that he would not accept claims by Trump that Canada is the “51 state of the US” after he caused anger earlier this year by failing to do that at a press conference in the White House.

Sir Keir said: “Canada and the US are our allies. Canada is an independent, sovereign nation, and quite right, too. And that’s the basis on which I’ve approached my discussions with all of our partners. I’m not going to get into the precise conversations I’ve had, but let me be absolutely clear: Canada is an independent, sovereign country and a much-valued member of the Commonwealth.”

The G7 summit will be the first for Sir Keir and Mr Carney since they were elected.

But it also brings back memories of 2018, the last time the G7 was in Canada, when President Trump caused chaos by unsigning the communique at the last moment in a fit of pique about remarks made by then-Canadian PM Justin Trudeau.

Despite this, Sir Keir knows he is still in a race against time to ensure that the trade deal he and Trump agreed last month is enacted and reduces tariffs. If he fails, UK steel could be hit with a tariff of 50 per cent rather than zero.

The trade talks with Mr Carney are not set to reopen the free trade agreement discussions, which the Tory leader Kemi Badenoch pulled the plug on last year when she was trade secretary in the Sunak government.

However, Sir Keir will emphasise the potential that further economic cooperation between the UK and Canada, as two like-minded nations, could achieve for the British people.

On the flight to Canada, the prime minister said: “I want to increase our trade with Canada and I will be discussing how we do so with Mark Carney. I have known Mark a long time, we are allies and colleagues and I have a very good relationship with him. We do a lot of trade with Canada as it is.

“Some months ago I said the world is changing on trade and the economy, just as it is changing on defence and security and I think that means we need to be more securing our base at home and turbocharging what we are doing on the cost of living and at the same time reducing trade barriers with other countries. I’ve been expressing that in my discussions with Mark Carney and he is in the same position.”

Sir Keir added: “The interests of British citizens – delivering for working people – is what guides me throughout all my conversations with international leaders.

“And everywhere I go, from the factory floor at Jaguar Land Rover to meeting submariners aboard a nuclear-powered submarine, I’m reminded of why that is the right approach.

“Because the decisions we make in government, whether at home or abroad, have profound impacts on the day-to-day lives of working people.

“And in these dangerous times, I am determined to forge a unique path to secure and renew Britain in an era of global instability.”

Sir Keir will use the visit to argue that in a shifting global economy, the UK must retain its proud status as a free and open trading nation, strengthening our existing alliances while reducing barriers to trade with other countries.

The UK and Canada already have trade worth £28bn to the UK economy, and Canada has welcomed the UK’s accession to the new global trading bloc known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The prime minister will say that he is open to going further on existing trade partnerships such as the CPTPP, as well as building better links with other trading blocs such as ASEAN and the EU.

He believes these partnerships offer huge economic benefits to the UK and working people and could act as significant catalysts for British jobs and growth.

Fewer than half of young men believe abortion should be legal – poll

Fewer than half of young men believe abortion should be legal, far less than the general population, a shocking new poll has found.

Just 46 per cent of 16- to 34-year-old males believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, compared with 71 per cent among the general population.

Amid concerns about the rise of the manosphere – a growing online community of hypermasculine influencers – the Ipsos poll showed a stark drop in support for abortion in those aged under 35.

Eight in 10 men aged between 55 and 75 support abortion being legal in all or most cases, while three-quarters of 35- to 54-year-olds do. And, among those males aged 16 to 34, more than a third think abortion should be illegal in most or all cases, the poll found.

Labour MP Stella Creasy, a prominent campaigner in parliament for abortion access, told The Independent: “Those [who are] complacent that abortion access is supported in this country don’t understand the culture war is chipping away at all women’s rights, including healthcare.”

The polling comes before MPs vote this week on decriminalising abortion through amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill.

Currently, abortions can legally be carried out within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy in England, Scotland and Wales.

They must be approved by two doctors, with the health professionals agreeing continuing with the pregnancy would be riskier for the physical or mental health of the woman than having an abortion. While this is what the law stipulates, in reality, abortions can be carried out for whatever the person’s reasoning.

An amendment tabled by Ms Creasy would see abortion enshrined as a human right, as is the case in Northern Ireland.

“The only way we can stop women being targeted in this way and ensure they have safe and legal access is to designate abortion a human right as we have in Northern Ireland, and only new clause 20 to the policing bill will do that,” she added.

A rival amendment tabled by Labour’s Tonia Antoniazzi – which would mean women can no longer be prosecuted for terminating a pregnancy in England and Wales – is seen as more likely to get the backing of MPs.

Ms Antoniazzi told The Independent that he poll should serve as “a reminder to male MPs for the vote on Tuesday that they can’t just leave this work to women”.

She urged colleagues to back her amendment and added: “This is one poll. It’s important to recognise that this poll, just like every other on abortion, shows that the country as a whole remains staunchly pro-choice.”

But she said the findings were a “clear example of the fact that women’s hard-won rights can never be taken for granted”.

It “underscores why we must always keep fighting to preserve and advance them, as we do,” she added.

The poll came as a row broke out in the final days before Tuesday’s votes, with supporters of Ms Creasy’s amendment accusing backers of Ms Antoniazzi of a campaign to get MPs to withdraw their support.

Ms Creasy fears Ms Antoniazzi’s amendment does not go far enough in enshrining and protecting the right to abortion. However, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) said it has “profound concerns” about the drafting of Ms Creasy’s amendment.

It called on MPs to withdraw their support for Ms Creasy’s proposal and refuse to support it.

Ahead of the votes, Ipsos found broad support for abortion access except among young men.

The pollster also found that around half of voters think the current 24-week time limit for abortions is “about right”, with a quarter saying it is too late and just 4 per cent saying it is too early. Nigel Farage said last month that it is “ludicrous we allow abortion up to 24 weeks” and that the law is “totally out of date”.

Asked about illegal abortions, just over half of voters said the person who performed an abortion should face a penalty, compared with under a third who think the fault lies with the woman having the abortion.

Ipsos pollster Kate Duxbury said: “While the majority of Britons support legal abortion, with seven in ten in favour, our polling reveals a significant fault line: less than half of young men aged 16-34 agree.

“This divergence, coupled with the fact that around half of Britons think the current 24-week limit is ‘about right’, highlights the complexities facing policymakers as they consider decriminalisation. It’s clear that public opinion is far from monolithic, demanding a nuanced approach to this sensitive issue.”

‘Kind and sweet’ girl, 11, killed in van crash with man arrested

Tributes have been paid to the “kindest” and “most sweetest” 11-year-old girl who died after being hit by a van in Sheffield.

Elemie Wainwright was hit by a white Ford Transit van in Mosborough on Thursday, South Yorkshire Police said.

She was rushed to hospital by emergency services but died shortly after.

In a statement, Elemie’s family have paid tribute to their “beautiful baby girl”.

“On Thursday 12 June our hearts shattered into a million pieces,” they said.

“Our baby girl, our life and soul, with the biggest smile, the biggest heart, you were the kindest, most sweetest, most beautiful baby girl.”

Specialist officers are supporting Elemie’s family and the circumstances of her death are being investigated, South Yorkshire Police said.

A 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving and traffic offences on Thursday, the force confirmed. He has been released on bail.

Elemie’s family continued: “We have no words right now, but we beg that if anyone knows any information, no matter how insignificant you think it is please come forward.

“Any information, no matter how small, may be the missing piece to the answers we need.

“As parents, we need answers for our baby girl. Please, look at her photo, look at her smile, it’s the least our baby deserves.”

Police are urging anyone who has information relating to the collision to get in touch online, via live chat or by calling 101, quoting incident number 758 of 12 June 2025.

E-bikes and e-scooters fire warning after record number of blazes

E-bike and e-scooter fires soared to a record high last year as fire experts warned of the “incredible danger” posed by some of the increasingly popular vehicles.

Firefighters were called to 211 incidents involving the devices last year, according to data from the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS).

The figures are voluntary for fire authorities to report and show an incomplete picture across the country, but they illustrate a rise in call-outs, with 207 reported in 2023, and just 26 in 2020.

Last year, the fires resulted in 86 casualties and eight deaths, and were almost all found to be linked to the battery or generator, prompting concerns over DIY-type e-bike conversions using kits purchased online.

In August, eight-year-old Luke Abiston O’Donnell died from carbon monoxide poisoning after an e-bike being charged in the front room of his house in Merseyside caught fire. The blaze was sparked by the ignition of the bike’s lithium-ion battery, an inquest found.

Just before Christmas, a family’s home in Catford, southeast London, was destroyed by a fire caused by a battery on a second-hand e-bike that exploded.

The year before, as reported by The Independent, a woman and two children were killed in a fire started by a replacement lithium e-bike battery, bought on eBay, that had been left charging.

A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade, which made up most of the incidents shared by the OPSS last year, said: “E-bikes and e-scooters are a green and sustainable way to travel around our city.

“However, the stark reality is that some of these vehicles are proving to be incredibly dangerous and are at greater risk of malfunctioning, particularly if they’ve been modified, fitted or converted with second-hand products or if the batteries are used with the incorrect chargers.”

Kits to convert bicycles into e-bikes can be purchased online for as little at £150, with the battery and charger obtained separately.

But there are concerns over the safety of batteries and chargers bought online.

Earlier this year,The Independent found a UPP (Unit Pack Power) branded e-bike battery, which was subject to a government withdrawal notice over fire risk, was being sold on Facebook Marketplace.

Pressure has also been building on the government to tackle the issue, with Liberal Democrat MP Clive Jones recently urging ministers to ensure they are included in the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, aimed at tightening product safety in online marketplaces.

Experts say high street retailers have a greater liability for product safety than selling on online marketplace platforms.

London Fire Brigade deputy assistant commissioner Richard Field told The Independent: “At the moment, there is not the same level of regulation of products for e-bikes and e-scooters sold via online marketplaces or auction sites when compared to high street shops, so we cannot be confident that products meet the correct safety standard.

“The Product Regulation and Metrology Bill is a really welcome step in the drive to reduce the worrying risk of e-bike and e-scooter fires, ultimately by decreasing the chance of customers being exposed to buying unsafe products, such as lithium batteries, chargers and conversion kits which are dangerous and do not meet UK safety standards.

But charity Electrical Safety First said greater legislation beyond the bill was needed, including a mandatory requirement for third-party certification on the safety of devices sold online. It also wants new safety standards set for the devices.

A spokesperson said: “The growing number of fires linked to e-bike and e-scooter batteries occurring across the country – and the devastating consequences they bring – is a stark reminder of the need for new laws to tackle these blazes.

“These fires are often caused by converted or heavily modified e-bikes, or substandard batteries. Whilst we’re encouraged the government has introduced the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, which gives powers to tackle e-bike battery fires, it is vital that this legislation is robust enough to tackle this issue head-on.”

An Amazon spokesperson said safety was a top priority and it had partnered with the London Fire Brigade to provide customers with tips on how to use and store e-bikes and e-scooters safely.

“We require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws and regulations. We monitor for product safety concerns, and we go further by requiring sellers of e-mobility products to provide documented testing carried out by an accredited lab,” they added.

A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade said a campaign – called Buy Safe, Be Safe – had been launched in response to the rise in lithium-ion battery fires.

They said: “We take the risk of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries very seriously, including those linked to e-bikes and e-scooters.

“We are also updating our product safety laws to help keep the public safe, as well as taking action at ports and borders to stop unsafe or non-compliant products from reaching consumers.”

Prince William’s children share Father’s Day tribute

Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven, have wished their father, the Prince of Wales, a happy Father’s Day in a social media post that declared: “We love you!”

Two new photographs of Prince William and his three children were released on Sunday to mark the occasion.

The first picture shows the prince and his children posing for a family picture in a garden, while in the second picture, William and the youngsters are shown wrestling playfully in the grass, with the two boys holding their father down and Charlotte laughing.

In their post, the three children wrote: “Happy Father’s Day, Papa (before and after!) We love you!”

The message was signed “G, C & L” followed by a sparkly heart emoji.

Kensington Palace said the photographs were taken by professional photographer Josh Shinner in Norfolk earlier this year.

The King and Queen have also wished fathers around the world a happy Father’s Day by posting photographs of their own fathers on the royal family’s Instagram account.

“To all Dads everywhere, we wish you a happy Father’s Day today,” the official account said.

The post shared a photograph of the late Prince Philip playing with a young Charles and the Princess Royal on a swing.

A picture of Camilla and her father Major Bruce Shand was also shared, showing the pair posing for a photograph on Camilla and Charles’s wedding day on April 9 2005.

The three children joined their grandfather, the King, the Queen, and their parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, to watch a flypast of military aircraft from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Saturday.

Louis, wearing a red tie and dark suit that matched his brother’s, began enthusiastically waving at the crowd, drawing big cheers from those standing in the Mall to watch the Red Arrows fly overhead. He briefly stopped to turn around and address his father, then continued to wave and grin until George gently nudged him to stop by touching his arm.

But the youngest prince could not resist giving the crowd one last wave as his family retreated into Buckingham Palace after the flypast ended.

The children had ridden to Horse Guards Parade with their mother and sister in a carriage earlier in the day to watch the troops celebrating the King’s official birthday.

Win a Wilderness Festival luxury package for two

Music fans can win a luxury package for two to this year’s Wilderness Festival, all courtesy of Audi.

Wilderness returns this year to the picturesque nature reserve at Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire, and will be headlined by rock band Supergrass, Nineties rave duo Orbital, and Brit Award-winning, Grammy-nominated indie-rock duo Wet Leg.

Completing the headliner lineup are Basement Jaxx, who are making their return to live shows for the first time in over a decade, as they celebrate the 25th anniversary of their groundbreaking album, Remedy.

The winner will receive a pair of complimentary festival tickets and boutique accommodation in a luxury cabin for two. They will also be treated to an Audi Kitchen experience and, for the ultimate luxury, your own private chauffeur to take you and your guest to the festival and return journey.

Enter the prize draw here.

Wilderness Festival is known for its eclectic music lineup, which this year includes performances from pop singer Lapsley, singer-songwriter Bess Atwell, Scottish musician Jacob Alon and DJ Craig Charles.

At The Sanctuary and Spa, guests will discover an oasis of calm, whether that means taking part in disco yoga or a workshop to explore your sensuality. Highlights include boating, massage treatments, sauna rituals, hot tubs, a wild sauna, Wim Hof method ice baths and wild swimming.

Gourmet food offerings can be found at Ben Quinn’s long table banquet in the woods, a once-in-a-lifetime experience set in the woods and lit by chandeliers. There, Quinn and his team will serve up a feast of flavour cooked right in front of you five courses of carefully curated, responsibly sourced, local and seasonal ingredients.

Elsewhere, attendees can join a number of talks, comedy sets and conversations, from Food Stories with Jay Rayner to a live recording of Jamie Laing’s podcast, Great Company.

Comedian, writer and NHS doctor Matthew Hutchinson will share a sharp and moving look at life on the frontline of British healthcare, while cultural historian Tiffany Watt Smith will uncover a bold and fascinating alternative history of female friendship.

The prize draw will open for entries at 3pm (BST) on 7 May 2025 and close at 3pm BST on 17 June 2025. Only one entry per person is permitted for the Prize Draw. Terms and conditions apply.

Women keep giving Arnold Schwarzenegger their numbers – for his son

Arnold Schwarzenegger says women no longer approach him with their phone numbers, because they are more interested in his actor son.

The 77-year-old Terminator star’s son Patrick, 31, shot to prominence this year after his role in the latest series of HBO’s biting wealth satire The White Lotus.

Patrick played Saxon Ratliff, the arrogant, protein-shake-chugging son of a North Carolina couple played by Jason Isaacs and Parker Posey.

Arnold said that, before The White Lotus season three, his son – who has previously appeared in The Staircase and American Sports Story – would mostly just be asked about his famous father in interviews.

“He came many times to me and said, ‘I just did an interview with this magazine and two thirds of the questions were about you,’” Arnold told The Sunday Times. “But I was just in New York and a journalist comes up and says, ‘What’s it like being the father of Patrick Schwarzenegger?’”

Delighted, he added: “All of a sudden, everything has changed around. I walk into the gym now and it used to be the girls would come up and give me their contact. And then after White Lotus comes out, the girl comes up and says, ‘Here’s my contact, give it to Patrick.’

“So it’s wonderful. If I go to my grave and know that my son has outdone me, I’m in heaven.”

Patrick is one of four children Arnold shares with his ex-wife Maria Shriver, alongside Katherine, 35, Christina, 33 and Christopher, 27.

Arnold has another son, Joseph, 27, who he shares with longtime housekeeper Mildred Patricia Baena.

Patrick can next be seen in indie drama Billy Knight, alongside Al Pacino.

Arnold, meanwhile, is starring in season two of action series FUBAR on Netflix, out now.

Patrick recently admitted that he and his siblings “hated” when their father gave up his movie career to become the Governor of California, a position he held from 2003 to 2011.

During a conversation between father and son for Variety’s Actors on Actors series, Arnold recalled missing out on several film roles because of his decision to run for political office.

Arnold said he soon realised they preferred his time in Hollywood, adding: “It was the funniest thing. You coming to me and saying, ‘Dad, we had so much fun going to the set and watching you blow things up. And now …’”

Tatjana Maria became the first women’s champion at Queen’s for 52 years

Fifty-two years ago, Olga Morozova became the last woman to lift the Queen’s trophy. Her stint as defending champion lasted until Tatjana Maria lifted an enormous new trophy – the old one lost to the mists of time – on Sunday. It crowned a week in which the traditions of one of the game’s most hallowed tournaments merged with the contemporary drive to push women’s sport to even greater heights.

This time a year ago, there was outrage from some quarters at the thought that women would return to Queen’s after half a century’s absence. Members of the prestigious west London club objected to their facilities being taken out of action for even longer than usual; there were concerns over wear on the grass ahead of the men’s event. A bloc of Queen’s members even attempted to force the board to resign over the concept of dragging the tournament into the 21st century.

If that felt hideously backwards last year, it appears even more near-sighted today, after a triumphant week for the rejuvenated women’s event. (Even the British weather largely cooperated, barring a couple of rain delays early on.)

And it felt fitting that the tournament’s debut would have two trailblazers, in different ways, in the final.

The surprise package of the week has been qualifier Maria. A 37-year-old veteran of the tour, she took two breaks from the game to have daughters Charlotte, 11, and Cecilia, four, who accompany her – along with her coach-husband Charles-Edouard – to every tournament.

The German reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2022 but hasn’t found the same level since, enduring a nine-match losing streak before coming to Queen’s. “It’s the perfect example to never give up and always keep going, because I’m still here and living this dream,” she said on Friday. It certainly is.

On the other side of the net was 23-year-old Amanda Anisimova, a former teenage prodigy, who showcased her incredible potential with a run to the French Open semi-finals aged just 17.

Tennis abounds with cautionary tales of young stars who burn brightly and then burn out. Anisimova, struggling with the stress of life on tour, took a break in 2023 to look after her mental health and rediscover who she was. Taking a step back worked wonders, and the American has reached new heights since her return, winning her maiden WTA 1000 title earlier this year and moving up to a career-high ranking of 15th.

World No 86 Maria was the underdog by ranking going into this final. Then again, she has been in every match she has played this week, but her guile and experience have seen her through. The low bounce of grass perfectly suits her crafty, unconventional game, built on a slice that has been confounding the world’s best players all week.

Having dispatched 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and Australian Open champion Madison Keys in the quarter- and semi-finals, respectively, she rapidly got on top of Anisimova, a player with a similar power-hitting style. Maria denied Anisimova any rhythm, taking all the pace off the ball, and earned a chance to break early with a crunching topspin forehand. She took it and raced to a 4-1 lead inside 15 minutes, with Anisimova already baffled at how to deal with this most bamboozling of opponents.

The young American’s formidable groundstrokes helped get her back on serve, but she could not build any momentum, and Maria immediately broke back, holding to love to seal the first set. The German – now the oldest WTA 500 finalist, and oldest champion – broke at the start of the second, her ability to mix slice and spin with a deft touch at the net continuing to get the better of her big-hitting opponent.

One point, on Maria’s serve at 2-1, summed up the match: Anisimova fired down smash after smash, only for Maria to dig each one out at the baseline, before the American eventually hit long. She looked on the verge of tears. Maria held after a mammoth 20-point game, then broke again, picking up a backhand volley that was mere millimetres away from bouncing twice to seal it.

Anisimova reduced her deficit to just one break and stuck with the German in the latter stages of the set, but there was no getting past an inspired Maria. The American blasted a forehand wide on championship point, and Maria sealed the biggest singles title of her career, 6-3, 6-4. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see you in the Wimbledon final,” Anisimova said afterwards, jokingly adding, “I think that bigger champagne bottle is for me, because I need it more.”

Maria, whose speed and agility on the court belied her age, jumped for joy and raced to celebrate with her family – although her four-year-old may have missed the moment of her mother’s biggest triumph, sleeping peacefully in the player’s box. “Queen of Queens”, the 37-year-old wrote on the camera lens.

Both players thanked the appreciative crowds, Anisimova adding, “For you to come out and support women’s tennis so much, it means a lot”. The crowd has certainly got behind the new tournament: around 80 per cent of tickets were sold ahead of the first day’s action, with the Andy Murray Arena filled to bursting on quarter-finals day on Friday, even before Emma Raducanu – third on the schedule – took to the court. Semi-finals day on Saturday sold out.

The response from the players, too, has been resoundingly positive. Second seed Keys, one of the most high-profile women to feature, said after her quarter-final win on Friday that “I think it’s the best 500 that I have played”.

She noted that the fact that it had already attracted such a competitive field in its first year – including six grand slam champions and three of the current top 10, despite taking place immediately after the French Open – made it a “pretty high-level 500 right away”.

Heather Watson, a veteran of British tennis, went further: “I think it’s huge for tennis in this country.” Katie Boulter, whose battle with Raducanu for the British No 1 spot has taken centre stage this week, said, “Queen’s is everything that I kind of dreamt it would be. I feel like it’s a moment for women’s tennis and women’s sport in general right now.” Both Boulter and Maria called it a “privilege” to play here.

At times, the tournament proved unable to handle the scale of demand. The doubles partnership between Boulter and Raducanu proved such an attraction that punters queued for over an hour to access their first-round match. Warned that once they were let in, they would be unable to leave, fans opted against loo breaks and refills of Pimm’s in favour of watching British tennis’s two biggest stars.

Their matches would likely have filled the 7,700-capacity Andy Murray Arena too, but due to the tournament’s contractual obligations with the WTA, which prioritises singles matches on main courts, “Boultercanu” were stuck on the standing-room-only Court 1. A thousand fans crammed in to cheer them on.

Unlike the majority of mixed tournaments, Queen’s is running its women’s and men’s events on separate weeks. That has meant that the thousands of spectators descending on west London each day have turned up in their masses solely to watch women’s tennis. Those punters have had their faith repaid.

Perhaps in the future the two tournaments will integrate fully, although Keys quipped: “I like when we don’t have to share with the boys.” For now, the spotlight has been solely on the women; they have made sure it has been a blinding success.