7 Major Sports Highlights of 2021 | Read
The sporting calendar for the year 2021 was filled with a lot of highlights that kept sports fans around the world in total shock and some events left them excited throughout the year. We will look at the top seven events that happened in the world of sports.
(1) Novak Djokovic WINNING 20TH GRAND SLAM TITLES
World Number One male tennis player Novak Djokovic came into the year 2021 winning 17 grand slam titles, three behind Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, who were on 20 Grand Slam titles. The Serb was in a better place to equal the record of the most grand slams won by a male tennis player. Federer, who was battling with an injury on his knee, could not give a competition. Nadal was battling with a back injury, which also was a hindrance for him to compete. Djokovic took advantage of his competitor's injury by winning the Australian Open, the French Open, and Wimbledon. The Serb needs one more grand slam to become the man with the highest number of grand slams.
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(2) Cristiano Ronaldo Returning to Manchester United
The 36-year-old returned to Manchester United during the summer transfer window from Juventus for a free around 12 million pounds. The transfer was one of the most exciting for the fans of the Red Devils who had their golden boy return home. According to reports from Manchester, the Portuguese was on his way to Manchester City, but a call from Sir Alex Ferguson was all that changed the mind of Ronaldo. Ronaldo has been in amazing form since returning to the club. He scored a brace on his debut game at Old Trafford against Newcastle United. His goals were also responsible for Manchester United qualifying to the next round of the UEFA Champions League.
(3) Lionel Messi Leaving Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain
The transfer of Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona has to be the biggest sporting highlight of the year. It was a move no one in the world ever saw coming. The Argentine was close to signing a new contract with the Catalans when everything went south. According to reports from the Barcelona board, the financial crisis of the club and the financial fair play rule in Spain were the reasons Messi's contract was not renewed. The 34-year-old left the club as a free agent to join PSG, but he has found it difficult to replicate the form he is known for when he was with Barcelona, unlike Ronaldo, who has started strongly at Old Trafford.
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(4) Emma Raducanu Winning the US Open
The 19-year-old was the highlight of the 2021 US Open Grand Slam as she beat the odds to win the tournament by beating fellow teenager Leylah Fernandes. She had to win three rounds of qualifying matches and seven matches in the tournament, winning all ten without losing a set. The US Open was the only second Grand Slam tournament of her career. Raducanu became the first teenager to win a grand slam since Serena Williams in 2004. She also became the first person to come through from the qualifying round to win a grand slam title. The win ensured she became British Number 1 tennis player and number 19 in the world. She was recently named the BBC Personality of the year.
(5) Max Verstappen Winning Formula 2021 Championship
The 24-year-old ended the reign of Lewis Hamilton at this year's formula1 Championship. Verstappen winning the tournament was a major highlight of the year, most especially for fans of the sport. The Red Bull driver finished top on the podium ahead of Hamilton, who won the race nine times. This is the first time, the dutch is winning the Championship and he will hope for more wins in the coming seasons.
(6) Simone Biles Mental Health Issue
USA Gymnast, Simone Biles was at the center of mental health issue at the just concluded Summer Olympic Games which was hosted in Tokyo, Japan. The American withdrew from the games because of a mental health, according to reports from the USA Gymnastics. Biles said she did not want to jeopardise her team's chance of winning a medal, hence her decision to withdraw from the competition. She has won 32 Olympic and World Championship medals.
(7) Tyson Fury Wins Trilogy Fight Against Deontay Wilder
It was the final fight of the professional boxing trilogy between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder on October 9th, 2021. The fight was held at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Neveda. The fight was won by Fury by unanimous decision by the judges after 13 rounds of fight between both boxers.
The first fight of the trilogy was fought in December 2018, with the bout ending in a controversial draw. The pair had a rematch in February 2020 with the Brit emerging winner of the second fight via a seventh round technical knockout to win the WBC and the Ring Magazine heavyweight titles.
