Wednesday 31 January 2024
JAPAN CRUISE INTO ASIA CUP QUARTER-FINALS WITH 3-1 WIN OVER BAHRAIN
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| Reuters |
Four-times champions Japan eased into the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup with a clinical 3-1 victory over Bahrain on Wednesday at Al Thumama Stadium with goals from Ritsu Doan, Takefusa Kubo and Ayase Ueda.
Bahrain coach Juan Anotnio Pizzi had been looking to heal old wounds after his Saudi Arabia team lost to Japan at the same stage in 2019 but Hajime Moriyasu's side put in a commanding performance and rarely looked troubled against the Gulf nation.
Japan will face the winner of the final last-16 tie between Iran and Syria later on Wednesday.
RINGROSE OUT FOR IRELAND OPENER AGAINST FRANCE
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| Reuters |
Garry Ringrose will miss Ireland's Six Nations opener against France on Friday while Jack Crowley, Joe McCarthy and Calvin Nash will make their first starts in the tournament as part an otherwise experienced side.
Ringrose was struggling with a shoulder issue ahead of selection, the Irish Times reported on Wednesday. Leinster team mate Robbie Henshaw will partner Bundee Aki in the centre for what promises to be huge test of Ireland's title defence.
Crowley, the only one of the novice trio with any Six Nations experience with just three minutes against Italy last year, steps into the sizable boots of Johnny Sexton, who retired last year after a near unbroken 14-year run in the number 10 shirt.
While Nash's second cap comes as a result of a tournament-ending injury to Mack Hansen, McCarthy's fine club form and breakthrough at last year's World Cup put the big 22-year-old ahead of Leinster team mate James Ryan in the pecking order.
MOTOGP CANCELS ARGENTINA ROUND DUE TO ECONOMIC CRISIS
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| Reuters |
MotoGP's Argentina Grand Prix has been cancelled due to circumstances in the country, series organisers said on Wednesday.
The April 7 grand prix would have been the third round of the 22-race season.
"Due to the current circumstances in Argentina, the promoter of the event has communicated that it is currently unable to guarantee the services required for the Grand Prix to take place in 2024 at MotoGP standards," a statement said.
MOROCCO'S AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS CALAMITY CONTRASTS WITH WORLD CUP HEROICS
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| Reuters |
Another African Cup of Nations calamity for Morocco keeps up a consistent sequence of failure in the tournament that contrasts starkly with their performance at the last World Cup.
Morocco became the first African side to reach the World Cup semi-finals some 14 months ago and went into the Cup of Nations finals as favourites.
Prior to the tournament, they had one loss in 12 games and invested heavily in their preparations, including arriving a week before kick off in the Ivory Coast to adjust to the severe heat and suffocating humidity.
But their hopes ended on Tuesday with elimination in the last 16, keeping up their poor record in the Cup of Nations, which they have won only once some 48 years ago.
They were beaten 2-0 by South Africa in another of the upset results that have characterised the tournament.
PARIS OPENING CEREMONY ESTIMATE OF ATTENDEES DROPS DOWN TO 300,000
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| Reuters |
The number of people estimated to be attending the opening ceremony of this year's Olympics has been reviewed and fell down to about 300,000, French Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said on Wednesday.
The opening ceremony will be a six kilometre parade along the River Seine on July 26, amid security concern as France is on high terrorism alert.
"The idea is that there will be 100,000 people on the lower quays (with paying tickets) and more than 220,000 people on the upper quays (with free tickets)," Darmanin told French TV channel France 2.
"Then there are all those who live there and who will be able to rent, have parties along the Seine."
The last time Darmanin made an estimate on the number of attendees was in May 2023, when he said up to 600,000 were expected at the opening ceremony.
- Reuters
DAVID RUBENSTEIN HAS A DEAL TO BUY THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES FOR $1.725 BILLION, AP SOURCES SAY
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| AP Photo |
Carlyle Group Inc. co-founder David Rubenstein has reached an agreement to buy the Baltimore Orioles for $1.725 billion, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the agreement had not been announced. Rubenstein, a Baltimore native, would take over as the team's controlling owner, and he's assembled an investment team that includes Ares co-founder Michael Arougheti.
The Angelos family has been in control of the Orioles since 1993, when Peter Angelos purchased the team for $173 million. Angelos' son John is the team's current chairman. The team recently reached a deal on a new lease extension at Camden Yards. Maryland officials approved that long-term agreement after months of negotiations.
The deal extended the lease for 30 years, with an option to end it after 15 if the team does not receive approval from state officials for development plans next to the ballpark.
TRAVIS KELCE STAR OF HIS OWN BIOGRAPHICAL COMIC BOOK
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| Reuters |
He will be the subject of a comic book coming out shortly.
TidalWave Comics has added 34-year-old American football star Travis Kelce to its FAME series, which features the life stories of prominent people.
The glossy, which will be released on Feb. 7, chronicles Kelce's college and NFL career, as well as his life off the field - hosting TV show "Saturday Night Live," his weekly podcast, and his philanthropy work.
Tuesday 30 January 2024
CLUBS SPENT RECORD $9.63BN ON INT. TRANSFERS IN 2023 - FIFA
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| Jude Bellingham's move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid was one of the top transfers of 2023. Getty |
Clubs worldwide spent a record $9.63 billion on international transfers in 2023, an increase of nearly 50% compared to 2022, world football's governing body FIFA said in its Global Transfer Report published on Tuesday.
After transfer spending fell in 2020 and 2021 due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, outlays on players have only increased, with last year's total spend seeing an increase of 48.1% compared to 2022.
The figure also smashed the previous record set in 2019 by more than $2bn, with English clubs spending the most with a new high of $2.96bn while four countries' associations received more than $1bn in transfer fees in 2023.
England were followed by Saudi Arabian clubs who tried to draw some of the best players from European sides to the Saudi Pro League last year following the marquee signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, which saw several players move to the Middle East.
XAVI FEELING 'UNVALUED IN 'CRUCIAL, UNPLEASANT' BARCELONA JOB
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| Getty |
Outgoing Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández said his work at the club has never been sufficiently valued and that it will be "impossible" for his successor to enjoy the job.
Xavi, 44, announced after Saturday's 5-3 defeat to Villarreal that he will leave Barça at the end of the current campaign, despite having a contract until 2025.
Barça won LaLiga by 10 points last season under Xavi, but they have failed to kick on this term, exiting the Spanish Supercopa and the Copa del Rey this month while falling 11 points behind league leaders Girona.
"It is a cruel and unpleasant job," Xavi said in a news conference ahead of Wednesday's LaLiga fixture against Osasuna at the Olympic Stadium.
"It makes you feel worthless on a daily basis. Pep [Guardiola] had already told me; I saw Luis Enrique suffer.
"We have a problem in terms of the level of demand. You don't enjoy it. You're playing for your life all the time. It's cruel.
"The job we have done has not been sufficiently valued. We arrived in 2021 at one of the most difficult moments in the club's history."
ANALYSIS: ADAM SILVER EARNED HIS NEW DEAL TO REMAIN AS COMMISSIONER OF THE NBA
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| AP Photo |
Adam Silver works for the NBA's owners, who have seen their franchise values soar over the last decade. He doesn't work for the players, but they seem to be rather enjoying how their bank accounts are getting stuffed as well.
It's a win-win.
And that means keeping him around seemingly is a no-brainer.
Silver and the league's owners agreeing on an extension for him to remain as commissioner of the NBA for years to come, a development first reported Saturday night by ESPN and confirmed by The Associated Press, makes sense on every possible level. Owners are making money. Players are making money. Fans are happily spending lots of money, as proven by the league setting attendance records.
“Max contract? Seven years, $350 million?” Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo asked when told by AP about Silver's extension agreement.
Antetokounmpo was kidding around, and the financial terms weren't released, but there was a point within the joke — Silver earned this new deal.
“He's done an incredible job,” Antetokounmpo said. “He's always been there for us. I don't think there's ever been a time where I'd see him somewhere and we didn't have a conversation about something that's bothering me. Whenever I want to, I can reach out and set up a meeting ... he's always available for us.”
RUSSIAN FIGURE STATER VALIEVA BANNED FOR DOPING, ROC LOSES OLYMPIC GOLD - CAS
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| Reuters |
Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva received a four-year doping ban on Monday, effectively stripping the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) of its gold medal in the team event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games nearly two years after the competition.
In its long-awaited ruling, the highest court in sport found Valieva guilty of committing an anti-doping rule violation that rattled the Beijing Olympics and frustrated competitors who are still waiting for their medals from the event to be allocated.
"Kamila Valieva is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation and sanctioned with a four-year period of ineligibility commencing on 25 December 2021," the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said.
The court added that all of Valieva's competitive results achieved since that date are voided, including the gold medal she helped ROC win in the team event at the 2022 Games.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), one of the parties that brought the case to CAS, welcomed the decision, describing it as a victory for fair sport.
Monday 29 January 2024
VINCE MCMAHON RESIGNS FROM TKO, WWE OVER SEX ASSAULT LAWSUIT
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| Reuters |
Vince McMahon resigned from wrestling giant TKO Group (TKO.N) and the subsidiary WWE that he founded, over a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault and trafficking, which he said he will fight, the company said on Friday.
"I have decided to resign from my executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors, effective immediately," McMahon said in a statement released by TKO.
The suit by a former employee, filed on Thursday in federal court in Connecticut, accuses McMahon, WWE and another executive of "physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault and trafficking at WWE," and seeks unspecified costs and damages.
McMahon denied the allegations in the statement, saying, "I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name."
ILIA MALININ REPEATS AS CHAMP U.S. FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIP
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| USA TODAY Sports |
Ilia Malinin put together a dominant performance on Sunday, logging a 294.35 to win his second consecutive title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Columbus, Ohio.
Malinin shined in the short program with a 108.57 before posting a 185.78 in the free skate to blow by second-place finisher Jason Brown, who totaled a 264.50. Brown had an 89.02 in the short program and a 175.48 in the free skate.
Despite dealing with a boot problem that forced him to switch to an old pair, Malinin was still able to land his quad axel, a jump that the 19-year-old has become known for.
FORMER PANAMA STRICKER 'MATADOR' TEJADA DIES AT 41
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| Reuters |
Former Panama striker Luis "Matador" Tejada, who won more than 100 caps for his country, died on Sunday at the age of 41, the Panamanian Football Federation (FEPAFUT) has said.
Tejada was playing in a veterans game on the outskirts of Panama City before he collapsed and was taken to a clinic for medical attention where he was pronounced dead, local media said.
FEPAFUT paid tribute to Tejada, who played a key role in helping Panama qualify for their first World Cup in 2018.
"Synonymous of development and football in our country. We express our sincere condolences. We will never forget you matador," FEPAFUT said in a post on X.
Tejada played 108 games for the national team and is their top-scorer with 43 goals.
- Reuters
CONGO KNOCKS EGYPT OUT OF AFRICA CUP ON PENALTIES AND WILL PLAY GUINEA IN QUARTERFINALS
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| AP Photo |
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Congo knocked seven-time champion Egypt out of the Africa Cup of Nations with an 8-7 win on penalties after the teams finished 1-1 after extra time on Sunday in the round-of-16 match.
Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal struck the crossbar with his spot kick before Congo counterpart Lionel Mpasi stepped up to send the Leopards into Mohamed Abou Gabal quarterfinals.
Also known as Gabaski, Abou Gabal – whose saves almost won the title for Egypt in the last edition – was playing because regular goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy dislocated his shoulder in the team’s final group game against Cape Verde.
It was the latest misfortune for Egypt, which lost Liverpool star Mohamed Salah to a hamstring injury during the 2-2 draw with Ghana in their second match.
The Egyptian Football Association sacrificed a cow on Thursday in an effort to change the team’s luck.
However, the Pharaohs' defense was caught out by a quick throw in for Congo’s opening goal, scored by Meschack Elia in the 37th.
Mostafa Mohamed equalized from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time. But extra time was needed between two teams that had failed to win any of their games so far.
It was the eighth consecutive Africa Cup match that Egypt failed to win in normal time including the previous tournament.
Egypt finished the game with 10 players when defender Mohamed Hamdy was sent off in the first period of extra time with his second yellow card for a late challenge on Simon Banza.
In the shootout, Mohamed struck Egypt’s second penalty to the right of the goal, but Congo's Arthur Masuaku reciprocated by sending his effort over and no other players missed until Abou Gabal did.
Congo will next face Guinea.
TENNIS NEEDS THE NEXT GENERATION, SAYS GRAND SLAM CHAMPION SINNER
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| Reuters |
Jannik Sinner was not about to announce the end of the "Big Three" after his breakthrough Grand Slam triumph at the Australian Open but the 22-year-old Italian does believe tennis needs a fresh generation of champions.
His five-set victory over Daniil Medvedev on Sunday made him the first Melbourne Park winner in 10 years not named Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal or Roger Federer - the trio of multiple champions who have dominated tennis for two decades.
Djokovic's incredible success into his mid-thirties has delayed the decline of the "Big Three" but with Federer now retired and Nadal looking set to join him this year, a huge gap is opening up at the top of the game.
THE SUPER BOWL SET: MAHOMES AND AND THE CHIEFS WILL FACE PURDY AND THE 49ERS
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| AP Photo |
Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs are heading to Las Vegas with a chance for a rare repeat while facing the San Francisco 49ers in a Super Bowl rematch from four years ago.
The Chiefs beat Lamar Jackson and the No. 1-seeded Baltimore Ravens 17-10 in the AFC championship game Sunday to advance to the Super Bowl for the fourth time in five years. A few hours later, Brock Purdy rallied the No. 1-seeded 49ers to a 34-31 victory over the Detroit Lions in the NFC title game.
The Chiefs (14-6) are aiming to become the first back-to-back champions since Tom Brady and the New England Patriots did it following the 2003-04 seasons.
Purdy — who was still two years away from being the last pick of the 2022 NFL draft the last time the teams played in the Super Bowl — will try to lead the 49ers (14-5) to a record-tying sixth title in their eighth appearance.
The teams meet at Allegiant Stadium on Feb. 12. The 49ers opened as 2 1/2-point favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Mahomes and the Chiefs overcame a 20-10 fourth-quarter deficit and beat the 49ers 31-20 to give coach Andy Reid his first Super Bowl victory on Feb. 2, 2020. Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers spoiled Kansas City’s repeat bid the following year.
SAMUEL ETO'O 🇨🇲 VS. JAY JAY OKOCHA 🇳🇬
SAMUEL ETO'O 🇨🇲:
➡️ 705 matches.
➡️ 427 goals.
➡️ 20 trophies for club and country.
➡️ Record 4 times African Player of the Year in 2003, -2004, 2005, and 2010.
➡️ Record African Cup of Nations top goalscorer (2006, 2008).
➡️ Won the Gold Medal at the 2000 Olympics.
➡️ 2 AFCON trophies ( 2000 and 2002 against Elhadj Diouf's Senegal)
➡️ All time AFCON highest goal scorer with 18 goals
➡️ All time highest goal scorer for Cameroon with 54 goals.
➡️ 3 times UEFA champions League winner.
➡️ RCD Mallorca all-time top goalscorer
➡️ 2 times treble winner with Inter Milan and Barca.
➡️ 3rd FIFA Best Player (2006)
Sunday 28 January 2024
JANNIK SINNER WINS AUSTRALIAN OPEN| CLAIMS FIRST MAJOR
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| Reuters |
MELBOURNE, Australia -- Jannik Sinner rallied from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday and clinch his first Grand Slam title.
Sinner, 22, was playing in a major final for the first time. He got there by ending Novak Djokovic's long domination of the tournament in a semifinal upset.
He's the first Italian to win the Australian Open title in what could be a generational shift in tennis.
For 2021 US Open champion Medvedev, the loss was his fifth in six major finals. The third-seeded Medvedev set a record with his fourth five-set match of the tournament and time on court at a major in the Open era, his 24 hours and 17 minutes surpassing Carlos Alcaraz's 23:40 at the 2022 US Open.
Medvedev lost back-to-back finals here to Djokovic in 2021 and to Rafael Nadal -- after holding a two-set lead -- the following year. He won three five-set matches to reach the championship match this time and had two comebacks from two sets down. Sinner dropped only one set through six rounds -- in a third-set tiebreaker against Djokovic -- until he lost two straight to Medvedev.
It wasn't until a break in the sixth game of the fifth set that he really had a full grip on his first Grand Slam title.
UNDER FIRE XAVI TO LEAVE BARCA AT THE END OF THE SEASON
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| Xavi Hernández took over as Barcelona coach in November 2021 after Ronald Koeman's sacking. Photo by David S.Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images |
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández has announced he will leave the club at the end of the season after Saturday's 5-3 defeat to Villarreal at the Olympic Stadium.
The pressure had been rising on Xavi throughout January after a string of disappointing results, including a 4-1 loss to Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa final and Wednesday's 4-2 loss against Athletic Club in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals.
Xavi, who only recently penned a new deal until 2025, says he made the decision before the Villarreal game, but that now is the right moment to make it official.
"I would like to announce that I will not remain Barça manager beyond the end of this season," Xavi confirmed in a news conference.
"I had decided to leave a few days ago, but I think now is the right time to announce it to help reduce the tension that exists around the club. A change of dynamic is needed.
"So, as a Barça fan, thinking of the club's best interests, and of the players, I think it's the right decision. No one is bigger than the club and I am a supporter above all. I love this club."
FROM HEAVYWEIGHT CLASH TO POTENTIAL UPSETS: LOOKING AHEAD TO THE ASIAN CUP ROUND OF 16
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| South Korea's surprise runners-up finish in Group E means they now face a daunting clash with fellow powerhouses Saudi Arabia in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup round of 16. Lintao Zhang/Getty Images |
In the blink of an eye, the 2023 AFC Asian Cup is now down to the knockout round.
Two weeks of riveting group-stage action has delivered a last 16 with plenty of usual suspects but also a handful of surprise high-fliers.
There will be no more second chances with teams needing to win four matches on the trot from now till Feb. 10 if they are to be crowned champions of Asia.
Here, we look ahead at the storylines each round of 16 tie has produced.
Australia vs. Indonesia (Jan. 28)
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| Appearing at the AFC Asian Cup for the first time since 2007, Indonesia were the final team to scrape through to the round of 16 but face a massive test in the form of Australia on Sunday. KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images |
A real David vs. Goliath clash if there ever was one, with Australia placed 25th in the world while Indonesia are now the lowest-ranked team in the competition in 146th following the elimination of Hong Kong.
Making their first Asian Cup appearance since they co-hosted the tournament in 2007, Indonesia reaching the knockout round has been nothing short of a fairy tale -- but surely they could do the unthinkable?
They gave a decent account of themselves in defeats to Iraq and Japan with their sole victory thus far coming against regional rivals Vietnam, which means they are yet to cause a major upset.
This is far from the strongest outfit Australia have fielded at recent Asian Cups but they are still a formidable side that will be expected to negotiate their way past this test, even if the jury is still out on whether they have what it takes to go all the way and win a second crown.
BAYERN SIGN DEFENDER SACHA BOEY FROM GALATASARAY
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| Reuters |
Injury-hit Bayern Munich have signed fullback Sacha Boey from Galatasaray (GSRAY.IS) on a contract until 2028, the German champions said on Sunday.
The 23-year-old former France youth international had joined Galatasaray on four-year contract in 2021 from Stade Rennais. There were no financial details of the Bayern move but German media reported it was worth about 30 million euros.
"Sacha Boey is a very quick and physically very strong right back who puts in a lot of kilometres in each game and does not shy away from a one-on-one," said Bayern sports director Christoph Freund. "He will improve our defensive quality."
FRANCE"S MATTHIEU MAKES HISTORY AT FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN
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| USA TODAY Sports |
Not only will Frenchman Matthieu Pavon remember his first victory on the PGA Tour, but his country will, too.
Pavon made history on Saturday, firing a 3-under par 69 to become the first golfer from France to win on the PGA Tour in the modern era with his victory at the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego.
Playing on Torrey Pines' South Course, Pavon recovered from a bogey at the par-4 first hole to pick up five birdies against just one bogey for the rest of his round. He sank an 8-foot birdie putt at No. 18, putting him at 13-under 275 for the week, allowing him to squeak past Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard.
Hojgaard landed in second with a 12-under 276 after shooting a 2-under 70 on Saturday on the two-time U.S. Open course.
"You've got to take your losses with a smile sometimes because it makes you stronger," Hojgaard said. "I definitely, I'll definitely do my best to get a couple shots better."
Saturday 27 January 2024
SABALENKA OVERPOWERS ZHENG TO RETAIN AUSTRALIAN OPEN CROWN
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| Reuters |
Aryna Sabalenka produced an utterly dominant display to become the first woman in 11 years to retain the Australian Open title and send out a warning to her rivals with her second Grand Slam title on Saturday.
The Belarusian blew away Zheng Qinwen 6-3 6-2 in 76 minutes with a show of power that overwhelmed the Chinese 12th seed, emulating compatriot Victoria Azarenka's 2012-13 feat by winning the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup back-to-back.
Sabalenka came into the match without having dropped a set at the year's first major and stayed perfect to join Ash Barty, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Lindsay Davenport in the elite club of players to have done so this century.
"I'm speechless right now," Sabalenka said at her press conference as she sipped a glass of wine. "I don't know how to describe my emotions. But definitely I'm super, super happy and proud of everything I was able to achieve so far.
"Yeah, just happy with the level I played today. She's a great player and very tough opponent."
Sabalenka dropped only one set at last year's tournament and her dominance this year is a further reflection of the maturity and emotional control she has built in the last 12 months.
"I didn't want to be a player who won it and disappeared," Sabalenka said. "I wanted to show I'm able to be consistently there and I'm able to win another one.
"That's why no matter what the result, win or lose, we're always working hard, we're always looking for things to improve in my game."
MAV'S LUKA DONCIC DAZZLES WITH 73, TIED FOURTH IN NBA HISTORY
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Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic had a night to remember Friday, lighting up State Farm Arena for a career-high 73 points in a 148-143 victory over the host Atlanta Hawks.
It marked the highest-scoring game in the NBA this season, passing the 70-point performance by Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid on Monday against the San Antonio Spurs. It also tied Wilt Chamberlain and David Thompson for the fourth-highest output in NBA history. Chamberlain, who owns the NBA record with 100 points, also had a 78-point outing, while Kobe Bryant finished with 81 points on Jan. 22, 2006.
"Those names are special," Doncic said. "It's unbelievable."
Friday night marked just the NBA's 15th 70-point game, and Doncic is the 10th player to reach the plateau.
JASON TATUM REFLECTS ON THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF KOBE BRYANT'S DEATH
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| Jason Tatum. Getty |
There are so many questions that Jayson Tatum wishes he could have asked Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant before he, his daughter Gianna, and seven others died in a helicopter accident four years ago Friday. And since Bryant’s death, the Boston Celtics star forward hasn’t been shy about reaching out to a mentor like NBA star LeBron James to acquire as much knowledge as possible.
“It is bittersweet. I can’t believe that he’s not here anymore. And the thing that I regret is I wish I would’ve called him more. I wish I would’ve texted him more,” Tatum told Andscape. “I just always thought he was so busy. I never wanted to bother him. We knew each other. He told me to text him, call him anytime. But I was almost scared. I can only imagine all the things he has going on. I don’t want to bother him. And obviously after what happened, I wish I would’ve reached out more. I had so many questions I wanted to know the answers to. I should have called him more and it taught me a lesson.
“Now I don’t hold back with older guys in the league now, like ’Bron. ’Bron is somebody that I text and call a lot, and it could be from basketball to how to take care of your body to business decisions off the court. People are willing to give you answers, you just have to ask.”
Friday 26 January 2024
KLOPP TO LEAVE LIVERPOOL AT END OF THE SEASON
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| Reuters |
Juergen Klopp stunned the world of football on Friday when he announced he would stand down as Liverpool manager at the end of season, saying that after more than eight hugely successful years in charge he was running out of energy.
The German, who led Liverpool into the final of the League Cup on Wednesday and is hugely popular with the fans, said he told the club's hierarchy in November that he would end his eight-and-a-half years at Anfield at the end of the current campaign.
Assistant managers Pepijn Lijnders and Peter Krawietz are also leaving the club at the same time, Liverpool said.
ALEXANDER ZVEREV DOMESTIC ABUSE CHARGES: WHAT TO KNOW
Alexander Zverev will play in the semifinals at the Australian Open on Friday against Daniil Medvedev. But as the 26-year-old German looks to reach his second career major final, he remains the focus of domestic abuse allegations. On Jan. 16, as the first round of the Australian Open was underway, the Tiergarten district court in Berlin announced it had set May 31 as the start of Zverev's trial -- bringing the accusations back to the forefront.
Here's what to know about the case:
What are the allegations against Zverev?
According to a court document from October, Zverev is accused of "physically abusing and damaging the health of a woman during an argument in Berlin in May 2020." The woman is his former partner, Brenda Patea, who is also the mother of his daughter. (ESPN doesn't normally name alleged victims of domestic abuse, but Patea has gone public with her accusations.) In an interview, Patea said Zverev pushed her into a wall and choked her.
On Oct. 2, 2023, a criminal court issued a fine of €450,000 (about $488,000) and a penalty order against Zverev. In German law, such an order can be used when there is compelling evidence to support the accusation and a trial is not deemed necessary. Defendants have the right to contest the order, which then results in a public trial. Zverev contested the order and legally maintains the presumption of innocence until he stands trial.
On Nov. 1, Zverev called the penalty order "complete bulls---" when speaking to the media at the Paris Masters event. "Anybody that has a semi-standard IQ level knows what this is all about," Zverev said without further explanation.
Have there been any previous allegations against Zverev?
Yes. Olya Sharypova, another previous partner of Zverev's and a former tennis player, publicly came forward on Instagram in October 2020 with allegations of abuse at various places around the world, including in cities where ATP tournaments were being held.
In a series of media interviews soon after, Sharypova described multiple instances of violence, including Zverev allegedly punching her in the face, as well as smothering her with a pillow as she struggled to breathe. She said she feared for her life.
Zverev denied the accusations. Sharypova did not go the police, but the ATP hired an outside firm to look into her claims. After a 15-month investigation, which included interviews with Sharypova, Zverev and 24 others, the ATP announced on Jan. 31, 2023, that it would not be punishing Zverev as there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations. The ATP did not publish a full report of its findings.
"From the beginning, I have maintained my innocence and denied the baseless allegations made against me," Zverev said in a statement released later that day. "I welcomed and fully cooperated with the ATP's investigation and am grateful for the organization's time and attention in this matter."
Why are the allegations a topic of discussion right now?
The Tiergarten district court in Berlin announced the May 31 start date for the trial at the beginning of the Australian Open, making the allegations top of mind for reporters, fans and fellow players. The trial is expected to last eight, non-consecutive days with the last one currently slated for July 19.
Additionally, Zverev was named as a member of the ATP Player Advisory Council earlier this month. After Zverev's first-round win over Dominik Koepfer, the questions during the English-speaking portion of his news conference were entirely about his position on the Council. Because he had been voted into the leadership position -- which makes recommendations to the ATP on behalf of the players -- by his peers, he said members of the media were the only ones who believed his role to be inappropriate.
"Journalists are saying that, some, who are actually interested more in this story to write about and more about the clicks than the actual truth," Zverev said.
Zverev was also featured extensively in an episode of the current season of Netflix's "Break Point," which was released Jan. 10. The allegations were not mentioned.
Does the ATP have a domestic abuse policy?
No. While other leagues, such as the NBA and NFL, have specific policies related to domestic abuse and violence, the ATP does not.
In October 2021, while announcing it would be investigating the initial claims against Zverev, the ATP said it had commissioned and received an independent safeguarding report.
"ATP will now evaluate the recommendations to identify immediate next steps and develop a longer-term safeguarding strategy relating to all matters of abuse, including domestic violence," the organization said in a statement.
In March 2023, the ATP hired Andrew Azzopardi as its director of safeguarding. A specific policy has yet to be released. The ATP does have a more general code of conduct policy, which outlines potential punishments for "conduct contrary to the integrity of the game," including for those charged with a crime.
"A player, or related person, charged with a violation of a criminal or civil law of any jurisdiction may be deemed by virtue of such charge to have engaged in conduct contrary to the integrity of the Game of Tennis and the ATP Members Fines Committee may provisionally suspend such player, or related person, from further participation in ATP tournaments pending a final determination of the criminal or civil proceeding," the 2024 ATP rulebook states.
When asked this week for clarity regarding Zverev and the code of conduct, the ATP issued a statement to ESPN.
"We are aware of the upcoming legal trial involving Alexander Zverev, and will not be commenting until that process is complete."
Have any of his peers spoken about the charges, the upcoming trial or his role on the ATP's Player Advisory Council?
While several players were asked questions in the days following the announcement of the trial date during their news conferences at the Australian Open, most said they were unable to comment. Alex de Minaur said he was "good at playing tennis" but "not good at making political decisions" and was "going to stay out of it and focus on playing tennis." Stefanos Tsitsipas said he was "completely unfamiliar" with the situation.
"I haven't had too much time to think about it, and don't really have an opinion right now," Casper Ruud said. "But yeah, I'm not exactly sure how to react to it, so won't give you a good answer. Sorry."
Grigor Dimitrov, who is also a member of the Council, initially said he didn't want to comment because he was unaware of the situation, before acknowledging Zverev's recent election to the position.
"I think everyone needs to sit down together and discuss all of that," Dimitrov said. "That's my message on that end. Of course now these things coming through, personally, I didn't know. So I'm sure if you ask all the other guys, it's something that if it's needed, I guess we are all going to sit down and talk about it."
Sloane Stephens, who recently concluded a stint on the WTA's Players' Council, said the WTA players would not have elected someone facing such charges.
"I think that the ATP kind of beats their own drum," Stephens said last week. "Yeah, they do what they do on that side. Would that happen on the WTA Tour? Probably not."
Stephens acknowledged Zverev's presence on tour was a "difficult situation" and said she hoped the trial would "put it to rest."
"There's a lot of speculation and allegations," Stephens said. "I think at this point for the tour and for the fans it needs to be done with. I think that's what will happen. People will get what they want whenever his trial is. We'll just go from there. I guess the ATP will then decide what they will do with their player after that. ...
"For three years no one has done anything, so I don't think another five months of waiting for a criminal trial I guess to happen is going to change much on either side."
Iga Swiatek, the current top-ranked women on tour, said she wasn't "in the right position to judge" but did say she was disappointed that Zverev had been voted onto the Council.
"For sure it's not good when a player who's facing charges like that is kind of being promoted," Swiatek said.
What would happen if he were found guilty during his trial?
That might be one of the biggest unknowns at this point. Zverev will not have to be present at his trial, which begins during the 2024 French Open and also will have dates held during Wimbledon in July and could run longer if necessary.
According to the BBC, he could be asked to attend in person later in the trial if needed, and the sentence for someone found guilty of a domestic abuse charge in Germany ranges from a fine to five years in prison. Zverev would likely pay the initial fine amount he was issued in October.
The ATP has not publicly shared how Zverev would be punished if he were deemed guilty.
- D'Arcy Maine, ESPN.com
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