SPORTS - Page 12

The highly awaited clash between Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz at the Netflix Slam lived up to expectations. The battle between the tennis legend and the prodigious talent not only showcased intense tennis but also added a touch of theatrical flair, captivating fans with their extraordinary winners. In the Las Vegas event on Sunday, 37-year-old Nadal, boasting 22 Grand Slam titles, succumbed to a 3-6, 6-3, 14-12 defeat against his compatriot. But the Manacor-born Spaniard was happy with his return

Andrey Rublev has successfully appealed his default from the Dubai Tennis Championships, allowing him to maintain both the ranking points and prize money he earned during the tournament. The default occurred when a Russian-speaking official seemingly accused him of using an obscenity while expressing frustration towards a line judge during his semi-final match against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik on Friday. The incident generated significant discussion on tennis Twitter and faced criticism from some players within the tennis community. Rublev trailed 6-5

Following the hectic months of club football, where qualifiers for Euro 2024 and AFCON 2024 dominated the international window in November and December, national teams are poised to return to the field with a series of friendlies. FIFA is launching the FIFA Series, a new biennial series of friendly games starting in March. The global soccer governing body aims for this initiative to provide an opportunity for national teams that may not regularly face teams from other confederations to enhance

Cristiano Ronaldo faced a barrage of criticism for what seemed to be an inappropriate gesture following Al Nassr’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Al Shabab in a Saudi Pro League match on Sunday. While the Portuguese forward had initially opened the scoring with a penalty in the 21st minute, Al Nassr secured the win with a late brace from Brazilian Talisca, who scored twice in the final four minutes. After the match concluded, videos circulating on social media captured Ronaldo cupping

Securing victory in the League Cup holds significant importance for Juergen Klopp as he concludes his tenure with Liverpool, stated the soon-to-depart manager. Facing Chelsea in Sunday’s final, a triumph for Klopp and his squad, who are pursuing a quadruple, would provide a fitting conclusion to the German’s impressive nine-year stint. At 56 years old, Klopp stands as the sole Liverpool manager to have clinched six major trophies. — including four Premier League titles and two Champions League triumphs —

World Cup champions Argentina will switch their planned tour of China next month for exhibition matches in the United States, the Argentine Football Association said Thursday. The Albiceleste will play El Salvador in Philadelphia on March 22 and Nigeria four days later at Los Angeles’ Coliseum, the federation said. The games will replace friendlies in China that were canceled amid a backlash against Lionel Messi’s failure to play in an Inter Miami match against a local league XI in Hong

Lionel Messi played a pivotal role in Inter Miami’s 2-0 victory in the inaugural match of the 2024 Major League Soccer season, contributing to the setup of one goal and influencing another as the team successfully navigated through a challenging period against Real Salt Lake in the second half. The Argentine superstar made a brilliant start to his debut for the Florida outfit, providing a nifty pass that led to Robert Taylor’s first-half opener and then setting up Diego Gomez’s

Anyone who has ever played a sport that involves balls and a net is familiar with the frustration of having a ruling made against you when you feel confident you are right. It could happen in the schoolyard, with a parent, or, heaven forbid, in court. But when it happens in a professional match, it can have far-reaching consequences. That was the scenario faced by 19-year-old Coco Gauff in Dubai on Thursday when a heated exchange with the chair umpire

The world champion Springboks will play Wales in a one-off test at neutral Twickenham on June 22 ahead of their tour of Australia. It will be the first fixture since Rassie Erasmus took over as head coach following their Rugby World Cup triumph in France last year. They will also aim to maintain their number one ranking in the world rankings against Ireland in two home tests later this summer. Warren Gatland’s side will then travel to Australia for two