TURIN, Italy: Carlos Alcaraz will spend a nervous week watching the ATP Finals as Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas bid to usurp the Spanish teenager as year-end men’s world number one.
The top-ranked Alcaraz is powerless to stop his rivals because he is out with an abdomen injury he suffered at the Paris Masters over a week ago.
Nadal will hope he has shaken off the rustiness he displayed in Paris when he lost in his first singles match in two months after spending time at home in Mallorca with his wife and newborn son. The 36-year-old fell to American journeyman Tommy Paul.
The surest way for Nadal, who won the Australian and French Open titles in 2022 and is ranked second, to finish year-end number one for a sixth time is by winning the title in Turin.
Yet he is seemingly unconcerned about joining Pete Sampras in second on the all-time list of year end number ones.
“Like I’ve often said, it’s not a priority for me anymore, because you need a consistency of results that is really only possible for the younger players,” he told the Gazzetta dello Sport.
“And to be honest I don’t like talking about what could happen in the future.”
Nadal could also top the rankings if he wins all three of his Green Group games and reaches the final while Tsiptsipas stumbles.
The third-ranked Greek, who is in the Red Group, needs to win all his matches on his way to the title.
Nadal would topple US Open champion Alcaraz if the two Spaniards finish level on points. Nadal has a better overall record in the Grand Slams and Masters tournaments
Nadal opens his campaign on Sunday against big-serving American Taylor Fritz. His other two group rivals are Norwegian Casper Ruud and in-form Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Tsitsipas, who has never been higher than third, has a very different attitude to Nadal.
“The rankings are there for a reason. They signify something important,” he said in August when he regained third spot.
“I think that the very next step would be the No. 1 spot, which I hope I can get to one day.”
The 24-year-old has enjoyed a successful year with two titles and five other finals, though a Grand Slam title still eludes him.
Were he to succeed in finishing number one he would emulate Chilean Marcelo Rios in 1998 as the only players without a Grand Slam crown to top the rankings.
Tsitsipas’s task appears harder than Nadal’s as his group contains two former world number ones in Serbian Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev.
Another Russian the exciting mop-haired Andrey Rublev — a quarter-finalist at both the French and US Open this year — makes up that quartet.
Djokovic is hoping his rollercoaster of a year — starting with his expulsion from Australia because he was not vaccinated against Covid to the high of another Wimbledon crown — ends happily.
The 35-year-old Serb is targeting equalling the retired Roger Federer’s record of six ATP Finals titles.
It would be “a perfect ending,” Djokovic told ATP Media on Friday.
“The cherry on the cake, for sure, but it’s a long way. It’s a long week.”
“It’s the last week of the year on the Tour, it’s kind of a last sprint, if you will, for all of us.
“From the very first match you are going to have extra high intensity.”
For Ruud the finals present a chance to capture a significant title after losing both the French and US Open finals. He faces added pressure as his two grandmothers will be in Turin to watch him.
“They don’t come to too much,” Ruud told the ATP website.
“Sometimes they are a little bit frustrated with me that I don’t invite them too often.
“They are great, but as all grandmothers, they can maybe be a bit too much at times,” he added smiling.
Alcaraz powerless as Nadal and Tsitsipas eye number one spot
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Alcaraz powerless as Nadal and Tsitsipas eye number one spot
- Nadal will hope he has shaken off the rustiness he displayed in Paris when he lost in his first singles match in two months
- The third-ranked Greek, who is in the Red Group, needs to win all his matches on his way to the title
Champions PSG eager to preserve unbeaten league run, says Luis Enrique
“It doesn’t happen very often, and that’s our main motivation”
PARIS: Paris St. Germain have already wrapped up the Ligue 1 title with six games to spare but the French champions remain highly motivated as they look to end their campaign unbeaten, coach Luis Enrique said on Friday ahead of a meeting with Le Havre.
PSG, who have 74 points from 28 games, won their fourth straight Ligue 1 title earlier this month and have also reached the Champions League semifinals and French Cup final.
They host relegation-threatened Le Havre on Saturday and Luis Enrique insisted that his side could not take it easy and let their standards slip if they are to become the first team to win the French top-flight title without tasting defeat.
“We’re preparing for future games in the same way. We can break a record, it’s within the team’s grasp,” Luis Enrique told reporters.
“It doesn’t happen very often, and that’s our main motivation. We’re already champions. If you want to play for PSG and be here for many years, you have to play at the highest level at all times.
“Le Havre has a lot at stake. It will be one of the most difficult games of the season.”
PSG play three league games in the span of eight days — taking on Le Havre, Nantes and OGC Nice — before meeting Premier League side Arsenal in a Champions League semifinal first leg at the Emirates Stadium on April 29.
Asked about the possibility of finally ending PSG’s wait for a European Cup, the Spaniard said: “We haven’t achieved our objective yet. Since we arrived, our objective has been to make history.
“To make history, you have to win everything, especially the trophy you all know. We’re going to give everything we’ve got to achieve that. What’s important to me is the road to get there. It depends on us...
“We already played Arsenal at the start of the season. We know who we have to eliminate. They’re one of the best teams in Europe. They’ve developed very well with (Mikel) Arteta, they’re performing very well.”
Lyon needs Renard and Hegerberg to shine against Arsenal in women’s CL semis, Barca faces Chelsea
- Lyon’s last victory came three years ago and since then Barcelona have taken over as the leading team in the sport
- Lyon travel to Arsenal for a lunchtime first leg on Saturday and Barcelona host Chelsea on Sunday evening
PARIS: When Wendie Renard scored in front of 14,000 fans in the women’s Champions League final 14 years ago, she helped Lyon win the trophy for the first time.
Seven more titles and much bigger crowds have followed since for Renard and Lyon, along with a truck-load of domestic trophies.
The 34-year-old Frenchwoman has scored more than 150 goals for the club in almost 500 appearances, a remarkable ratio for a central defender.
Lyon teammate Ada Hegerberg — the first Ballon d’Or winner — is in her 11th season at the club and has won the competition six times. She scored a hat trick in the 4-1 rout of Barcelona in the 2019 final.
They are among the most iconic names in women’s soccer and Lyon might need big performances from both to win a record-extending ninth European crown.
Lyon’s last victory came three years ago and since then Barcelona have taken over as the leading team in the sport. The Catalan giant are going for a third straight title and fourth overall.
Barcelona are led by the flair and drive of two-time Ballon d’Or winners Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí. They have shared the last four awards, making it four straight for the club, and both scored in last year’s final against Lyon in front of a record crowd of 51,000.
Lyon and Barcelona have met in the final in three of the past six seasons and could clash again — provided they get past Arsenal and Chelsea in the semifinals.
Lyon travel to Arsenal for a lunchtime first leg on Saturday and Barcelona host Chelsea on Sunday evening.
When Lyon won the Champions League for the first time, they beat Arsenal in the semifinals.
The second legs are held the following Sunday, with the final taking place on May 24 at Lisbon’s 50,000-capacity Estádio José Alvalade.
London calling?
North Londoner Arsenal won the tournament in 2007 when it was called the Super Cup, and are the only English team to do so. West Londoner Chelsea have reached the final once, in 2021, but were routed 4-0 as Barca won their first title.
The contest was so one-sided that Barcelona scored after 32 seconds and were 4-0 up at the break.
If Arsenal and Chelsea get through it would be only the third same-nation final in the competition.
Road to the semis
Chelsea overturned a 2-0 deficit from the first leg to knock out Manchester City 3-2 on aggregate, thanks to goals from Frenchwoman Sandy Baltimore, Swede Nathalie Björn and Colombian Mayra Ramírez.
In the first leg, City had ended Chelsea’s long unbeaten run under coach Sonia Bompastor.
The 44-year-old Frenchwoman won the competition twice as a player with Lyon and once as a coach — when Lyon beat Barcelona 3-1 in 2022 in front of 32,000 fans.
It was business as usual for Barcelona, which routed 2023 runner-up Wolfsburg 6-1 in the second leg for a 10-2 aggregate victory.
Winger Salma Paralluelo and forward Clàudia Pina each scored twice as Barcelona took their goal tally to 36 in eight games, while María León and Putellas showed their passing skills.
Lyon outclassed Bayern Munich 6-1 on aggregate with Hegerberg among the scorers. In-form England striker Alessia Russo netted twice as Arsenal advanced with a 3-0 win over Real Madrid after losing 2-0 in Spain.
Barca coach Flick unhappy with LaLiga kickoff timings amid hectic schedule
- “Every league protects their clubs, especially when they play in the semifinals of the Champions League,” Flick said
- “I’m happy we’re not playing on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. against Valladolid”
BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised his team’s resilience with the club still competing on three fronts this season but complained about the timing of their next LaLiga match against Celta Vigo as he wanted to give his players some more rest.
League leaders Barcelona advanced to the semifinals of the Champions League after defeating Borussia Dortmund on aggregate while they also face Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final later this month.
With a four-point lead over Real, Barca can steal a march on the title when they play Celta Vigo on Saturday but Flick questioned the league for not scheduling the game later in the day instead of an early kickoff.
Flick said players need more time to rest as they arrive back in Barcelona very late from away games in Europe and do not get into bed until 5 am.
“Every league protects their clubs, especially when they play in the semifinals of the Champions League. It’s unbelievable, we have no time to rest,” Flick told reporters on Friday.
“For me, the guys responsible for that — I want to discuss it with them... I don’t want to make excuses or complain. I’m happy we’re not playing on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. against Valladolid.
“But why can’t we play at 6:00 p.m. like we normally do? Give me one reason. To me, it’s a joke and it affects Spanish football. The rest of the teams in the European leagues benefit.
“I’m speechless because this situation is unbelievable. In the Bundesliga or Premier League, they take care of their clubs... They (LaLiga) have no idea what this (arriving late) means for the players.”
Celta Vigo are seventh in the standings, chasing European football, and Flick praised their 37-year-old coach Claudio Giraldez who came in this season and lifted a club that finished the last three campaigns in the bottom half.
“I have the highest respect for his work, he’s coached a great team... it has nothing to do with his age,” Flick said.
“Celta have a clear idea of how they want to play, they’re very brave in their build-up.
“For us it’s important we show our strengths, maybe what we missed in Dortmund. We spoke about the situations we had in Dortmund and we have to do better tomorrow... We have to play at our highest level. Also, they like their away matches.”
Al-Nassr seeking revenge in tonight’s clash against Al-Qadsiah
- Team look to maintain pressure on the league toppers, Al-Ittihad
- Friday’s match is expected to witness the return of Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic
RIYADH: Al-Nassr’s first football team will play against Al-Qadsiah at 9:00 p.m. Saudi time tonight, as part of Round 28 of the Saudi Roshn League, at the Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam.
The capital’s team, which has entered the title race, aims to secure all three points and take revenge after losing to their opponent 1-2 in the first leg. They also look to maintain pressure on the league toppers, Al-Ittihad.
The two clubs have previously met 17 times in the Pro League, with Al-Nassr achieving nine victories, while Al-Qadsiah has five wins, and three matches ending in a draw.
Al-Qadsiah’s net has received 30 goals by Al-Nassr’s strikers, while the latter have conceded 18 goals during those encounters.
Italian coach Stefano Pioli hopes his side Al-Nassr can earn the three points without any injuries, especially with the final rounds of the Elite Asian Cup just one week away.
Friday’s match is expected to witness the return of Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, who missed the previous game against Al-Riyadh — which Al-Nassr defeated 2-1 in Round 27 — due to rest.
Meanwhile, Spanish coach Michel Gonzalez described their clash against Al-Nassr as tough but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to overcome the challenge and secure a win — something that has eluded them in the last four rounds, in which they drew twice and lost twice.
Al-Nassr sit in third place with 57 points, just one point behind second-placed Al-Hilal and eight points behind leaders Al-Ittihad. Al-Qadsiah hold fifth place with 52 points, tied with Al-Ahli.
Former Man United prospect Joe Thompson dies at 36 after third cancer diagnosis
- Thompson died at home with his family by his side
- He retired in 2019 and went on to become a motivational speaker and soccer pundit
MANCHESTER, England: Joe Thompson, a former Manchester United academy player who made more than 200 appearances for local club Rochdale, has died. He was 36.
Fifth-tier English club Rochdale announced that Thompson, who had been fighting cancer for a third time, died Thursday at home with family by his side.
“We first knew Joe primarily as a talented footballer, but we would soon grow to adore his loving, infectious personality,” Rochdale said in a statement on Friday.
“He faced every battle head-on, both on and off the pitch. His journey and indomitable spirit have been an inspiration for everyone who has been touched by his story. Above all of that, Joe was a loving husband to Chantelle and an incredible father to Thailula and Athena Rae.”
A midfielder, Thompson was first diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2013 while playing for Tranmere. The disease returned three years later.
Thompson announced he was cancer-free in 2017 and less than a year later entered himself “into Rochdale folklore,” the club said, by coming off the bench in the final game of the 2017-18 season to score in a 1-0 win that kept the team in the third tier.
He retired in 2019 and went on to become a motivational speaker and soccer pundit. He also held an ambassadorial role with United.
Last year, Thompson was diagnosed with cancer for a third time.
United posted a tribute to Thompson on its social media channels, saying he “epitomized our club’s values.”
Rochdale, located just north of Manchester, said its players would wear black armbands during Friday’s match at Altrincham in the National League.
