Category: Sports

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Sinner says doping scandal made him stronger

Jannik Sinner said Friday a three-month doping ban last year made him stronger as a person and more relaxed on court as he prepares to defend his Australian Open title.

The 24-year-old arrived at Melbourne Park last year under intense pressure, not knowing his fate after a drugs scandal.

He managed to put aside the noise and win the title but his career was put on hold afterwards as he served the three-month suspension for twice testing positive for a banned anabolic steroid in 2024.

Sinner always maintained the product entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist, who had used a spray containing it to treat a cut.

While the World Anti-Doping Agency said Sinner did not intend to cheat, it ordered him to serve the ban as he was responsible for the actions of his entourage.

“Last year was definitely a much more difficult situation because in this moment last year I didn’t know exactly what’s going to happen,” he said. “So I tried still to enjoy it when I went out on the court, but still had it in my head kind of.

“It was difficult for me, but also for the family. I tried to stay with the people I really love, which at times worked very well. At times it was a bit disappointing, too.”

Sinner’s ban expired in May and he bounced back to win Wimbledon and the ATP Finals, ending the year as world number two behind fierce rival Carlos Alcaraz.

He said the experience had made him a better person.

“It is what it is, right? After that, I think everything happens for a reason,” he said. “It got me even stronger as a person. The person I’ve become it’s much more mature in a way because I see things when they’re not going in the right direction different ways.

“Whatever comes on court, result-wise, that’s all an extra,” he added. “I live the sport also in a very different way now, which is relaxed, but I give everything I have. It’s a balance of everything. So yeah, I’m very happy.”

Sinner saw off Alexander Zverev in straight sets to win the title a year ago, having come from two sets down to defeat Daniil Medvedev in the 2024 Australian Open final.

Should he win three in a row he would join Novak Djokovic as the only men in the Open era to do so.

The Serbian legend has done the three-peat twice during his 10 titles at Melbourne Park and could meet Sinner in the semifinals this year, if both get that far.

The Italian will get his campaign under way against France’s Hugo Gaston, with master coach Darren Cahill again in his corner.

The pair joined forces in June 2022 and Cahill has overseen Sinner’s elevation to the top of the game. (JapanToday)

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Man United stuns Man City in Carrick’s first game; Liverpool and Arsenal drop points

Manchester United’s latest reboot is off to a flying start.

In Michael Carrick’s first game as coach, United pulled off a stunning 2-0 win against Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday and lifted the gloom hanging over Old Trafford.

“It’s a great start,” Carrick said.

Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu sealed victory in the 198th Manchester derby.

“It was a very special day but I’m not getting carried away,” said Carrick, four days after his appointment. “It needs to be a regular feeling, that level of performance needs to be consistently what we’re getting.”

The former United midfielder is contracted only to the end of the season and has 17 games to convince the club hierarchy to give him the job permanently after Ruben Amorim became the sixth permanent manager to be dismissed since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

He could not have made a better first impression as United dominated all-conquering City. Manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged it.

“The better team won,” Guardiola said. “When a team is better you have to accept it. They had an energy we didn’t have. Congratulations.”

League leader Arsenal could not take full advantage of defeat for second-place City, drawing 0-0 at Nottingham Forest.

United was fifth in the standings, one point behind defending champion Liverpool, which extended its winless run to four games after drawing with relegation-fighting Burnley 1-1 at Anfield.

Chelsea was sixth after beating Brentford 2-0.

Watching over Carrick’s first game with a beaming smile was Ferguson. Winning had United fans singing in full voice inside Old Trafford and drowning out City’s.

“The supporters were incredible. This could be a magical place,” Carrick said. “To get that feeling is exactly what we want. Hopefully it’s just the start.”

The result could have been more emphatic as United twice hit the goal frame and had three goals ruled out for offside.

United claimed city bragging rights, boosted its chances of Champions League qualification, and dealt another blow to City’s title challenge. City’s recent winless run was extended to four games. Arsenal’s draw left City seven points behind the leader.

Mbeumo fired low into the far corner at the end of a swift United break to open the scoring in the 65th minute. It was the least Carrick’s team deserved in a performance full of attacking intent.

Dorgu doubled the lead in the 76th, converting from close range after beating Rico Lewis to substitute Matheus Cunha’s cross.

Harry Maguire and Amad Diallo saw chances fly off the woodwork and further celebrations were cut short in the 89th when VAR ruled Mason Mount’s goal offside. It mattered little by that stage. (JapanToday)

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Real Madrid fans within their rights to boo us: Arbeloa

Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said his club’s fans had the right to jeer him and his team, as they did on Saturday during their 2-0 La Liga win over Levante.

Arbeloa earned his first victory as Madrid coach but along with stars Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, was booed and whistled by home supporters at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Arbeloa was appointed on Monday, replacing Xabi Alonso after Madrid lost the Spanish Super Cup final against rivals Barcelona, and in his first match at the helm the club crashed out of the Copa del Rey against second-tier Albacete.

“We didn’t come from a good week and the fans are well within their rights to show their discontent with all the players, with the team, with me first of all,” Arbeloa told reporters.

“I think the whistles were for everyone, and me first of all because I am the leader of this team and I’m someone who when things aren’t going well, you have to call out.”

Arbeloa said the fans’ rage was something which has made Madrid the most successful club in world football.

“I’ve always respected the Bernabeu (crowd), they whistled me a lot too, and it’s one of the aspects that make this club so great, the demand of the fans,” said the Spaniard, who turned 43 on Saturday.

“We know the week we’ve had, we know this is the biggest club in the world, where people want the maximum, and we know what the Bernabeu is asking of us.

“I think that demand we will always take it well, because they know we can do a lot more, we can give a lot more, we have to be at the level of Real Madrid, and I have nothing to rebuke our fans for.”

Brazilian winger Vinicius was the player who came in for the most ire from Los Blancos fans.

Arbeloa said he would try and get the best from the forward, who went on a 16 game run without scoring before netting against Barca last Sunday.

“It’s clear for me as Madrid coach, I’ll work to get the best version of Vinicius, and I’ll ask his team-mates to find him more, give him the ball as much as possible,” said Arbeloa.

The 25-year-old signed for Madrid in 2018 and has won two Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles among other trophies.

“What Vinicius has done since arriving here as a kid, few have done in the history of Real Madrid,” continued the coach.

“I’m very proud to be his coach and I’ll work with him to get the best of him, because he will bring us many trophies, as he has done already.” (Guardian)

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AFCON 2025: Nigeria beat Egypt 4-2 on penalties to win bronze

The Super Eagles defeated Egypt’s Pharaohs 4-2 on penalties on Saturday to claim the bronze medal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after a tense third-place playoff at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca.

The encounter ended goalless after 90 minutes, forcing the contest into a shootout where goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali again proved decisive, saving spot-kicks from Mohamed Salah and Oumar Marmoush to hand Nigeria their ninth AFCON third-place finish and maintain their perfect record in the fixture.

Interim coach named a rotated side, with Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman starting on the bench. Nwabali retained his place in goal behind a defence of Bright Osayi-Samuel, Igoh Ogbu, Semi Ajayi and Bruno Onyemaechi. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Raphael Onyedika anchored midfield, while captain Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze operated on the flanks behind Paul Onuachu and Akor Adams.

Nigeria began brightly and created the first opening in the 13th minute when Adams’ effort was deflected behind by an Egyptian defender. Both sides then settled into a cagey rhythm with defences on top.

Adams appeared to have given the Eagles the lead in the 36th minute with a powerful header, but the goal was cancelled after VAR review showed Onuachu had elbowed a defender in the build-up. The striker was booked for the offence.

The teams went into the break level, and Lookman replaced Onuachu at the start of the second half. The Atalanta forward had the ball in the net shortly after the restart, only for the strike to be ruled out for offside.

Alex Iwobi later came on for Osayi-Samuel as Nigeria searched for a breakthrough, but chances remained scarce and the match headed to penalties after regulation time ended in stalemate.

In the shootout, Dele-Bashiru missed Nigeria’s opening kick, but Nwabali saved Salah’s effort to keep the scores level. Adams converted before Marmoush was also denied by the Nigerian goalkeeper. Simon and Iwobi scored calmly, and after Mahmud Sabir reduced the deficit for Egypt, Lookman sealed victory with the decisive kick.

Nigeria had reached the playoff after a heartbreaking semi-final loss to hosts Morocco on penalties, while Egypt fell 1-0 to Senegal in their last-four clash.

The Eagles topped Group C with victories over Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda before beating Mozambique and Algeria in the knockout rounds. Egypt, seven-time champions, progressed from Group B and eliminated Benin and Ivory Coast before their semi-final defeat.

Saturday’s triumph extended Nigeria’s remarkable dominance in AFCON bronze matches and offered consolation after their near miss in the race for the title. (Punch)

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Man United crashes out of FA Cup as club weighs up candidates for interim coach

Managerless Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Sunday.

At the end of a week that saw the storied Premier League team fire head coach Ruben Amorim, the loss at Old Trafford has likely consigned United to another trophyless season and was greeted with loud jeers from the home crowd.

Interim coach Darren Fletcher admitted the 20-time English champion was “not in a good moment,” but said it was too soon to write the season off with Champions League qualification still achievable.

“It’s probably not what fans want to hear about Manchester United because they’ve been winning cups and challenging for the Premier League,” he said. “Don’t waste the season. That would be the challenge that I would set. That’s the challenge that probably the players feel like they need to achieve this year.”

Former United striker Danny Welbeck scored what proved the decisive goal in the 64th minute, and Benjamin Sesko’s late header was only a consolation for the hosts in the third-round match.

United has exited both domestic knockout competitions at the earliest possible stage this season, following the humbling loss to fourth-tier Grimsby in the English League Cup. The latest defeat means United will play the bare minimum of 40 competitive games for a top division team this season.

Its only chance of silverware this term is the Premier League, which would require a remarkable turnaround with United currently seventh in the standings and 17 points behind leader Arsenal with 17 games left.

A trophyless campaign would be back-to-back seasons in which United has ended up empty-handed.

The club’s hierarchy hope an interim coach will be able to salvage the season by securing Champions League qualification. United has spoken to former players Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick about taking on the role until the summer. Fletcher, who has taken charge of the two games since Amorim’s departure, is also a contender, as well as former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The loss to Brighton underlined the challenge facing the interim coach.

“Any time you come in at Manchester United, it’s a massive job,” Fletcher said. “It’s not about a manager, it’s not about directors. It’s about everyone and the players have to group together, take responsibility, find a way of improving quickly and taking on the challenge for the rest of the season.”

Brajan Gruda fired Brighton ahead in the 12th, with Welbeck doubling the advantage after the break. Sesko scored his third goal in two games in the 85th, but substitute Shea Lacey was sent off four minutes later and United could not force an equalizer to take the game to extra time.

“I gave it my best and ultimately I’m disappointed to not be able to win a game or to get a result today,” said Fletcher, who drew his other game in charge 2-2 with relegation-fighting Burnley.

Arsenal advanced earlier Sunday with Gabriel Martinelli scoring a hat trick in a 4-1 win at Portsmouth.

Martinelli’s treble helped the Premier League leader come back from going a goal down to the second-tier Championship team inside three minutes.

Colby Bishop stunned Arsenal with the opening goal at Fratton Park, but the lead only lasted five minutes after Andre Dozzell scored an own-goal.

Martinelli put the visitors ahead with a flicked header in the 25th. He slid in for his second six minutes after the break and headed in his hat-trick goal in the 72nd. It was the first time the Brazilian had scored a hat trick for Arsenal.

Victory could have been even more emphatic if Noni Madueke had converted from the penalty spot in the first half.

“It’s always tough to go into these places, especially in the manner that we started the game, conceding the early goal, but we managed to turn things around so I’m very happy,” said manager Mikel Arteta.

Record 14-time FA Cup winner Arsenal last lifted the trophy in Arteta’s first season in charge in 2020. It was the last major honor the London club won, but victory against Portsmouth maintains its four-pronged trophy pursuit along with the Premier League title, the Champions League and the English League Cup.

“I think we are very privileged to be where we are, and the games that we have to play, which means that we are in every competition,” Arteta said.

Top-flight Leeds was also behind to Championship opposition, but recovered from 1-0 down to beat Derby 3-1 at Pride Park.

Third-tier Mansfield pulled off an upset to beat Championship side Sheffield United 4-3 and Norwich routed Walsall 5-1, with Jovon Makama scoring a hat trick. Norwich head coach Philippe Clement later said that U.S. international Josh Sargent refused to play in the game.

Relegation-fighting West Ham needed extra time to beat QPR 2-1. Valentin ‘Taty’ Castellanos’ goal saw Nuno Espirito Santo’s team end a 10-match winless run.

West Bromwich Albion beat Swansea 6-5 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra time. Hull won 4-3 against Blackburn on penalties after a 0-0 draw. (JapanToday)

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Venus Williams loses in 1st round of Australian Open tuneup event in Hobart

Venus Williams lost 6-4, 6-3 to Tatjana Maria in the first round at the Hobart International on Tuesday, less than a week before her appearance at the Australian Open.

The 45-year-old Williams received a wild-card entry for the first Grand Slam event of the year. She also had a wild card to play in Hobart, where she lost to sixth-seeded Maria in a match lasting almost 1 1/2 hours.

Williams also lost her first-round match at Auckland, New Zealand last week.

The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, who is 576th in the world rankings, broke 38-year-old Maria’s serve in the opening set. But Williams dropped serve twice, handing the set to Maria, who is 42nd on the WTA rankings.

A single service break in the second set was enough for Maria to clinch victory.

Williams has made the Australian Open singles final twice — in 2003 and 2017 — losing to her sister Serena both times.

The Australian Open begins Sunday. Williams has not played at Melbourne Park for five years and will break the age record held by Kimiko Date, the Japanese player who was 44 when she contested the 2015 Australian Open.

In another first-round result in Hobart, two-time major winner Barbora Krejčíková lost to Peyton Stearns. Krejčíková, ranked 55th and unseeded in Hobart, lost to Stearns 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4). (JapanToday)

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6th-tier Macclesfield upsets FA Cup holder Crystal Palace in huge shock

The FA Cup delivered another fairytale result on Saturday when sixth-tier Macclesfield — managed by Wayne Rooney’s brother — knocked out titleholder Crystal Palace in one of the competition’s greatest upsets.

The teams were separated by 117 places in the English soccer pyramid.

At the other extreme, Manchester City overwhelmed third-tier Exeter 10-1 in a match featuring a goal on debut by $87 million signing Antoine Semenyo.

City tying the record for its biggest ever win wasn’t the story of the day in the third round, though.

That was the 2-1 win for Macclesfield, a tiny club from England’s north west that was relaunched after its predecessor, Macclesfield Town, was liquidated in 2020 because of debts.

The team, placed 14th in National League North, is still coming to terms with the loss of its 21-year-old forward Ethan McLeod, who was killed in a car crash travelling back from a match he played in at Bedford Town on Dec. 16. A banner bearing his name hung behind the dugouts at the Palace game and his family were in the stands to watch.

It made for an emotionally draining afternoon for John Rooney, the younger sibling of England and Manchester United great Wayne Rooney, who was at the match working for the BBC.

“We finished the game and then I walk in the office and see Ethan’s mum and dad in there, that’s very special to me,” John Rooney said. “Just knowing they were here with us, and I’m sure Ethan was looking down on us today.”

Macclesfield took the lead just before halftime through captain Paul Dawson, before Isaac Buckley-Ricketts made it 2-0 in the 60th following a scramble in the penalty area.

Yeremy Pino’s last-minute free kick for Palace left Macclesfield facing a nervous six minutes of stoppage time as home fans chanted “Silkmen! Silkmen!” — the club’s nickname.

Macclesfield survived, their players adding their names to the competition’s lore. Given the difference in league positions, it was the most unlikely result in FA Cup history.

Fans sprinted onto the field at Moss Rose — Macclesfield’s modest 5,900-capacity stadium — in celebration at the final whistle while Dawson and Duffy were carried aloft.

“I didn’t think it was possible but there is that little bit of hope that anything can happen on the day,” said Rooney, who started and ended his playing career as a midfielder with the club and is in only his first season coaching.

“I can’t believe it. We were incredible from the first minute.”

The last time Palace played in the FA Cup, it beat City in the final for its first ever trophy.

Palace’s dismal afternoon was summed up when U.S. defender Chris Richards did a foul throw in the final minute of stoppage time.

“I have no words for this performance,” Palace manager Oliver Glasner said.

Palace captain Marc Guéhi spoke with the team’s traveling fans after the defeat.

Semenyo was handed a start by City manager Pep Guardiola a day after joining from Bournemouth and was among nine scorers for City. Right back Rico Lewis netted twice.

In a classy gesture, Semenyo thanked Bournemouth fans “for all the memories” in a full-page advertisement printed in the local Bournemouth Echo newspaper before the game. (JapanToday)

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AFCON 2025: Super Eagles soar into semi-finals as Osimhen, Akor sink Algeria 2-0

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have reached the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a convincing 2-0 win over Algeria at the Stade de Marrakech.

The victory sets up a last-four clash against Morocco after their win against Cameroon in the quarter-final.

The Eagles came into the match after a 4-0 win over Mozambique in the Round of 16, having scored 12 goals in four games, the tournament’s highest tally.

Algeria, unbeaten before the quarter-final, had conceded only once in four matches and were known for their strong defence.

From the start, Nigeria dominated possession and pressed high, forcing Algeria to defend deep. Victor Osimhen led the attack with power and speed, supported by Ademola Lookman and Akor Adams, while Alex Iwobi controlled the midfield, linking defence and attack.

The first half saw Nigeria create several chances, with Akor missing a one-on-one opportunity and another effort cleared off the line.

Algeria remained organised at the back and tried to threaten on the counter with goalkeeper Luca Zidane keeping their side in the game.

The breakthrough came in the second half when Victor Osimhen powered home a header to put Nigeria ahead.

The Eagles continued to dominate, and Akor Adams added a second goal after an assist from Osimhen, securing a comfortable lead.

Nigeria controlled the game from midfield, with Wilfred Ndidi breaking up Algerian attacks. The full-backs and wingers stretched the defence, creating space for Osimhen and Akor.

Algeria made substitutions to try and turn the match around, but Nigeria’s defence and composure kept them in control until the final whistle.

The Super Eagles now advance to the semi-finals, where they will face hosts Morocco. (Punch)

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Arsenal manager Arteta ‘sad’ to see Amorim sacked by Man Utd

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said on Wednesday that he was “sad” to see rival boss Ruben Amorim sacked by Manchester United as he reflected on the brutal nature of their trade.

Amorim was dismissed by the Premier League giants on Monday after just 14 months in charge.

The Portuguese coach’s exit followed growing tensions with senior Old Trafford officials, including director of football Jason Wilcox, over recent days.

United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe had previously suggested that Amorim would be given at least three years in charge, comparing his position with that of Arteta.

The Spaniard, appointed in 2019. endured a rocky start to his time in charge of Arsenal, but they now head into Thursday’s match at home to reigning champions Liverpool six points clear at the top of the Premier League table as they chase a first English title in over 20 years.

United, by contrast, are sixth — a huge 17 points adrift of the Gunners.

Amorim won just 25 of his 63 games at United in all competitions during the shortest reign for a permanent manager since David Moyes was sacked just eight months into his tenure in 2014.

“I can only talk about what I have experienced, and it’s always sad to see a colleague losing his job, obviously,” Arteta told reporters in a pre-match press conference.

“We know where we are, and I think you need support from the ownership, from your staff, from players.

“At the end of the day, you need to win a lot of football matches if you want to stay in the job, and that’s the reality and the nature of our job.” (Punch)

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Chelsea’s new boss Liam Rosenior convicted of speeding

New Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has been convicted of speeding after fog delayed his flight back to the UK, where he was due to complete a speed awareness course.

Rosenior admitted being behind the wheel of the vehicle, which had been travelling at 36mph in a 30mph zone in Rykneld Road, Littleover, Derbyshire, at 11.41am on 7 July.

He was offered the chance to avoid a criminal prosecution by completing a speed awareness course, but did not turn up to the session, which had been arranged.

Rosenior explained, in a note to Derby Magistrates’ Court he “had to stay another night and be on a plane the next day during the time of the course”.

He added: “Unfortunately, the course could not be fulfilled due to unforeseen circumstances. Understandably, due to circumstances, I have to accept the situation as is.”

Rosenior was convicted at a single justice procedure hearing on 2 January, with a magistrate ordering him to pay out a total of £1,052 in fines, costs, and court fees.

The former Strasbourg boss was appointed as head coach on Tuesday following Enzo Maresca’s exit.

London-born Rosenior, 41, has admitted his new position at the Premier League club represents a significant step up from his previous job in France.

“The reality is Strasbourg is not on the level as Chelsea,” he said at press conference at the French club – also owned by Chelsea’s parent company BlueCo.

“There are certain clubs you just cannot just turn down. I hope the [Strasbourg] fans can see that.”

Rosenior, who played in England for 16 years, began his managerial career at Derby County – where he got the top job on an interim basis.

His first permanent position was at Hull City, where he lasted for 18 months and took the Championship to the brink of the play-offs before being sacked by the owner who said the pair had a difference in footballing philosophy.

Rosenior, who has been given a six-and-a-half year contract at Chelsea, said on Tuesday that managing a “world-class” club was “something I have always dreamed of”.

“I am looking forward to the challenge,” he said. “If I didn’t think I was ready, I wouldn’t have accepted it.

Chelsea said that the club’s new head coach had “signed a contract with the club that will take him through to 2032”.

Rosenior becomes Chelsea’s fourth permanent boss since owners BlueCo took control in 2022.

Maresca was dismissed on New Year’s Day, leaving abruptly following a deterioration in his relationship with bosses.

It also followed a disappointing run of results – one win from the last seven Premier League games – that left the club 15 points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

Maresca is understood to have stepped down because he felt his position was untenable, while Chelsea were already considering sacking the head coach due to poor results, his comments in the media, disagreements with the medical team and reports linking him with other clubs. (SkyNews)