
ATP roundup: Alexander Zverev reaches Stuttgart quarterfinals
June 12 - Top-seeded home favorite Alexander Zverev moved into the BOSS Open quarterfinals with a 6-2, 7-6 (7) win over Frenchman Corentin Moutet on Thursday in Stuttgart, Germany.
Zverev saved a set point trailing 6-5 in the tiebreak before moving on to face No. 6 seed Brandon Nakashima, who never faced a break point in a 7-6 (5), 6-3 defeat of fellow American Learner Tien.
Zverev's countryman, 17-year-old Justin Engel, joined him in the final eight with a 6-4, 6-4 win against No. 7 seed Alex Michelsen. Engel, competing in his first tour-level event on grass, will next face fourth-seeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime. The two-time Stuttgart finalist defeated France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 6-4.
Libema Open
No. 1 seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia advanced to the quarterfinals in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, with a 7-6 (6), 6-4 against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.
Medvedev saved two set points in the first-set tiebreak and trailed 4-3 in the second set before moving on to face Reilly Opelka, a 7-6 (5), 6-3 winner against Chile's Nicolas Jarry.
No. 2 seed Ugo Humbert of France beat Britain's Daniel Evans 7-5, 6-3 but other top seeds were not as fortunate. Belgium's Zizou Bergs bounced No. 4 Alexei Popyrin of Australia 6-7 (3), 6-2, 7-6 (3) and Estonian qualifier Mark Lajal won in a walkover against No. 5 Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, who is dealing with a back injury.
--Field Level Media
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BBC News
44 minutes ago
- BBC News
'My decision shows what the club means to me'
We had the speculation, the approach, the agreement, the announcement and finally, the confirmation of Matheus Cunha's move to Manchester United from we have had the first extended interview on United's media was filmed at Old Trafford before Cunha went on international duty with Brazil, with former United and Watford striker Danny Webber.A couple of things stood Cunha's explanation for why he chose to move to Old Trafford after United's worst season in over half a century, and then, why he thinks it is the right time."My decision [is] maybe [strange] to the outside, when you have a choice to go a different way," he said."But no-one is like United. I know it was a hard season for everyone but my decision shows what the club means to me and what I believe this club can be."Cunha had a few disciplinary issues towards the end of his stay at Wolves. He was banned for two games in December after attacking a member of the Ipswich coaching staff at Molineux. He then had a one match suspension extended by a further game in March after he had 'punched and headbutted' Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez during an FA Cup this, Cunha feels he is learning valuable lessons."I am more mature," he said. "I try to learn from mistakes. It is the perfect moment for me to come here."


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Tom Aspinall opens up on sacrifice, his road to heavyweight greatness, Jon Jones' retirement and teases his next fight announcement
UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has confirmed that a fight announcement is imminent, ending months of frustration caused by what he calls 'politics outside of the cage.' The British star, who many believe is on the brink of greatness, also revealed he's at peace with failure and now fights without fear — a transformation that followed 'hard conversations' during his injury layoff in 2022 following the first Curtis Blaydes fight. 'I've got a fight coming up soon,' Aspinall told Mail Sport at the launch of his partnership with the sportswear brand Champion. 'I can't say anything else other than that, but there'll be an announcement in the next couple of weeks.' The 32-year-old hasn't competed since July 2024 when he avenged his defeat to Blaydes. His absence has drawn criticism toward the UFC's matchmaking at the top of the heavyweight division. Aspinall admits it's been his first real taste of the sport's murky politics, but insists he's confident everything will 'come good in the end'. 'There is a lot of politics involved in the sport unfortunately. That's just the nature of elite sport and something we have to deal with. But, it's not something I'd experienced much until the last 10 months,' he said. 'But I do believe it's going to come good in the end. I am looking forward to that moment and just focus on that moment.' Despite speculation around a possible showdown with Jon Jones, Aspinall brushed off concerns that such a clash may never materialise or affect his own legacy. When asked whether he could be considered the best in the sport if he never faces Jones in the cage, Aspinall said: 'That's someone else's opinion. That's for them to decide, not me. It doesn't really bother me too much. 'I'm not really thinking about that. At the end of the day, I can only control what I can control. I can only fight the people that are put in front of me and that is what I am doing. I never shy away from anyone. I never turn down anyone.' Aspinall may be one of the UFC's most dangerous men, but he didn't always carry the fearless mindset that defines him today. Before suffering a serious knee injury in 2022, he admits he built excuses into his career, a safety net to protect his pride if he failed. 'I don't have those built-in excuses anymore and I'm not scared of failure anymore. That's because I had some hard conversations with myself when I was out with my knee injury. 'It might sound cheesy, but I did. If I try my absolute best and fail, I can still look myself in the mirror. Whereas if don't fully commit and give it my all I wouldn't be able to,' he said. 'There are so many people walking around on planet Earth, and I'm not just talking MMA or another sport, but every day life that are scared to try to be the best because they are scared to fail or other people's opinion of them. People love it when you fail. 'People want to look at you and say "look at this idiot trying to be the best, he's never going to be able to do this". I'm not afraid of that anymore. I'm not afraid of trying and failing. I'm not afraid of trying my absolute best and not being good enough. That risk has put me in the position where I am today.' This change, he says, has unlocked a new version of himself, one that is fully committed, unapologetically bold, and unconcerned with public approval... most of the time. 'I go through phases to be honest. When it comes to the comments and stuff, I've had so many it doesn't really bother me anymore. Sometimes it does, of course, because I'm a human, but generally speaking, I try not to read into that kind of stuff. Try not to, but sometimes I do, obviously.' He went on to clarify: 'Sometimes I read too many comments, then I delete Instagram for a week. But I've had so many now, it doesn't really bother me anymore.' Aspinall's rise has not come without sacrifice. In his own words, he's given up 'basically everything' to reach the elite level. 'I think all fighters sacrifice a lot of stuff, but I think what separate the elite ones from the average ones, is the amount you sacrifice. You've got to consistently sacrifice stuff for a long period of time. We're talking social events, food, drinking, your body, your mind and financially too. There was a long time I had zero money.' And yet, even after climbing the ranks and achieving financial stability, he's not looking for the exit. He's not satisfied just yet. 'I achieved my dream a long time ago. Just fighting full time and not doing another job,' he said. 'But the dream of dreams is to be the best heavyweight of all time… and I feel like I'm right there.' So what keeps him going? 'Easy, because I love fighting. I don't even need motivation. I love MMA more than anyone I know. I live for it.' What fascinates Aspinall most isn't belts or pay cheques, it's the unknown. It's testing himself against the best in the division and seeing how far he can go. 'Every fight is its own challenge. One guy's got great grappling, another has good elbows. I love that curiosity - like, who's going to win? Let's find out.' It's that curiosity that has shaped his identity. MMA, he says, has taught him more about himself than anything else in life. 'The biggest thing I've learned is how determined I am and that is massive. I don't think a lot of people realise to get to the point where you're around this level, where I'm fighting right now, you have to be outrageously determined to get up every day and do it. 'It's tough. It's a really, really tough sport and I don't think people quite comprehend how difficult it is. There are people who might go into the gym and have a hard session one day, they might get a dead leg one day, they might have a sore neck the next day. Then the following day they're tired. 'I have done that every day for 20 years. I have blocked out distractions and voices saying take it easy today for years and years and years. I still continue to do it and I still continue to love it. I want more of it.' Asked how long he can keep that level of obsession going, Aspinall is honest: he doesn't know. 'Maybe two more fights, maybe 20. It's not something I'm thinking about a great deal right now.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Champion (@championeurope) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tom Aspinall (@tomaspinallofficial) While he awaits the announcement of his next opponent, Aspinall's focus remains on his ultimate goal - not just to become champion, but to stay one, and leave the sport on his terms. 'I want to get my job done and leave with all my faculties intact.' And if he could talk to the 10-year-old version of himself, the one who first dreamed of becoming a champion? 'I'd say I've done pretty good. But we're not done yet, there's still work to do. Keep at it, and keep enjoying it.'


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Matheus Cunha reveals how Ruben Amorim persuaded him to join Man United in first interview since £62.5m move - and opens up on 'dream' move to Old Trafford
Matheus Cunha has revealed how Ruben Amorim helped convince him to join Man United in his first interview after completing a £62.5million move from Wolves. Mail Sport exclusively revealed that Cunha had completed his move to the 20-time champions of English football at the start of June. Cunha, 26, passed his medical last month and is United's first statement of intent in a big summer as they seek to rebuild under Ruben Amorim. The Brazilian, who netted 33 times in 92 appearances for Wolves, has now sat down for his first interview since completing the move and shed light on how Amorim helped persuade him into joining the Red Devils. Speaking to the club website, Cunha said: 'I have a lot of faith in him. I hope he succeeds in conquering the world like he did in Portugal. 'I'm here to help the team and help him. All our discussions made my decision easier'. Speaking to club media, he said: 'Oh, it's like, honestly, it's hard to find the words to say about these moments. 'Maybe outside, I think maybe my decision, they don't understand. But when you have always dreamed to play here, it's easier to pick this decision. 'For me, no-one else is like United. Of course, I know it's been a hard season for everyone. I think my decision shows what this club is for me, and what I believe this club can be.' 'But, of course, it is, the most common phrase that you can say at this moment, is this is the dream come true. I'm sure, honestly, It is hard to understand you are here already. But, yeah, a dream come true. 'Yeah, like I said, it is hard to find a way to explain this club for me. It's a funny story. Only in my grandma's house, we can watch Premier League. 'My house doesn't have the channel and my cousin's house doesn't have the channel. So we organised to go in the weekend to go to my grandma's house to watch the Premier League. 'He's [my cousin] older than me and he supports United and he like showed me the way to start to watch the Premier League and the need to support United. 'And, for me, it was always a bit inside of me, this club. When I play with him in the street, what do you call how is the name, the gravel pitch, we normally play there in Brazil, it's very common. 'We call these pitches Old Trafford. Imagine. So wow, it's so hard to be here now and then thinking about the past is very emotional for me'. The forward was then asked further about how United's former stars influenced his own football career and named one striker that was a 'big example'. He said: 'It's always hard to talk about because I remember the whole squad at the time that I started to watch! You know, in the front, Rooney — wow! Someone that I think I have a lot of particulars in my game, because I always give everything. 'I remember he was the No. 10 and everyone loved the skills of the player in this shirt, but he always brings more. He goes to the grass [slide tackle] to take the ball, this kind of energy inside of him was a big example. 'Of course, I can mention a lot of the players. Ronaldo, everyone knows, it is easy to talk about him. But Ryan Giggs… everyone! 'I can imagine the team, you know, it started with [Edwin] Van der Sar in the goal, Rio Ferdinand, with [Nemanja] Vidic, the defenders. Paul Scholes, wow, [Michael] Carrick. The team for me, honestly, was a big impact for my teenage years.' It is believed United will pay Wolves in three instalments of £20.85m over two years after the Molineux club rejected an offer to stagger the payment over five years. Cunha enjoyed an impressive individual campaign at Wolves last term, scoring 15 goals and providing six assists in 33 Premier League appearances. His total was significantly higher than any United player managed in the league, with Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo ending as joint top scorers with eight each. He was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford throughout the season despite signing a new four-year deal with Wolves in February. 'I've made it clear that I need to take the next step,' Cunha said in March. 'I want to fight for titles, for big things. I have potential.' Mail Sport revealed last month that United were close to an agreement, while Cunha and Amorim were seen in conversation in April following Wolves' win at Old Trafford. Amorim is desperate to bolster United's attack with Rasmus Hojlund misfiring, while Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho look set to depart. United only scored 44 league goals, their lowest ever tally in the Premier League era.