Richard Gasquet ends 23-year career after loss to Jannik Sinner at French Open
PARIS — Richard Gasquet ended his 23-year professional career Thursday with a 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 loss to top-ranked Jannik Sinner in the second round of the French Open .
The 38-year-old Frenchman received a standing ovation and an honorary trophy during a post-match ceremony on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Novak Djokovic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga appeared in a video tribute that was broadcast on the stadium's screen.
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Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool's £70m Target Could Be the Final Piece in Arne Slot's Attack
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The Sporting CP striker has been linked before, but this time, the smoke is thick—and with Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz nearing lucrative exits, the fire may be incoming. On June 2nd, the day after the summer window officially opened for Club World Cup exemptions, Gyökeres was installed as the bookies' favourite to join Liverpool and complete a tantalising new-look attack. His goal record in Portugal is stunning, but it's what he could offer this new-look side tactically and psychologically that makes him a vital piece of the puzzle. The Killer Instinct Liverpool Have Missed Despite Darwin Núñez's chaotic but rare brilliance, Liverpool has too often lacked that cold-blooded, relentless finisher to capitalise on their dominance and chance creations. Gyökeres is the antithesis of wastefulness. With 54 goals in all competitions last season, he has demonstrated an ability to thrive both as a lead striker and as a relentless presser in a team that plays on the front foot. For a Slot-led Liverpool that will combine structure with vertical speed, there may be no better fit than the former Coventry striker. Advertisement He's not just a goal poacher, despite that trait standing so high on his list of potential. Gyökeres possesses that blend of size, speed, and technique that makes him a nightmare to defend against, especially in Europe's most elite division. His hold-up play is superb, his movement in the box razor-sharp, and his decision-making under pressure mature. Slot could build attacking patterns around his reliability, unlike the more volatile offerings of Núñez or the injury-prone Diogo Jota. As Salah drifts wide and Wirtz slices through the inside channels, Gyökeres offers a constant, clinical focal point. A Fluid Front Three with Teeth Pairing Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz either side of Gyökeres could unlock a front three as terrifying as any in Europe, even PSG. Salah, still at the peak of his powers, remains the club's gold standard for productivity and creation. Wirtz, by contrast, brings youthful ingenuity and intelligence that could mirror the early Liverpool days of Philippe Coutinho—with more purpose and power. Gyökeres would be the glue, the finisher, and the spearhead. This trident would also possess the balance that Slot craves as he looks to build a team in his image. Salah and Wirtz are both capable of dropping deep or going wide to allow the striker to exploit central lanes. Gyökeres' ability to rotate, drag defenders, and press relentlessly fits the pressing philosophy at the core of Liverpool's modern DNA. He does the dirty work but with a technician's flair not too dissimilar from England's world-class skipper, Harry Kane. That adaptability would also help Liverpool in Europe, where tighter games demand more than raw power or counter-attacking chaos. In Gyökeres, Liverpool would have a player able to wrestle with giants and dance around them too. They would have a striker that is not there to be a new false nine, but more fearsome. While Rivals Look Elsewhere, Liverpool Have Clarity The timing of Liverpool's potential move for Gyökeres is telling and could carry weight. Manchester United are distracted by internal uncertainty, Arsenal are dithering between a couple of targets, and Chelsea are bound by the financial and structural consequences of years of erratic spending. Advertisement Edwards and Hughes know that striking while on top is not just an act of dominance—it's one of insurance. Gyökeres won't come cheap, but unlike others in the market, he's ready-made for this Liverpool system. His desire to move, coupled with Sporting's realistic valuation in the region of £65-70 million, makes this both ambitious and viable. 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Associated Press
39 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Cristiano Ronaldo is almost certain he won't play at the Club World Cup
MUNICH (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo says he's almost certain he will not be playing at the Club World Cup, dealing a blow to FIFA president Gianni Infantino's hopes of having one of soccer's biggest attractions at the tournament. The Portugal star confirmed Saturday that he received 'quite a few' offers from participating clubs to play for them at the tournament starting June 14, but had decided against accepting any of them. 'Some things make sense to talk about, other things don't, and, as a person says, you can't take part in everything,' Ronaldo said. 'You have to think about the short, medium and long term. It's a decision practically made on my part not to go to the Club World Cup, but I've had quite a few invitations to go.' Ronaldo was speaking in Munich a day before Portugal's Nations League final against Spain. 'This is irrelevant right now,' Ronaldo said when first asked about the Club World Cup. 'It makes no sense to talk about anything other than the national team.' ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Ulrika Jonsson shares powerful before-and-after photos as she celebrates one year of sobriety
Ulrika Jonsson has celebrated one year without alcohol by sharing before-and-after photos on Instagram. The TV presenter, 57, told her social media followers that sobriety will 'continue to be [her] priority' and thanked her children and close friends for supporting her. Gladiators star posted a recent photo showing her looking healthy, labelled '#sober', and also shared an older selfie in which she appeared bleary-eyed and messy-haired, which she labelled '#drunk'. 'Today I'm marking 1yr of sobriety,' she captioned her post. 'No fanfare, no medal, no trophy. The journey goes on. 'A huge thanks to all those beautiful people who have supported me; understood me; scooped me up and handled me tenderly and without judgement; who nudged me in the right direction; who made me laugh and helped me shed the crippling shame.' Jonsson went on to share a special message to her four children, Cameron, 30, Bo, 25, Martha, 20, and Malcolm, 17. 'Thank you to my kids for their support; for having faith in me after I must have worried them so,' she wrote, before also praising her 'close friends for their patience and belief'. 'My sobriety will continue to be my priority,' she continued, before joking: 'Turns out it IS possible to teach old dogs new tricks.' Jonsson's celebrity friends shared messages of encouragement and congratulations, with former Atomic Kitten star Kerry Katona writing: 'So bloody proud of you my darling miss and love you all the world.' Liberty X singer Michelle Heaton wrote: 'So happy for you darling.' In a post which coincided with six months of sobriety in December, Jonsson previously revealed she reached a point where she could 'no longer recognised [her]self' just before she decided to quit drinking. 'On the 5th June 2024, I had the gift of desperation and reached out for help,' she wrote. 'I no longer recognised myself and I surrendered.' 'Many people have asked me how I've done it and all I can say is that no woman is an island – I have not done this alone,' she continued. 'The willingness to give up alcohol came from me, yes, but without support of friends, family and my new tribe, I would not have made it this far.'
