Carlo Ancelotti: 'I hope Brazil becomes champion again'
The new coach of the Brazilian National Team, the Italian mega-champion talks about his first impressions and his hopes of winning titles with the country.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner start time: When is French Open semi-final?
Novak Djokovic battles World No 1 Jannik Sinner for a place in the French Open final and in the latest chapter of their inter-generational rivalry. Djokovic, 38, become the oldest French Open semi-finalist since 1968 when he outclassed the third seed Alexander Zverev on Wednesday night, with the 24-time grand slam champion saying the win proved he can still compete with the best. Advertisement Sinner, 23, is the reigning US Open and Australian Open champion and increased his winning streak at the grand slams to 19 matches when he thrashed Alexander Bublik in straight sets in the quarter-finals. The Italian, who is bidding to reach his first French Open final, has raced through the draw and has beaten Djokovic the last three times they have played, including the 2024 Australian Open semi-finals. Here's everything you need to know When is Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner? The match will be the second men's semi-final on Friday 6 June and will follow the previous contest between Carlos Alcaraz and Lorenzo Musetti. It won't start before 6pm BST (7pm local time). Advertisement Musetti has retired injured, sending Alcaraz through to the final. So Djokovic and Sinner will start on time shortly before 6pm. French Open order of play - Friday 6 June Court Philippe-Chatrier From 1:30pm BST Carlos Alcaraz bt. Lorenzo Musetti - Musetti retired with Alcaraz leading 4-6 7-6 6-0 2-0 Not before 6pm BST [1] Jannik Sinner vs Novak Djokovic [6] What happened in the quarter-finals? Djokovic produced a tactical masterclass to outmanoeuvre Alexander Zverev and reach his 13th French Open semi-final. Djokovic dropped serve in the opening game of the match but dominated Zverev from there and closed out a 4-6 6-2 6-3 6-4 victory in three hours. He said it proved that he can still beat the best in the world. Advertisement 'Obviously beating one of the best players in the world on the biggest stages is something that I definitely work for, and I still push myself on a daily basis at this age because of these kind of matches and these kind of experiences,' 'It's a proven kind of testament to myself that I can and to others that I can still play on the highest level.' Sinner continued his dominant form by thrashing Alexander Bublik 6-1 7-5 6-0. The Italian dropped just six games against Bublik and it added to his string of one-sided victories so far. The 23-year-old also dropped just eight games against Andrey Rublev, three games against Jiri Lehecka and seven games against Richard Gasquet. After losing to Sinner, Bublik said: 'He's playing fast. He's playing smart. He's basically playing every match under two hours, so physically he's very at a top level, so it's not easy, as you can see. It's not only me who got bageled.' What has Novak Djokovic said about Jannik Sinner? 'Jannik is in tremendous form, and he has been the best player for the last couple of years, deservedly. He's been playing some terrific tennis, attacking tennis, and just super strong from every aspect of his game. Advertisement 'I haven't played him now in quite some time and we always had some exciting matches. It's going to be of course semifinals of a grand slam against the No 1 in the world. There is no bigger occasion for me, so I'll try to do my best to step it up and perform as well as I did tonight.' Sinner defeated Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals in 2024 (AP) What has Jannik Sinner said about Novak Djokovic? 'He has shown now in the last period that he is back to the level. He plays very, very well, so it's going to be even there quite tactical, but very, very difficult. He's such an experienced player, 24 grand slams. I think that says everything. Let's see. I'm just happy to be in the semis and see what I can do. Advertisement 'Last year I played a good match in the semis, so I'm proud to be again here. I wouldn't have thought to be here in this position since my comeback, so I'm very happy to take things like they are, and hopefully I'm ready. I just want to watch my side of the net, and then we see.' Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner head-to-head The overall head-to-head is 4-4. Sinner has won three matches in a row against Djokovic but this will be their first meeting on clay since the very first time they played each other in Monte Carlo in 2021, when Sinner was still a teeanger. Djokovic won that match 6-4 6-2. 2024: Shanghai Masters, final, outdoor hard - Sinner wins in two sets Advertisement 2024: Australian Open, semi-final, outdoor hard - Sinner wins in four sets 2023: Davis Cup Finals, semi-final, indoor hard - Sinner wins in three sets 2023: ATP Finals, final, indoor hard - Djokovic wins in two sets 2023: ATP Finals, round robin - Sinner wins in three sets 2023: Wimbledon, semi-final, grass - Djokovic wins in three sets 2022: Wimbledon, quarter-final, grass - Djokovic wins in five sets 2021: Monte Carlo, round of 32, clay, Djokovic wins in two sets
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Angry Carlos Alcaraz out of trouble as Lorenzo Musetti retires from French Open semi-final
Carlos Alcaraz returned to the French Open final after Lorenzo Musetti retired injured, sending the defending champion through to play against either Novak Djokovic or Jannik Sinner on Sunday. Musetti, the Italian eighth seed, struggled with a left leg injury and quit the match after losing his eighth consecutive game, with Alcaraz progressing 4-6 7-6 (3) 6-0 2-0. 'Sad and disappointed on how it ended,' said Musetti, who was bidding to reach his first grand slam final. 'But still a great match. I felt at the beginning of the third when I was serving, I started losing a little bit of strength on the left leg behind, and [it was] definitely was going worse and worse, so I decided to stop. I think it was the right decision to make, even if it was not what I wanted.' Musetti waves to the crowd after retiring from the match (Getty Images) Alcaraz was in a spot of bother, though, before Musetti's movement became too hampered for the match to be competitive. The 21-year-old had to dig deep and raise his level in the key second-set tiebreak. Musetti was looking confident and enjoying his first French Open semi-final, with Alcaraz growing frustrated and desperately needing to snap himself into focus. Advertisement He managed, and now awaits a blockbuster of a final against either Djokovic or Sinner. The Spaniard will have time to go through his recovery before watching on TV tonight. "Of course I'll watch it, I'm not gonna miss it. It's one of the best matches we can have in tennis at the moment,' Alcaraz smiled. 'I'm gonna watch and enjoy. I'm a big tennis fan, it'll be a great match.' At one stage, it looked as if Alcaraz and Musetti were heading the distance, potentially delaying the later battle between the 24-time grand slam champion and the World No 1. 'The first two sets were really tough. I had chances to break his serve in the match and I couldn't make the most of it,' Alcaraz said. 'He was playing great tennis. When I won the second set there was relief.' It was hardly a violent explosion of anger, but Alcaraz seemed to wake up after kicking his bench in frustration when Musetti won an entertaining net exchange to lead 4-3 in the second. Musetti had resisted Alcaraz and was there to guide a volley down the line after the Spaniard had opened his legs for the tweener. It's the sort of fun point that Alcaraz plays for, but Musetti was winning too many of them. In the tiebreak, however, Alcaraz stepped it up, winning the first three points and then pushing Musetti deep into his backhand corner before landing a drop shot that tickled the net-cord on the way over. Alcaraz held up his racket in a gesture of apology but was ruthless in closing out the tiebreak and then instantly stamped his authority over Musetti in the third. Alcaraz raised his level to win the tiebreak (Getty Images) The Italian barely won a point, and the source of his troubles were revealed after calling a physio at the end of the fifth game to receive treatment on his left leg. But Alcaraz had won 24 of the 30 points to win the bagel set, returning with new-found aggression and whipping his forehand with devastation. Musetti, though, hardly moved as Alcaraz aimed his backhand return past him on set point. Advertisement 'In the third set, I knew what I had to do in the beginning, pushing him to the limit and trying to be aggressive,' Alcaraz said. "I was more calm and I could see this more clear and I could play great tennis. It's not great getting through or winning the match like this [with Musetti retiring]. Lorenzo is a great player and I wish him all the best and a quick recovery.' Alcaraz will bid for a fifth grand slam title on Sunday (Getty Images) Musetti had lost five matches in a row against Alcaraz, including two this clay-court season in the Monte Carlo final and Rome semi-final, but the 23-year-old produced an impressive level and felt his performance over the first two sets was his best showing against the Spaniard. 'That's a step forward,' Musetti said. 'The last two matches were a little bit, you know, one way. I felt that today I had my chances even to try to go two sets up, but of course Carlos, he's playing really well. He's in really great shape. He deserves to go in the final.' Alcaraz gets to put his feet up while Djokovic and Sinner meet for the chance to face him. The Spaniard has now won 13 consecutive matches at the French Open and will bid for a second Roland Garros title on Sunday, either against the best player in the world or the most successful men's player of all time.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jannik Sinner underlines the future is now by withstanding Novak Djokovic
The development of Jannik Sinner from talented teenager to dominant World No 1 has been measured through his meetings with Novak Djokovic. His early defeats to the most successful men's player of all time, for example, taught the Italian how far there was to go. His victory over Djokovic in the 2024 Australian Open semi-finals was the moment that opened the door to his first of three grand slam titles. Now, at the French Open, the 23-year-old looks on the cusp of more greatness after a steely, gutsy 6-4 7-5 7-6 (7-3) victory against his elder rival. To put Sinner's victory into some perspective, only Rafael Nadal had beaten Djokovic at Roland Garros since 2019. At the age of 38, Djokovic had played himself into title-contending form as he narrowed on his quest for a record-breaking 25th singles title. That remains on hold, frustrated again by the younger generation, who now have the stage for themselves. Advertisement In just his second tournament back from a three-month doping suspension, Sinner is through to his first French Open final and will play Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion, on Sunday for his first grand slam title outside of the hard-court events. It will be the first grand slam final between Sinner and Alcaraz, as well as the first men's final contested between two players born in the 2000s, and it's unlikely to be the last. The 21-year-old Spaniard had earlier progressed to the final when the Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti retired injured. Sinner produced an excellent display to reach his first French Open final (Getty) Over three hours, Sinner comprehensively displayed his outstanding levels across all areas of the game. The World No 1 effortlessly generated pace in the rallies, sending back whatever Djokovic could throw at him with relentless precision. He absorbed pressure on the defence, returned accurately, served imposingly, and covered the court incredibly well to leave no angles for Djokovic to hit. Above all, Sinner remained composed in the biggest moments. It wasn't until Djokovic looked to match Sinner from the baseline where the match started to become competitive and there were many points where the Italian - who is the first man from Italy to reach the Roland Garros final since Adriano Panatta in 1976 - could have buckled, particularly when Djokovic had three set points to force a fourth. Advertisement And still, Sinner has not dropped a set this fortnight. In the crucial juncture of the match, with the crowd on its feet and demanding more, Sinner forced the tiebreak where he underlined his dominance again. In the decider, Djokovic missed a series of forehands, and one simple overhead. Sinner may have felt like collapsing over the finish line. Djokovic and Sinner embrace after the semi-finals (REUTERS) Djokovic had looked helpless at times during the first set, desperately attempting to mix up the points by looping higher balls to the back of the court in an attempt to change the pace of the rallies and, to the growing frustration of his many supporters, throwing in drop shots to shorten the points. Djokovic won just three points on the Sinner serve in the opening set. But the semi-final came alive as Djokovic was able to find some pressure on the returns and the second and third sets were played at a high level with very little to separate the players born 14 years apart. Djokovic laughs after winning an extraordinary rally against Sinner (Getty) Djokovic won a dizzying, scrambling net exchange to get to deuce for the first time in the second game, a point of the year contender, and roared while whipping his arms. Djokovic had the momentum but Sinner did not blink and held. In the sixth game, Sinner faced 0-30 but Djokovic made a series of awful returns and missed his chance. Advertisement To compound its significance, Sinner broke ahead in the next game. To add insult to injury, Sinner brought up the break point with a brilliant drop shot winner that Djokovic could not reach. On the very next point, Sinner retrieved Djokovic's chip, defended the short lob from Djokovic and then had daylight as the Serbian went wide. Sinner was displaying all the touch at the net that Djokovic was missing and served for the set at 5-4 in the second. But then, for the first time in eight sets against the World No 1, Djokovic forced a look at a break-point chance. He had not generated a single opportunity against him in defeats in Melbourne and Shanghai, but was rewarded for his persistence when Sinner put a backhand long. With Sinner's level of serve dropping and the Italian netting on the second break point, Djokovic had levelled at the first opportunity and pumped his fists. Djokovic ended a long run of Sinner holds against him when he levelled the set (Getty) It demanded an immense effort from Sinner to remain on course. He went back to targeting Djokovic on the return, forcing a sloppy service game from the 38-year-old while pulling his opponent left and right in the rallies. He broke ahead by finding the line with a forehand and then planting the winner beyond Djokovic. Closing it out was arduous. Still, Sinner found clutch serving, with an ace on the deuce point followed by a return that sailed long from Djokovic. Advertisement Down by two sets, Djokovic received extensive treatment on his left knee but returned to the court to force another break-point chance, using the drop shot well this time as Sinner began to look a little weary. The Italian responded with an unreturned serve that left Djokovic shooting a puzzled look at the lines. Djokovic contested a line call as he pressed for the fourth set (Getty) After a series of holds, Djokovic and Sinner returned from the change-over with the Serbian leading 5-4. Sinner was forced to wait as the crowd rose to its feet, demanding the fourth set, and Djokovic even had to tell them to settle. To raise the noise even further, Sinner made consecutive errors to face 0-30 and then two set points when Djokovic turned defence into attack with a sliding backhand down the line Sinner responded by saving both with a drive volley and unreturned serve down the middle, as well as a third when Djokovic missed on the forehand down the line. He then withstood a chorus of boos as Djokovic furiously contested a line call on deuce. It was the last resistance Djokovic had as he was made to pay for a series of errors and Sinner booked his place in Sunday's final.
