Latest news with #Spaniard
NDTV
3 hours ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Carlos Alcaraz Wobbles But Reaches French Open Last 16
Reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz stumbled his way into the last 16 of the French Open on Friday with a 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win over Bosnian world number 69 Damir Dzumhur. Second seed Alcaraz broke twice in each of the first two sets and seemed to be cruising but a dogged Dzumhur refused to roll over and pinched the third set. The 33-year-old Dzumhur had failed to get past the first round of qualifying at Roland Garros in his last four attempts, but he broke to open the fourth set and give Alcaraz greater cause for concern. Alcaraz's frustration grew when three break points slipped beyond his grasp the very next game. He eventually got back on serve at 3-3 though before another break put him within sight of victory. The Spaniard couldn't close it out initially but then earned a pair of match points on Dzumhur's serve, finally getting across the line at the second attempt to end his rival's spirited effort. "Today I honestly didn't enjoy it that much. I suffered quite a lot," said a relieved Alcaraz. "That's why doing a really good result in a Grand Slam is really difficult because you have to maintain a really high level for three to four hours." Alcaraz said he had to dig deep after admitting his energy levels dropped after a dominant first two sets. "It was really difficult for me to boost myself. I had to give everything I had inside me. In the end I'm just proud about getting the win." Four-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz advances to face US 13th seed Ben Shelton for a place in the quarter-finals after picking up his 18th win in 19 matches on clay this season. Australian Open semi-finalist Shelton is one of four Americans still in the men's draw. He knocked out Italian qualifier Matteo Gigante in straight sets after receiving a walkover in the second round.
India Today
3 hours ago
- Sport
- India Today
Champions League Final: Flair meets discipline as PSG face Inter Milan in a battle of contrasting styles
France's Paris Saint-Germain are set to face Italy's Inter Milan in the final of the Champions League on Saturday, May 31. The French champions, synonymous with flair, speed and agility, will be squaring off against the Italian runners-up Inter Milan, who are known for their tactical mettle and maturity on the are under the coaching of Spaniard Luis Enrique, where they have banished the star culture which was prevalent in the team. The project PSG, which brought Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe together hoping for a Champions League title, would never have believed in a thousand years that all it took to reach the final and start as the favourites was the abolishment of one thing they were known Milan, on the other hand, coached by the brilliant Simone Inzaghi, are in their second final in three years. Inzaghi's tactical brilliance has kept the ageing squad together. His mastery was proven in the two nights of the semi-final against Barcelona, where Inter ground out a win against the behemoth that the Blaugrana have been this season. In sharp contrast, PSG swatted their way into the Champions League final, beating Arsenal in both legs of the semi-final. Success for PSG would make them the first French champions of Europe since bitter rivals Marseille in 1993, and finally reward years of huge investment from their Qatari backers, who bought a majority stake in the club in face the prospect of a trophyless season after seeing Napoli pip them to the Serie A title. But Inter have shown they are a threat on the European stage after epic wins over Barcelona in the semi-finals and Bayern Munich in the you lose in training #UCLfinal UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 30, 2025advertisementHere's everything you need to know about the Champions League Final:Champions League final: TimingThe Champions League final between Inter Milan and PSG will kick off at 12:30 AM IST on June League final: Live streaming detailsIn India, the match will be livestreamed and broadcast by the Sony Sports League final: Players to look out forGeorgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has starred for the team since joining from Napoli in January. Bradley Barcola, Dsir Dou and Ousmane Dembl are chipping in the goals. The team has one of the world's best goalkeepers in Gianluigi Donnarumma, who is enjoying his best ever football at the the other hand, Inter count on Argentina star Lautaro Martnez to lead the team with his captaincy and goals. They also have some solid players in defence, led by their goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who single-handedly kept Inter from conceding a truckload of goals against Barcelona in the League final: VenueThe match will take place in Bayern Munich's 75,000-capacity home known as Allianz League final: Possible line-upsPSG: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Joo Neves, Vitinha, Fabin Ruiz; Kvaratskhelia, Dembl, BarcolaInter Milan: Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, alhanolu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Lautaro Martnez, ThuramChampions League final: Match FactsadvertisementPSG could become only the second French champion. The closest they came beforehand was the 2020 final lost to Bayern after a tournament restructured due to the last success in 2010 ended their long wait since wins in 1964 and 1965. But they lost on their last appearance in the final, to Manchester City in 2023. This will be their seventh final altogether. They have won three and lost three so will be the fifth European Cup final in Munich. Each of the previous four produced a first-time winner: Nottingham Forest in 1979, Marseille in 1993, Borussia Dortmund in 1997, and Chelsea in 2012.
The 42
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Alcaraz stumbles but eventually squeezes into French Open last-16
REIGNING CHAMPION CARLOS Alcaraz stumbled his way into the last 16 of the French Open on Friday with a 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win over Bosnian world number 69 Damir Dzumhur. Second seed Alcaraz broke twice in each of the first two sets and seemed to be cruising but a determined Dzumhur refused to roll over and pinched the third set. The 33-year-old Dzumhur had failed to get past the first round of qualifying at Roland Garros in his last four attempts, but he broke to open the fourth set and give Alcaraz greater cause for concern. Advertisement Alcaraz's frustration grew when three break points slipped beyond his grasp the very next game. He eventually got back on serve at 3-3 though before another break put him within sight of victory. The Spaniard couldn't close it out initially but then earned a pair of match points on Dzumhur's serve, finally getting across the line at the second attempt to end his rival's spirited effort. 'Today I honestly didn't enjoy it that much. I suffered quite a lot,' said a relieved Alcaraz. 'That's why doing a really good result in a Grand Slam is really difficult because you have to maintain a really high level for three to four hours.' Alcaraz said he had to dig deep after admitting his energy levels dropped after a dominant first two sets. 'It was really difficult for me to boost myself. I had to give everything I had inside me. In the end I'm just proud about getting the win.' Four-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz advances to face US 13th seed Ben Shelton for a place in the quarter-finals after picking up his 18th win in 19 matches on clay this season. Australian Open semi-finalist Shelton is one of four Americans still in the men's draw. He knocked out Italian qualifier Matteo Gigante in straight sets after receiving a walkover in the second round. – © AFP 2025
The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Friday fright night for Alcaraz before Paris triumph
Champion Carlos Alcaraz has declared he had to call on "everything I had inside" to subdue the wholly unexpected challenge of stubborn, injury-hit veteran Damir Dzumhur at the French Open. Another supposed Roland Garros supershow from the Spaniard ended up turning into a bit of a Friday fright night for him on Philippe Chatrier too before he could finally subdue the stubborn Bosnian 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-4 in another compelling contest. After two sets of his familiar dazzling brilliance, Alcaraz was suddenly dragged into a fierce arm-wrestle with a 33-year-old who needed a medical timeout to an injured leg in the third set yet still reemerged punching to take the champion into a compelling fourth set. In the fourth, Dzumhur broke at the start for another 2-0 lead, with Alcaraz having become increasingly scrappy and uncharacteristically snappy with his players' box. Yet at 3-1 down, the real Alcaraz rematerialised as he conjured up some wonderful fare to win his 18th clay-court match in 19 played this past two months. "I didn't enjoy it that much," admitted the 22-year-old, even though everyone else did. "The first two sets were under control, playing great, feeling great. He played more aggressively, I got down on my energy and it was difficult to push myself. Then I had to fight and give everything I had inside, and I was proud to get the win in the end." It was the second match running that he'd conceded a set, following his four-set win over Hungarian Fabian Marozsan, but he still appears to have that extra gear that he'll need against 13th seed Ben Shelton in the fourth round. The American Shelton had earlier swept aside qualifier Matteo Gigante, the Italian who had knocked out Stefanos Tsitsipas, with a 6-3 6-3 6-4 win. Hopes for a home success were finally dashed when their brightest young talent Arthur Fils, the 14th seed, had to pull out of the tournament with a back injury, scuppering what had looked a rip-roarer against No.17 Andrey Rublev on Saturday. Earlier on Chatrier, 10th seed Holger Rune demanded a fan to be removed during his see-saw 4-6 6-2 5-7 7-5 6-2 win over French player Quentin Halys, the Dane saying the spectator had shouted aggressively at him because he'd thrown down his towel in frustration at one point. "The guy was yelling aggressive with me, he reached out for me," explained Rune. "I thought this was very strange, because I did not do anything against him and he should not interact with a player on the court. It's a bit embarrassing. "I told the supervisor that I would prefer him not being there, because it was a bit uncomfortable. They said they'd check the video, and if it was true what I said they would get him away. I guess they checked, and I didn't see him for the rest of the match." Rune's next clash against eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti, who beat Argentine Mariano Navone 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-2, looks set to be one of the most compelling in the last 16. The suggestion that Novak Djokovic gets what Novak Djokovic wants was shown to be well off the mark as organisers snubbed the great man's plea to be spared playing against Austrian Filip Misolic in Saturday's night session so he could watch the Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan on the box. Alas for the 24-time grand slam champ, tournament bosses turned a deaf ear. "There will be 15,000 people here so we want to give them the best possible match," said tournament director Amelie Mauresmo. Champion Carlos Alcaraz has declared he had to call on "everything I had inside" to subdue the wholly unexpected challenge of stubborn, injury-hit veteran Damir Dzumhur at the French Open. Another supposed Roland Garros supershow from the Spaniard ended up turning into a bit of a Friday fright night for him on Philippe Chatrier too before he could finally subdue the stubborn Bosnian 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-4 in another compelling contest. After two sets of his familiar dazzling brilliance, Alcaraz was suddenly dragged into a fierce arm-wrestle with a 33-year-old who needed a medical timeout to an injured leg in the third set yet still reemerged punching to take the champion into a compelling fourth set. In the fourth, Dzumhur broke at the start for another 2-0 lead, with Alcaraz having become increasingly scrappy and uncharacteristically snappy with his players' box. Yet at 3-1 down, the real Alcaraz rematerialised as he conjured up some wonderful fare to win his 18th clay-court match in 19 played this past two months. "I didn't enjoy it that much," admitted the 22-year-old, even though everyone else did. "The first two sets were under control, playing great, feeling great. He played more aggressively, I got down on my energy and it was difficult to push myself. Then I had to fight and give everything I had inside, and I was proud to get the win in the end." It was the second match running that he'd conceded a set, following his four-set win over Hungarian Fabian Marozsan, but he still appears to have that extra gear that he'll need against 13th seed Ben Shelton in the fourth round. The American Shelton had earlier swept aside qualifier Matteo Gigante, the Italian who had knocked out Stefanos Tsitsipas, with a 6-3 6-3 6-4 win. Hopes for a home success were finally dashed when their brightest young talent Arthur Fils, the 14th seed, had to pull out of the tournament with a back injury, scuppering what had looked a rip-roarer against No.17 Andrey Rublev on Saturday. Earlier on Chatrier, 10th seed Holger Rune demanded a fan to be removed during his see-saw 4-6 6-2 5-7 7-5 6-2 win over French player Quentin Halys, the Dane saying the spectator had shouted aggressively at him because he'd thrown down his towel in frustration at one point. "The guy was yelling aggressive with me, he reached out for me," explained Rune. "I thought this was very strange, because I did not do anything against him and he should not interact with a player on the court. It's a bit embarrassing. "I told the supervisor that I would prefer him not being there, because it was a bit uncomfortable. They said they'd check the video, and if it was true what I said they would get him away. I guess they checked, and I didn't see him for the rest of the match." Rune's next clash against eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti, who beat Argentine Mariano Navone 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-2, looks set to be one of the most compelling in the last 16. The suggestion that Novak Djokovic gets what Novak Djokovic wants was shown to be well off the mark as organisers snubbed the great man's plea to be spared playing against Austrian Filip Misolic in Saturday's night session so he could watch the Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan on the box. Alas for the 24-time grand slam champ, tournament bosses turned a deaf ear. "There will be 15,000 people here so we want to give them the best possible match," said tournament director Amelie Mauresmo. Champion Carlos Alcaraz has declared he had to call on "everything I had inside" to subdue the wholly unexpected challenge of stubborn, injury-hit veteran Damir Dzumhur at the French Open. Another supposed Roland Garros supershow from the Spaniard ended up turning into a bit of a Friday fright night for him on Philippe Chatrier too before he could finally subdue the stubborn Bosnian 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-4 in another compelling contest. After two sets of his familiar dazzling brilliance, Alcaraz was suddenly dragged into a fierce arm-wrestle with a 33-year-old who needed a medical timeout to an injured leg in the third set yet still reemerged punching to take the champion into a compelling fourth set. In the fourth, Dzumhur broke at the start for another 2-0 lead, with Alcaraz having become increasingly scrappy and uncharacteristically snappy with his players' box. Yet at 3-1 down, the real Alcaraz rematerialised as he conjured up some wonderful fare to win his 18th clay-court match in 19 played this past two months. "I didn't enjoy it that much," admitted the 22-year-old, even though everyone else did. "The first two sets were under control, playing great, feeling great. He played more aggressively, I got down on my energy and it was difficult to push myself. Then I had to fight and give everything I had inside, and I was proud to get the win in the end." It was the second match running that he'd conceded a set, following his four-set win over Hungarian Fabian Marozsan, but he still appears to have that extra gear that he'll need against 13th seed Ben Shelton in the fourth round. The American Shelton had earlier swept aside qualifier Matteo Gigante, the Italian who had knocked out Stefanos Tsitsipas, with a 6-3 6-3 6-4 win. Hopes for a home success were finally dashed when their brightest young talent Arthur Fils, the 14th seed, had to pull out of the tournament with a back injury, scuppering what had looked a rip-roarer against No.17 Andrey Rublev on Saturday. Earlier on Chatrier, 10th seed Holger Rune demanded a fan to be removed during his see-saw 4-6 6-2 5-7 7-5 6-2 win over French player Quentin Halys, the Dane saying the spectator had shouted aggressively at him because he'd thrown down his towel in frustration at one point. "The guy was yelling aggressive with me, he reached out for me," explained Rune. "I thought this was very strange, because I did not do anything against him and he should not interact with a player on the court. It's a bit embarrassing. "I told the supervisor that I would prefer him not being there, because it was a bit uncomfortable. They said they'd check the video, and if it was true what I said they would get him away. I guess they checked, and I didn't see him for the rest of the match." Rune's next clash against eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti, who beat Argentine Mariano Navone 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-2, looks set to be one of the most compelling in the last 16. The suggestion that Novak Djokovic gets what Novak Djokovic wants was shown to be well off the mark as organisers snubbed the great man's plea to be spared playing against Austrian Filip Misolic in Saturday's night session so he could watch the Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan on the box. Alas for the 24-time grand slam champ, tournament bosses turned a deaf ear. "There will be 15,000 people here so we want to give them the best possible match," said tournament director Amelie Mauresmo. Champion Carlos Alcaraz has declared he had to call on "everything I had inside" to subdue the wholly unexpected challenge of stubborn, injury-hit veteran Damir Dzumhur at the French Open. Another supposed Roland Garros supershow from the Spaniard ended up turning into a bit of a Friday fright night for him on Philippe Chatrier too before he could finally subdue the stubborn Bosnian 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-4 in another compelling contest. After two sets of his familiar dazzling brilliance, Alcaraz was suddenly dragged into a fierce arm-wrestle with a 33-year-old who needed a medical timeout to an injured leg in the third set yet still reemerged punching to take the champion into a compelling fourth set. In the fourth, Dzumhur broke at the start for another 2-0 lead, with Alcaraz having become increasingly scrappy and uncharacteristically snappy with his players' box. Yet at 3-1 down, the real Alcaraz rematerialised as he conjured up some wonderful fare to win his 18th clay-court match in 19 played this past two months. "I didn't enjoy it that much," admitted the 22-year-old, even though everyone else did. "The first two sets were under control, playing great, feeling great. He played more aggressively, I got down on my energy and it was difficult to push myself. Then I had to fight and give everything I had inside, and I was proud to get the win in the end." It was the second match running that he'd conceded a set, following his four-set win over Hungarian Fabian Marozsan, but he still appears to have that extra gear that he'll need against 13th seed Ben Shelton in the fourth round. The American Shelton had earlier swept aside qualifier Matteo Gigante, the Italian who had knocked out Stefanos Tsitsipas, with a 6-3 6-3 6-4 win. Hopes for a home success were finally dashed when their brightest young talent Arthur Fils, the 14th seed, had to pull out of the tournament with a back injury, scuppering what had looked a rip-roarer against No.17 Andrey Rublev on Saturday. Earlier on Chatrier, 10th seed Holger Rune demanded a fan to be removed during his see-saw 4-6 6-2 5-7 7-5 6-2 win over French player Quentin Halys, the Dane saying the spectator had shouted aggressively at him because he'd thrown down his towel in frustration at one point. "The guy was yelling aggressive with me, he reached out for me," explained Rune. "I thought this was very strange, because I did not do anything against him and he should not interact with a player on the court. It's a bit embarrassing. "I told the supervisor that I would prefer him not being there, because it was a bit uncomfortable. They said they'd check the video, and if it was true what I said they would get him away. I guess they checked, and I didn't see him for the rest of the match." Rune's next clash against eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti, who beat Argentine Mariano Navone 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-2, looks set to be one of the most compelling in the last 16. The suggestion that Novak Djokovic gets what Novak Djokovic wants was shown to be well off the mark as organisers snubbed the great man's plea to be spared playing against Austrian Filip Misolic in Saturday's night session so he could watch the Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan on the box. Alas for the 24-time grand slam champ, tournament bosses turned a deaf ear. "There will be 15,000 people here so we want to give them the best possible match," said tournament director Amelie Mauresmo.
NBC Sports
7 hours ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Defending champion Alcaraz labors into fourth round of the French Open
PARIS — Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz reached the fourth round of the French Open after laboring past Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the Friday night session. The second-seeded Spaniard had never before played Dzumhur, a 33-year-old Bosnian who had never been past the third round at any major tournament. 'I suffered quite a lot today,' Alcaraz said. 'The first two sets was under control, then he started to play more deeply and more aggressively. It was really difficult for me.' Dzumhur hurt his left knee in a fall in the second round, and had treatment on Friday on his right leg during the changeover at 3-2 down in the third set. He then lay down on the ground while the trainer worked on both legs for several minutes. The crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier did a Mexican wave and shouted 'Olé' while it waited. Then Dzumhur received cheers when he made an improbable smash despite being off balance, again when he won the third set, and once more when he broke Alcaraz in the opening game of the fourth set. An improbable turnaround seemed to be happening as Alcaraz made clumsy unforced errors. But the four-time Grand Slam champion broke back in the sixth and the eighth games to serve for the match. Still, the resilient Dzumhur, whose face was red with effort and glistening with sweat, broke back to drag the suspense out a little longer. Alcaraz finally clinched victory on his second match point and faces No. 13 Ben Shelton in the fourth round.
