Latest news with #all-Spanish
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Alcaraz progresses at Queen's as Fearnley reaches first quarter-final
PAMedia/DPA London Jacob Fearnley dished out another French lesson as he reached a first career ATP Tour-level quarter-final at Queen's Club, while top seed Carlos Alcaraz also progressed. British number two Fearnley beat volatile qualifier Corentin Moutet 6-3 2-6 6-2 at the HSBC Championships. In doing so, Fearnley extended his remarkable, perfect record against French players to 17 wins from 17 matches. He said: 'I'm very happy to be in my first quarter-final, it's even better to do it here in the UK. It's really special for me, I've dreamed of these moments since I was a young boy. 'I tried to stick to my game plan and be aggressive. I did that better in the third set and the result speaks for itself.' Fearnley wrapped up a controlled first set with a double-ace finish, while madcap Moutet got a ticking-off from umpire Adel Nour for chucking his racket. However, the momentum shifted quickly when three double-faults from the home player gave Moutet an early break in the second. But Fearnley reset well in the decider, breaking Moutet with a backhand winner down the line, prompting the fiery 26-year-old to whack a ball high over the stands and earn a long-overdue warning from the chair. A diving backhand volley secured a double break and Fearnley kept his head as Moutet lost his - bickering with the umpire and the crowd - to wrap up victory in just over two hours. Fearnley will play a fellow 23-year-old, Czech world number 30 Jiri Lehecka, in the last eight. Top seed and 2023 winner Carlos Alcaraz escaped from being a break down in a deciding set to win an all-Spanish clash with Jaume Munar. The five-time grand slam champion, 22, squandered two match points in a second-set tie-break and then fell 4-2 behind in the third. But on the hottest day of the year, with temperatures hitting 32 degrees Celsius in west London, Alcaraz kept his cool to win 6-4 6-7 (7) 7-5 after three hours and 23 energy-sapping minutes. It was two hours shorter than his five-set French Open final win over Jannik Sinner earlier this month, and Alcaraz wrote on the TV camera lens: 'Were we on clay?' After a 15th straight win, the longest winning run of his career so far, a near-exhausted Alcaraz admitted: 'It was a really tough battle. 'He's a great competitor. I'm proud of how I played today. I struggled mentally and physically. Very proud and happy to give myself another chance to be in the quarter-final.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Contrasting surprises for Australians at Queen's
Alex de Minaur has crashed out of Queen's at the first hurdle in a serious blow for the Australian No.1 with Wimbledon looming. But there was a much better outing for Alexei Popyrin, who has the tools and form to spring a surprise at the London grand slam, and enjoyed a very useful work-out in beating compatriot Aleksandar Vukic in three sets. There was also a shock main court appearance for Adam Walton, who was suddenly called up to face world No.2 Carlos Alcaraz as a lucky loser. That was because Alejandro Davidovich Fokina - who had come to England after getting married in Marbella, Spain, at the weekend - had withdrawn with illness. Walton, ranked 86, lost 6-4 7-6 (7-4) but acquitted himself well in his main draw Queen's debut under a blazing sun on Andy Murray Arena. In the first set he held serve easily to 3-3, but was then broken in his fourth service game after saving several break points, to give Alcaraz a lead he did not relinquish. But Alcaraz, the 2023 Queen's winner who will soon be bidding for a third successive Wimbledon title, was unable to break Walton in the second set and needed the tiebreak to take the set, and match. Alcaraz had been practising with another Aussie, Jordan Thompson, when he was given the news, which he greeted with a grin towards Thompson.. But Thompson was not smiling later on Tuesday as he was forced to retire when playing Jaume Munar. Munar will now play Alcaraz in an all-Spanish clash. It was not immediately clear why Thompson, who had lost the first set 7-5, had retired, but with Wimbledon imminent it may have been precautionary. Up and running on the grass! 🍃 Some start from @carlosalcaraz at the #HSBCChampionships — HSBC Championships (@QueensTennis) June 17, 2025 De Minaur was playing his first match on grass this year, and his first on any surface since tumbling out of Roland Garros in the first week. He had taken a break to reset, professing mental and physical burn-out, but looked flat on court as he lost 6-4 6-2 to powerful world No.30 Jiri Lehecka. De Minaur was broken in the opening game, and never managed to break back in the first set as Lehecka served up to 226kph. He was unable to break in the second set either, dropping serve himself at 1-1, in part due to an unlucky netcord, and 2-4. "There's not too many positives I can take out of today. Just not a good day at the office - I wasn't up for the level," said de Minaur. "If you want to be effective against him, you've got to be ready from the very first point till the last and you need to bring a high level. Today I did not do that. Forehand errors and a poor first serve were de Minaur's main failings, though Lehecka played well too. "We all know how well Alex can play on grass, I knew I needed to serve well and be aggressive," said the Czech. "The first game was very important, to be a break up was a great advantage." It was the first time Lehecka had beaten a top-12 ranked player on grass. Popyrin, now ranked 21, took the first set against Vukic easily enough but was then drawn into a dogfight which will prove useful for both players, eventually winning 6-2 6-7 (9-11) 7-6 (7-3). Popyrin will now play Jack Draper, the British No.1 and No.2 seed, who dismissed Jenson Brooksby 6-3 6-1.
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Contrasting surprises for Australians at Queen's
Alex de Minaur has crashed out of Queen's at the first hurdle in a serious blow for the Australian No.1 with Wimbledon looming. But there was a much better outing for Alexei Popyrin, who has the tools and form to spring a surprise at the London grand slam, and enjoyed a very useful work-out in beating compatriot Aleksandar Vukic in three sets. There was also a shock main court appearance for Adam Walton, who was suddenly called up to face world No.2 Carlos Alcaraz as a lucky loser. That was because Alejandro Davidovich Fokina - who had come to England after getting married in Marbella, Spain, at the weekend - had withdrawn with illness. Walton, ranked 86, lost 6-4 7-6 (7-4) but acquitted himself well in his main draw Queen's debut under a blazing sun on Andy Murray Arena. In the first set he held serve easily to 3-3, but was then broken in his fourth service game after saving several break points, to give Alcaraz a lead he did not relinquish. But Alcaraz, the 2023 Queen's winner who will soon be bidding for a third successive Wimbledon title, was unable to break Walton in the second set and needed the tiebreak to take the set, and match. Alcaraz had been practising with another Aussie, Jordan Thompson, when he was given the news, which he greeted with a grin towards Thompson.. But Thompson was not smiling later on Tuesday as he was forced to retire when playing Jaume Munar. Munar will now play Alcaraz in an all-Spanish clash. It was not immediately clear why Thompson, who had lost the first set 7-5, had retired, but with Wimbledon imminent it may have been precautionary. De Minaur was playing his first match on grass this year, and his first on any surface since tumbling out of Roland Garros in the first week. He had taken a break to reset, professing mental and physical burn-out, but looked flat on court as he lost 6-4 6-2 to powerful world No.30 Jiri Lehecka. De Minaur was broken in the opening game, and never managed to break back in the first set as Lehecka served up to 226kph. He was unable to break in the second set either, dropping serve himself at 1-1, in part due to an unlucky netcord, and 2-4. "There's not too many positives I can take out of today. Just not a good day at the office - I wasn't up for the level," said de Minaur. "If you want to be effective against him, you've got to be ready from the very first point till the last and you need to bring a high level. Today I did not do that. Forehand errors and a poor first serve were de Minaur's main failings, though Lehecka played well too. "We all know how well Alex can play on grass, I knew I needed to serve well and be aggressive," said the Czech. "The first game was very important, to be a break up was a great advantage." It was the first time Lehecka had beaten a top-12 ranked player on grass. Popyrin, now ranked 21, took the first set against Vukic easily enough but was then drawn into a dogfight which will prove useful for both players, eventually winning 6-2 6-7 (9-11) 7-6 (7-3). Popyrin will now play Jack Draper, the British No.1 and No.2 seed, who dismissed Jenson Brooksby 6-3 6-1. Alex de Minaur has crashed out of Queen's at the first hurdle in a serious blow for the Australian No.1 with Wimbledon looming. But there was a much better outing for Alexei Popyrin, who has the tools and form to spring a surprise at the London grand slam, and enjoyed a very useful work-out in beating compatriot Aleksandar Vukic in three sets. There was also a shock main court appearance for Adam Walton, who was suddenly called up to face world No.2 Carlos Alcaraz as a lucky loser. That was because Alejandro Davidovich Fokina - who had come to England after getting married in Marbella, Spain, at the weekend - had withdrawn with illness. Walton, ranked 86, lost 6-4 7-6 (7-4) but acquitted himself well in his main draw Queen's debut under a blazing sun on Andy Murray Arena. In the first set he held serve easily to 3-3, but was then broken in his fourth service game after saving several break points, to give Alcaraz a lead he did not relinquish. But Alcaraz, the 2023 Queen's winner who will soon be bidding for a third successive Wimbledon title, was unable to break Walton in the second set and needed the tiebreak to take the set, and match. Alcaraz had been practising with another Aussie, Jordan Thompson, when he was given the news, which he greeted with a grin towards Thompson.. But Thompson was not smiling later on Tuesday as he was forced to retire when playing Jaume Munar. Munar will now play Alcaraz in an all-Spanish clash. It was not immediately clear why Thompson, who had lost the first set 7-5, had retired, but with Wimbledon imminent it may have been precautionary. De Minaur was playing his first match on grass this year, and his first on any surface since tumbling out of Roland Garros in the first week. He had taken a break to reset, professing mental and physical burn-out, but looked flat on court as he lost 6-4 6-2 to powerful world No.30 Jiri Lehecka. De Minaur was broken in the opening game, and never managed to break back in the first set as Lehecka served up to 226kph. He was unable to break in the second set either, dropping serve himself at 1-1, in part due to an unlucky netcord, and 2-4. "There's not too many positives I can take out of today. Just not a good day at the office - I wasn't up for the level," said de Minaur. "If you want to be effective against him, you've got to be ready from the very first point till the last and you need to bring a high level. Today I did not do that. Forehand errors and a poor first serve were de Minaur's main failings, though Lehecka played well too. "We all know how well Alex can play on grass, I knew I needed to serve well and be aggressive," said the Czech. "The first game was very important, to be a break up was a great advantage." It was the first time Lehecka had beaten a top-12 ranked player on grass. Popyrin, now ranked 21, took the first set against Vukic easily enough but was then drawn into a dogfight which will prove useful for both players, eventually winning 6-2 6-7 (9-11) 7-6 (7-3). Popyrin will now play Jack Draper, the British No.1 and No.2 seed, who dismissed Jenson Brooksby 6-3 6-1. Alex de Minaur has crashed out of Queen's at the first hurdle in a serious blow for the Australian No.1 with Wimbledon looming. But there was a much better outing for Alexei Popyrin, who has the tools and form to spring a surprise at the London grand slam, and enjoyed a very useful work-out in beating compatriot Aleksandar Vukic in three sets. There was also a shock main court appearance for Adam Walton, who was suddenly called up to face world No.2 Carlos Alcaraz as a lucky loser. That was because Alejandro Davidovich Fokina - who had come to England after getting married in Marbella, Spain, at the weekend - had withdrawn with illness. Walton, ranked 86, lost 6-4 7-6 (7-4) but acquitted himself well in his main draw Queen's debut under a blazing sun on Andy Murray Arena. In the first set he held serve easily to 3-3, but was then broken in his fourth service game after saving several break points, to give Alcaraz a lead he did not relinquish. But Alcaraz, the 2023 Queen's winner who will soon be bidding for a third successive Wimbledon title, was unable to break Walton in the second set and needed the tiebreak to take the set, and match. Alcaraz had been practising with another Aussie, Jordan Thompson, when he was given the news, which he greeted with a grin towards Thompson.. But Thompson was not smiling later on Tuesday as he was forced to retire when playing Jaume Munar. Munar will now play Alcaraz in an all-Spanish clash. It was not immediately clear why Thompson, who had lost the first set 7-5, had retired, but with Wimbledon imminent it may have been precautionary. De Minaur was playing his first match on grass this year, and his first on any surface since tumbling out of Roland Garros in the first week. He had taken a break to reset, professing mental and physical burn-out, but looked flat on court as he lost 6-4 6-2 to powerful world No.30 Jiri Lehecka. De Minaur was broken in the opening game, and never managed to break back in the first set as Lehecka served up to 226kph. He was unable to break in the second set either, dropping serve himself at 1-1, in part due to an unlucky netcord, and 2-4. "There's not too many positives I can take out of today. Just not a good day at the office - I wasn't up for the level," said de Minaur. "If you want to be effective against him, you've got to be ready from the very first point till the last and you need to bring a high level. Today I did not do that. Forehand errors and a poor first serve were de Minaur's main failings, though Lehecka played well too. "We all know how well Alex can play on grass, I knew I needed to serve well and be aggressive," said the Czech. "The first game was very important, to be a break up was a great advantage." It was the first time Lehecka had beaten a top-12 ranked player on grass. Popyrin, now ranked 21, took the first set against Vukic easily enough but was then drawn into a dogfight which will prove useful for both players, eventually winning 6-2 6-7 (9-11) 7-6 (7-3). Popyrin will now play Jack Draper, the British No.1 and No.2 seed, who dismissed Jenson Brooksby 6-3 6-1. Alex de Minaur has crashed out of Queen's at the first hurdle in a serious blow for the Australian No.1 with Wimbledon looming. But there was a much better outing for Alexei Popyrin, who has the tools and form to spring a surprise at the London grand slam, and enjoyed a very useful work-out in beating compatriot Aleksandar Vukic in three sets. There was also a shock main court appearance for Adam Walton, who was suddenly called up to face world No.2 Carlos Alcaraz as a lucky loser. That was because Alejandro Davidovich Fokina - who had come to England after getting married in Marbella, Spain, at the weekend - had withdrawn with illness. Walton, ranked 86, lost 6-4 7-6 (7-4) but acquitted himself well in his main draw Queen's debut under a blazing sun on Andy Murray Arena. In the first set he held serve easily to 3-3, but was then broken in his fourth service game after saving several break points, to give Alcaraz a lead he did not relinquish. But Alcaraz, the 2023 Queen's winner who will soon be bidding for a third successive Wimbledon title, was unable to break Walton in the second set and needed the tiebreak to take the set, and match. Alcaraz had been practising with another Aussie, Jordan Thompson, when he was given the news, which he greeted with a grin towards Thompson.. But Thompson was not smiling later on Tuesday as he was forced to retire when playing Jaume Munar. Munar will now play Alcaraz in an all-Spanish clash. It was not immediately clear why Thompson, who had lost the first set 7-5, had retired, but with Wimbledon imminent it may have been precautionary. De Minaur was playing his first match on grass this year, and his first on any surface since tumbling out of Roland Garros in the first week. He had taken a break to reset, professing mental and physical burn-out, but looked flat on court as he lost 6-4 6-2 to powerful world No.30 Jiri Lehecka. De Minaur was broken in the opening game, and never managed to break back in the first set as Lehecka served up to 226kph. He was unable to break in the second set either, dropping serve himself at 1-1, in part due to an unlucky netcord, and 2-4. "There's not too many positives I can take out of today. Just not a good day at the office - I wasn't up for the level," said de Minaur. "If you want to be effective against him, you've got to be ready from the very first point till the last and you need to bring a high level. Today I did not do that. Forehand errors and a poor first serve were de Minaur's main failings, though Lehecka played well too. "We all know how well Alex can play on grass, I knew I needed to serve well and be aggressive," said the Czech. "The first game was very important, to be a break up was a great advantage." It was the first time Lehecka had beaten a top-12 ranked player on grass. Popyrin, now ranked 21, took the first set against Vukic easily enough but was then drawn into a dogfight which will prove useful for both players, eventually winning 6-2 6-7 (9-11) 7-6 (7-3). Popyrin will now play Jack Draper, the British No.1 and No.2 seed, who dismissed Jenson Brooksby 6-3 6-1.
The Mainichi
6 days ago
- Business
- The Mainichi
As women's football grows in Europe, Japan aims to follow suit
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- In a sign of its growing global status, women's football at the next Summer Olympics will feature more participating teams than the men's competition. The number of teams will expand from 12 to 16 in Los Angeles, marking the first time in Olympic history that women will have a bigger representation in the global sport. In Europe, some clubs draw more spectators to women's games than to men's, bringing in huge amounts of money, in contrast to Japan's still-struggling WE League that kicked off in 2021. Pronounced "we," the first two letters are an acronym for "women's empowerment." The burgeoning popularity of the women's game in Europe was spectacularly illustrated during the UEFA Women's Champions League in March 2022. A total of 91,553 spectators watched a game when Barcelona hosted Real Madrid in an all-Spanish clash at Camp Nou, the home of their world-famous men's team. The world record for women's football was rewritten the following month, to 91,648 as Camp Nou saw Barcelona and Germany's Wolfsburg. The Barcelona women's team turned professional in 2015 and built their own natural turf training base. The team has attracted some 13 million followers across all platforms through their fan-oriented social networking strategy, which features female players in equal proportions in ads with male Barcelona players. The women's team is expected to earn about 23 million euros this season, a level close to a first-division club in the men's J-League in Japan. Women's football was once regarded as a corporate social responsibility project for men's clubs, but Barcelona's bold investments in women's players, facilities and staff have led to brisk revenue from sponsorships, tickets and jersey sales. "Women's football goes far beyond the framework of CSR and has great potential in business," said Judit Farre, head of Barcelona women's business operations. "There are still a lot of things we should be doing." "We are always open to finding new markets," Farre said, while noting she was interested in doing business in Japan. Last September in Japan, J-League Chairman Yoshikazu Nonomura began double duties as head of the WE League. The WE League remained in the black in the fiscal year to March 2024, but the women's league is heavily dependent on a 425-million-yen subsidy from the Japan Football Association. Nonomura is trying to acquire sponsors in cooperation with the J-League, with the aim of stabilizing the financial base. In its third season of 2023-24, the WE League had an average attendance of 1,723 per game, far less than its founding goal of 5,000. But the WE League has begun collaborating with the J-League and the JFA in terms of attendance. Last December, the final of the WE League Cup drew a record crowd of 21,524 as a result of coordinated promotional efforts. The WE League plans to continue sharing fan data with all 12 clubs to boost attendance.
Express Tribune
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Trent Alexander-Arnold delivers Spanish speech at Real Madrid unveiling after £10m transfer from Liverpool
Trent Alexander-Arnold gave a surprise all-Spanish welcome speech during his unveiling as a Real Madrid player at the Estadio Bernabéu, marking the start of a new chapter after a 20-year association with Liverpool. Trent Alexander-Arnold speaking in fluent Spanish at his Real Madrid unveiling 🇪🇸 — Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 12, 2025 The 26-year-old right-back joined the Spanish giants in a £10m transfer ahead of the Club World Cup, having chosen not to renew his contract at Anfield. Although he was expected to join for free at the end of June, the early move underlines the long-term nature of his decision. Speaking at the ceremony, Alexander-Arnold said in Spanish: 'It's a dream come true, I'm very happy and proud to be here… I want to win many titles and play alongside the best players.' In the press conference that followed, he revealed he had been learning the language 'for a few months,' suggesting his move had been in the works well before it was publicly confirmed. The event featured a tribute montage of Alexander-Arnold's highlights at Liverpool, including his iconic assist against Barcelona in the 2019 Champions League. His contribution was vital in that campaign, which saw the Reds lift Europe's top trophy. Over 354 appearances, he also helped secure two Premier League titles, two Carabao Cups, an FA Cup, and a Club World Cup. As he turns the page on his Liverpool legacy, changes are already evident. He will wear number 12 for Real Madrid—swapping his famous 66 due to LaLiga rules—and will go by 'Trent' on the back of his shirt. Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez hailed his arrival, calling him 'a legend in the game at just 26' and praising his choice to join 'the best club in the world.' Alexander-Arnold could debut on 18 June against Al-Hilal at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.
