Mitchell Starc struck early in his 100th Test match as the West Indies reached 16 for one in response to Australia's first innings total of 225 on the opening day of the day/night third Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica on Saturday.&nbsp;Dismissed for a "duck" in an eventful final session as the tourists slipped from 157 for three, Starc bowled debutant Kevlon Anderson off the inside-edge to raise his tally of Test wickets to 396.&nbsp;Anderson and Brandon King found themselves with the task of defying the Australian bowlers operating under lights with the new pink ball after selected openers John Campbell and Mikyle Louis were injured in the field.&nbsp;King and captain Roston Chase will resume on the second day with the West Indies hoping that both Campbell and Louis will be fit to bat later in the innings as they seek a measure of consolation with the series already lost following defeats in the first two Tests in Barbados and Grenada.&nbsp;Shamar Joseph again led the West Indies bowling effort with four for 33, lifting his tally to a series-leading 18 wickets.&nbsp;Jayden Seales and Justin Greaves claimed three wickets each on a pitch offering considerable seam movement but still with enough in the surface to encourage the spinners, raising questions about the visitors' decision to omit veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon in preference for an additional fast-medium bowler in Scott Boland.&nbsp;Seven of the visitors' top eight -– all-rounder Beau Webster was the exception –- got past 15 although none could carry on to the really big innings to put their side in a dominant position.&nbsp;Turgid, almost tedious cricket defined the first two sessions with Australia advancing to 138 for three by the dinner break.&nbsp;However, a comparatively frenetic passage of play followed, triggered by the demise of Steve Smith for a topscore of 48, as Australia lost their last seven wickets for 68 runs in 15 overs.&nbsp;Smith and Cameron Green (46) put on 61 for the third wicket in the one passage of play during the daylight hours when the bat threatened to dominate the ball.&nbsp;"It was almost like he was batting on a different wicket," Green said at the end of play in an appreciation of Smith's positive innings. "I was really struggling out there but clearly he is a class above."&nbsp;Despite the batting collapse in the final session, Green, who is still unable to bowl for at least another three months, was happy with his team's position after day one.&nbsp;"We just wanted to give them a tricky last 45 minutes at the end and to get them one down is really crucial," he added.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-3rd-test-lord-s-grow-some-fucking-balls-shubman-gill-to-zak-crawley-late-on-day-3-at-lords-watch-1752344680686">‘Grow some F**ing B***s’: Gill to Crawley after English batter wastes time late on day 3 at Lord’s – WATCH</a>&nbsp;An almost T20-style attitude to batting, typified by captain Pat Cummins' consecutive sixes off Seales, was also a reflection of Australia's eagerness to get as many runs as they could quickly in that final session to allow the bowlers a decent shot at the West Indies' depleted top order under the lights.&nbsp;That helter-skelter tempo at the end contrasted sharply with the pedestrian opening session, made exciting only by the antics of opener Sam Konstas.&nbsp;He was almost run out by Campbell and then dropped at third slip by Anderson off successive balls from Seales before being trapped leg-before for 17 off the first ball bowled by Greaves.&nbsp;Anderson, who replaced Keacy Carty, is one of three changes to the West Indies team from the second Test.&nbsp;That match was Kraigg Brathwaite's 100th in Test cricket and possibly his last, as he was dropped in favour of Louis for the series finale while left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican returned at the expense of fast-medium bowler Anderson Phillip.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Mitchell Starc struck early in his 100th Test match as the West Indies reached 16 for one in response to Australia first innings total of 225 on the opening day of the day/night third Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica on Saturday.

Mitchell Starc struck early in his 100th Test match as the West Indies reached 16 for one in response to Australia's first innings total of 225 on the opening day of the day/night third Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica on Saturday. Dismissed for a "duck" in an eventful final session as the tourists slipped from 157 for three, Starc bowled debutant Kevlon Anderson off the inside-edge to raise his tally of Test wickets to 396. Anderson and Brandon King found themselves with the task of defying the Australian bowlers operating under lights with the new pink ball after selected openers John Campbell and Mikyle Louis were injured in the field. King and captain Roston Chase will resume on the second day with the West Indies hoping that both Campbell and Louis will be fit to bat later in the innings as they seek a measure of consolation with the series already lost following defeats in the first two Tests in Barbados and Grenada. Shamar Joseph again led the West Indies bowling effort with four for 33, lifting his tally to a series-leading 18 wickets. Jayden Seales and Justin Greaves claimed three wickets each on a pitch offering considerable seam movement but still with enough in the surface to encourage the spinners, raising questions about the visitors' decision to omit veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon in preference for an additional fast-medium bowler in Scott Boland. Seven of the visitors' top eight -– all-rounder Beau Webster was the exception –- got past 15 although none could carry on to the really big innings to put their side in a dominant position. Turgid, almost tedious cricket defined the first two sessions with Australia advancing to 138 for three by the dinner break. However, a comparatively frenetic passage of play followed, triggered by the demise of Steve Smith for a topscore of 48, as Australia lost their last seven wickets for 68 runs in 15 overs. Smith and Cameron Green (46) put on 61 for the third wicket in the one passage of play during the daylight hours when the bat threatened to dominate the ball. "It was almost like he was batting on a different wicket," Green said at the end of play in an appreciation of Smith's positive innings. "I was really struggling out there but clearly he is a class above." Despite the batting collapse in the final session, Green, who is still unable to bowl for at least another three months, was happy with his team's position after day one. "We just wanted to give them a tricky last 45 minutes at the end and to get them one down is really crucial," he added. ALSO READ | ‘Grow some F**ing B***s’: Gill to Crawley after English batter wastes time late on day 3 at Lord’s – WATCH An almost T20-style attitude to batting, typified by captain Pat Cummins' consecutive sixes off Seales, was also a reflection of Australia's eagerness to get as many runs as they could quickly in that final session to allow the bowlers a decent shot at the West Indies' depleted top order under the lights. That helter-skelter tempo at the end contrasted sharply with the pedestrian opening session, made exciting only by the antics of opener Sam Konstas. He was almost run out by Campbell and then dropped at third slip by Anderson off successive balls from Seales before being trapped leg-before for 17 off the first ball bowled by Greaves. Anderson, who replaced Keacy Carty, is one of three changes to the West Indies team from the second Test. That match was Kraigg Brathwaite's 100th in Test cricket and possibly his last, as he was dropped in favour of Louis for the series finale while left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican returned at the expense of fast-medium bowler Anderson Phillip. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Mitchell Starc struck early in his 100th Test match as the West Indies reached 16 for one in response to Australia's first innings total of 225 on the opening day of the day/night third Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica on Saturday.

WI vs AUS: Aussies reach 225 with West Indies 16 for 1 after day one of third Test

FIFA president Gianni Infantino triumphantly declared the Club World Cup to be "the most successful club competition in the world" on Saturday, ahead of this weekend's final between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. The first 32-team edition of the tournament faced criticism in the build-up for stretching demands on elite players and has been played out in baking temperatures in the United States that have raised concerns for the health of those involved. There were also doubts about the level of interest the competition would generate among fans, but Infantino said he was satisfied with the attendances at matches -- despite many games being far from sold out -- and claimed it had been a major success financially.&nbsp;"The golden age of club football has started. We can definitely say this FIFA Club World Cup has been a huge success," Infantino told reporters at Trump Tower on New York City's Fifth Avenue, where FIFA has just opened an office.&nbsp;&nbsp;"We heard that financially it would not work, that nobody is interested, but I can say we generated almost 2.1 billion dollars in revenues, for 63 matches," he said. "That makes an average of $33 million per match -- no other club competition in the world comes close.&nbsp;"It is already the most successful club competition in the world."&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-forever-our-number-20-liverpool-retire-diogo-jota-s-squad-number-in-heartfelt-tribute-to-late-forward-1752291255824">'Forever our number 20': Liverpool retire Diogo Jota's squad number in heartfelt tribute to late forward</a>&nbsp;Former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp has been one of the leading voices against the tournament, calling it "the worst idea ever implemented in football" in a recent interview. But the head of world football's governing body dismissed suggestions that Klopp might be speaking for most observers in Europe.&nbsp;"We shouldn't say that the opinion of Europe on this is very bad because it is not true," said Infantino, who was appearing on a stage alongside numerous footballing greats, including the Brazilian Ronaldo. "All the teams who have come here have been happy -- some teams who didn't come here because they didn't qualify were calling us to see how they could qualify.&nbsp;"Of course I would have liked to have Liverpool here, Arsenal, Manchester United, Barcelona, Tottenham, AC Milan, Napoli... but you have to qualify and there are different criteria."&nbsp;The next Club World Cup is due to take place in 2029, with Infantino refusing to commit when asked whether the tournament could be played every two years or be expanded to feature more teams.&nbsp;"We created something new, something which is here to stay, something which is changing the landscape of club football," he added.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

There were also doubts about the level of interest the competition would generate among fans, but Infantino said he was satisfied with the attendances at matches -- despite many games being far from sold out -- and claimed it had been a major success financially.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino triumphantly declared the Club World Cup to be "the most successful club competition in the world" on Saturday, ahead of this weekend's final between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. The first 32-team edition of the tournament faced criticism in the build-up for stretching demands on elite players and has been played out in baking temperatures in the United States that have raised concerns for the health of those involved. There were also doubts about the level of interest the competition would generate among fans, but Infantino said he was satisfied with the attendances at matches -- despite many games being far from sold out -- and claimed it had been a major success financially. "The golden age of club football has started. We can definitely say this FIFA Club World Cup has been a huge success," Infantino told reporters at Trump Tower on New York City's Fifth Avenue, where FIFA has just opened an office. "We heard that financially it would not work, that nobody is interested, but I can say we generated almost 2.1 billion dollars in revenues, for 63 matches," he said. "That makes an average of $33 million per match -- no other club competition in the world comes close. "It is already the most successful club competition in the world." Also read | 'Forever our number 20': Liverpool retire Diogo Jota's squad number in heartfelt tribute to late forward Former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp has been one of the leading voices against the tournament, calling it "the worst idea ever implemented in football" in a recent interview. But the head of world football's governing body dismissed suggestions that Klopp might be speaking for most observers in Europe. "We shouldn't say that the opinion of Europe on this is very bad because it is not true," said Infantino, who was appearing on a stage alongside numerous footballing greats, including the Brazilian Ronaldo. "All the teams who have come here have been happy -- some teams who didn't come here because they didn't qualify were calling us to see how they could qualify. "Of course I would have liked to have Liverpool here, Arsenal, Manchester United, Barcelona, Tottenham, AC Milan, Napoli... but you have to qualify and there are different criteria." The next Club World Cup is due to take place in 2029, with Infantino refusing to commit when asked whether the tournament could be played every two years or be expanded to feature more teams. "We created something new, something which is here to stay, something which is changing the landscape of club football," he added. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

There were also doubts about the level of interest the competition would generate among fans, but Infantino said he was satisfied with the attendances at matches -- despite many games being far from sold out -- and claimed it had been a major success financially.

FIFA boss Infantino hails Club World Cup as 'world's most successful competition'

Pakistan fast bowling legend Wasim Akram on Saturday hailed Australia's Mitchell Starc as a "modern-day great" for reaching 100 Test appearances.Starc, who draws comparisons with fellow left-arm quick Akram, will reach the milestone later Saturday when the third Test against the West Indies begins in Jamaica.&nbsp;"It is a big deal in this day and age to reach 100 Tests, congratulations to Starc," Akram told AFP. &nbsp;“That shows the quality and resolve of the man.”&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/day-night-test-australia-could-deny-nathan-lyon-a-shot-at-history-in-pink-ball-tie-know-how-pat-cummins-1752319819295">Day/Night Test: Australia could deny Nathan Lyon a shot at history in pink-ball tie, know how</a>&nbsp;The 35-year-old becomes the 83rd player and 16th Australian to play 100 Tests, and only the second Australian fast bowler after Glenn McGrath.&nbsp;"To play 100 Tests shows how consistent Starc has been and also shows where his priorities lie -- that is to play red-ball cricket," said Akram. &nbsp;“He has also played Twenty20 and league cricket, but his career in Test cricket is way ahead, and to me he is a modern-day great.”&nbsp;Starc stands on 395 Test wickets, so has the tantalising prospect of taking his landmark 400th wicket during his 100th Test. His strike rate is remarkably similar to Akram, who retired in 2002 after taking 414 wickets in 104 Tests.&nbsp;Both players, said Akram, had suffered injuries to "every joint, every part of the body" during their careers.&nbsp;&nbsp;"People often compare us, but we have played in different eras," said Akram. "He's got the pace, he's got the swing and he's bowling very intelligently to the new batsman, especially with the new ball."&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.&nbsp;

The 35-year-old becomes the 83rd player and 16th Australian to play 100 Tests, and only the second Australian fast bowler after Glenn McGrath.

Pakistan fast bowling legend Wasim Akram on Saturday hailed Australia's Mitchell Starc as a "modern-day great" for reaching 100 Test appearances. Starc, who draws comparisons with fellow left-arm quick Akram, will reach the milestone later Saturday when the third Test against the West Indies begins in Jamaica. "It is a big deal in this day and age to reach 100 Tests, congratulations to Starc," Akram told AFP. “That shows the quality and resolve of the man.” Also read | Day/Night Test: Australia could deny Nathan Lyon a shot at history in pink-ball tie, know how The 35-year-old becomes the 83rd player and 16th Australian to play 100 Tests, and only the second Australian fast bowler after Glenn McGrath. "To play 100 Tests shows how consistent Starc has been and also shows where his priorities lie -- that is to play red-ball cricket," said Akram. “He has also played Twenty20 and league cricket, but his career in Test cricket is way ahead, and to me he is a modern-day great.” Starc stands on 395 Test wickets, so has the tantalising prospect of taking his landmark 400th wicket during his 100th Test. His strike rate is remarkably similar to Akram, who retired in 2002 after taking 414 wickets in 104 Tests. Both players, said Akram, had suffered injuries to "every joint, every part of the body" during their careers. "People often compare us, but we have played in different eras," said Akram. "He's got the pace, he's got the swing and he's bowling very intelligently to the new batsman, especially with the new ball." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The 35-year-old becomes the 83rd player and 16th Australian to play 100 Tests, and only the second Australian fast bowler after Glenn McGrath.

Pakistan legend hails ‘modern-day’ great Starc on 100-Test milestone

More than 20 civilians, including children, were killed after a recent air strike on a monastery in central Myanmar, an anti-junta fighter and a resident told AFP Saturday.Myanmar has been consumed by civil war since the military ousted a democratic government in 2021, and central Sagaing region has been particularly hard-hit, with the junta pummelling villages with air strikes targeting armed groups.The most recent occurred around 1:00 am Friday in Lin Ta Lu village when "the monastery hall where internally displaced people were staying" was hit with an air strike, said an anti-junta fighter, who requested anonymity for safety reasons.He told AFP that 22 people were killed, including three children, while two were wounded and remained in critical condition at the hospital."They had thought it was safe to stay at a Buddhist monastery," the anti-junta fighter said. "But they were bombed anyway."Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment.A local resident confirmed that the monastery hall was "completely destroyed", adding that he saw some bodies loaded into a car and transported to a cemetery at dawn on Friday after the air strike.He said when he went to the cemetery to take photos to help with identifying the dead, he counted 22 bodies."Many of the bodies had head wounds or were torn apart. It was sad to see," said the resident, who also asked to remain anonymous.Sagaing region was the epicentre of a devastating magnitude-7.7 quake in March, which left nearly 3,800 people dead and tens of thousands homeless.&nbsp;After the quake, there was a purported truce between the junta and armed groups, but air strikes and fighting have continued, according to conflict monitors.In May, an air strike on a school in the village of Oe Htein Kwin in Sagaing killed 20 students and two teachers.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The incident occurred around 1:00 am Friday in Lin Ta Lu village when "the monastery hall where internally displaced people were staying" was hit with an air strike, said an anti-junta fighter, who requested anonymity for safety reasons.

More than 20 civilians, including children, were killed after a recent air strike on a monastery in central Myanmar, an anti-junta fighter and a resident told AFP Saturday. Myanmar has been consumed by civil war since the military ousted a democratic government in 2021, and central Sagaing region has been particularly hard-hit, with the junta pummelling villages with air strikes targeting armed groups. The most recent occurred around 1:00 am Friday in Lin Ta Lu village when "the monastery hall where internally displaced people were staying" was hit with an air strike, said an anti-junta fighter, who requested anonymity for safety reasons. He told AFP that 22 people were killed, including three children, while two were wounded and remained in critical condition at the hospital. "They had thought it was safe to stay at a Buddhist monastery," the anti-junta fighter said. "But they were bombed anyway." Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment. A local resident confirmed that the monastery hall was "completely destroyed", adding that he saw some bodies loaded into a car and transported to a cemetery at dawn on Friday after the air strike. He said when he went to the cemetery to take photos to help with identifying the dead, he counted 22 bodies. "Many of the bodies had head wounds or were torn apart. It was sad to see," said the resident, who also asked to remain anonymous. Sagaing region was the epicentre of a devastating magnitude-7.7 quake in March, which left nearly 3,800 people dead and tens of thousands homeless. After the quake, there was a purported truce between the junta and armed groups, but air strikes and fighting have continued, according to conflict monitors. In May, an air strike on a school in the village of Oe Htein Kwin in Sagaing killed 20 students and two teachers. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The incident occurred around 1:00 am Friday in Lin Ta Lu village when "the monastery hall where internally displaced people were staying" was hit with an air strike, said an anti-junta fighter, who requested anonymity for safety reasons.

'They thought it was safe at a Buddhist monastery': 22 people, including children, killed in Myanmar air strike

Novak Djokovic said the reality of his age was hitting him "like never before" after he was crushed by world number one Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semi-finals on Friday.&nbsp;The Serbian seven-time champion was demolished 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court and will be missing from the final at the All England Club for the first time since 2017.&nbsp;The 38-year-old was aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam title and an eighth Wimbledon crown, which would have pulled him level with Roger Federer's record of eight men's titles.He appeared limited in his movements against his 23-year-old opponent, who will face two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday's final, and admitted afterwards that he had struggled.&nbsp;Djokovic fell awkwardly late in his quarter-final victory over Flavio Cobolli, sustaining a leg injury.&nbsp;"It wasn't really a pleasant feeling on the court," he said. "I don't want to talk, in details, about my injury and just whine about not managing to play my best.&nbsp;"I want to congratulate Jannik for another great performance. That's it. He's in the finals. He was too strong."&nbsp;Djokovic was forced to pull out of the Australian Open after just one set of his semi-final against Alexander Zverev earlier this year after suffering a muscle tear.But he denied he was suffering bad fortune.&nbsp;"It's just age, the wear and tear of the body," he said. "As much as I'm taking care of it, the reality hits me right now, last year and a half, like never before, to be honest.&nbsp;"It's tough for me to accept that because I feel like when I'm fresh, when I'm fit, I can still play really good tennis. I've proven that this year.&nbsp;"But I guess playing best-of-five, particularly this year, has been a real struggle for me physically. The longer the tournament goes the worse the condition gets. I reach the final stages, I reached the semis of every Slam this year, but I have to play Sinner or Alcaraz.&nbsp;"These guys are fit, young, sharp. I feel like I'm going into the match with the tank half empty. It's just not possible to win a match like that."&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-dilip-vengsarkar-to-rahul-dravid-5-indian-batters-with-the-most-test-runs-at-lord-s-cricket-ground-sunil-gavaskar-vinoo-mankad-gundappa-viswanath-1751971407270">From Dilip Vengsarkar to Rahul Dravid, 5 Indian batters with the most Test runs at Lord’s Cricket Ground</a><h2>Wimbledon return</h2>Djokovic said he was planning to return to Wimbledon next year.&nbsp;"I think, regardless of the fact that I haven't won a Grand Slam this year, or last year, I still feel like I continue to play my best tennis at Grand Slams," he said.&nbsp;"Those are the tournaments that I care about at this stage of my career the most."Djokovic said he did not know what he could do differently.&nbsp;"The amount of hours that I spend on a daily basis to take care of myself, I'd like to challenge everyone who is out there on the tour to see if anybody takes care of themselves more than me," he said.&nbsp;"And I, unfortunately, don't get rewarded for that right now, with injuries at the later stages of Slams. But I was rewarded for many, many years."&nbsp;He added: "I'm just trying to make, I guess, the maximum out of what I have left. Again, I just got off the court, so of course, I'm upset and disappointed, mostly not for the loss, because obviously even if I was fit, I wasn't a favourite to win against Sinner, I know that, but I think I had good chances if I was fit."&nbsp;The Serb was asked who he felt would win Sunday's final.&nbsp;"I think I will give a slight edge to Carlos as a favourite because of the two titles he's won here and the way he's playing and the confidence he has right now," he said."But it's just a slight advantage because Jannik is hitting the ball extremely well. I think it's going to be, again, a very close match-up like they had in Paris (where Alcaraz won in five sets)."&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Novak Djokovic was demolished 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court and will be missing from the final at the All England Club for the first time since 2017.

Novak Djokovic said the reality of his age was hitting him "like never before" after he was crushed by world number one Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semi-finals on Friday. The Serbian seven-time champion was demolished 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court and will be missing from the final at the All England Club for the first time since 2017. The 38-year-old was aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam title and an eighth Wimbledon crown, which would have pulled him level with Roger Federer's record of eight men's titles. He appeared limited in his movements against his 23-year-old opponent, who will face two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday's final, and admitted afterwards that he had struggled. Djokovic fell awkwardly late in his quarter-final victory over Flavio Cobolli, sustaining a leg injury. "It wasn't really a pleasant feeling on the court," he said. "I don't want to talk, in details, about my injury and just whine about not managing to play my best. "I want to congratulate Jannik for another great performance. That's it. He's in the finals. He was too strong." Djokovic was forced to pull out of the Australian Open after just one set of his semi-final against Alexander Zverev earlier this year after suffering a muscle tear. But he denied he was suffering bad fortune. "It's just age, the wear and tear of the body," he said. "As much as I'm taking care of it, the reality hits me right now, last year and a half, like never before, to be honest. "It's tough for me to accept that because I feel like when I'm fresh, when I'm fit, I can still play really good tennis. I've proven that this year. "But I guess playing best-of-five, particularly this year, has been a real struggle for me physically. The longer the tournament goes the worse the condition gets. I reach the final stages, I reached the semis of every Slam this year, but I have to play Sinner or Alcaraz. "These guys are fit, young, sharp. I feel like I'm going into the match with the tank half empty. It's just not possible to win a match like that." ALSO READ | From Dilip Vengsarkar to Rahul Dravid, 5 Indian batters with the most Test runs at Lord’s Cricket Ground Wimbledon return Djokovic said he was planning to return to Wimbledon next year. "I think, regardless of the fact that I haven't won a Grand Slam this year, or last year, I still feel like I continue to play my best tennis at Grand Slams," he said. "Those are the tournaments that I care about at this stage of my career the most." Djokovic said he did not know what he could do differently. "The amount of hours that I spend on a daily basis to take care of myself, I'd like to challenge everyone who is out there on the tour to see if anybody takes care of themselves more than me," he said. "And I, unfortunately, don't get rewarded for that right now, with injuries at the later stages of Slams. But I was rewarded for many, many years." He added: "I'm just trying to make, I guess, the maximum out of what I have left. Again, I just got off the court, so of course, I'm upset and disappointed, mostly not for the loss, because obviously even if I was fit, I wasn't a favourite to win against Sinner, I know that, but I think I had good chances if I was fit." The Serb was asked who he felt would win Sunday's final. "I think I will give a slight edge to Carlos as a favourite because of the two titles he's won here and the way he's playing and the confidence he has right now," he said. "But it's just a slight advantage because Jannik is hitting the ball extremely well. I think it's going to be, again, a very close match-up like they had in Paris (where Alcaraz won in five sets)." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Novak Djokovic was demolished 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court and will be missing from the final at the All England Club for the first time since 2017.

Novak Djokovic admits age catching up with him after Wimbledon semis defeat

Crystal Palace have been demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League by UEFA for a breach of multi-club ownership rules, European football's governing body confirmed on Friday.&nbsp;US businessman John Textor owns a stake in the Eagles and is the majority owner of French club Lyon, who have also qualified for the Europa League.&nbsp;Under UEFA multi-club ownership rules, Lyon have been allowed to keep their place in the second-tier competition of European football as they finished higher in Ligue 1 (6th) than Palace (12th) in the Premier League last season.&nbsp;Palace qualified for European competition for the first time by winning the FA Cup in May - the club's first ever major trophy.&nbsp;Textor has since agreed to sell his 43 percent stake in the London club to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson.&nbsp;However, that deal is yet to be completed and was struck well after UEFA's deadline of March 1 for multi-club conflicts to be resolved.&nbsp;A decision on Palace's fate had been delayed by a separate case that initially saw Lyon relegated to the second tier of French football due to financial problems.&nbsp;The seven-time French champions won an appeal against that decision on Wednesday after Textor stood aside from the day-to-day running of the club.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-dilip-vengsarkar-to-rahul-dravid-5-indian-batters-with-the-most-test-runs-at-lord-s-cricket-ground-sunil-gavaskar-vinoo-mankad-gundappa-viswanath-1751971407270">From Dilip Vengsarkar to Rahul Dravid, 5 Indian batters with the most Test runs at Lord’s Cricket Ground</a>&nbsp;Palace are expected to appeal the verdict to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.Parish told Sky Sports: "We are obviously devastated, most importantly for the supporters. Supporters of all clubs should be devastated for it.&nbsp;"It is a bad day for football," Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish declared."Most right-minded football fans will see what a terrible injustice this is for the football club and one that I hope someone can remedy because I do believe that nobody in football wants to see this - I don't think UEFA want to see it," he told Sky Sports.&nbsp;Nottingham Forest, who had qualified for the Conference League by finishing seventh in the Premier League last season, will replace Palace in the Europa League, a UEFA source told AFP.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

US businessman John Textor owns a stake in the Eagles and is the majority owner of French club Lyon, who have also qualified for the Europa League.

Crystal Palace have been demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League by UEFA for a breach of multi-club ownership rules, European football's governing body confirmed on Friday. US businessman John Textor owns a stake in the Eagles and is the majority owner of French club Lyon, who have also qualified for the Europa League. Under UEFA multi-club ownership rules, Lyon have been allowed to keep their place in the second-tier competition of European football as they finished higher in Ligue 1 (6th) than Palace (12th) in the Premier League last season. Palace qualified for European competition for the first time by winning the FA Cup in May - the club's first ever major trophy. Textor has since agreed to sell his 43 percent stake in the London club to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson. However, that deal is yet to be completed and was struck well after UEFA's deadline of March 1 for multi-club conflicts to be resolved. A decision on Palace's fate had been delayed by a separate case that initially saw Lyon relegated to the second tier of French football due to financial problems. The seven-time French champions won an appeal against that decision on Wednesday after Textor stood aside from the day-to-day running of the club. ALSO READ | From Dilip Vengsarkar to Rahul Dravid, 5 Indian batters with the most Test runs at Lord’s Cricket Ground Palace are expected to appeal the verdict to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Parish told Sky Sports: "We are obviously devastated, most importantly for the supporters. Supporters of all clubs should be devastated for it. "It is a bad day for football," Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish declared. "Most right-minded football fans will see what a terrible injustice this is for the football club and one that I hope someone can remedy because I do believe that nobody in football wants to see this - I don't think UEFA want to see it," he told Sky Sports. Nottingham Forest, who had qualified for the Conference League by finishing seventh in the Premier League last season, will replace Palace in the Europa League, a UEFA source told AFP. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

US businessman John Textor owns a stake in the Eagles and is the majority owner of French club Lyon, who have also qualified for the Europa League.

Crystal Palace demoted to UEFA Conference League for multi-club breach

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun ruled out normalisation between his country and Israel on Friday, while expressing hope for peaceful relations with Beirut's southern neighbour, which still occupies parts of southern Lebanon.&nbsp;Aoun's statement is the first official reaction to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar's statement last week in which he expressed his country's interest in normalising ties with Lebanon and Syria.&nbsp;Aoun "distinguished between peace and normalisation", according to a statement shared by the presidency.&nbsp;"Peace is the lack of a state of war, and this is what matters to us in Lebanon at the moment. As for the issue of normalisation, it is not currently part of Lebanese foreign policy," the president said in front of a delegation from an Arab think tank.&nbsp;Lebanon and Syria have technically been in a state of war with Israel since 1948, with Damascus saying that talks of normalisation were "premature".&nbsp;The president called on Israel to withdraw from the five points near the border it still occupies. Israel was required to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon under a November ceasefire seeking to end its war with Iran-backed Hezbollah.&nbsp;Aoun said that Israeli troops in Lebanon "obstruct the complete deployment of the army up to the internationally recognised borders".&nbsp;According to the ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah must pull its fighters north of the Litani River, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border with Israel, leaving the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers as the only armed parties in the area.&nbsp;The United States has been calling on Lebanon to fully disarm Hezbollah, and Lebanese authorities sent their response to Washington's demand this week.&nbsp;The response was not made public, but Aoun stated that Beirut was determined to "hold the monopoly over weapons in the country".&nbsp;The implementation of this move "will take into account the interest of the state and its security stability to preserve civil peace on one hand, and national unity on the other", hinting that Hezbollah's disarmament will not be done through force.&nbsp;Hezbollah, a powerful political force in Lebanon, is the only non-state actor to have officially retained its weaponry after the end of Lebanon's 15-year civil war in 1990, as parts of southern Lebanon were still under Israeli occupation at the time.&nbsp;The Lebanese group was heavily weakened following its year-long hostilities with Israel, which escalated into a two-month war in September.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Aoun's statement is the first official reaction to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar's statement last week in which he expressed his country's interest in normalising ties with Lebanon and Syria.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun ruled out normalisation between his country and Israel on Friday, while expressing hope for peaceful relations with Beirut's southern neighbour, which still occupies parts of southern Lebanon. Aoun's statement is the first official reaction to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar's statement last week in which he expressed his country's interest in normalising ties with Lebanon and Syria. Aoun "distinguished between peace and normalisation", according to a statement shared by the presidency. "Peace is the lack of a state of war, and this is what matters to us in Lebanon at the moment. As for the issue of normalisation, it is not currently part of Lebanese foreign policy," the president said in front of a delegation from an Arab think tank. Lebanon and Syria have technically been in a state of war with Israel since 1948, with Damascus saying that talks of normalisation were "premature". The president called on Israel to withdraw from the five points near the border it still occupies. Israel was required to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon under a November ceasefire seeking to end its war with Iran-backed Hezbollah. Aoun said that Israeli troops in Lebanon "obstruct the complete deployment of the army up to the internationally recognised borders". According to the ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah must pull its fighters north of the Litani River, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border with Israel, leaving the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers as the only armed parties in the area. The United States has been calling on Lebanon to fully disarm Hezbollah, and Lebanese authorities sent their response to Washington's demand this week. The response was not made public, but Aoun stated that Beirut was determined to "hold the monopoly over weapons in the country". The implementation of this move "will take into account the interest of the state and its security stability to preserve civil peace on one hand, and national unity on the other", hinting that Hezbollah's disarmament will not be done through force. Hezbollah, a powerful political force in Lebanon, is the only non-state actor to have officially retained its weaponry after the end of Lebanon's 15-year civil war in 1990, as parts of southern Lebanon were still under Israeli occupation at the time. The Lebanese group was heavily weakened following its year-long hostilities with Israel, which escalated into a two-month war in September. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Aoun's statement is the first official reaction to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar's statement last week in which he expressed his country's interest in normalising ties with Lebanon and Syria.

Lebanese president says normalisation with Israel ‘not part of foreign policy’

Novak Djokovic will put his bid for Grand Slam history on the line at Wimbledon on Friday when he faces world number one Jannik Sinner for a place in the final, while defending champion Carlos Alcaraz takes on American fifth seed Taylor Fritz.<h3>Jannik Sinner v Novak Djokovic</h3>&nbsp;As a seven-time Wimbledon champion, Novak Djokovic believes his best chance to win a record 25th Grand Slam title lies on the lawns of south-west London. Now, the 38-year-old Serb faces the defining test of that theory. Djokovic is looking to reach an 11th Wimbledon final and his 38th Grand Slam showpiece, yet he finds himself in the unusual position of being an All England Club underdog.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-number-1-aryna-sabalenka-criticises-amanda-anisimova-behaviour-after-shock-wimbledon-semis-exit-1752207166149">Sabalenka takes a swipe at Anisimova over her behaviour after shock Wimbledon exit</a>&nbsp;Although Djokovic beat Sinner in the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2023 and the quarter-finals in 2022, the Italian got his revenge in the 2024 Australian Open and this year's French Open.&nbsp;Those semi-final victories helped Sinner build a 5-4 edge in his nine encounters with Djokovic, who has lost the last four meetings.&nbsp;Sinner shrugged off fears over an elbow injury to brush aside American 10th seed Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals, while Djokovic hopes to be fully fit after an awkward fall late in his last-eight victory over Italy's Flavio Cobolli.&nbsp;Beaten by Carlos Alcaraz in the last two Wimbledon finals, Djokovic hasn't won a Grand Slam since moving level with Margaret Court on 24 major titles by clinching the 2023 US Open.&nbsp;Sinner and Alcaraz are the dominant forces in men's tennis now, but sixth seed Djokovic will be contesting a record 14th Wimbledon men's semi-final, with 10 wins from his previous 13 matches at that stage.&nbsp;Djokovic has made every Wimbledon final since 2018, and his last semi-final loss at the tournament came against Roger Federer in 2012.&nbsp;He has a 37-14 record in Grand Slam semi-finals, but has lost three of his last four.&nbsp;Djokovic can equal Federer's Open era record for most consecutive Wimbledon men's finals if he makes it to the last Sunday for a seventh time in a row.&nbsp;In his seventh Grand Slam semi-final, a victory for Australian Open champion Sinner would send him through to his first Wimbledon final.&nbsp;The 23-year-old, a three-time major winner, can become the sixth man in the Open era to make four consecutive Grand Slam final appearances.&nbsp;The last of those finals ended in a five-set defeat that saw him blow three championship points against Alcaraz in the French Open in June, a painful memory fuelling his Wimbledon title charge.<h3>Carlos Alcaraz v Taylor Fritz</h3>Back to his best after a spluttering start to the tournament, Carlos Alcaraz must subdue the power game of big-serving Taylor Fritz to reach his third successive Wimbledon final.&nbsp;Alcaraz was taken to five sets by the since-retired Fabio Fognini in the first round and also dropped a set against both Jan-Lennard Struff and Andrey Rublev to raise concerns about his title defence.&nbsp;Alcaraz, a five-time Grand Slam champion, eased fears about a dip in form with a dynamic demolition of Britain's Cameron Norrie in the quarter-finals.&nbsp;The Spanish world number two is contesting his eighth Grand Slam semi-final, with a 5-2 record including victories in both his Wimbledon last-four ties. He is on a career-best 23-match winning streak since losing to Holger Rune in the Barcelona final in April and has won 34 of his 37 matches on grass.&nbsp;If Fritz can pull off a major upset, he will reach his second Grand Slam final, in the process becoming the first American man to make the Wimbledon final since Andy Roddick in 2009.&nbsp;&nbsp;The 27-year-old made his first appearance in a Grand Slam final at the US Open last year, losing to Jannik Sinner.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.&nbsp;

Djokovic is looking to reach an 11th Wimbledon final and his 38th Grand Slam showpiece, yet he finds himself in the unusual position of being an All England Club underdog.

Novak Djokovic will put his bid for Grand Slam history on the line at Wimbledon on Friday when he faces world number one Jannik Sinner for a place in the final, while defending champion Carlos Alcaraz takes on American fifth seed Taylor Fritz. Jannik Sinner v Novak Djokovic As a seven-time Wimbledon champion, Novak Djokovic believes his best chance to win a record 25th Grand Slam title lies on the lawns of south-west London. Now, the 38-year-old Serb faces the defining test of that theory. Djokovic is looking to reach an 11th Wimbledon final and his 38th Grand Slam showpiece, yet he finds himself in the unusual position of being an All England Club underdog. Also read | Sabalenka takes a swipe at Anisimova over her behaviour after shock Wimbledon exit Although Djokovic beat Sinner in the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2023 and the quarter-finals in 2022, the Italian got his revenge in the 2024 Australian Open and this year's French Open. Those semi-final victories helped Sinner build a 5-4 edge in his nine encounters with Djokovic, who has lost the last four meetings. Sinner shrugged off fears over an elbow injury to brush aside American 10th seed Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals, while Djokovic hopes to be fully fit after an awkward fall late in his last-eight victory over Italy's Flavio Cobolli. Beaten by Carlos Alcaraz in the last two Wimbledon finals, Djokovic hasn't won a Grand Slam since moving level with Margaret Court on 24 major titles by clinching the 2023 US Open. Sinner and Alcaraz are the dominant forces in men's tennis now, but sixth seed Djokovic will be contesting a record 14th Wimbledon men's semi-final, with 10 wins from his previous 13 matches at that stage. Djokovic has made every Wimbledon final since 2018, and his last semi-final loss at the tournament came against Roger Federer in 2012. He has a 37-14 record in Grand Slam semi-finals, but has lost three of his last four. Djokovic can equal Federer's Open era record for most consecutive Wimbledon men's finals if he makes it to the last Sunday for a seventh time in a row. In his seventh Grand Slam semi-final, a victory for Australian Open champion Sinner would send him through to his first Wimbledon final. The 23-year-old, a three-time major winner, can become the sixth man in the Open era to make four consecutive Grand Slam final appearances. The last of those finals ended in a five-set defeat that saw him blow three championship points against Alcaraz in the French Open in June, a painful memory fuelling his Wimbledon title charge. Carlos Alcaraz v Taylor Fritz Back to his best after a spluttering start to the tournament, Carlos Alcaraz must subdue the power game of big-serving Taylor Fritz to reach his third successive Wimbledon final. Alcaraz was taken to five sets by the since-retired Fabio Fognini in the first round and also dropped a set against both Jan-Lennard Struff and Andrey Rublev to raise concerns about his title defence. Alcaraz, a five-time Grand Slam champion, eased fears about a dip in form with a dynamic demolition of Britain's Cameron Norrie in the quarter-finals. The Spanish world number two is contesting his eighth Grand Slam semi-final, with a 5-2 record including victories in both his Wimbledon last-four ties. He is on a career-best 23-match winning streak since losing to Holger Rune in the Barcelona final in April and has won 34 of his 37 matches on grass. If Fritz can pull off a major upset, he will reach his second Grand Slam final, in the process becoming the first American man to make the Wimbledon final since Andy Roddick in 2009. The 27-year-old made his first appearance in a Grand Slam final at the US Open last year, losing to Jannik Sinner. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Djokovic is looking to reach an 11th Wimbledon final and his 38th Grand Slam showpiece, yet he finds himself in the unusual position of being an All England Club underdog.

Wimbledon men's semis preview - Djokovic faces Sinner, Alcaraz meets Fritz

Aryna Sabalenka took a swipe at Amanda Anisimova over her behaviour during the American's stunning Wimbledon semi-final victory on Thursday. The world number one crashed to a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 defeat against the 13th seed to shatter her dream of reaching a first All England Club final. The Belarusian top seed had reached the previous three Grand Slam finals, but she paid the price for an erratic display in the blazing Centre Court heat. Sabalenka lost her cool with Anisimova during the bruising semi-final and was still angry with her rival several hours later. Two incidents infuriated the 27-year-old, who was unhappy that Anisimova celebrated winning a point too early.&nbsp;"I was just trying to chase the ball. She was already celebrating it. I mean, that's a bit too early. Then she kind of pissed me off saying oh, that's what she does all the time'," Sabalenka said.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-2025-swiatek-sets-up-women-s-singles-title-clash-against-fellow-maiden-finalist-anisimova-1752169398615">Wimbledon 2025: Swiatek sets up women's singles title clash against fellow maiden finalist Anisimova</a>&nbsp;The three-time Grand Slam champion said Anisimova's antics inspired her to fight back in the second set.&nbsp;"I was grateful that she actually said that because it actually helped me to keep fighting. I'm like, 'OK, now I'm going to show you the tennis'," she said. "I came back because I got really angry in that moment, probably in the third set, I should have remembered that."&nbsp;Sabalenka was also irked that Anisimova failed to follow the tennis tradition of offering an apology when she won a point thanks to a fortunate deflection off the net.&nbsp;"I just looked at her and, I mean, for sure she didn't hear me. I was like, 'You don't want to say sorry?' She just wanted, I guess, badly to win this match," Sabalenka said.<h3>Calm Sabalenka</h3>&nbsp;Ironically, Sabalenka's rant came after she had opened her post-match press conference by telling reporters she would not repeat her French Open final outburst. She was forced to apologise after claiming it was her poor play and not Coco Gauff's performance that was the decisive factor in the American's victory at Paris last month.&nbsp;"Are you guys waiting for something? You're not going to see the Roland Garros press conference, so anyone who was waiting for that, you can leave right now," she said.&nbsp;Sabalenka did give credit to Anisimova for her spirited display, praising the 23-year-old for being "brave" at key moments and admitting she was the better player.&nbsp;Insisting she had learnt from the debacle at Roland Garros, Sabalenka added: "I just don't want to face that hate again. We all can lose control over our emotions. It's absolutely normal.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Every time when I was really that close today to completely lose it and start yelling, screaming, smashing the racquets, I kept reminding myself that's not an option, and it's not going to help me to stay in the match and to fight for my dream.&nbsp;"Even right now, I took a bit more time before doing my media just so I can be Aryna, not that crazy person that been on that media day at Roland Garros."&nbsp;But, despite her protestations of a newfound maturity, Sabalenka could not help aiming a parting shot at the assembled media.&nbsp;"Ha, ha, ha, you didn't get anything," she said before poking her tongue out.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.&nbsp;

The Belarusian top seed had reached the previous three Grand Slam finals, but she paid the price for an erratic display in the blazing Centre Court heat.

Aryna Sabalenka took a swipe at Amanda Anisimova over her behaviour during the American's stunning Wimbledon semi-final victory on Thursday. The world number one crashed to a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 defeat against the 13th seed to shatter her dream of reaching a first All England Club final. The Belarusian top seed had reached the previous three Grand Slam finals, but she paid the price for an erratic display in the blazing Centre Court heat. Sabalenka lost her cool with Anisimova during the bruising semi-final and was still angry with her rival several hours later. Two incidents infuriated the 27-year-old, who was unhappy that Anisimova celebrated winning a point too early. "I was just trying to chase the ball. She was already celebrating it. I mean, that's a bit too early. Then she kind of pissed me off saying oh, that's what she does all the time'," Sabalenka said. Also read | Wimbledon 2025: Swiatek sets up women's singles title clash against fellow maiden finalist Anisimova The three-time Grand Slam champion said Anisimova's antics inspired her to fight back in the second set. "I was grateful that she actually said that because it actually helped me to keep fighting. I'm like, 'OK, now I'm going to show you the tennis'," she said. "I came back because I got really angry in that moment, probably in the third set, I should have remembered that." Sabalenka was also irked that Anisimova failed to follow the tennis tradition of offering an apology when she won a point thanks to a fortunate deflection off the net. "I just looked at her and, I mean, for sure she didn't hear me. I was like, 'You don't want to say sorry?' She just wanted, I guess, badly to win this match," Sabalenka said. Calm Sabalenka Ironically, Sabalenka's rant came after she had opened her post-match press conference by telling reporters she would not repeat her French Open final outburst. She was forced to apologise after claiming it was her poor play and not Coco Gauff's performance that was the decisive factor in the American's victory at Paris last month. "Are you guys waiting for something? You're not going to see the Roland Garros press conference, so anyone who was waiting for that, you can leave right now," she said. Sabalenka did give credit to Anisimova for her spirited display, praising the 23-year-old for being "brave" at key moments and admitting she was the better player. Insisting she had learnt from the debacle at Roland Garros, Sabalenka added: "I just don't want to face that hate again. We all can lose control over our emotions. It's absolutely normal. "Every time when I was really that close today to completely lose it and start yelling, screaming, smashing the racquets, I kept reminding myself that's not an option, and it's not going to help me to stay in the match and to fight for my dream. "Even right now, I took a bit more time before doing my media just so I can be Aryna, not that crazy person that been on that media day at Roland Garros." But, despite her protestations of a newfound maturity, Sabalenka could not help aiming a parting shot at the assembled media. "Ha, ha, ha, you didn't get anything," she said before poking her tongue out. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The Belarusian top seed had reached the previous three Grand Slam finals, but she paid the price for an erratic display in the blazing Centre Court heat.

Sabalenka takes a swipe at Anisimova over her behaviour after shock Wimbledon exit

Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Alvarez said Thursday he has been provisionally suspended for testing positive for a prohibited substance following a Europa League clash against Manchester United in May. The 30-year-old centre-back said he took the substance "involuntarily" through medicine he was using to combat hair loss following treatment for testicular cancer. Alvarez was diagnosed in 2016 for the disease and, after treatment, returned to play in 2017, but suffered a recurrence later that year, making a second comeback in 2018.&nbsp;"After overcoming my illness, I have been taking a treatment against alopecia for years, and after studying the issue, we have found out that the positive test came because I involuntarily took a preventative medicine against hair loss, which contained a prohibited substance," said Alvarez in a statement. "The disciplinary proceedings are currently in an investigatory phase and confidential, so I am provisionally suspended and I am not authorised to make further public comment."&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/did-over-speeding-kill-liverpool-forward-diogo-jota-truck-driver-who-saw-this-crash-reveals-1752149084397">Did over-speeding kill Liverpool forward Jota? Truck driver who saw this crash reveals, ‘The family has my word…’</a>&nbsp;Alvarez said his positive test came after Bilbao's 3-0 home defeat by Man United in the Europa League semi-final first leg on May 1.&nbsp;The defender also played in the second leg and two further La Liga matches before the end of the season. Alvarez said he was told he had tested positive "a few weeks ago" and hearing the news was "a very tough blow".&nbsp;"I could not believe it, given that never in my life have I taken prohibited substances," explained the Spaniard.&nbsp;Athletic Bilbao said in a statement that they "lament the human error of Yeray" and will show the defender support, but cannot make any further comment at this time.&nbsp;European football governing body UEFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Alvarez said his positive test came after Bilbao's 3-0 home defeat by Man United in the Europa League semi-final first leg on May 1.

Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Alvarez said Thursday he has been provisionally suspended for testing positive for a prohibited substance following a Europa League clash against Manchester United in May. The 30-year-old centre-back said he took the substance "involuntarily" through medicine he was using to combat hair loss following treatment for testicular cancer. Alvarez was diagnosed in 2016 for the disease and, after treatment, returned to play in 2017, but suffered a recurrence later that year, making a second comeback in 2018. "After overcoming my illness, I have been taking a treatment against alopecia for years, and after studying the issue, we have found out that the positive test came because I involuntarily took a preventative medicine against hair loss, which contained a prohibited substance," said Alvarez in a statement. "The disciplinary proceedings are currently in an investigatory phase and confidential, so I am provisionally suspended and I am not authorised to make further public comment." Also read | Did over-speeding kill Liverpool forward Jota? Truck driver who saw this crash reveals, ‘The family has my word…’ Alvarez said his positive test came after Bilbao's 3-0 home defeat by Man United in the Europa League semi-final first leg on May 1. The defender also played in the second leg and two further La Liga matches before the end of the season. Alvarez said he was told he had tested positive "a few weeks ago" and hearing the news was "a very tough blow". "I could not believe it, given that never in my life have I taken prohibited substances," explained the Spaniard. Athletic Bilbao said in a statement that they "lament the human error of Yeray" and will show the defender support, but cannot make any further comment at this time. European football governing body UEFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Alvarez said his positive test came after Bilbao's 3-0 home defeat by Man United in the Europa League semi-final first leg on May 1.

La Liga: Athletic Bilbao defender suspended for 'involuntary' doping; club vows to back him

Iga Swiatek routed former Olympic champion Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-0 on Thursday to reach her first Wimbledon final, where she will face Amanda Anisimova. The five-time Grand Slam champion, seeded eighth at the All England Club, dominated her Swiss opponent from the start, wrapping up victory in 71 minutes on Centre Court. "Honestly, I never even dreamed that it's going to be possible for me to play in the final. So I'm just super-excited and proud of myself and I don't know, tennis keeps surprising me," said Swiatek.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-is-amanda-anisimova-american-player-beats-sabalenka-to-reach-maiden-wimbledon-final-1752161381675">Wimbledon: Anisimova upsets top seed Sabalenka to reach maiden final - Who's she</a>"I thought I had lived through everything, even though I'm young, I thought I experienced everything on the court but I didn't experience playing well on grass, so that's the first time and I'm super, super excited and just enjoying it."On a baking Centre Court, the 24-year-old caught Bencic cold, racing into a 3-0 lead.Bencic, ranked 35th in the world, found her footing, holding serve twice but Polish star Swiatek broke to love in the eighth game to take the match by the scruff of the neck.Bencic, who returned to action in October, six months after giving birth to her daughter, Bella, was immediately under pressure in the second set as Swiatek broke for a 2-0 lead.The rampant Swiatek did not allow Bencic a single game in a remarkably one-sided second set.Despite her impressive form, Swiatek has largely gone under the radar at this year's Wimbledon, dropping just one set so far while the top seven women's seeds were all eliminated.After slipping down the rankings, she is now back in the world's top four having reached her first ever grass-court final at Bad Homburg last month.Swiatek has won four French Open titles on clay, as well as the 2022 US Open on hard courts, but until this year she had never been beyond the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.She will face Anisimova for the first time in her career on Saturday after the American 13th seed beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to reach her first Wimbledon final.Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Bencic, who returned to action in October, six months after giving birth to her daughter, Bella, was immediately under pressure in the second set as Swiatek broke for a 2-0 lead.

Iga Swiatek routed former Olympic champion Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-0 on Thursday to reach her first Wimbledon final, where she will face Amanda Anisimova. The five-time Grand Slam champion, seeded eighth at the All England Club, dominated her Swiss opponent from the start, wrapping up victory in 71 minutes on Centre Court. "Honestly, I never even dreamed that it's going to be possible for me to play in the final. So I'm just super-excited and proud of myself and I don't know, tennis keeps surprising me," said Swiatek. Also Read - Wimbledon: Anisimova upsets top seed Sabalenka to reach maiden final - Who's she "I thought I had lived through everything, even though I'm young, I thought I experienced everything on the court but I didn't experience playing well on grass, so that's the first time and I'm super, super excited and just enjoying it." On a baking Centre Court, the 24-year-old caught Bencic cold, racing into a 3-0 lead. Bencic, ranked 35th in the world, found her footing, holding serve twice but Polish star Swiatek broke to love in the eighth game to take the match by the scruff of the neck. Bencic, who returned to action in October, six months after giving birth to her daughter, Bella, was immediately under pressure in the second set as Swiatek broke for a 2-0 lead. The rampant Swiatek did not allow Bencic a single game in a remarkably one-sided second set. Despite her impressive form, Swiatek has largely gone under the radar at this year's Wimbledon, dropping just one set so far while the top seven women's seeds were all eliminated. After slipping down the rankings, she is now back in the world's top four having reached her first ever grass-court final at Bad Homburg last month. Swiatek has won four French Open titles on clay, as well as the 2022 US Open on hard courts, but until this year she had never been beyond the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. She will face Anisimova for the first time in her career on Saturday after the American 13th seed beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to reach her first Wimbledon final. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Bencic, who returned to action in October, six months after giving birth to her daughter, Bella, was immediately under pressure in the second set as Swiatek broke for a 2-0 lead.

Wimbledon 2025: Swiatek sets up women's singles title clash against fellow maiden finalist Anisimova

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday called for more pressure in the form of fresh sanctions against Moscow to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine.&nbsp;"We should shift our work for preparing for peace, making it happen by forcing Putin to the table... this coordinated pressure will make a difference," said Starmer.&nbsp;Macron, calling for allies to "step up the pressure on Russia", added "we clearly need something new... to step up the pressure on Russia".&nbsp;What was needed, he said, was "something that can modify the pressure on the Russian economy".&nbsp;The two leaders were co-chairing a video conference meeting of the "coalition of the willing" on Ukraine from a British military base in Northwood, northwest London, used by NATO as a command centre.&nbsp;They were joined from Rome by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, while other European leaders dialed in from elsewhere.&nbsp;In his remarks, Zelensky said it was "obvious to all partners that Russia is blocking all peace efforts", as he urged fresh sanctions on Moscow.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.&nbsp;

The two leaders were co-chairing a video conference meeting of the "coalition of the willing" on Ukraine from a British military base in Northwood, northwest London, used by NATO as a command centre.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday called for more pressure in the form of fresh sanctions against Moscow to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine. "We should shift our work for preparing for peace, making it happen by forcing Putin to the table... this coordinated pressure will make a difference," said Starmer. Macron, calling for allies to "step up the pressure on Russia", added "we clearly need something new... to step up the pressure on Russia". What was needed, he said, was "something that can modify the pressure on the Russian economy". The two leaders were co-chairing a video conference meeting of the "coalition of the willing" on Ukraine from a British military base in Northwood, northwest London, used by NATO as a command centre. They were joined from Rome by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, while other European leaders dialed in from elsewhere. In his remarks, Zelensky said it was "obvious to all partners that Russia is blocking all peace efforts", as he urged fresh sanctions on Moscow. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The two leaders were co-chairing a video conference meeting of the "coalition of the willing" on Ukraine from a British military base in Northwood, northwest London, used by NATO as a command centre.

‘Clearly need something new...’: Macron, Starmer call for more pressure on Putin to secure Ukraine ceasefire

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