MANCHESTER, England: When Son Heung-min went down clutching his face in a recent Champions League match, the pain was not confined to the Tottenham striker’s fractured eye socket.
The shockwaves were felt all the way back in his homeland of South Korea, where the nation collectively feared the worst ahead of the World Cup.
Son is his country’s Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo wrapped up into one. He is an immense source of national pride — having established himself as one of the leading soccer players in the world — and the greatest hope of success going into Qatar.
His injury in the match against Marseille was big news back home, with one publication describing it as “Korea’s big emergency.”
Tottenham later confirmed Son would require surgery, but no timeframe has been placed on his recovery. If he is to play any part in the World Cup, which starts on Nov. 20, it seems certain he will require a protective mask.
It’s a cruel blow for a player who, at the age of 30, is at his peak going into the tournament.
Last season, Son shared the Premier League’s Golden Boot with Liverpool forward Mo Salah as the leading scorers. He has not been as prolific this season, but there have still been highlights, including a hat trick against Leicester in September and two goals against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Qatar was an opportunity for him to reach new heights.
Son is a player who is constantly setting new benchmarks — dating back to when he first headed to Europe to join Hamburg’s academy in Germany in 2008. Marcell Jansen is now the club’s president, but back then he was a teammate and watched the forward’s early steps.
“I was immediately impressed by his mentality and attitude,” Jansen told The Associated Press. “He would always work extra shifts with his father and therefore trained twice as much as everyone else did.”
There is a common theme when people talk about Son’s qualities. His strength of character and determination are often mentioned, but his game-changing talent is what has seen him establish himself as one of the best forward in the sport.
His supreme balance, two-footedness, pace and finishing make him a complete attacking force that has complimented Harry Kane so effectively at Tottenham.
“I’ve rarely seen a player who shoots as well with his left foot as with his right, unbelievable,” Jansen said.
Jonas Boldt has made a career out of unearthing talent as a scout and sporting director for Bayer Leverkusen and now head of sport at Hamburg. He was at Leverkusen when the club signed Son from Hamburg for $8.7 million in 2013. At that point, the secret was out about the players’ talent in Germany, if not further afield.
“In terms of play, his strengths definitely lie in his short, quick movements and his finishing strength. These skills set him apart,” Boldt told the AP. “He was a talented footballer, without question. But his excellent mentality and his iron will are the attributes that made him even better at every level and made him this top player.
“Heung-min is a player who has proven himself time and again at a higher level and adapted. On top of that, with Tottenham he moved to a club that had a clear idea with him and a coach (Mauricio Pochettino) who didn’t pack him in cotton wool, but challenged him a lot. And here again Heung-min’s great character came into play.”
Son’s father, Woong-jung, is a former professional soccer player and has been a guiding force in his career. He would watch his son at training sessions when he moved to Germany.
While the elder Son has been instrumental, so, it seems, was his grounding in the German league, which has established itself as a rich developer of talent — most recently in the form of Erling Haaland at Borussia Dortmund before the Norwegian’s transfer to Manchester City.
Back in South Korea, Son’s celebrity is such that his endorsements range from banking to razors to instant noodles and cars. Every Tottenham game is screened live and an image of his face appears in the top corner to enable viewers to quickly determine if he is playing or not.
But that level of fame has not been replicated in England, despite Son being one of the Premier League’s top players.
“For me, it’s perfectly clear: Heung-min is not a player who constantly seeks the limelight and attention,” Brandt said. “If you look at the award ceremonies nowadays, such as the Golden Boot, the players’ self-marketing comes into play and plays a role. Maybe Heung-min doesn’t attach that much importance to it, seems a bit more shy.”
South Korean fans will be desperate to see that image of Son’s face in the corner of their television screens during the World Cup. But even if injury means he is unable to produce his best in Qatar, Jansen is convinced there is much more to come from him.
“The World Cup is a great stage for Sonny to represent himself and his country,” Jansen said. “But regardless of the World Cup, I’m sure that Sonny will have a career as long as Messi or Ronaldo because he’s such an incredibly fit player who lives for the sport.
“I expect him to go down in history as one of the greatest footballers from his country.”
South Korea striker Son is Messi and Ronaldo rolled into one
https://arab.news/5z6ad
South Korea striker Son is Messi and Ronaldo rolled into one
- Son is his country’s Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo wrapped up into one
- If he is to play any part in the World Cup, which starts on Nov. 20, it seems certain he will require a protective mask
Elena Rybakina disagrees with the WTA’s provisional suspension of coach Stefano Vukov
- She was the runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka two years ago at Melbourne Park and is seeded No. 6 this time
- Rybakina says she disagrees with the WTA Tour’s decision to provisionally suspend her longtime coach, Stefano Vukov
MELBOURNE: Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, said Saturday she disagrees with the WTA Tour’s decision to provisionally suspend her longtime coach, Stefano Vukov, and reiterated that she never made a complaint about him.
“I always said that he never mistreated me,” Rybakina said at a news conference the day before the start of the Australian Open, where she was the runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka two years ago.
Rybakina, who is seeded No. 6 in Melbourne, characterized the whole thing as “definitely not the ideal situation” as she prepares to compete in the year’s first Grand Slam tournament, and said she objected to comments made by “some coaches,” mentioning Pam Shriver by name.
Rybakina announced right before last year’s US Open that she no longer was working with Vukov, then said ahead of this season that her new coach would be Goran Ivanizevic. He won Wimbledon in 2001 as a player and then was Novak Djokovic’s coach for 12 major titles.
But Rybakina said this month that Vukov would be rejoining her team. The WTA then said Vukov “is currently under a provisional suspension pending an independent investigation into a potential breach of the WTA code of conduct.”
The WTA added that “Vukov is not eligible to obtain a WTA credential at this time,” which would prevent him from going into player-only areas at tournaments such as practice courts or training areas.
Riyadh prepares for 2nd annual Saudi Elite Hockey Championship
- 80 players from 8 teams will battle it out at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex on Jan. 17 and 18
- Najd Falcons were crowned winners of the inaugural event last year, ahead of runners-up Alittihad Club
RIYADH: Final preparations are underway for the second annual Saudi Elite Hockey Championship at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex in Riyadh next week.
Eight teams, featuring a total of 80 players, will battle it out on Jan. 17 and 18: defending champions Najd Falcons, last year’s runners-up Alittihad Club, Alshabab Club, Jubail Buraq, Naqi, UTSC, Arab Legends and Hamra Legends.
The event has been organized under the supervision of the Saudi Hockey Federation, which said the championship represents a significant step in the development of hockey, in line with the wider sports renaissance in the Kingdom as part of efforts to enhance quality of life and contribute to the goals of the Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification.
FIA president commends Saudi Arabia’s efforts in organizing Dakar Rally
- Mohammed Ben Sulayem speaks of Kingdom’s commitment to delivering top-notch experience for participants
- Rally resumes on Saturday with 7 stages remaining
Ha’il: The International Automobile Federation’s President Mohammed Ben Sulayem commended the Kingdom’s efforts in organizing the Dakar Rally during his visit to Saudi Arabia’s rally bivouac on Friday.
Ben Sulayem also praised the Kingdom’s commitment to delivering a top-notch experience for participants and highlighted the warm hospitality and generosity that embody the spirit of the Saudi people.
The FIA president highlighted that Saudi Arabia’s success in hosting global sporting events, such as the Dakar Rally, has set a benchmark and become a source of pride. He also acknowledged the hard work and teamwork of all rally participants, noting their role in strengthening the Kingdom’s reputation as a world-class motorsport hub.
The participants have taken a well-deserved rest after enduring several days of tough desert challenges. Meanwhile, support teams have continued their vital work, ensuring vehicles are maintained and ready for the next stages to help competitors perform at their best.
After covering about 2,579 km of special stages, 299 vehicles arrived at the bivouac camp in Ha’il. Vehicles included 118 bikes, 58 cars, two stock vehicles, 45 challengers, 33 SSVs, and 43 trucks.
The rally resumes on Saturday with seven stages remaining. Participants will head to Al-Dawadmi, covering 829 km, including 605 km of timed special stages.
The journey will then take them through a circular stage in Al-Dawadmi, followed by Riyadh, Haradh, and finally Al-Shubayta.
The rally concludes with two final stages in Al-Shubayta on Jan. 16 and 17, marking the end of this year’s Dakar Rally.
Leipzig sign wing back Ridle Baku from Bundesliga rival Wolfsburg
- Leipzig said Friday that the 26-year-old Baku had signed a 2½-year contract to 2027
- “Ridle will give us more options in the future,” Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schäfer said
LEIPZIG, Germany: Leipzig have signed wing back Ridle Baku from Bundesliga rival Wolfsburg after an injury to Benjamin Henrichs.
Leipzig said Friday that the 26-year-old Baku had signed a 2½-year contract to 2027. He will be available for Sunday’s home game against Werder Bremen as the league restarts this weekend after its winter break.
“Ridle will give us more options in the future,” Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schäfer said. “He can play anywhere on the right side, loves to get forward, is a good finisher and tackler, and comfortable in possession too.”
Baku’s contract with Wolfsburg was set to expire at the end of the season. Kicker reported that the clubs had agreed on a transfer fee of under 5 million euros ($5.1 million) for the player.
Baku, who was born in Mainz, made his Bundesliga debut against Leipzig for Mainz in 2018. He joined Wolfsburg in 2020 and established himself as a regular at the Volkswagen-backed club. Altogether he scored 20 goals in 166 appearances for the team.
Baku made his debut for Germany under Joachim Löw in a friendly against the Czech Republic in November 2020, and made three more appearances for the team in World Cup qualifying in 2021, but hasn’t been called up since.
Henrichs ruptured an Achilles tendon in his right foot in Leipzig’s 5-1 loss at Bayern Munich on Dec. 20 before the winter break. The club said he “will remain out of action for a while.”
Leipzig have struggled so far this season, losing all their games in the Champions League and dropping points in seven of their 15 games in the Bundesliga.
After ‘hardest’ preseason, Russian teen Mirra Andreeva eyeing top 10 and silverware
- 17-year-old hotly tipped for a deep run at the Australian Open
DUBAI: Two years ago, a 15-year-old Mirra Andreeva lost the Australian Open junior final to her friend and doubles partner Alina Korneeva.
On the eve of the first Grand Slam of the season, Andreeva returns to the Australian Open ranked 15 in the world on the women’s tour and a popular dark horse tip for the title – or at least a deep run – at Melbourne Park.
The 17-year-old’s rapid ascent in professional tennis includes a semi-final appearance at Roland Garros last June, a maiden title triumph at a WTA 250 event in Romania the following month, and an Olympic silver medal alongside her compatriot Diana Shnaider in women’s doubles at the Paris Games a week later.
Andreeva ended her breakthrough 2024 campaign with a runner-up showing in Ningbo, and looked inconsolable during the trophy ceremony despite her opponent Daria Kasatkina’s best efforts to cheer her up.
“That final was something special,” Andreeva told reporters in Brisbane last week, where she warmed up for the Australian Open by reaching the semifinals.
“Honestly, I got emotional because I led 3-0 in the third set, and I lost 6-4. It's never easy to lose the match when you're almost always the one who is up in the score.
“Of course, I got emotional, as well, because for me it was the chance to win my second title.
“It's a learning experience. I just have to accept it. Now when I look at those videos when I'm crying, I just laugh at myself because I couldn't hold it inside.”
2024 was a steep learning curve for Andreeva and she scaled it in impressive fashion.
It comes as no surprise that many of her peers have picked her as one to watch in 2025, with the likes of world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, and Tunisian star Ons Jabeur, naming Andreeva as the player mostly likely to reach a first major final and crack the top 10 this season.
They are goals Andreeva has in fact set for herself as her ceiling of expectations continues to rise.
“I would say that my number one goal would be to claim the top 10, just to secure myself there and of course, I think as every other player on tour, I would like to win some titles,” Andreeva told Arab News on the sidelines of the World Tennis League (WTL) in Abu Dhabi last month.
“I worked very hard in the preseason and I will continue working hard for it. So I’m just hoping that the hard work will pay off and I’ll do everything possible for this.”
Coached by Spanish former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, who joined her team last year, Andreeva admits her preseason training block was “one of the hardest” she’s ever had, but given her promising start to the year in Brisbane, it is already paying dividends.
“I really had a hard time doing all the fitness sessions. As well on the court, it was hard to push myself to practice. So I kind of fought a lot with myself,” she explains.
“But I had my team close to me and they helped me a lot, of course. I cannot say it was fun, but of course it was very useful. You cannot play tennis without having a preseason. That’s just part of my career, my life, I just have to get over it. I have to accept it, I have no other choice. But it was almost fun,” she added with a laugh.
“Every day you’re getting more and more tired. You’re exercising a lot, you have two fitness sessions then you have a long tennis session. So after that you’re tired, you also cannot find yourself a lot of strength and power to push yourself to have the same intensity and the same power on the court. So it kind of goes a bit down.
“I was sad that my level on the court dropped but they said, ‘It’s normal, you do a lot of fitness, so this week, forget about tennis’. I’m like, ‘But I can’t, I’m playing so bad’.
“But we almost never talk seriously, we always joke around. So none of this was really serious. It was hard, but there was no burnout.”
Indeed Andreeva and Martinez are a lighthearted pair. The Russian teenager credits Martinez, who previously worked with ex-world No.1s Garbine Muguruza and Karolina Pliskova, for bringing lots of positivity to the team.
Andreeva has a unique and creative game that relies heavily on improvisation – something Martinez doesn’t seem to mind.
“I think that she brings more fun. I’ve never really been too serious on court,” said Andreeva of her Spanish coach.
“I always did what I wanted, I didn’t really have a plan for any match, I would just go. She was asking me a couple of weeks ago, ‘Okay, you’re playing a set right now, what’s your plan?’ I’m like, ‘I don’t know, I’m just going to go and see, I don’t know, I’m going to decide’. And she’s like, ‘Mirra, but you cannot play like this’. And I’m like, ‘But I always play like this’.
“So she’s like, ‘Okay, you’re right, just go’. And that’s how I think she brings more fun, she brings more positivity 100 percent, because before I also tend to be a bit hard on myself, so she’s also helping me to deal with it and it’s just a bit easier like this.”
During the four-day exhibition WTL in Abu Dhabi, Andreeva was on the same team as Sabalenka, and paired up with the world No.1 in doubles on multiple occasions.
The duo have faced off four times on tour so far (Sabalenka leads the head-to-head 3-1) but had never really interacted much off court before teaming up for the WTL.
“It’s good to be in one team and to share the court with her because you can see what she does differently, why she’s on top, why she’s the best player on tour right now,” said Andreeva of the top-ranked Belarusian.
“Of course it’s a good experience for me to also see if there is something different that she does or no.”
Andreeva is not the only professional tennis player in her family. Her older sister Erika, 20, cracked the top 100 last year and is currently ranked 86 in the world.
The siblings squared off in a WTA tournament for the first time in Wuhan end of last season, with Erika beating Mirra in straight sets in the second round.
“It's the greatest thing in the world to share the court with your sister,” says Mirra.
“Of course I would want it to be in the final or at least closer to the end of the tournament, not in the second round. That match was really hard, especially for me mentally. I think it was hard for both of us but I really struggled, and I think all of us did; our coaches, our parents, everyone.
“So with time and with experience I think we’re going to learn how to deal with all of that. That was the first time and we all knew it was going to be hard.
“But having her around and seeing that she’s improving every day and I just know that she’s working really hard and it’s just nice to see that her hard work is paying off.
“Maybe not all in one time, but day by day she’s dealing with it and she’s improving and I can see her playing great in practices and during the tournament in her matches. When she’s happy, I’m happy.”
Andreeva will begin her Australian Open campaign on Sunday against Czech world No.42 Marie Bouzkova.
