BRISBANE: Rafael Nadal is not putting a lot of pressure on himself ahead of his first tournament in more than a year.
The 37-year-old Spanish lefthander is set to return at the Brisbane International next week after almost a year out with a hip injury. The 22-time Grand Slam singles champion’s last match was a second-round loss at the Australian Open in January, and Nadal eventually decided to have surgery on his troublesome hip in June.
Thousands queued for a glimpse of Nadal on Friday at a fan appearance in downtown Brisbane when Nadal was keen to play down the prospect of a title in the Queensland state capital — or a third Australian Open crown beginning Jan. 14 in Melbourne.
“It’s impossible to think about winning tournaments today,” he said. “What’s really possible is to enjoy the comeback. I don’t expect much — one year without being on the court.”
But he was quick to mention his Melbourne Park wins when prompted, two against-the-odds titles won in 2009 and 2022 that set aside the current world No. 672’s low expectations.
In 2009 he outlasted countryman Fernando Verdasco over five hours in the semifinal before beating Roger Federer two days later in a four-hour final. Thirteen years later, after six months sidelined with a foot injury, he came from two sets behind to beat Daniil Medvedev in the final.
“I still don’t know,” he said of how he won that 2009 title. “Before the match it was impossible to imagine myself winning that match.”
Nadal has said 2024 is “probably going to be my last year on the professional tour.”
But he said he was encouraged by his fitness, confessing he feels “much better than what I expected a month ago.”
“I can’t have super long-term goals because I don’t see myself playing a super long time,” he said on Friday. “I don’t know how things are going to keep going. I’m not a player who tries to predict what can happen in the short term, and it’s even tougher in the medium period of time.”
No. 8-ranked Holger Rune is the highest-ranked player in the 32-man Brisbane field, while Andy Murray, Ben Shelton, Grigor Dimitrov and Sebastian Korda headline the other internationals.
Former No. 1 and new mom Naomi Osaka is in the women’s field and will will make her WTA comeback at the tournament. A two-time Australian Open and US Open champion, Osaka pulled out of last year’s Australian Open in Melbourne before later revealing she was pregnant.
The US-based Japanese player and her American rapper boyfriend Cordae became parents to daughter Shai in Los Angeles in July.
Reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jelena Ostapenko, Victoria Azarenka, Sofia Kenin and Sloane Stephens are also in the 54-player women’s draw.
Rafael Nadal is trying to be realistic ahead of his 1st tournament in a year at Brisbane
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Rafael Nadal is trying to be realistic ahead of his 1st tournament in a year at Brisbane
- he 37-year-old Spanish lefthander is set to return at the Brisbane International next week after almost a year out with a hip injury
Europa League anthem played by mistake before Villa-PSG in Champions League
This is Villa’s first season in the Champions League
BIRMINGHAM, England: Call it being inexperienced in the Champions League.
There was confusion before kickoff in the second leg of the quarterfinal between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday when the anthem for the second-tier Europa League competition appeared to be played by mistake as players from both teams lined up.
A minute or so later, the more famous Champions League anthem was finally played at Villa Park — by which the players were almost ready for the kickoff. In the crowd was Prince William, the heir to the throne and a die-hard Villa fan.
This is Villa’s first season in the Champions League. The team previously played in Europe’s top competition in the 1982-83, as reigning champion when it was called the European Cup.
The pre-match error was followed by mistakes on the field as the hosts fell 2-0 behind to PSG by the 27th minute thanks to goals by full backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes. PSG had a 3-1 advantage from the first leg.
Sharjah stun Al-Taawoun in late semifinal turnaround
- 2 goals in added time put UAE side through to AFC Champions League Two final
- Saudi team led from first leg, missed early chances to put tie beyond reach
SHARJAH: Sharjah scored twice in injury time on Tuesday to beat Al-Taawoun 2-1 on aggregate and move into the final of the AFC Champions League Two.
Trailing from the first leg of the semifinal in Saudi Arabia, the team from the UAE were facing defeat until goals in the 94th and 99th minutes turned the tie on its head and broke Al-Taawoun hearts.
The Saudi Pro League team have only themselves to blame as they could have been out of sight after 15 minutes.
Seconds after the start, Sultan Mandash raced free of the defense only to pull his shot just wide. Then, in the third minute, a defensive slip from Cho Yu-min gave Musa Barrow a golden chance just outside the area, but with just Adel Al-Hosani to beat, the Gambian pulled his first-time shot just wide.
Undeterred, the men from Buraidah continued to pour forward in a threatening fashion and were then given a penalty. In the 10th minute, Roger Martinez went down under a challenge in the area from Abdulrahman Shahin and while the referee gave nothing, VAR thought otherwise and the penalty was awarded.
Up stepped Dutch midfielder Aschraf El-Mahdioui, but the midfielder’s low shot was too close to the goalkeeper and too tame and Al-Hosani made the save.
It gave the home team and their fans a real lift. Al-Taawoun almost paid for their wastefulness midway through the first half. Free just inside the box, Ousmane Camara should have scored but his low shot was well saved by Abdulquddus Atiah.
It was then Al-Hosani’s turn to turn away a fierce drive from Faycal Fajr as the first half ended goalless.
The game remained in the balance. Midway through the second half, Luanzinho saw his free kick bounce off the top of the net. Soon after, Atiah had to get down well to make a save from a cross that had bounced through the area.
As Al-Taawoun defended more deeply, Sharjah continued to push forward in search of an equalizer.
It came, four minutes into injury time as Camara bundled home at the far post after Al-Taawoun had failed to deal with a free kick.
Five minutes later, the dramatic turnaround was complete. Caio Lucas slipped the ball into the left side of the area for Firas Ben Larbi to smash a first-time shot home. The home fans went crazy while the visitors sank to the floor in the knowledge that a glorious chance for Asian silverware had been snatched away.
The Emirati club will play either Lion City Sailors of Singapore or Australia’s Sydney FC in the final on May 18.
Chahal stars as Punjab defend IPL’s lowest total of 111 in ‘best win’
- Kolkata looked to be cruising at 62-2 before Chahal cut through the chase with his leg-spin, and the side collapsed to 95 all out in 15.1 overs
- Punjab were earlier bowled out for 111 in 15.3 overs but Chahal and company turned the match on its head
CHANDIGARH: Spinner Yuzvendra Chahal returned figures of 4-28 as Punjab Kings defended IPL’s lowest ever total of 111 to down holders Kolkata Knight Riders by 16 runs in a thriller on Tuesday.
Kolkata looked to be cruising at 62-2 before Chahal cut through the chase with his leg-spin, and the side collapsed to 95 all out in 15.1 overs at Mullanpur, near Chandigarh.
Punjab were earlier bowled out for 111 in 15.3 overs but Chahal and company turned the match on its head to better Chennai Super Kings’ record — they defended 116 against them (formerly Kings XI Punjab) in 2009.
Kolkata’s Andre Russell attempted to pull off the chase from 79-8 when he hit two sixes and a four off Chahal but Punjab held their nerve.
Arshdeep Singh sent back Vaibhav Arora and then fellow left-arm quick Marco Jansen bowled Russell to trigger wild celebrations in Punjab’s home ground.
“I have coached a lot of games in the IPL and that might just be about the best win I ever had,” head coach Ricky Ponting said after the close contest.
Kolkata skipper Ajinkya Rahane and impact substitute Angkrish Raghuvanshi put on 55 runs for the third wicket when Chahal broke through to get the captain back in the pavilion lbw.
Ball tracker suggested the ball was outside the off stump, but Rahane did not take the review.
“Pretty disappointed with the effort,” said Rahane. “I’ll take the blame, played the wrong shot, although it was missing.”
Chahal, with his tail now up, got Raghuvanshi caught out in the next over for 37 and the Punjab were in the game when Glenn Maxwell had Venkatesh Iyer lbw for seven.
Chahal then got two in two — Rinku Singh stumped and Ramandeep Singh out for a golden duck — before Harshit Rana avoided the hat-trick ball.
But the day belonged Chahal and Punjab who moved into the top four of the 10-team table with their fourth win in six matches.
Ponting said Chahal, who was named player of the match, had a fitness test before the game for a shoulder injury he picked in his previous outing.
Earlier, Rana rattled the Punjab top-order after a brisk start by the openers and returned figures of 3-25 from his three overs.
New batting sensation Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh made the hosts race to 39 in 3.1 overs, before Rana struck to send back the left-handed Arya caught at fine leg for 22.
Rana got one more wicket two balls later when Ramandeep pulled off a stunning catch in the deep to dismiss skipper Shreyas Iyer, for a duck.
Spinner Varun Chakravarthy joined forces in the next over to have Punjab’s England import Josh Inglis bowled for two.
Prabhsimran, who made 30, attempted to hit back with two sixes off Rana but the bowler had the last laugh with Ramandeep once again taking a catch at point.
Chakravarthy and fellow spinner Sunil Narine kept striking regular blows as Punjab’s batting faltered only for their bowlers to ultimately save the day.
Teammate: Lionel Messi wants to play in ‘26 World Cup’
- Messi, who turns 38 this summer, has not announced his plans for the 2026 tournament
- “Jokingly, many times, but he (Messi) also has that desire to play in next year’s World Cup,” Suarez said
MIAMI: Lionel Messi has a “desire” to help Argentina defend its World Cup title next year, Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez said.
Messi, who turns 38 this summer, has not announced his plans for the 2026 tournament being held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was the Most Valuable Player of Argentina’s run to the championship at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Argentina has already qualified for 2026.
In a recent interview with El Pais, Suarez was asked whether he and Messi had talked about retirement.
“No, we do talk (about it). Jokingly, many times, but he (Messi) also has that desire to play in next year’s World Cup,” Suarez said. “Obviously, after being away from the national team for a while, that desire is fading more on my side than on his, but we haven’t talked about it (retirement) yet.”
Suarez, 38, of Uruguay, acknowledged that Messi had not confirmed he will play in the 2026 event.
“No, no, no, I don’t ask him either ... I know what he is like and I don’t ask him anything regarding that. Time will tell,” Suarez said.
Messi made his World Cup debut as an 18-year-old in 2006 and also competed in the global competition in 2010, 2014 and 2018 before lifting the trophy in 2022.
Saudi driver Farah Al-Yousef to compete as wild card in F1 Academy Jeddah round
- Racer hopes participation inspires other Saudi women to ‘chase their dreams’
JEDDAH: Saudi racing talent Farah Al-Yousef will make her debut in the 2025 F1 Academy series as a wild-card entry during Round 2 of the championship in Jeddah this weekend, it was confirmed on Tuesday.
The announcement was made by the Saudi Motorsport Company, main promoter of the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which will host the F1 Academy race as part of its race weekend from April 18 to 20 at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
Al-Yousef’s participation follows in the footsteps of fellow Saudi driver Reema Juffali, who made an appearance in the series at the same venue last year.
“Racing as a wild-card entry in the F1 Academy on home soil here in Jeddah is truly a dream come true,” Al-Yousef said.
“I hope my participation inspires young girls across Saudi Arabia to believe in themselves and chase their dreams.”
The 21-year-old has already made a name for herself in karting, winning the Saudi Women’s Karting Championship in 2022 and competing at the Karting World Finals, where she finished 26th.
She will also represent Saudi Arabia at the FW Nations Cup Finals in Dubai in May.
The F1 Academy, launched in 2023, is an all-female racing series aimed at developing young female drivers aged 16 to 25.
The 2025 season spans seven rounds, each held as part of the F1 World Championship calendar, with races scheduled in Asia, Europe and North America.
After the opener in Shanghai, the series will move to Jeddah before heading to Miami, Montreal, Zandvoort and Singapore, concluding with the finale in Las Vegas in November.
