Jimmie Johnson 1st NASCAR Driver to Test Positive for COVID-19https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2369876/jimmie-johnson-1st-nascar-driver-test-positive-covid-19
Jimmie Johnson 1st NASCAR Driver to Test Positive for COVID-19
FILE PHOTO: Feb 17, 2019; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson prior to the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo
Jimmie Johnson 1st NASCAR Driver to Test Positive for COVID-19
FILE PHOTO: Feb 17, 2019; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson prior to the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo
Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson has tested positive for the coronavirus and will miss this weekend's race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The 44-year-old Johnson is the first driver in any NASCAR series to test positive and the news Friday evening cast a shadow over the historic NASCAR-IndyCar doubleheader races coming up Saturday and Sunday. There was no indication any races would be affected.
Hendrick Motorsports said Johnson will not return until he is cleared by a physician. He was tested earlier Friday after his wife, Chani, tested positive after experiencing allergy-like symptoms.
Johnson is asymptomatic.
"My first priority is the health and safety of my loved ones and my teammates,” Johnson said. “I’ve never missed a race in my Cup career, but I know it’s going to be very hard to watch from the sidelines when I’m supposed to be out there competing. Although this situation is extremely disappointing, I’m going to come back ready to win races and put ourselves in playoff contention.”
Johnson earlier Friday held a Zoom session with reporters to discuss Sunday's race and an upcoming test of an Indy car on the road course at the fabled venue. He will now miss that test, as well as what was supposed to be his final Brickyard 400. Justin Allgaier will replace him in the No. 48 Chevrolet.
Ghanaian Soccer Player Dominic Frimpong Killed in Attack on Berekum Chelsea Team Bushttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5261724-ghanaian-soccer-player-dominic-frimpong-killed-attack-berekum-chelsea-team-bus
Ghanaian Soccer Player Dominic Frimpong Killed in Attack on Berekum Chelsea Team Bus
FILE PHOTO: A street in Tema, Ghana, April 1, 2026. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko/File Photo
Berekum Chelsea winger Dominic Frimpong has been killed in an armed robbery on his side’s team bus as they returned from a Ghana Premier League fixture at Samartex on Sunday, the Ghana Football Association said.
The robbers fired at the bus as it tried to reverse, striking Frimpong, 20, in the head. He later died in hospital and is the only reported casualty from the incident.
"The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has received with profound shock and deep sorrow the tragic news of the passing of Dominic Frimpong of Berekum Chelsea Football Club," it said.
"The incident has sent shockwaves across the entire football fraternity. The GFA extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased, his teammates, technical staff, management, and all at Berekum Chelsea during this extremely difficult time."
Sinner's Monte Carlo Master Class Sends Early Clay-season Warninghttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5261696-sinners-monte-carlo-master-class-sends-early-clay-season-warning
Italy's Jannik Sinner poses with the trophy after winning the Monte Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament final tennis match against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz on Court Rainier III at the Monte-Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, south-eastern France on April 12, 2026. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)
Sinner's Monte Carlo Master Class Sends Early Clay-season Warning
Italy's Jannik Sinner poses with the trophy after winning the Monte Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament final tennis match against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz on Court Rainier III at the Monte-Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, south-eastern France on April 12, 2026. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)
Meticulous preparation was again at the heart of Jannik Sinner's breakthrough Monte Carlo Masters triumph, as his win over Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday's final took him back to the top of the world rankings and laid down a marker for the rest of the clay season.
After completing the "Sunshine Double" of hardcourt titles at Indian Wells and Miami, Sinner was widely expected to skip Monte Carlo to recharge his batteries but the 24-year-old Italian was keen to build momentum.
His 7-6(5) 6-3 victory over Alcaraz earned him his first big title on the sport's slowest surface and made him the only player after Novak Djokovic in 2015 to claim the first three Masters titles of a season.
"It's not easy at all. I'm surprised in a very good way," Sinner told reporters, according to Reuters.
While Sinner arrived early at Indian Wells last month to prepare his body for the heat of the Californian desert, his focus ahead of Monte Carlo was more tactical, centered on refining shot selection and adapting to each opponent.
"Every day I wake up and I try to improve and get better as a player," Sinner explained.
"Here, we did it day by day trying to understand what the best style is against every opponent, because I haven't played the same kind of tennis against everyone.
"It means a lot to me and I'll need a bit of time to realize what happened. It's going to be good having some days off now away from the courts.
"Everything was quite hectic, one tournament to the other, so we'll see what's coming next."
Sinner is expected to return to action in Madrid later this month or in Rome at the beginning of May. His coach, Simone Vagnozzi, said the Monte Carlo week provided clear evidence of the Italian's progress on clay.
"We're really happy because after the first two matches he started to feel better, more drop shots, more variation with the height of the ball and with the serve," Vagnozzi said.
"We're really impressed with his level."
(L-R) Princess Charlene of Monaco, men's singles finals champion Jannick Sinner of Italy, H.S.H. Prince Albert II, Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, and Melanie de Massyl, president of the Monegasque Federation, the Rolex Masters 1000 and the Monte Carlo Country Club, pose at the ATP Monte Carlo Masters tennis tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 12 April 2026. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER
The Monte Carlo title will give Sinner a psychological boost with the French Open just around the corner.
Alcaraz, who beat his rival in last year's Roland Garros final over five sets, is fully aware how much Sinner has improved on clay.
"We've seen Jannik's level on clay and I think he's been improving a lot year by year," said Alcaraz.
"He's reaching a level on clay that's going to be really dangerous for everybody."
The French Open main draw begins on May 24.
Liverpool Seek 'Special' Anfield Night to Salvage Troubled Seasonhttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5261690-liverpool-seek-special-anfield-night-salvage-troubled-season
Liverpool Seek 'Special' Anfield Night to Salvage Troubled Season
Arne Slot's future as Liverpool manager could depend on the outcome of Tuesday's clash with PSG. FRANCK FIFE / AFP
Liverpool have a mountain to climb to oust holders Paris Saint-Germain from the Champions League but are hoping the Anfield factor can salvage a bitterly disappointing season.
Crowned champions of England less than a year ago, the Reds sit fifth in the Premier League and fell short in both domestic cup competitions, said AFP.
The Champions League represents one final chance of silverware but it is a long shot after the team were outclassed 2-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final at the Parc des Princes.
Six-time European champions Liverpool are still alive in the competition thanks to PSG's profligacy and they have overcome greater odds in the past under the lights at Anfield.
"It's down to us to be in the best shape possible to make a special evening on Tuesday," said captain Virgil van Dijk.
"We are at home and we have to show belief that we can do it. It needs a special performance but I'm lucky I have been part of special performances so I will try and bring that across for the team."
Van Dijk was part of the side that beat Lionel Messi's Barcelona 4-0 in 2019, overturning a 3-0 first-leg deficit in the semi-finals on Liverpool's way to Champions League glory.
That night may have been the high point of Jurgen Klopp's glorious reign, which included three Champions League finals in five seasons.
Barring a miraculous fightback, Tuesday could be the final Champions League chapter for the key figures in that Klopp side.
- Slot's future in doubt -
Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson have both confirmed they will leave Anfield at the end of the season.
Van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson Becker remain for now, but there is no guarantee Liverpool will be in the competition next season despite five English sides being assured of qualification.
A 2-0 win over Fulham on Saturday gave Slot's men some breathing space from the chasing pack in the battle for Champions League football and also snapped a three-game losing streak.
Adding to uncertainty, Slot's position remains in serious doubt towards the end of his second campaign in charge.
Liverpool fans chanted the name of former midfield favorite Xabi Alonso after last weekend's 4-0 demolition by Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Alonso, who left Real Madrid in January, is the prime candidate to take over should Slot be dismissed at the end of the season.
The Dutchman issued a rallying cry after the Fulham win to try and get the fans back onside for the visit of the European champions.
"This was a massive win not only for the league but looking forward to Tuesday. Not only for the players but also for the fans. After a 4-0 loss and a 2-0 loss everybody could do with this win," said Slot.
"One thing is clear is that on Tuesday we need our fans. There were fans in Paris but we had a very hard time.
"Anfield has shown many times that it can lift the team to another level and we need that again. Half an hour before the game the players need that support and need to feel it is going to be another special evening."
At the very least Slot needs his side to salvage some pride.
Another embarrassment like the ones suffered recently in Manchester and Paris, but this time on home soil, could be the final straw for many fans.
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