Neymar Sent off, PSG Title Chase Hit by Loss to Leader Lille

PSG's Neymar, center, talks with Lille's Tiago Djalo after he receives a red card from referee during the match against Lille, at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, France, Saturday, April. 3, 2021. (AP)
PSG's Neymar, center, talks with Lille's Tiago Djalo after he receives a red card from referee during the match against Lille, at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, France, Saturday, April. 3, 2021. (AP)
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Neymar Sent off, PSG Title Chase Hit by Loss to Leader Lille

PSG's Neymar, center, talks with Lille's Tiago Djalo after he receives a red card from referee during the match against Lille, at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, France, Saturday, April. 3, 2021. (AP)
PSG's Neymar, center, talks with Lille's Tiago Djalo after he receives a red card from referee during the match against Lille, at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, France, Saturday, April. 3, 2021. (AP)

Neymar was sent off late and then tried to confront a player after the game as defending champion Paris Saint-Germain lost 1-0 at home to Lille on Saturday, falling three points behind the new French league leader in a tense title race.

PSG is only one point ahead of Monaco, which earlier beat Metz 4-0 to take third place. Lyon is fourth after drawing 1-1 at Lens.

Neymar was shown a second yellow card in the 90th minute for kicking right back Tiago Djalo off the ball, having been booked in the first half for shoving midfielder Benjamin Andre in the face. Djalo was also sent off and remonstrated angrily with the referee.

As both players argued as they walked back to the locker rooms, footage from broadcaster Canal Plus captured Neymar pushing Djalo on the shoulder and then trying to get past some security officials to confront him.

An angry Djalo also reacted, trying to reach Neymar, causing one security official to fall over, while another intervened swiftly to block Neymar and lead him away.

Canada forward Jonathan David scored Lille's goal in the 20th minute with a slightly deflected strike, as PSG slipped to a fifth home defeat and eighth overall, with a tough trip to Bayern Munich on Wednesday in the Champions League.

“Each time we lose we say the same thing, that we lacked commitment. We shouldn’t find any excuses,” PSG captain Marquinhos said. “We need to be stronger than that at home. A lot of teams have come here and won, which we’re not used to. We’re at an important point of the season and must improve.”

PSG has been poor against the other sides in the top four, twice losing to Monaco, losing once to Lyon and drawing its other game against Lille 0-0.

“We need more consistency because there have been too many ups-and-downs,” Marquinhos said. “Our next match is one of the biggest.”

Frustration got to Neymar, who now faces another suspension after getting red-carded against Marseille at the start of the campaign. Shortly after shoving Andre in the face, he fell to the ground in a failed bid to win a penalty.

Lille goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who came through PSG's youth ranks before leaving, kept out Neymar's shot on the hour mark and was relieved to see Neymar's diving header go wide in the 70th.

Starting his first game for two months after recovering from a torn adductor muscle, Neymar was wasteful, volleying a cross wide from a good position and squandering two free kicks.

After Maignan got a hand to Kylian Mbappe's low shot in the 15th, Lille caught PSG cold five minutes later on a classic counterattack.

Jonathan Ikone found space down the right and pulled the ball back to David, whose shot from just inside the penalty area looped over goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

Andre and Boubakary Soumare, another promising player released by PSG, controlled midfield with relative ease in the absence of PSG's Marco Verratti.

With PSG camped in Lille's half, a counterattack was waiting to happen.

It arrived in the 78th as Timothy Weah squared the ball from the right to Turkey striker Burak Yilmaz, but Navas read his first-time shot well.

Verratti, already ruled out with a thigh injury, tested positive for the coronavirus for the third time. He will miss the first leg against Bayern.

Two hours before facing Lille, right back Alessandro Florenzi was removed from PSG’s squad as a precaution, even though he tested negative, the club said. He was on international duty for Italy recently with Verratti.

Lille was without attacking midfielder Yusuf Yazici, who has the virus.

Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta equalized in the 81st after Lens right back Jonathan Clauss struck midway through the second half.

Lyon forward Karl Toko Ekambi saw his shot saved by goalkeeper Jean-Louis Leca in the 55th after going through on goal. Leca blocked Tino Kadewere's effort in the 63rd and Memphis Depay's low strike moments later.

Monaco, which has now lost only once in 16 league games, struck a double blow early in the second half.

Former Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas scored a penalty in the 49th minute after forward Stevan Jovetic was fouled, and striker Kevin Volland finished confidently two minutes later from Belgian midfielder Eliot Matazo’s pass.

Striker Wissam Ben Yedder was surprisingly left on the bench but came on to notch a fine third when he cut inside a defender and thumped the ball under the crossbar in the 76th.

Ben Yedder was fouled by central defender John Boye and took the penalty to make it 4-0 in the 88th and move onto 15 league goals, one more than Volland.



Man City Must Use Champions League Pain to Fuel FA Cup, League Title Chase, Walker Says 

Manchester City's English defender #02 Kyle Walker reacts at the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second-leg football match between Manchester City and Real Madrid, at the Etihad Stadium, in Manchester, north-west England, on April 17, 2024. (AFP)
Manchester City's English defender #02 Kyle Walker reacts at the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second-leg football match between Manchester City and Real Madrid, at the Etihad Stadium, in Manchester, north-west England, on April 17, 2024. (AFP)
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Man City Must Use Champions League Pain to Fuel FA Cup, League Title Chase, Walker Says 

Manchester City's English defender #02 Kyle Walker reacts at the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second-leg football match between Manchester City and Real Madrid, at the Etihad Stadium, in Manchester, north-west England, on April 17, 2024. (AFP)
Manchester City's English defender #02 Kyle Walker reacts at the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second-leg football match between Manchester City and Real Madrid, at the Etihad Stadium, in Manchester, north-west England, on April 17, 2024. (AFP)

Manchester City must use the pain of their Champions League exit as motivation to achieve something special in the final weeks of the season, defender Kyle Walker said.

Last season's treble winners suffered a 4-3 penalty shootout loss to Real Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

Pep Guardiola's side are two points ahead of Arsenal and Liverpool in the league with six games remaining and play Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday.

"It hurts and we've got to feel the pain," Walker told reporters.

"We've got a massive run-in for the Premier League, a really big game against Chelsea and we have to take this as motivation to go on and do something special.

"It is a great opportunity to take this hurt and fire from our belly ... We owe it to the fans and as a group of players we've worked too hard to throw it away now."


Chinese Grand Prix Could Deliver Drama to F1 and Slow Verstappen’s Victory March 

Ferrari's Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr drives during the sprint qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai on April 19, 2024. (AFP)
Ferrari's Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr drives during the sprint qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai on April 19, 2024. (AFP)
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Chinese Grand Prix Could Deliver Drama to F1 and Slow Verstappen’s Victory March 

Ferrari's Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr drives during the sprint qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai on April 19, 2024. (AFP)
Ferrari's Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr drives during the sprint qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai on April 19, 2024. (AFP)

The Chinese Grand Prix could deliver some much-needed drama to Formula One, meaning Red Bull's Max Verstappen can't be penciled in as the almost-certain winner on Sunday.

The three-time world champion has won 22 of the last 26 GPs and three of the first four this season. Only brake failure in Australia kept him from possibly sweeping the first four races.

"It's got the probability of throwing up quite a few variables and, perhaps, some unexpected results," Red Bull principal Christian Horner said Friday. "I think it's going to be all action."

Here's why.

The track is a slight unknown. This is the first F1 race in China in five years, scratched from the calendar by the COVID-19 pandemic. The last was won in 2019 by Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton.

It's also the season's first with a Saturday sprint race, which means Friday's practice session was the only one of the weekend.

But the biggest unknown is the state of the racing surface, which has had a thin "seal coating" applied — described as liquid asphalt. Drivers have repeatedly said it looks like it's been painted. And tire supplier Pirelli said it wasn't fully aware of the changes heading into the race.

Though hard to draw any firm conclusion, Friday's practice kicked up some unusual names at the top.

Lance Stroll of Aston Martin had the quickest time (1 minute, 36.302 seconds), followed by Oscar Piastri of McClaren. Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez were Nos. 3-4 followed by two Haas drivers — Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen.

China’s first F1 driver Zhou Guanyu was 11th in practice in a Sauber.

Charles Leclerc hinted on Thursday about Ferrari closing the gap on Red Bull.

They didn't in Friday’s practice. Leclerc and teammate Carlos Sainz were 13th and 14th.

"Everything we expected in terms of uncertainty is happening and hopefully this will mean that we have an entertaining event here in China with some action and some opportunities," McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said.

He said there was reduced tire grip in the practice session, and tires showed heavy wear from the unfamiliar surface.

Drivers spoke two weeks ago at the Japanese GP about their disquiet over the sprint in China. The track is located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of central Shanghai, visible on the distant horizon through a hazy smog on Friday.

Horner accepted the concern but noted the Shanghai circuit is a known quantity, hosting races since 2004.

"We have a lot of historic data from this circuit," he said. "It’s not like turning up at a brand new venue and having to learn all over again."

SPRINT QUALIFYING Lando Norris of McLaren won the pole for Saturday’s sprint race, running in a rainy session with drivers struggling to control their cars.

Norris’ qualifying lap in the third session was 1 minute, 57.940 seconds. The times in the rain on Friday were about 20 seconds slower than when qualifying began under dry conditions.

Norris will start from the pole with Hamilton alongside. Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin will start on the second row with Verstappen. Row 3 has Sainz and Perez.

Asked what the race conditions would be on Saturday, Norris replied: "No clue."

"It was getting wetter and wetter," Norris said. "I was aquaplaning quite a bit."

The F1 sprints are about one-third the length of the regular GP. The top eight drivers earn points — eight for first place, seven for second, six for third, and so on.

Qualifying was slowed by off-and-on rain that got more persistent as the session went on. Leclerc went off and hit a retaining wall and appeared to damage a front wing during one of his laps.

Many of the cars struggled for grip including Verstappen, who went off the track on one of his laps.

The sprint will be followed later Saturday with qualifying for Sunday's race.

DRIVERS' SHUFFLE Horner was asked Friday if Red Bull was close to confirming its driver lineup for next season. Verstappen, of course, is on a long-term contract. The question is over Perez, whose contract expires after this season.

Reports persist that Ferrari's Sainz is a possibility. His seat at Ferrari will be taken next year by Hamilton who is leaving Merdeces. Sainz is also reportedly in talks with Audi, which will take over Sauber for the 2026 season,

"We’re in a situation where we’re very happy with our two drivers," Horner said. "We don't need to make a final decision about the lineup until pretty much later in the year."


Liverpool Out of Europa League as Leverkusen Advance to Semis

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp reacts as his team is knocked out by Atalanta. Isabella BONOTTO / AFP
Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp reacts as his team is knocked out by Atalanta. Isabella BONOTTO / AFP
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Liverpool Out of Europa League as Leverkusen Advance to Semis

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp reacts as his team is knocked out by Atalanta. Isabella BONOTTO / AFP
Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp reacts as his team is knocked out by Atalanta. Isabella BONOTTO / AFP

Liverpool crashed out of the Europa League after a 1-0 win against Atalanta that wasn't enough to overturn their quarter-final deficit, while Bayer Leverkusen's 1-1 draw at West Ham took the German champions into the last four on Thursday.
In Jurgen Klopp's last season as Liverpool boss, the Reds were hoping to give the German a memorable farewell in the final in Dublin, AFP said.
But Liverpool had suffered a stunning 3-0 loss in the first leg against Atalanta at Anfield last week.
And although Liverpool have authored some of European football's greatest comebacks down the years against the likes of St Etienne, AC Milan and Barcelona, there would be no miracle escape this time.
Mohamed Salah converted a seventh minute penalty in the second leg in Bergamo after Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross hit Matteo Ruggeri's arm.
However, Klopp's men couldn't breach the stubborn Atalanta defense again.
It has been a brutal week for Liverpool, whose Premier League title challenge was damaged by a shock home defeat against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
"It's mixed emotions. We are out but I'm happy with the game," Klopp said.
"It was clear we gave ourselves a massive hurdle. We wished we could have gone to Dublin but that hasn't happened."
While Klopp contemplates his failure to land the one major trophy to elude him during nine years with Liverpool, Atalanta can dream of winning the second silverware in their 116-year history after the 1963 Coppa Italia.
Bidding to reach their maiden European final, Gian Piero Gasperini's team will face Marseille in their first European semi-final since the 1988 Cup Winners' Cup.
Fresh from clinching their first Bundesliga title last weekend, Leverkusen survived a scare from West Ham before advancing 3-1 on aggregate.
In the semi-finals, Xabi Alonso's side will play Roma, who saw off Italian rivals AC Milan 3-1 on aggregate.
Leverkusen won the first leg 2-0 but West Ham made the perfect start in east London when Michail Antonio met Jarrod Bowen's pin-point cross with a close-range header in the 13th minute.
West Ham eventually ran out of steam and Jeremie Frimpong struck in the 89th minute with a shot that deflected in off Aaron Cresswell.
"The momentum was with West Ham. To be honest, we were not at our best in the first half. I'm happy to go through. In the Europa League you always have tough moments," Alonso said.
Treble-chasing Leverkusen
Leverkusen are into their second successive Europa League semi-final, while West Ham's exit means for only the third time in the 21st century, England will have no teams in the Champions League and Europa League last four.
Leverkusen's 44-game unbeaten run in all competitions has taken them to the brink of an incredible treble, finally ridding the club of the 'Neverkusen' tag that mocked their decades of underachievement.
Alonso's team, who face second tier Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final on May 25, beat Werder Bremen 5-0 on Sunday to win the Bundesliga title.
At the Stadio Olimpico, Gianluca Mancini put Roma head from close-range in the 12th minute and Paulo Dybala doubled their advantage in the 22nd minute with a blistering strike.
Daniele De Rossi's side were reduced to 10 men in the 31st minute when Zeki Celik was dismissed for a foul on Milan forward Rafael Leao.
Matteo Gabbia got one back in the 85th minute, but his header was little consolation for Milan.
After losing last season's Europa League final against Sevilla, Roma are one step closer to finally winning the competition for the first time.
Roma, who won the Europa Conference League in 2022, are into their fifth European semi-final in the last seven seasons.
In the south of France, Marseille were 4-2 winners in a penalty shoot-out against Benfica following the French side's 1-0 victory in a tie that finished 2-2 on aggregate.
Faris Moumbagna struck in the 79th minute, heading in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's cross to force extra-time.
In the shoot-out, Luis Henrique scored the winner for Jean-Louis Gasset's side after Benfica duo Angel Di Maria and Antonio Silva missed their kicks.


Israeli Football Facing Palestinian Calls for Action by FIFA

FILE PHOTO: The FIFA logo is seen outside the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, December 17, 2015. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The FIFA logo is seen outside the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, December 17, 2015. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich/File Photo
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Israeli Football Facing Palestinian Calls for Action by FIFA

FILE PHOTO: The FIFA logo is seen outside the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, December 17, 2015. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The FIFA logo is seen outside the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, December 17, 2015. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich/File Photo

Calls for action against Israel in international football because of the conflict with Hamas will be stepped up by Palestinian officials at the annual FIFA congress next month.

The Palestine Football Association proposal to 211 member federations in Thailand calls for “appropriate sanctions, with immediate effect, against Israeli teams,” according to FIFA documents released late Wednesday, one month before the May 17 meeting.

The motion notes “international law violations committed by the Israeli occupation in Palestine, particularly in Gaza” and cites FIFA statutory commitments on human rights and against discrimination.

“All the football infrastructure in Gaza has been either destroyed, or seriously damaged, including the historic stadium of Al-Yarmuk,” the Palestine FA wrote, claiming support for the congress motion from the federations of Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Yemen.

The latest call to punish Israel soccer will not be supported by FIFA and is unlikely to make progress because Israel can expect global backing including from the 55-member European soccer body UEFA it joined 30 years ago, The Associated Press reported. A cooperation deal also was signed last week between Israeli officials and the South American soccer body CONMEBOL.

Palestinian soccer cites the example of Russian teams being banned from international competitions by FIFA and UEFA during the military invasion of Ukraine that started in February 2022.

Russia’s exclusion was supported by FIFA because several UEFA members refused to play games against Russian opponents. They included all three men’s national teams – Poland, Sweden, Czech Republic – who were in a qualifying playoffs bracket in March 2022 for the men’s World Cup that year. Russia did not play and Poland advanced to the tournament in Qatar.

Russian officials continue to take part in international soccer meetings, including the executive committee of UEFA, and should have a delegation with FIFA in Bangkok next month.

Israeli national and club teams have continued to play in UEFA competitions since the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, though home games were played in neutral Hungary and Cyprus for security reasons.


Nadal Loses to De Minaur in 2nd Round at Barcelona

Spain's Rafael Nadal gestures as he leaves the court after losing against Australia's Alex De Minaur during the ATP Barcelona Open "Conde de Godo" tennis tournament singles match at the Real Club de Tenis in Barcelona, on April 17, 2024. (Photo by PAU BARRENA / AFP)
Spain's Rafael Nadal gestures as he leaves the court after losing against Australia's Alex De Minaur during the ATP Barcelona Open "Conde de Godo" tennis tournament singles match at the Real Club de Tenis in Barcelona, on April 17, 2024. (Photo by PAU BARRENA / AFP)
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Nadal Loses to De Minaur in 2nd Round at Barcelona

Spain's Rafael Nadal gestures as he leaves the court after losing against Australia's Alex De Minaur during the ATP Barcelona Open "Conde de Godo" tennis tournament singles match at the Real Club de Tenis in Barcelona, on April 17, 2024. (Photo by PAU BARRENA / AFP)
Spain's Rafael Nadal gestures as he leaves the court after losing against Australia's Alex De Minaur during the ATP Barcelona Open "Conde de Godo" tennis tournament singles match at the Real Club de Tenis in Barcelona, on April 17, 2024. (Photo by PAU BARRENA / AFP)

Rafael Nadal's first tournament since January lasted only two matches with the Spaniard losing 7-5, 6-1 to Alex de Minaur at the clay-court Barcelona Open on Wednesday.
Nadal, back from an injury layoff, looked like his old self for brief moments in the second-round match but couldn't keep up with the 11th-ranked De Minaur.
“The moment I lost the first set, the match was over,” Nadal said. “I can't play a three-hour match right now. This wasn't the place for me to give everything I have. We'll see what happens in Paris. I want to be competitive there, that's where I have to give it all.”
Nadal is a 14-time winner at the French Open, which begins next month. According to The Associated Press, he said he will try to play at the Madrid Open next week but didn't fully commit.
“I didn't want to take any risks,” Nadal said. “The important thing here was to play and I played. To be on the court is great news.”
The 22-time Grand Slam champion had comfortably defeated 62nd-ranked Flavio Cobolli in straight sets in the first round on Tuesday in what was his first competitive match in more than three months.
Nadal again looked injury-free on Wednesday but was never in control against the in-form De Minaur, who picked up his second career win over Nadal.
It was only his fifth defeat at the Barcelona Open, a tournament he has won a record 12 times.
“It's natural that this was probably my last match here,” Nadal said. “I really enjoyed playing here. It was unimaginable to win it 12 times.”
Nadal is returning from yet another injury layoff and hadn't played since an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in March. Before this week, he had played only three competitive matches this year — all in Brisbane in January — before skipping the Australian Open.
Nadal also withdrew from Monte Carlo, saying he his body wasn't ready.
The 37-year old Nadal had hip surgery last summer and said 2024 will probably be his last year playing on tour.


De Rossi's Contract at Roma is Extended Just 3 Months after Replacing Mourinho

Roma's head coach Daniele De Rossi, center, celebrates at the end of the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Roma's head coach Daniele De Rossi, center, celebrates at the end of the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
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De Rossi's Contract at Roma is Extended Just 3 Months after Replacing Mourinho

Roma's head coach Daniele De Rossi, center, celebrates at the end of the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Roma's head coach Daniele De Rossi, center, celebrates at the end of the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Daniele De Rossi’s contract at Roma has been extended after just three months on the job, club owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin announced Thursday.
“After meeting yesterday afternoon with Daniele De Rossi, we are delighted to announce he will continue as head coach of AS Roma after this season and for the foreseeable future,” the Friedkins said in a statement. “In his short tenure as head coach, the positive impact that his leadership has brought to the entire club has told its own story.”
When De Rossi, a former Roma captain, took over for the fired Jose Mourinho in January with a contract through the end of the season, Roma was languishing in ninth place and at risk of missing out on qualifying for Europe. Under De Rossi, Roma has surged to fifth place and is in contention for a Champions League spot, The Associated Press reported.
In 16 games across all competitions under De Rossi, Roma has won 11, drawn three and lost two. The only defeat under De Rossi in Serie A came against Italian leader Inter Milan, with the other loss being a 1-0 defeat to Brighton in the second leg of the Europa League round of 16 after Roma had virtually secured advancement with a 4-0 victory in the opening leg.
The owners' announcement comes ahead of a Europa League quarterfinal second leg against AC Milan later Thursday — with Roma holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg.
“We couldn’t be happier to build a long-term project with Daniele,” the Friedkins said. “Further details to follow in the coming days.”


Zhou Guanyu Will Be a Star Regardless of Who Wins Chinese Formula 1 Race

Formula One F1 - Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China - April 18, 2024 Sauber's Guanyu Zhou during a press conference ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix REUTERS/Edgar Su
Formula One F1 - Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China - April 18, 2024 Sauber's Guanyu Zhou during a press conference ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix REUTERS/Edgar Su
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Zhou Guanyu Will Be a Star Regardless of Who Wins Chinese Formula 1 Race

Formula One F1 - Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China - April 18, 2024 Sauber's Guanyu Zhou during a press conference ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix REUTERS/Edgar Su
Formula One F1 - Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China - April 18, 2024 Sauber's Guanyu Zhou during a press conference ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix REUTERS/Edgar Su

Formula 1 returns to China this weekend after a five-year absence. And no matter who wins on Sunday, the star locally will be China-born driver Zhou Guanyu.
Despite his so-so results, Zhou is a being promoted as a celebrity in China. He’s the subject of a new film as the first Chinese driver to compete in F1. And he’s, of course, a favorite of sponsors who want a Chinese connection, The Associated Press reported.
Ahead of the first Grand Prix weekend in Shanghai since 2019, Zhou described as more than a race for him, saying "with a Chinese driver on the grid, we will write history.”
By the time he got to the driver's news conference on Thursday, where the questions to him ranged from China's economy and politics to its burgeoning auto industry's future potential in F1, Zhou had spent more than a week doing promotional work and meetings with sponsors, backers and fans.
“I’ve been extremely busy, you know — the busiest man, probably, in Shanghai over the last week and a half,” he said. “A lot of activities done. It’s great to see the support from the country already.”
Zhou has never won a Formula 1 race. In 48 races since 2022, he's yet to even reach the podium — meaning a finish in the first three places. In the last F1 race almost two weeks ago in Japan, his Sauber retired with a gearbox failure and he placed 18th out of 20.
In the season standings in 2023, he was also 18th with only six points from 22 races.
But the numbers don't matter much in the search for a hometown hero in F1.
“The pressure, of course this race is a little bit higher, but I don’t think it gets much more than for me than my debut in Formula 1,” he said. “Because by now everything feels a lot more familiar than back in the day. First day here is completely different ... now’s third season. So I’m just going to use that.”
Zhou was born in Shanghai and, though he's spent many of his formative years in England, Sunday's Chinese GP is a homecoming for him — and for the race. The last F1 in China was run contested in 2019, and the next four were canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He noted that tickets sold out quicker than ever for the Chinese GP, with interest in the sport growing exponentially since he watched his first F1 race.
“For me, of course, it’s been 20 years waiting until this Grand Prix,” Zhou said. "Coming back here being an F1 driver ... yeah, I can't wait.
“A lot of mixed emotion, of course, but I want to treat it as much as the normal race weekend.”
A film about Zhou’s life will be released Friday by the Shanghai Media Group, a state-owned company and one of China’s largest media conglomerates.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes — he's moving next season to Ferrari — won the 2019 race in China in the midst of his era of dominance when he won four straight season titles between 2017 and 2020.
However, the race two weeks ago in Japan was the 49th straight that Hamilton has failed to win. His last victory was in 2021.
The Chinese GP weekend will include a sprint race on Saturday and the main event on Sunday. Several drivers have raised concerns about the sprint being run on a track that has not been seen since 2019.
The only practice is scheduled for Friday, followed by sprint qualifying. Saturday has the sprint race, and qualifying for Sunday — all on a newly paved track. Sunday, of course, is race day.


Saudi Arabia’s AlUla Gears Up for 1st World Championship for Int’l Camel Endurance in May

The competition features a 16-kilometer race, divided into two stages
The competition features a 16-kilometer race, divided into two stages
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Saudi Arabia’s AlUla Gears Up for 1st World Championship for Int’l Camel Endurance in May

The competition features a 16-kilometer race, divided into two stages
The competition features a 16-kilometer race, divided into two stages

AlUla is gearing up to host the First World Championship for International Camel Endurance on May 4, offering an impressive prize pool exceeding SAR2 million.

The competition features a 16-kilometer race, divided into two stages, each covering 8 kilometers, with a 30-minute rest period separating these stages.

To reach the ultimate stage, the top 20 male participants and 15 female participants from the initial stage will qualify. The final results will be determined by considering the combined best timings from both stages.

The championship will announce the results separately for each gender. The winners in the men's and women's categories will be awarded a prestigious prize of SAR500,000 each.

Furthermore, the remaining prize money will be distributed among the top 10 winners in each category.

The event was officially launched during the third General Assembly of the International Camel Racing Federation (ICRF), chaired by Prince Fahad bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz, on September 5 in Taif. The General Assembly expressed its gratitude to Saudi Arabia for hosting the inaugural edition of this championship.


Nadal Stays in Control to Make Winning Return in Barcelona 

16 April 2024, Spain, Barcelona: Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal celebrates a point against Italian Flavio Cobolli during their men's round of 64 tennis match of the Barcelona Open Tennis "ATP 500 tournament". (dpa)
16 April 2024, Spain, Barcelona: Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal celebrates a point against Italian Flavio Cobolli during their men's round of 64 tennis match of the Barcelona Open Tennis "ATP 500 tournament". (dpa)
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Nadal Stays in Control to Make Winning Return in Barcelona 

16 April 2024, Spain, Barcelona: Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal celebrates a point against Italian Flavio Cobolli during their men's round of 64 tennis match of the Barcelona Open Tennis "ATP 500 tournament". (dpa)
16 April 2024, Spain, Barcelona: Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal celebrates a point against Italian Flavio Cobolli during their men's round of 64 tennis match of the Barcelona Open Tennis "ATP 500 tournament". (dpa)

Rafa Nadal said it was a challenge to hold himself back on his return to the ATP Tour after three months on the sidelines, but the fiercely competitive Spaniard expects to continue with the controlled approach in Barcelona.

Nadal had made a comeback to the tour in January at Brisbane after almost a year out with a hip injury that needed surgery, but a muscle tear forced him to skip the Australian Open, as well as tournaments in Doha, Indian Wells and Monte Carlo.

Playing his first match on clay since his triumphant 2022 French Open campaign, Nadal defeated Italian Flavio Cobolli 6-2 6-3 in Barcelona on Tuesday, and the 37-year-old said he made an effort to play within himself.

"It's difficult to manage all this and do logical things when you're competing and when you're competing in places that are special, emotionally," the 22-times Grand Slam champion told reporters.

"It was difficult to manage the conditions, but I was able to because I was more or less in control.

"I didn't have to make an amazing effort in terms of physical demands. Let's see if I'm able to keep managing that the proper way."

The 12-times champion, who soaked up huge applause in the main court named after him, said his first serve was still not firing on all cylinders.

"I think I'm not able to serve 100% free of problems," said Nadal, who meets Australian Alex de Minaur later on Wednesday.

"I didn't have pain, but I didn't serve much for the past two months. I'm trying to push when I really need to, if I can."

Nadal is aiming to build up his match fitness ahead of the French Open, where he is looking to win a record-extending 15th title in what is expected to be his final year on the tour.

The Roland Garros main draw begins on May 26.


Gauff Keen to End Claycourt Trophy Drought Ahead of French Open 

Coco Gauff of the USA attends a press conference at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix WTA tennis tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (dpa via AP)
Coco Gauff of the USA attends a press conference at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix WTA tennis tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (dpa via AP)
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Gauff Keen to End Claycourt Trophy Drought Ahead of French Open 

Coco Gauff of the USA attends a press conference at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix WTA tennis tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (dpa via AP)
Coco Gauff of the USA attends a press conference at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix WTA tennis tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (dpa via AP)

World number three Coco Gauff is full of optimism heading into the claycourt season as she targets a first French Open crown but the American said her immediate focus was on ending her trophy drought on the surface over the coming weeks.

Gauff last won a title on clay at the Emilia-Romagna Open in 2021, a year before losing in the Roland Garros final to Iga Swiatek.

The 20-year-old will have the chance to end that barren run in Stuttgart this week, with tournaments in Madrid and Rome also on the horizon before the second Grand Slam of the year.

"For the clay season this year, I'm really optimistic," she told reporters ahead of her match against fellow American Sachia Vickery later on Wednesday.

"Obviously the goal is to win the French Open, but that's every season for any top player. Your goals should be to try to win the big tournaments.

"But I'm not looking at French Open right now. I'm focused on Stuttgart. I want to try to win Madrid or Rome or here ... I just want to get a recent clay title under my belt. So any of the ones along the next couple weeks would be nice."

The US Open champion has added former coach Jean-Cristophe Faurel to her team alongside Brad Gilbert, as she looks to claim a second Grand Slam crown.

Gauff has posted good results on clay with Faurel in her corner, notably winning the 2018 Roland Garros junior title.

"It's nice to have someone on my team that knows me since I was young and knows me well," added Gauff, who stopped working with the Frenchman in 2020.

"So I'm really excited to have him back on the team."

The French Open main draw will begin on May 26. Gauff reached the quarter-finals last year.