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Djokovic Splits with Long-Time Coach Vajda

Novak Djokovic has split with Marian Vajda (left). (AFP)
Novak Djokovic has split with Marian Vajda (left). (AFP)
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Djokovic Splits with Long-Time Coach Vajda

Novak Djokovic has split with Marian Vajda (left). (AFP)
Novak Djokovic has split with Marian Vajda (left). (AFP)

Novak Djokovic split with his long-time coach Marian Vajda at the end of the 2021 season, ending one of tennis's most enduring and successful partnerships, the Serbian former world number one said.

Slovak Vajda has been a near-constant through Djokovic's career, helping him to 20 Grand Slam titles and an unprecedented 361 weeks as the top-ranked player.

"Marian has been by my side during the most important and memorable moments in my career," Djokovic said on his website.

"Together we have achieved some incredible things and I am very grateful for his friendship and dedication over the last 15 years.

"While he might be leaving the professional team he will always be family and I can't thank him enough for all he has done."

The pair parted ways after the ATP Finals in Turin, a statement on Djokovic's website said.

Croatian former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic joined Djokovic's coaching team in 2019 and will continue to work closely with the Serb.

"During my time with Novak, I have been lucky to watch him transform into the player he is today," said Vajda.

"I will look back on our time together with immense pride and am so very thankful for the success we have achieved.

"I remain his biggest support on and off the court and look forward to new challenges."

Djokovic lost his world number one ranking to Russian Daniil Medvedev this week after suffering a shock 6-4 7-6(4) defeat by Czech qualifier Jiri Vesely in the Dubai Tennis Championships quarter-finals.

Djokovic was unable to defend his Australian Open title in January and compete for a record 21st Grand Slam crown after being deported from the country over his lack of COVID-19 vaccination.

Spanish rival Rafa Nadal won the Melbourne Park tournament and took a record 21st Grand Slam crown in his absence.

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Brazil's Botafogo Fires Carlo Ancelotti's Son from Coaching Position after Frustrating Season

FILE - Coach Davide Ancelotti of Brazil's Botafogo instructs his players during a Copa Libertadores round of sixteen second leg soccer match against Ecuador's Liga Deportiva Universitaria at Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito, Ecuador, Aug. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa, File)
FILE - Coach Davide Ancelotti of Brazil's Botafogo instructs his players during a Copa Libertadores round of sixteen second leg soccer match against Ecuador's Liga Deportiva Universitaria at Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito, Ecuador, Aug. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa, File)
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Brazil's Botafogo Fires Carlo Ancelotti's Son from Coaching Position after Frustrating Season

FILE - Coach Davide Ancelotti of Brazil's Botafogo instructs his players during a Copa Libertadores round of sixteen second leg soccer match against Ecuador's Liga Deportiva Universitaria at Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito, Ecuador, Aug. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa, File)
FILE - Coach Davide Ancelotti of Brazil's Botafogo instructs his players during a Copa Libertadores round of sixteen second leg soccer match against Ecuador's Liga Deportiva Universitaria at Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito, Ecuador, Aug. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa, File)

Brazilian club Botafogo fired the son of Brazil's national team coach Carlo Ancelotti on Wednesday just five months after he had signed as its manager in his first full-time coaching job.

The 36-year-old Davide Ancelotti was let go after Botafogo failed to defend its Copa Libertadores and Brazilian league titles.

The Rio de Janeiro club finished the Brazilian league in sixth place, 16 points behind champions Flamengo, and was knocked out by Ecuador's Liga de Quito in the round of 16 of the latest Copa Libertadores, The Associated Press said.

Botafogo said in a statement the decision was made after meetings earlier in the day. It did not announce any successor for the job.

Davide Ancelotti joined the club after Botafogo owner John Textor fired Renato Paiva following the team’s round-of-16 elimination at the Club World Cup in July.

The Italian has worked for more than a decade alongside his father in different roles at Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and Real Madrid. He is also part of Ancelotti’s staff at Brazil.

Sports

Ecuadorian Police Say Soccer Player Mario Pineida Has Been Shot Dead in an Apparent Attack

(FILES) Ecuador's defender Mario Pineida (C) vies for the ball with Colombia's midfielder Edwin Cardona (L) during their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier football match in Quito, on March 28, 2017. (Photo by Juan CEVALLOS / AFP)
(FILES) Ecuador's defender Mario Pineida (C) vies for the ball with Colombia's midfielder Edwin Cardona (L) during their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier football match in Quito, on March 28, 2017. (Photo by Juan CEVALLOS / AFP)
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Ecuadorian Police Say Soccer Player Mario Pineida Has Been Shot Dead in an Apparent Attack

(FILES) Ecuador's defender Mario Pineida (C) vies for the ball with Colombia's midfielder Edwin Cardona (L) during their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier football match in Quito, on March 28, 2017. (Photo by Juan CEVALLOS / AFP)
(FILES) Ecuador's defender Mario Pineida (C) vies for the ball with Colombia's midfielder Edwin Cardona (L) during their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier football match in Quito, on March 28, 2017. (Photo by Juan CEVALLOS / AFP)

Ecuadorian police said on Wednesday that Mario Pineida, a 33-year-old Barcelona de Guayaquil defender and former national team player, was shot dead in an apparent attack as violence escalates in the Andean nation.

Another person who police did not identify was also killed in the incident, and a third was wounded, the Associated Press said.

Ecuador's Interior Ministry confirmed Pineida's death without providing details. Barcelona de Guayaquil said in a statement its fans are saddened by Pineida's death.

Pineida played eight games for Ecuador but was not involved in the team qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. His last game for Ecuador was at the 2021 Copa América, as a late substitute in a group-stage game against Brazil. He also went to the 2017 edition.

Pineida started his professional career at Independiente del Valle, where he played from 2010 to 2015. He then moved to the club of the coastal city of Guayaquil in 2016 and won two league titles there. The defender also had a brief spell at Brazil’s Fluminense in 2022.

Ecuadorian media reported the incident took place in the region of Samanes in the north end of Guayaquil, which lies 265 kilometers (165 miles) southwest of the capital Quito.

Ecuador is expected to have its most violent year on record with more than 9,000 homicides, according to the Ecuadorian Observatory of Organized Crime. That figure was at 7,063 violent deaths last year and a then-record 8,248 in 2023.

President Daniel Noboa has pledged to fight criminal organizations that have expanded their operations in Ecuadorian territory in connection with international drug cartels.

In November, a 16-year-old footballer of Independiente del Valle died from a stray bullet, also in Guayaquil. Two months earlier, Maicol Valencia and Leandro Yépez, both players of Exapromo Costa, and Jonathan González, of 22 de Junio died from gunshot wounds.

Sports

Saudi National Team Coach: We Aim to Conclude Our Participation in the Best Possible Manner

Renard stressed the importance of players being actively involved in domestic competitions - SPA
Renard stressed the importance of players being actively involved in domestic competitions - SPA
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Saudi National Team Coach: We Aim to Conclude Our Participation in the Best Possible Manner

Renard stressed the importance of players being actively involved in domestic competitions - SPA
Renard stressed the importance of players being actively involved in domestic competitions - SPA

Saudi national team head coach Hervé Renard affirmed during a pre-match press conference ahead of the team’s encounter with the UAE that the squad aims to conclude its participation in the tournament in the best possible manner. He noted that reaching this stage was not the desired objective, but focus and readiness remain essential requirements.

Renard explained that preparations for the match against Jordan were solid and that statistics reflected the Saudi team’s superiority in terms of possession and presence in the opponent’s half, as well as prior understanding of the opponent’s strategy, SPA reported.

However, he said that failure to capitalize on scoring opportunities prevented goals, while Jordan’s team succeeded in converting its chances.

He stated that exiting the semifinals is a difficult challenge for everyone, emphasizing the need to maintain professionalism and prepare well to secure victory in tomorrow’s match. He noted that the team delivered strong performances in previous matches, but effectiveness in front of goal remains a decisive factor that must be further developed in the next phase.

Renard stressed the importance of players being actively involved in domestic competitions, emphasizing that preparation for the World Cup requires higher readiness and a more competitive level to present the image expected on the global stage.

Saudi national team player Abdulrahman Al-Aboud said the ambition had been to win the title, but that was not achieved, noting the players’ readiness to compete for third place against the UAE national team.