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Messi Praises Home Fans in Possible Farewell before World Cup

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates his side's 3rd goal against Venezuela during a qualifying match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, at the Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, March 25, 2022.(AP)
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates his side's 3rd goal against Venezuela during a qualifying match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, at the Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, March 25, 2022.(AP)
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Messi Praises Home Fans in Possible Farewell before World Cup

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates his side's 3rd goal against Venezuela during a qualifying match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, at the Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, March 25, 2022.(AP)
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates his side's 3rd goal against Venezuela during a qualifying match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, at the Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, March 25, 2022.(AP)

Lionel Messi paid tribute to Argentina fans in what could be their last home game before November's World Cup finals and said the raucous support in their 3-0 win over Venezuela was vital in preserving his happiness.

"I didn't expect anything less of people, of the union between the Argentina public and this team," Messi said after their comfortable win at Boca Juniors' Bombonera stadium.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has struggled at Paris Saint Germain since signing from Barcelona in August 2021 but he was as spritely as ever against a poor Venezuela side and the adoration of the home crowd was evident.

Argentina fans revere Messi, and all the more so since he led them to the Copa America in 2021 - their first major international honor in 28 years.

The feeling is mutual, with Messi leading his team mates on a victory lap around the ground and chanting and singing along with the 50,000 crowd.

"I've been happy here for a long time, since before we won the Copa America," Messi said.

"People have shown that they love me and I am grateful for that. Everything flows naturally, that makes it easier on and off the pitch."

Friday's game marked Messi's return to the national side after being rested for Argentina's previous two World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia.

He made several unsuccessful attempts at goal from free kicks outside the box but eventually score the third, a curious mis-kick meters from goal.

Messi chested down a pass from Angel Di Maria and although he didn't connect cleanly it was enough to beat Venezuela's diving goalkeeper.

The 82nd minute goal came after earlier efforts from Nicolas Gonzalez and Di Maria, whose clever play and passes opened up a stuffy Venezuelan rearguard.

Argentina are one of four South American sides to have qualified for the Qatar finals, along with Brazil, Ecuador and Uruguay.

The final round of qualifying games next Tuesday will determine whether Peru, Colombia or Chile go into a playoff against a team from the Asian confederation.

Argentina travel to Ecuador for their final game.

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Djokovic Marches into Melbourne Quarter-final with Alcaraz

Novak Djokovic of Serbia gestures during the Men's Singles round four match against Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 19 January 2025. (EPA)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia gestures during the Men's Singles round four match against Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 19 January 2025. (EPA)
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Djokovic Marches into Melbourne Quarter-final with Alcaraz

Novak Djokovic of Serbia gestures during the Men's Singles round four match against Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 19 January 2025. (EPA)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia gestures during the Men's Singles round four match against Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 19 January 2025. (EPA)

Irrepressible 10-time champion Novak Djokovic set up a blockbuster Australian Open quarter-final Sunday with Carlos Alcaraz after downing Czech Jiri Lehecka.

The 37-year-old Serb, who is gunning for a record 25th Grand Slam title, beat the 24th seed 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) on Rod Laver Arena.

It sent him into the last eight at Melbourne Park for a 15th time, a record he now shares with Roger Federer and one ahead of Rafael Nadal and John Newcombe.

The win also extended his own all-time mark to 61 for most quarter-final appearances at majors, three ahead of the Swiss great.

His reward is a showdown on Tuesday with third seed Alcaraz, who is already a four-time Slam winner aged 21 but has never gone beyond the Australian Open quarter-finals.

The Spaniard set up the clash after Briton Jack Draper retired during their last-16 match when losing 7-5, 6-1.

"Being in a quarter-final, I'm going to approach the match the same as I did in the previous matches against him, and let's see," said Alcaraz of Djokovic.

"When we are seeing him playing, he seems like he's young again, so... It's unbelievable. He's in a really good shape."

But the Spaniard added: "I'm just ready and I know what I have to do in quarter-finals."

Djokovic and Alcaraz have played each other seven times with the Serb leading 4-3, including victory in their last clash in the Paris Olympics final.

They have crossed paths at Grand Slams three times, twice in the Wimbledon decider with the Spaniard winning on both occasions.

But they have never played at Melbourne Park, where Djokovic has achieved his greatest success.

Lehecka won the lead-up Brisbane International event, where Djokovic lost in the quarter-finals, but he was never seriously in the reckoning on the big stage.

Djokovic quickly put pressure on his serve and achieved a break in the eighth game of set one when the Czech sent down a double fault.

Another break on Lehecka's opening serve set the tone for set two with Djokovic dominating from the baseline.

The young Czech changed tactics in a closer set three, pushing Djokovic to the net more while picking up his serving intensity.

It went to a tiebreak where the Serb produced some stunning shots to seal the win.

Against Draper, Alcaraz was well on top when the Briton pulled the pin on a sweltering afternoon because of "multiple areas really in pain".

The 15th seed Draper needed five sets to win his first three Melbourne matches, rallying from behind in all of them to stay in the tournament, and it finally caught up with him.

"It's not the way I wanted to win. But obviously I'm happy to play another quarter-final here in Australia," said Alcaraz.

"Physically, I'm feeling great. So coming into the second week of a Grand Slam it is important to feel well physically because right now the matches are even tougher."