Djokovic and Nadal Bid to Derail Alcaraz Hype at French Open

File Photo: Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 11, 2021 Spain's Rafael Nadal acknowledges a fan during his second round match against Michael Mmoh of the US REUTERS/Loren Elliott
File Photo: Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 11, 2021 Spain's Rafael Nadal acknowledges a fan during his second round match against Michael Mmoh of the US REUTERS/Loren Elliott
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Djokovic and Nadal Bid to Derail Alcaraz Hype at French Open

File Photo: Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 11, 2021 Spain's Rafael Nadal acknowledges a fan during his second round match against Michael Mmoh of the US REUTERS/Loren Elliott
File Photo: Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 11, 2021 Spain's Rafael Nadal acknowledges a fan during his second round match against Michael Mmoh of the US REUTERS/Loren Elliott

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, with 41 Grand Slam titles between them, will attempt to derail the growing hype surrounding teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz at the French Open from Sunday.

All three have been placed in the top-half of the draw, meaning only one will make the Roland Garros final, AFP said.

Defending champion Djokovic is seeded to face 13-time winner Nadal in the quarter-finals. Alcaraz is a potential semi-final opponent.

"I feel I am always in contention to fight for any Grand Slam trophy," said Djokovic who arrives in Paris fired up by his inability to defend his Australian Open title in January when he was deported over his vaccination status.

"Reliving the memories from last year is something that obviously gives me goose bumps and motivation to try to replicate that."

Djokovic, who turns 35 on Sunday, captured a second French Open title in 2021.

He did it the hard way, coming from two sets down to beat Lorenzo Musetti in the last-16, winning an epic four-set semi-final against Nadal before needing to overturn another two-set deficit to see off Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final.

Djokovic has played only five tournaments in 2022 but arrives in Paris buoyed by a sixth Italian Open title, becoming just the fifth man to win 1,000 career matches in the process.

It was his 38th Masters triumph, two more than Nadal at the top of the all-time list.

- Nadal 'feels better' -
Djokovic starts his French Open against 94th-ranked Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan.

Nadal has played down concerns over the chronic foot issue that resurfaced in Rome last week.

On Wednesday, he practiced in front of thousands of fans at Roland Garros without any obvious discomfort.

"There is nothing to recover," Nadal told reporters Friday. "What happened in Rome is something that happened very often in my practices."

"I was suffering after that for a couple of days, but I feel better. That's why I'm here."

Nadal began the year with a 20-match winning run, capturing a second Australian Open title to claim a record 21st Grand Slam and move ahead of Djokovic and Roger Federer.

The 35-year-old's record at the French Open stands at a staggering 105 wins and just three losses since his 2005 title-winning debut.

Djokovic has been responsible for two of those defeats. One of those came in the bruising semi-final 12 months ago, the most recent clash of the pair's epic 58-match rivalry.

"I just watched Rafa practice and it's funny because all of a sudden his forehand is just 20 miles an hour faster. He moves lighter on his feet," said world number three Alexander Zverevn on Friday.

"There is something about this court that makes him play 30% better, just being on this court."

Nadal takes on Australia's Jordan Thompson in the first round.

Alcaraz, just 19, has rocketed to six in the world on the back of four titles -- three on clay -- in 2022.

- 'Special' Alcaraz -
He won a second Masters title in Madrid, sweeping Nadal, Djokovic and Zverev on the way.

"He definitely is special," admitted Djokovic of Alcaraz who also claimed the prestigious Miami Masters earlier in the year.

Alcaraz was ranked 97 this time last year.

He was only two when Nadal won the first of his 13 French Opens in 2005 but he made his mark at the 2021 tournament where he came through qualifying to reach the third round.

Alcaraz, who has 28 wins and just three defeats this year, opens his campaign on Sunday against Argentine lucky loser Juan Ignacio Londero, ranked at 141 but who made the last 16 in 2019.

Russian world number two Daniil Medvedev, who gave up a two-sets lead to lose to Nadal in the Australian Open final, only returned to action in Geneva this week after undergoing a hernia operation.

The US Open champion has 13 titles to his name but has yet to master the draining demands of clay.

At Roland Garros, he was winless in his first four visits before managing to stop the rot with a quarter-final run in 2021.

Greek world number four Tsitsipas has enjoyed a solid clay season.

He defended his Monte Carlo title before making the last-eight in Barcelona, semi-finals in Madrid and final in Rome.



No Doubting Man City Boss Guardiola’s Passion Says Toure

 Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Real Madrid v Manchester City - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - December 10, 2025 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Real Madrid v Manchester City - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - December 10, 2025 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
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No Doubting Man City Boss Guardiola’s Passion Says Toure

 Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Real Madrid v Manchester City - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - December 10, 2025 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Real Madrid v Manchester City - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - December 10, 2025 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Pep Guardiola is as passionate and enthused as he's ever been as he looks to regain the Premier League title, according to his Manchester City deputy Kolo Toure.

City boss Guardiola is in his 10th season in charge at the Etihad Stadium and eager to get back on the trophy trail after failing to add to his vast collection of silverware last season.

But City are now just two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, with Toure -- who joined Guardiola's backroom staff in pre-season -- impressed by the manager's desire for yet more success despite everything he has already achieved in football.

"The manager's energy every day is incredible," Tour told reporters on Friday.

"I'm so surprised, with all the years that he's done in the league. The passion he brings to every meeting, the training sessions -- he's enjoying himself every day and we are enjoying it as well."

The former City defender added: "You can see in the games when we play. It doesn't matter what happens, we have a big spirit in the team, we have a lot of energy, we are fighting for every single ball."

Toure was standing in for Guardiola at a press conference to preview City's league match away to Crystal Palace, with the manager unable to attend due to a personal matter. City, however, expect Guardiola to be in charge as usual at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

"Pep is fine," said Toure. "It's just a small matter that didn't bring him here."

Former Ivory Coast international Toure won the Premier League with Arsenal before featuring in City's title-winning side of 2012.

The 44-year-old later played for Liverpool and Celtic before moving into coaching. A brief spell as Wigan boss followed. Toure then returned to football with City's academy before being promoted by Guardiola.

"For me, to work with Pep Guardiola was a dream," said Toure. "To work with the first team was a blessing for me.

"Every day for me is fantastic. He loves his players, he loves his staff, his passion for the game is high, he's intense. We love him. I'm very lucky."


Vonn Dominates Opening Downhill as Oldest World Cup Winner

United States' Lindsey Vonn competes in an alpine ski, women's World Cup downhill in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Dec.12, 2025.  (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
United States' Lindsey Vonn competes in an alpine ski, women's World Cup downhill in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Dec.12, 2025. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
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Vonn Dominates Opening Downhill as Oldest World Cup Winner

United States' Lindsey Vonn competes in an alpine ski, women's World Cup downhill in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Dec.12, 2025.  (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
United States' Lindsey Vonn competes in an alpine ski, women's World Cup downhill in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Dec.12, 2025. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

American great Lindsey Vonn dominated the opening women's downhill of the season on Friday to become the oldest winner of an Alpine skiing World Cup race in a sensational boost for her 2026 Olympic comeback bid.

The 2010 Olympic downhill champion took the 83rd World Cup win of her career - and first since a downhill in Are, Sweden, in March 2018 - by 0.98 of a second in the Swiss resort of St Moritz.

The 41-year-old was fastest by an astonishing 1.16 seconds ahead of Mirjam Puchner of Austria. Even wilder was that Vonn trailed by 0.61 after the first two time checks.

Vonn then was faster than anyone through the next speed checks, touching 119 kph (74 mph), and posted the fastest time splits for the bottom half of the sunbathed Corviglia course.

She skied through the finish area and bumped against the inflated safety barrier, lay down in the snow and raised her arms on seeing her time.

Vonn got up, punched the air with her right fist and shrieked with joy before putting her hands to her left cheek in a sleeping gesture.

She was the No. 16 starter with all the pre-race favorites having completed their runs.

Vonn now races with a titanium knee on her comeback, which started last season after five years of retirement.

The Olympic champion is targeting another gold medal at the Milan Cortina Winter Games in February.


Liverpool Boss Slot to Hold Talks with Unhappy Salah

(FILES) Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah warms up ahead of the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Liverpool at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on December 6, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
(FILES) Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah warms up ahead of the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Liverpool at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on December 6, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
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Liverpool Boss Slot to Hold Talks with Unhappy Salah

(FILES) Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah warms up ahead of the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Liverpool at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on December 6, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
(FILES) Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah warms up ahead of the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Liverpool at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on December 6, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Liverpool boss Arne Slot said he would speak to Mohamed Salah on Friday morning before deciding on the forward's availability for this weekend's match against Brighton.

Salah accused Liverpool of throwing him "under the bus" and said he had no relationship with the Dutch manager after he was left on the bench for last week's 3-3 draw at Leeds -- the third match in a row that he did not start.

The 33-year-old did not travel for Tuesday's Champions League match at Inter Milan, which Liverpool won 1-0, posting a picture on social media of himself alone in a gym at the club's training ground.

"I will have a conversation with Mo this morning, the outcome of that conversation determines how things will look tomorrow," Slot told his pre-match press conference, according to AFP.

"I think the next time I speak about Mo should be with him and not in here. You can keep on trying but there is not much more to say about it.

"After the Sunderland game (a 1-1 draw earlier this month in which Salah was a substitute) there were a lot of conversations between his representatives and ours, between him and me."

Slot batted away further questions from reporters about the forward but said: "I have no reasons not wanting him to stay, and that is a little bit of an answer to your question."

Salah is due to join the Egypt squad for the Africa Cup of Nations after the Brighton game at Anfield.

The forward, third in Liverpool's all-time scoring charts, has won two Premier League titles and one Champions League triumph during his spell on Merseyside.

But he has scored just four goals in 13 Premier League appearances this season.

Liverpool, who swept to a 20th English league title last season, are 10th in the table after a poor run of results.