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Saudi Arabia, Tunisia Leave World Cup

Saleh Al-Shehri (C) of Saudi Arabia in action against Jorge Sanchez (R) of Mexico during the FIFA World Cup 2022 group C soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, 30 November 2022. EPA/Abedin Taherkenareh
Saleh Al-Shehri (C) of Saudi Arabia in action against Jorge Sanchez (R) of Mexico during the FIFA World Cup 2022 group C soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, 30 November 2022. EPA/Abedin Taherkenareh
    Asharq A-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia, Tunisia Leave World Cup

Saleh Al-Shehri (C) of Saudi Arabia in action against Jorge Sanchez (R) of Mexico during the FIFA World Cup 2022 group C soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, 30 November 2022. EPA/Abedin Taherkenareh
Saleh Al-Shehri (C) of Saudi Arabia in action against Jorge Sanchez (R) of Mexico during the FIFA World Cup 2022 group C soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, 30 November 2022. EPA/Abedin Taherkenareh

Saudi Arabia’s Salem Aldawsari scored on Wednesday in second-half stoppage time against Mexico. But Saudi Arabia was eliminated along with Mexico despite beating Argentina in its opening match.

Mexico beat Saudi Arabia 2-1.

Saudi Arabia had one of the tournament’s biggest ever upsets ever when it beat Argentina 2-1. But the Green Falcons couldn’t pull off another surprise in its second match, a 2-0 loss to Poland.

“Tonight it was difficult to breathe with the intensity Mexico put into the match," Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard said Wednesday.

Also Wednesday, Tunisia stunned France when captain Wahbi Khazri stretched to poke the ball past French goalkeeper Steve Mandanda in the 58th minute at the Education City Stadium.

A second-string France side -- already virtually assured of top spot -- suffered a 1-0 loss to Tunisia.

The north Africans' supporters counted down the final seconds to a famous victory over France that eased the pain of elimination.

"They still had top-class players out there but we were superb and I think the result is down to us," Tunisia goalscorer Khazri said.

"Unfortunately in football it is better not to have to rely on others for results, but we can go out with our heads held high."

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Sinner Does Not Expect Easy Road on Return from Doping Ban

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 21, 2024 Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates after winning his fourth round match against Russia's Karen Khachanov. (Reuters)
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 21, 2024 Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates after winning his fourth round match against Russia's Karen Khachanov. (Reuters)
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Sinner Does Not Expect Easy Road on Return from Doping Ban

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 21, 2024 Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates after winning his fourth round match against Russia's Karen Khachanov. (Reuters)
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 21, 2024 Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates after winning his fourth round match against Russia's Karen Khachanov. (Reuters)

Jannik Sinner held onto his world number one ranking ahead of his return from a three-month doping ban, but the Italian does not expect his comeback to be as smooth when he takes to the court again at the Rome Masters next month.

Sinner has not played since winning the Australian Open at the start of the season and accepted a ban in February following a deal with the World Anti-Doping Agency, which had challenged a tribunal's decision to clear him after two positive tests.

The 23-year-old was allowed to return to training on April 13, and his suspension will end on May 4, before his competitive return at the Italian Open, which gets underway three days later.

Sinner, who spent time building fitness mindful of the French Open starting on May 25, was assured of retaining the top ranking for his home tournament after his closest challenger Alexander Zverev crashed to an early defeat in Monte Carlo.

"We're training very hard. Hopefully we'll get some momentum going again ahead of the clay season. It certainly won't be easy for me," Sinner told broadcaster ORF Sudtirol.

"The first games will be really difficult. But hopefully I'll be able to get back into the rhythm and then we'll see how it goes."

Sinner, who trained with Britain's world number six Jack Draper at the Tennis Club de Beaulieu in France recently, said there were plenty of positives from his enforced absence from the tour.

"I think at the beginning of the three months, it was quite nice," Sinner added.

"A bit of time away from all the grind, I spent time with family, with friends. I was doing new things and getting to know myself better, finding out where I stand.

"I think it helped me a lot."