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FIFA Bans 4 Uruguay Players over World Cup Incidents

[1/2] Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group H - Ghana v Uruguay - Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar - December 2, 2022 Uruguay's Giorgian de Arrascaeta look dejected after the match as Uruguay are eliminated from the World Cup REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo
[1/2] Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group H - Ghana v Uruguay - Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar - December 2, 2022 Uruguay's Giorgian de Arrascaeta look dejected after the match as Uruguay are eliminated from the World Cup REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo
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FIFA Bans 4 Uruguay Players over World Cup Incidents

[1/2] Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group H - Ghana v Uruguay - Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar - December 2, 2022 Uruguay's Giorgian de Arrascaeta look dejected after the match as Uruguay are eliminated from the World Cup REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo
[1/2] Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group H - Ghana v Uruguay - Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar - December 2, 2022 Uruguay's Giorgian de Arrascaeta look dejected after the match as Uruguay are eliminated from the World Cup REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

Four Uruguay players, including Diego Godin and Edinson Cavani, have been suspended over incidents following the team's World Cup match against Ghana, FIFA announced on Friday.

The Uruguayan football federation has also been fined 50,000 Swiss francs ($54,248) and handed a partial stadium closure for their next home match over the "discriminatory behavior of its supporters" and the "misconduct" of the players.

Uruguay were incensed by refereeing decisions during their 2-0 win over Ghana in their final group game in Qatar last December.

A three-goal win would have seen them qualify for the last 16 but they were knocked out in dramatic fashion.

Referee Daniel Siebert was hounded by players after the match, while Cavani punched the pitchside VAR monitor.

Defender Jose Maria Gimenez and goalkeeper Fernando Muslera have both been banned for four matches, fined 20,000 Swiss francs and given "community football service".

Veterans Cavani and Godin were given one-match bans each, will have to perform the community service and were fined 15,000 Swiss francs.

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Noval Djokovic Beaten by Big-serving Reilly Opelka in Quarterfinals of Brisbane International

Serbia's Novak Djokovic looks on during his match against USA's Reilly Opelka at the Brisbane International, in Brisbane, Australia, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic looks on during his match against USA's Reilly Opelka at the Brisbane International, in Brisbane, Australia, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
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Noval Djokovic Beaten by Big-serving Reilly Opelka in Quarterfinals of Brisbane International

Serbia's Novak Djokovic looks on during his match against USA's Reilly Opelka at the Brisbane International, in Brisbane, Australia, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic looks on during his match against USA's Reilly Opelka at the Brisbane International, in Brisbane, Australia, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)

Novak Djokovic was beaten 7-6 (6), 6-3 by big-serving Reilly Opelka in the Brisbane International quarterfinals on Friday.

The 37-year-old Djokovic was playing his first tournament of the year. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is preparing for the Australian Open, which starts on Jan. 12 and which he has won 10 times.

“Amazing tennis, Reilly. Absolutely deserved,” Djokovic wrote on Instagram.

Opelka served 16 aces — including one to finish off each set — to earn one of the biggest wins of the American’s career.

“I was just focused on my spots,” Opelka said. “If I hit them, it’s hard to get them back. If there’s anyone that can, it’s him, The AP reported.

“We have nothing to lose coming in against him. He’s the greatest player ever,” Opelka added. “So you end up playing more free and you take a lot more risk. If you play your normal level or even above a normal level, he’s going to win every time. So it’s tough in his position because he gets guys that are good players that they roll the dice. And on a on a day like this when a lot of things go my way that’s how it works out.”

New coach Andy Murray will join Djokovic in Melbourne.

Opelka achieved a career-high ranking of No. 17 in Feb. 2022 before undergoing hip surgery later that year to remove a benign tumor. He’s now No. 293.

“It was tough. A lot of uncertainty, a lot of doubt,” Opelka said.

In the semifinals, Opelka will face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who beat Jakub Mensik 7-5, 7-6 (5). The other semifinal will feature Jiri Lehecka against Grigor Dimitrov.

Lehecka beat Nicolas Jarry 6-4, 6-4 and Dimitrov advanced when Jordan Thompson retired while Dimitrov was ahead 6-1, 2-1.