Carlos Alcaraz Wins 1st set of Wimbledon Final against Novak Djokovic 6-2

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates winning against Russia's Daniil Medvedev during their men's singles semi-final tennis match on the twelfth day of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 12, 2024. (AFP)
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates winning against Russia's Daniil Medvedev during their men's singles semi-final tennis match on the twelfth day of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 12, 2024. (AFP)
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Carlos Alcaraz Wins 1st set of Wimbledon Final against Novak Djokovic 6-2

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates winning against Russia's Daniil Medvedev during their men's singles semi-final tennis match on the twelfth day of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 12, 2024. (AFP)
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates winning against Russia's Daniil Medvedev during their men's singles semi-final tennis match on the twelfth day of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 12, 2024. (AFP)

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has taken the first set of the men's Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic 6-2.

Alcaraz broke Djokovic in an opening game that lasted nearly 14 minutes, converting his fifth break point, and then again for a 4-1 lead when the Serb double-faulted, The AP reported.

Sunday's final at the All England Club is a rematch from last year, when Alcaraz got past Djokovic in five sets.

Kate, the Princess of Wales, was sitting in the Royal Box at Center Court, a rare public appearance after her cancer diagnosis.

The 37-year-old Djokovic is trying to win his eighth Wimbledon title to equal Roger Federer for the most by a man at the grass-court major. A victory by Djokovic would also give him 25 Grand Slam singles titles, more than any other player in tennis history.

It was only a little more than a month ago that Djokovic had surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee after getting injured during the French Open.

The 21-year-old Alcaraz wound up winning the trophy at Roland Garros in June for his third major championship. That made him the youngest man with a Grand Slam title on grass, clay and hard courts.

Barbora Krejcikova defeated Jasmine Paolini in the Wimbledon women's final Saturday.



Carrick Confident Man Utd Can 'Work Through' Tough Time

FILED - 16 September 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reacts during the English Carabao Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire/dpa
FILED - 16 September 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reacts during the English Carabao Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire/dpa
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Carrick Confident Man Utd Can 'Work Through' Tough Time

FILED - 16 September 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reacts during the English Carabao Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire/dpa
FILED - 16 September 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reacts during the English Carabao Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire/dpa

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick said he expected to have to ride out a storm at some point this season after a dreadful start to the current campaign.

Carrick was appointed on a permanent basis after his successful temporary spell at the end of last season secured third place in the Premier League and a return to the Champions League.

But United have taken just four points from their opening four league games this season and were dumped out the League Cup in a 3-2 defeat by Brighton in midweek after blowing a two-goal lead at Old Trafford for the first time in 50 years.

"History tells you that any team that's successful goes through periods when you have to work through it, come through it and improve," Carrick said ahead of Sunday's trip to Fulham, according to AFP.

"We've had a small period, in recent time, when it hasn't been exactly what we want it to be.
"I was expecting a point when we would go through it, it was going to come. We had such a good spell last season, going into this season."

Former United and England midfielder Carrick also has reason to bemoan his side's luck in recent weeks.

United received a swift apology from referees' chiefs after Erling Haaland's winning goal for Manchester City last weekend was wrongly awarded because the VAR officials did not spot an offside against Enzo Fernandez in the build-up.

Carrick's men were also heading for three points at Everton last Sunday before until Toffees defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles produced a stunning strike into the top corner from long range.

"It is a week or two, the games haven't gone our way," added Carrick. "It's tiny margins in some of those games. We will work through it. Winning games is always the answer, it can cover up a lot of things at times as well.

"Sometimes it's the small disappointments that lead to something a bit bigger. It's part of coping and being at this great football club."

United could be boosted by the return of Luke Shaw from injury for the visit to Craven Cottage.

Carlos Baleba is also in contention to make his first appearance since a £70 million ($95 million) move from Brighton.


Arteta Buries Hatchet with Hurzeler ahead of Brighton Clash

Soccer Football - Premier League - Sunderland v Arsenal - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Britain - September 12, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Scott Heppell
Soccer Football - Premier League - Sunderland v Arsenal - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Britain - September 12, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Scott Heppell
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Arteta Buries Hatchet with Hurzeler ahead of Brighton Clash

Soccer Football - Premier League - Sunderland v Arsenal - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Britain - September 12, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Scott Heppell
Soccer Football - Premier League - Sunderland v Arsenal - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Britain - September 12, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Scott Heppell

Mikel Arteta has made peace with Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler following their row last season as the pair go head to head again on Saturday.

Hurzeler criticized Arteta's style of play during a 1-0 defeat against the Gunners at the Amex Stadium in March.

The German said "only one team tried to play football" and accused the Arsenal of "making their own rules".

With the champions heading back to Brighton in the top flight this weekend, the spotlight will be fixed on the touchline to see if the spat lingers.

Hurzeler refused to back down this week when quizzed on his comments from last season.
"I think it's very important that in football there are opinions," he said.

"I will definitely always share my opinion if I am asked. But, in the end, I congratulate Arsenal for being deserved champions. They deserved it."

Speaking on Friday, Arteta insisted there was no bad blood over Hurzeler's blast.

"That's all done. That's all in the past," the Arsenal manager told reporters.

"I have huge respect for Fabian, and what he's done and what Brighton has done as a club.

"It's just remarkable, and tomorrow is going to be a beautiful game to watch, I'm sure."

Arsenal have made a flying start to their Premier League title defense, with four successive victories taking them to the top of the table.

The north Londoners also won their opening Champions League match against Napoli and booked their place in the League Cup fourth round on Tuesday with a win at Ipswich.

Teenage playmaker Max Dowman starred against Ipswich in his first appearance this season, scoring twice to underline why is regarded as one of the brightest young talents in the Premier League.

The 16-year-old has made his case for a bigger role in Arteta's plans after being an unused substitute in the opening weeks.

But asked if the teenager has been knocking on his door to play, Arteta said: "The best way to knock on the door is to do it on the pitch, not in the office.

"Then you just leave out the arguments. When a player delivers constantly on the pitch, every single day in training, that's the best way, that's the best signal for the manager."

Including the Community Shield against Manchester City, Arsenal have won seven consecutive matches.

Another victory on the south coast would equal the club's 123-year record for their best start to a campaign.

"We know how complicated it is to win a football match at this level. So, to win seven, it tells a story," AFP quoted Arteta as saying.

"After the World Cup, there were a lot of unknowns about how the players and the team were going to react. We didn't have any time with them to work together.

"But I said from day one, the attitude and what I was seeing, I was really impressed with. Then you have to put it down to performances."

Arteta is yet to sign an contract extension, with talks ongoing for several months, but the Spaniard is relaxed over the situation.

"I think we are all very much aligned, whenever the time is right we'll get that done. There is nothing to be concerned about," he said.


Van Bommel Names First Belgium Squad with Eight Changes from World Cup

FILE - Mark van Bommel reacts during a Champions League group H soccer match between Porto and Antwerp at Estadio do Dragao in Porto, Portugal, Nov. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Miguel Pereira, File)
FILE - Mark van Bommel reacts during a Champions League group H soccer match between Porto and Antwerp at Estadio do Dragao in Porto, Portugal, Nov. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Miguel Pereira, File)
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Van Bommel Names First Belgium Squad with Eight Changes from World Cup

FILE - Mark van Bommel reacts during a Champions League group H soccer match between Porto and Antwerp at Estadio do Dragao in Porto, Portugal, Nov. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Miguel Pereira, File)
FILE - Mark van Bommel reacts during a Champions League group H soccer match between Porto and Antwerp at Estadio do Dragao in Porto, Portugal, Nov. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Miguel Pereira, File)

New Belgium coach ‌Mark van Bommel on Friday named his first squad for their four Nations League matches, retaining the core of the World Cup selection, said Reuters.

* Van Bommel, who has replaced Rudi Garcia, added eight players who did not take part in the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the US as he named a 28-man squad for matches against Italy, France (twice), and ‌Türkiye between September ‌25 and October 5.

* Belgium ‌must ⁠do without first-choice ⁠goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who asked to be excused from the Nations League campaign to regulate his playing time at the age of 34.

* Jeremy Doku, who was seen as a key player for the World Cup campaign ⁠but had a disappointing tournament, misses ‌out due to ‌injury, as does Amadou Onana.

* Attacker Alexis Saelemaekers and ‌veteran defender Thomas Meunier have been dropped ‌while Axel Witsel has retired from international football.

* The uncapped players in the squad include goalkeepers Jari De Busser, Mike Penders and Maarten Vandevoordt and ‌21-year-old fullback Kyriani Sabbe.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Jari De Busser (AZ Alkmaar), Senne Lammens (Manchester United), Mike ⁠Penders (Chelsea), ⁠Maarten Vandevoordt (RB Leipzig)

Defenders: Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno Debast (Sporting Lisbon), Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton & Hove Albion), Koni De Winter (AC Milan), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Nathan Ngoy (Lille), Kyriani Sabbe, Joaquin Seys (both Club Brugge), Arthur Theate (Bologna)

Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli), Mandela Keita (Parma), Romeo Lavia (Chelsea), Nicolas Raskin (Rangers), Youri Tielemans (Manchester United), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge)

Forwards: Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Matias Fernandez-Pardo (Newcastle United), Malick Fofana (Sunderland), Mika Godts (Paris St Germain), Romelu Lukaku (Fenerbahce), Dodi Lukebakio (Benfica), Diego Moreira (AC Milan), Lois Openda (Olympique Lyonnais), Leandro Trossard (Besiktas).