Alcaraz Crowned King of Queen's for Second Time

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates with his trophy after winning against Jiri Lehecka of Czechia during their final match at the Queen's Club Championships tennis tournament in London, Britain, 22 June 2025.  EPA/ANDY RAIN
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates with his trophy after winning against Jiri Lehecka of Czechia during their final match at the Queen's Club Championships tennis tournament in London, Britain, 22 June 2025. EPA/ANDY RAIN
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Alcaraz Crowned King of Queen's for Second Time

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates with his trophy after winning against Jiri Lehecka of Czechia during their final match at the Queen's Club Championships tennis tournament in London, Britain, 22 June 2025.  EPA/ANDY RAIN
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates with his trophy after winning against Jiri Lehecka of Czechia during their final match at the Queen's Club Championships tennis tournament in London, Britain, 22 June 2025. EPA/ANDY RAIN

Carlos Alcaraz clinched his second Queen's Club title as the world number two warmed up for Wimbledon with a 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 win against Jiri Lehecka in Sunday's final.

Alcaraz blasted 33 winners and 18 aces to subdue the gritty Czech world number 30 in two hours and 10 minutes in west London.

Having won titles on clay at the French Open, Rome and Monte Carlo, as well as the hard courts of Rotterdam, Alcaraz has now collected five trophies in 2025.

The 22-year-old has not lost since the Barcelona final against Holger Rune on April 20 and is enjoying the longest winning streak of his career with 18 successive victories, AFP reported.

Top seeded Alcaraz is just the second Spanish man to win Queen's twice after Feliciano Lopez, who lifted the trophy in 2017 and 2019.

"I'm happy to lift this trophy once again. It's a nightmare to play against Jiri, but it's been an incredible week," Alcaraz said.

"I came without expectations. I just wanted to play good tennis and get used to the grass.

"It's really special playing here every year. I can't wait to come back next year."

For a player raised on the clay courts of Spain, Alcaraz has developed into a formidable force on grass.

The former world number one signalled his emergence on the surface by winning Queen's in 2023.

He clinched the Wimbledon title for the first time just weeks later and defended his All England Club crown last year.

Alcaraz, who has an 11-1 career record at Queen's, will start his bid for a third successive Wimbledon title on June 30.

After his semi-final win over Roberto Bautista Agut on Saturday, Alcaraz fired an ominous message to his Wimbledon rivals, warning that his "grass-court mode" had been activated.

And on the evidence of his relentless display against the obdurate Lehecka, he is in no mood to surrender his All England Club crown.

Playing his first tournament since his epic French Open victory against Jannik Sinner two weeks ago, Alcaraz's march to the Queen's showpiece made it five consecutive finals for the Spaniard.

In contrast, Lehecka was playing in his first grass-court final after a shock win against British star Jack Draper in the last four.

The 23-year-old was the first Czech in the Queen's final since Ivan Lendl in 1990.

Lehecka had come from a set down to stun Alcaraz in the Qatar Open quarter-finals in February.

But there would be no repeat of that upset on the lawns of Barons Court.

In his second Queen's final, Alcaraz had an early chance to break in the fifth game of the first set.

Lehecka thundered down an ace to get out of trouble of that occasion.

But the five-time Grand Slam champion matched Lehecka's serve blow for blow, dropping just one point in his first four service games.

Alcaraz's piercing ground-strokes increased the pressure and Lehecka finally cracked in the the 11th game when an badly-timed double-fault gifted the first break to the Spaniard.

Alcaraz served out the set in typically ruthless fashion, but Lehecka refused to surrender without a fight.

A tight second set stayed on serve all the way through to the tie-break and, for once, Alcaraz stumbled with a key double-fault, allowing Lehecka to level the match.

Alcaraz was unfazed, breaking for a 3-1 lead in the deciding set when Lehecka netted an off-balance forehand.

Alcaraz had the finish line in sight and he wrapped up his latest title triumph with a flurry of searing winners.



Tottenham Winger Odobert Sidelined with ACL Tear

10 February 2026, United Kingdom, London: Tottenham Hotspur's Wilson Odobert receives medical treatment during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Photo: John Walton/PA Wire/dpa
10 February 2026, United Kingdom, London: Tottenham Hotspur's Wilson Odobert receives medical treatment during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Photo: John Walton/PA Wire/dpa
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Tottenham Winger Odobert Sidelined with ACL Tear

10 February 2026, United Kingdom, London: Tottenham Hotspur's Wilson Odobert receives medical treatment during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Photo: John Walton/PA Wire/dpa
10 February 2026, United Kingdom, London: Tottenham Hotspur's Wilson Odobert receives medical treatment during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Photo: John Walton/PA Wire/dpa

Tottenham Hotspur's French winger Wilson Odobert has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear, the Premier League club said on Thursday, after the 21-year-old was forced off during Tuesday's 2-1 loss at home to Newcastle United.

Spurs, who sacked manager Thomas Frank on Wednesday amid an ⁠eight-game run without ⁠a league win, said Odobert will have surgery. British media reported that he could miss the rest of the season.

"We can confirm that ⁠Wilson Odobert has sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee," Reuters quoted Tottenham as saying in a statement.

Spurs, who are only five points above the relegation zone, have faced several injury setbacks this season.

Their long list of absentees include forward ⁠Richarlison, ⁠three defenders and several midfielders including James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall.

Captain Cristian Romero criticized the club's thin squad in an Instagram post earlier this month.

Spurs, who are languishing in 16th place, next host league leaders Arsenal on February 22.


Thomas Tuchel Extends Contract as England Coach Until Euro 2028

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Manchester City - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 8, 2026 England manager Thomas Tuchel in the stands REUTERS/Phil Noble
Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Manchester City - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 8, 2026 England manager Thomas Tuchel in the stands REUTERS/Phil Noble
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Thomas Tuchel Extends Contract as England Coach Until Euro 2028

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Manchester City - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 8, 2026 England manager Thomas Tuchel in the stands REUTERS/Phil Noble
Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Manchester City - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 8, 2026 England manager Thomas Tuchel in the stands REUTERS/Phil Noble

Thomas Tuchel has signed a new contract that will see him remain head coach of the England national football team through to the end of Euro 2028 in the UK and Ireland, the Football Association announced on Thursday.

Tuchel was confirmed as the successor to Gareth Southgate in October 2024 and has overseen an unbeaten qualification run to this year's World Cup in North America, with England winning all eight group games under their German boss.

"I am very happy and proud to extend my time with England," said the 52-year-old former Chelsea boss, whose previous deal with the national side ran only until the end of the 2026 World Cup.

"It is no secret to anyone that I have loved every minute so far of working with my players and coaches, and I cannot wait to lead them to the World Cup.

"It is an incredible opportunity and we are going to do our very best to make the country proud."

According to AFP, the FA said the new agreement with Tuchel would provide "clarity and full focus" on the World Cup.

Tuchel had been previously touted as a possible permanent successor to sacked former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, even though the English giants have experienced an upturn in form under caretaker boss Michael Carrick.

But in signing a new England contract, Tuchel appears to have ruled himself out of a post-World Cup move to Old Trafford.


Ukraine Skeleton Racer Disqualified from Olympics over Memorial Helmet

(FILES) Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych wears a helmet which depicts Ukrainian sportsmen and women, victims of his country's war with Russia, as he takes part in the skeleton men's training session at Cortina Sliding Center during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo on February 9, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
(FILES) Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych wears a helmet which depicts Ukrainian sportsmen and women, victims of his country's war with Russia, as he takes part in the skeleton men's training session at Cortina Sliding Center during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo on February 9, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
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Ukraine Skeleton Racer Disqualified from Olympics over Memorial Helmet

(FILES) Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych wears a helmet which depicts Ukrainian sportsmen and women, victims of his country's war with Russia, as he takes part in the skeleton men's training session at Cortina Sliding Center during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo on February 9, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
(FILES) Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych wears a helmet which depicts Ukrainian sportsmen and women, victims of his country's war with Russia, as he takes part in the skeleton men's training session at Cortina Sliding Center during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo on February 9, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Winter Olympics on Thursday after refusing to back down over his banned helmet, which depicts victims of his country's war with Russia.

The International Olympic Committee said he had been kicked out of the Milan-Cortina Games "after refusing to adhere to the IOC athlete expression guidelines".

Heraskevych, 27, had insisted he would continue to wear the helmet, which carries pictures of Ukrainian sportsmen and women killed since Russian forces invaded Ukraine in 2022, during the men's skeleton heats on Thursday.

After the decision, a defiant Heraskevych posted on X "this is price of our dignity", alongside a picture of his headwear, AFP reported.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky had defended the athlete's right to wear the helmet but he knew he was taking a risk as gestures of a political nature during competition are forbidden under the Olympic charter.

The IOC said in statement on Thursday that the skeleton racer's accreditation for the Games had been withdrawn.

"Having been given one final opportunity, skeleton pilot Vladylsav Heraskevych from Ukraine will not be able to start his race at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games this morning," the IOC statement said.

"The decision followed his refusal to comply with the IOC's Guidelines on Athlete Expression. It was taken by the jury of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) based on the fact that the helmet he intended to wear was not compliant with the rules."

Athletes are permitted to express their views in press conferences and on social media, and on Tuesday the IOC said it would "make an exception" for Heraskevych, allowing him to wear a plain black armband during competition.

"Mr. Heraskevych was able to display his helmet in all training runs," the IOC said.

"The IOC also offered him the option of displaying it immediately after the competition when going through the mixed zone."

Olympic chiefs said that IOC president Kirsty Coventry had spoken with Heraskevych on Thursday morning in a vain bid to make him change his mind.