Sonmez Becomes First Turkish Player in Open Era to Reach Third Round of a Slam

Türkiye's Zeynep Sonmez serves to China's Wang Xinyu during their women's singles second round tennis match on the fourth day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 3, 2025. (AFP)
Türkiye's Zeynep Sonmez serves to China's Wang Xinyu during their women's singles second round tennis match on the fourth day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 3, 2025. (AFP)
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Sonmez Becomes First Turkish Player in Open Era to Reach Third Round of a Slam

Türkiye's Zeynep Sonmez serves to China's Wang Xinyu during their women's singles second round tennis match on the fourth day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 3, 2025. (AFP)
Türkiye's Zeynep Sonmez serves to China's Wang Xinyu during their women's singles second round tennis match on the fourth day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 3, 2025. (AFP)

Zeynep Sonmez became the first Turkish player in the professional era to reach the third round of a Grand Slam tournament by beating Xinyu Wang 7-5, 7-5 at Wimbledon on Thursday.

She hopes her win ensures it won't be that long before another Turkish player reaches that stage.

"My mom and the people in my team told me that there were videos where kids were watching me back at home, in tennis clubs on TV," Sonmez said. "And I hope they get inspired or they feel like, ‘Oh, we can do that too.’"

No Turkish man or woman had made the third round of a major since the Open Era began in 1968, although Cagla Buyukakcay made the second round at three Grand Slams between 2016-17.

One has to go back 75 years to find the last Turkish woman to make it that far, when Bahtiye Musluoglu reached the third round of the French Open in 1950.

The 23-year-old Sonmez was supported by a number of Turkish fans in the crowd and took selfies with some of them after the match.

"I feel that there are a lot of Turkish people (here) and it makes me very happy," she said.

Sonmez has a WTA title under her belt, at last year's Merida Open, but had lost in the first round in three previous major tournaments. This is her first Wimbledon appearance.



Gattuso Prioritizes Mental Issues Over Tactics as Italy Face World Cup Playoff

Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group I qualifier match between Italy and Norway in Milan, Italy, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP)
Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group I qualifier match between Italy and Norway in Milan, Italy, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP)
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Gattuso Prioritizes Mental Issues Over Tactics as Italy Face World Cup Playoff

Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group I qualifier match between Italy and Norway in Milan, Italy, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP)
Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group I qualifier match between Italy and Norway in Milan, Italy, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP)

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso has called for composure ahead of Italy’s World Cup playoff semi-final against Northern Ireland on Thursday, urging his players to block out the trauma of past failures.

With the specter of failed 2018 and 2022 qualification campaigns looming over the squad, Gattuso knows his players must overcome the mental weakness that has plagued Italy's World Cup ambitions.

Seeking to avoid a third consecutive qualification failure, the Italians ‌have managed only ‌one victory at a World Cup, a ‌2-1 ⁠group-stage win over ⁠England 12 years ago, since lifting the trophy in 2006 for the fourth time.

"We must be able to make the players feel lighter," Gattuso told reporters at Italy’s Coverciano training base on Monday. "Italy didn’t play in the last two World Cups... but there is no need to suffocate them. These are players who have won the Euros ⁠and played in Champions League finals. They are accustomed ‌to these games."

"There are no excuses; ‌we must only think about Thursday’s game," Gattuso said. "We must have the ‌right mentality and serenity. We respect the opponents... but we must ‌be clear-headed and smell the danger."

Should they get past Northern Ireland they would face a final against Wales or Bosnia & Herzegovina on March 31 to qualify for the showpiece tournament in North America.

Gattuso confirmed that Liverpool forward ‌Federico Chiesa had left the camp.

"He had a few physical problems, and we decided it was ⁠useless for him ⁠to stay here," Gattuso said. "When I heard that he had problems and doubts, I had to make a decision. He didn’t feel up for it, so he decided to return home. When one wants to return home, it’s right to let him do it."

Gattuso revealed he personally chose the 23,000-seat Stadio di Bergamo over the San Siro for the clash, admitting he feared the "caustic" atmosphere of a larger stadium if the team struggled early.

"At a 60,000-seat stadium like San Siro, they might start booing after a few wrong passes," Gattuso explained. "I want to create a real cauldron-like atmosphere. Thursday’s game is the only target. All the rest is the past."


Griezmann Given Go-Ahead to Talk with Orlando City

 Soccer Football - La Liga - Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 22, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann in action with Real Madrid's Fran Garcia. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - La Liga - Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 22, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann in action with Real Madrid's Fran Garcia. (Reuters)
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Griezmann Given Go-Ahead to Talk with Orlando City

 Soccer Football - La Liga - Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 22, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann in action with Real Madrid's Fran Garcia. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - La Liga - Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 22, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann in action with Real Madrid's Fran Garcia. (Reuters)

France's World Cup-winning striker Antoine Griezmann is to hold talks with Major League Soccer's Orlando City, having been permitted by his present side Atletico Madrid to go to the US during the international break, a source close to the player told AFP.

Should both parties agree a deal, the 35-year-old would move to Orlando this summer after seeing out the present campaign with the La Liga outfit.

Griezmann "has been authorised by his club to travel to Orlando during his days off in order to make progress in the discussions linked to his future," said the source on Monday.

A move to the MLS has been rumoured for years, with the 2018 World Cup winner known to be an admirer of other American sports leagues such as the NBA and NFL.

Atletico had shut the door on their all-time record goalscorer -- he has scored 211 goals over two spells -- moving this season with the MLS transfer window opening on March 26.

Griezmann, who also played in the 2022 World Cup final defeat by Argentina, retired from the French national side in 2024 having made 137 appearances, scoring 44 goals.

Griezmann signed an extension last year to his present contract, taking him up to June 2027, but is no longer an automatic first choice for Atletico.

Despite falling down the pecking order he has scored 13 times this season and can entertain hopes of ending his time with Atletico with one last hurrah.

They play Real Sociedad, the club he began his professional career with, in the final of the Copa del Rey on April 18, just after facing Barcelona in their two-legged Champions League quarter-final.

Griezmann inspired Atletico in his first spell to 2018 Europa League glory, but missed out on the biggest prizes, losing in the 2016 Champions League final and finishing runners-up in the title race in 2018 and 2019.

Orlando are badly in need of a cutting edge up front as in the present MLS campaign they have won just one of their five matches, losing the other four.


Saliba Ruled Out of France Squad, Lacroix Called up as Replacement

Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 1, 2026 Arsenal's William Saliba celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 1, 2026 Arsenal's William Saliba celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Saliba Ruled Out of France Squad, Lacroix Called up as Replacement

Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 1, 2026 Arsenal's William Saliba celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 1, 2026 Arsenal's William Saliba celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)

Defender William ‌Saliba has been ruled out of France's squad due to injury ahead of this month’s friendlies against Brazil and Colombia, with Maxence Lacroix called up to replace him, the country's football federation (FFF) said on Sunday.

Arsenal's Saliba played the full 90 minutes in a ‌2-0 defeat ‌by Manchester City in ‌Sunday's ⁠League Cup final, ⁠before the FFF announced his injury.

"The Arsenal center back is suffering from recurring pain in his left ankle, requiring treatment and a minimum rest period of ⁠10 days," it said in ‌a statement.

"National ‌coach Didier Deschamps has decided to replace ‌him with Maxence Lacroix," the ‌FFF added.

The Crystal Palace defender, 25, has earned his first France call-up, ahead of the 2026 World Cup. ‌He has played 43 games in all competitions this season.

Saliba ⁠was ⁠among the expanded 27-man France squad announced by Deschamps on Thursday.

France will face Brazil in Boston on March 26 before taking on Colombia in Washington on March 29.

The 2022 World Cup runners-up are in Group I at this year's tournament with Senegal, Norway and a winner from the inter-confederation playoffs.