Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon Trophy Keeps Him at No. 1. Marketa Vondrousova’s Lifts Her to No. 10 

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with the trophy after beating Serbia's Novak Djokovic to win the final of the men's singles on day fourteen of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 16, 2023. (AP)
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with the trophy after beating Serbia's Novak Djokovic to win the final of the men's singles on day fourteen of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 16, 2023. (AP)
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Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon Trophy Keeps Him at No. 1. Marketa Vondrousova’s Lifts Her to No. 10 

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with the trophy after beating Serbia's Novak Djokovic to win the final of the men's singles on day fourteen of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 16, 2023. (AP)
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with the trophy after beating Serbia's Novak Djokovic to win the final of the men's singles on day fourteen of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 16, 2023. (AP)

Carlos Alcaraz held onto No. 1 in the ATP rankings on Monday by virtue of his victory over No. 2 Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final, and Marketa Vondrousova's first Grand Slam title pushed her all the way up to a career-high No. 10 on the WTA list.

Vondrousova jumped 32 places from No. 42 thanks to her 6-4, 6-4 win against Ons Jabeur in Saturday’s final at the All England Club. Vondrousova, a 24-year-old from the Czech Republic, was the lowest-ranked and first unseeded women's champion at the grass-court major.

Alcaraz's 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 defeat of Djokovic on Sunday marked the third time in the past four major tournaments that the men's title match determined who would be at No. 1.

At last September's US Open, Alcaraz became the first teenager to lead the ATP by beating Casper Ruud in the final. At January's Australian Open, it was Djokovic — who has spent more weeks atop the rankings than anyone in tennis history — who assured himself of being at No. 1 by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Alcaraz, a Spaniard who turned 20 in May, and Djokovic, a 36-year-old from Serbia, have been trading the highest spot this season. Alcaraz now enters his 29th week there.

“He’s proven that he’s the best player in the world, no doubt,” said Djokovic, who had won four consecutive titles at Wimbledon and was seeking a 24th Grand Slam trophy overall.

Iga Swiatek could have relinquished her 15-month hold on the WTA's No. 1 ranking to No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon but remained there Monday.

Swiatek lost in the quarterfinals; Sabalenka lost in the semifinals.

The top seven slots in the women's rankings stayed the same Monday, with 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina remaining at No. 3, followed by Jessica Pegula, Caroline Garcia, Jabeur and Coco Gauff.

Elina Svitolina, who made it all the way to the semifinals just three months after returning to the tour from maternity leave, rose 49 places from No. 76 to No. 27.

The big mover in the men's rankings was Chris Eubanks, a 27-year-old from Atlanta who played college tennis at Georgia Tech. His run at the All England Club allowed Eubanks to go from a career-high No. 43 to a new personal best of No. 31.

Making his Wimbledon debut, Eubanks eliminated No. 5 seed Tsitsipas and No. 12 seed Cam Norrie on the way to his first major quarterfinal before losing to No. 3 Daniil Medvedev.

There were no changes among the first 13 ATP ranking spots.



Historic England Win Shows Confident Japan Can Go Far at World Cup

Football - International Friendly - England v Japan - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain- March 31, 2026 Japan's Kaoru Mitoma scores their first goal past England's Jordan Pickford. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - International Friendly - England v Japan - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain- March 31, 2026 Japan's Kaoru Mitoma scores their first goal past England's Jordan Pickford. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Historic England Win Shows Confident Japan Can Go Far at World Cup

Football - International Friendly - England v Japan - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain- March 31, 2026 Japan's Kaoru Mitoma scores their first goal past England's Jordan Pickford. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - International Friendly - England v Japan - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain- March 31, 2026 Japan's Kaoru Mitoma scores their first goal past England's Jordan Pickford. (Action Images via Reuters)

Coach Hajime Moriyasu cautioned it was only a friendly, but Japan's slice of history with a statement 1-0 win over England at Wembley shows they could go deep at the World Cup.

Japan strolled through Asian qualifying to become the first team to seal their place at the finals in North America and beat Brazil 3-2 in a friendly at home in October.

On Tuesday they faced England, who like Brazil are among the favorites to win the showpiece this summer, and were full value for their victory.

Kaoru Mitoma's composed finish in the first half at Wembley condemned England to their first defeat by Asian nation.

Moriyasu has said that Japan want to win the 2026 World Cup, and on this evidence that does not seem quite so outlandish.

But Moriyasu struck a note of caution, especially with Thomas Tuchel's England missing the influential trio Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka.

"Coming to the World Cup, I know it will be a totally different team for England," said the coach, whose side beat Scotland 1-0 on Saturday in Glasgow.

"Also, for us, this game at the end of the day is just a friendly game, so we must keep that in mind as well."

Japan, Asia's highest-ranked side at 18 in the world, are in a testing group with the Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia this summer.

But they should have more than enough to make it through, as they attempt to go beyond the World Cup last 16 for the first time.

- Surging confidence -

At Qatar 2022, Japan beat Spain and Germany in the group phase, before losing on penalties to Croatia in the knockout rounds.

They look well equipped to go further this time with a squad full of technically gifted players who ply their trade in Europe's top leagues.

Wembley match-winner Mitoma, of Brighton, is one of the best wingers in the Premier League on his day.

Japan also have Premier League pedigree in Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada and Leeds midfielder Ao Tanaka.

Takefusa Kubo did not feature in the recent friendlies because of injury, but the 24-year-old Real Sociedad attacker is well established in Spain's top flight.

Going back to 2019 he has 29 goals and 21 assists in 213 La Liga games.

In goal, Moriyasu kept faith in young stopper Zion Suzuki after a shaky start to his international career.

Now 23, the New Jersey-born goalkeeper, whose father is Ghanaian, has been linked with a move to the Premier League because of his good form for Parma in Italy's Serie A.

Following the England victory, Moriyasu again said that winning the World Cup was the goal.

Moriyasu has his side finely tuned and they know exactly what to expect from him, having been in charge since 2018.

"I'm confident that we can win no matter who we face," he said.


Iraq Qualify for World Cup with Win Over Bolivia

Iraqi players celebrate at the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff match between Iraq and Bolivia in Guadalupe, Mexico, 31 March 2026. (EPA)
Iraqi players celebrate at the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff match between Iraq and Bolivia in Guadalupe, Mexico, 31 March 2026. (EPA)
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Iraq Qualify for World Cup with Win Over Bolivia

Iraqi players celebrate at the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff match between Iraq and Bolivia in Guadalupe, Mexico, 31 March 2026. (EPA)
Iraqi players celebrate at the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff match between Iraq and Bolivia in Guadalupe, Mexico, 31 March 2026. (EPA)

Iraq grabbed the last available place at the World Cup by beating Bolivia 2-1 in their inter-confederation playoff on Tuesday, sealing their return to the finals after a 40-year absence.

Aymen Hussein steered home a second-half winner to see the Iraqis become the 48th and last team to qualify for the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the US.

Ali Al Hamadi handed Iraq a 10th-minute lead at the Monterrey Stadium but Bolivia were level at the break through Moises Paniagua.

Iraq will compete in Group I at the June 11 to July 19 ‌World Cup along ‌with France, Norway and Senegal.

Iraq, the ninth team from Asia ‌to ⁠qualify, were quickly ⁠out of the blocks and Bolivia goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra made a fingertip save to push Amir Al Ammari’s curling free kick onto his crossbar.

But from the resultant corner, Al Hamadi, who plays for Luton Town in League One, got ahead of the Bolivia defense to head home the opener.

Bolivia slowly recovered from the shock of the early setback and by the break were deservedly level. Their equalizer came when Ramiro Vaca’s ⁠forward pass, which looked initially to be a shot on ‌goal, found Paniagua, who then had time to ‌turn and slam home the ball from close range.

Fans take to the streets in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, after the Iraq team beat Bolivia in a World Cup 2026 playoff final. (AP)

Iraq went ahead again in the ‌53rd minute as substitute Marko Farji’s cross found Hussein, who reacted quickest and got ‌ahead of his marker to steer home.

Mohanad Ali had a chance to score a third for Iraq and finish off the game near full time but squandered the opportunity.

Bolivia forced several late corners as they desperately bid to take the game into extra time but Iraq ‌finished the fresher of the two sides.

“I must congratulate the players who played with real Iraqi mentality, fighting and putting ⁠their bodies on ⁠the line and that's why we won the game," said Iraq coach Graham Arnold.

“You've got to give full credit to Bolivia, because they played well. And it was just through the great defending from our players, who put their bodies on the line as I said, and we defended the crosses really well. That's why we won the game.

"I am so happy that we’ve made 46 million people happy and especially with what's going on in the Middle East at the moment," added Arnold, who took his native Australia to the round of 16 at the last World Cup in Qatar.

The Iraqis were seeded straight into the playoff decider while Bolivia first had to get past Suriname in Monterrey last Thursday.

Iraq’s only previous World Cup appearance was in Mexico in 1986 where they lost all three group games.


Messi Shines in What Could be his Last Argentina Home Game, a 5-0 Farewell Friendly Win

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Argentina v Zambia - Estadio La Bombonera, Buenos Aires, Argentina - March 31, 2026 Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi celebrates scoring their third goal with Lionel Messi REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Argentina v Zambia - Estadio La Bombonera, Buenos Aires, Argentina - March 31, 2026 Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi celebrates scoring their third goal with Lionel Messi REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian
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Messi Shines in What Could be his Last Argentina Home Game, a 5-0 Farewell Friendly Win

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Argentina v Zambia - Estadio La Bombonera, Buenos Aires, Argentina - March 31, 2026 Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi celebrates scoring their third goal with Lionel Messi REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Argentina v Zambia - Estadio La Bombonera, Buenos Aires, Argentina - March 31, 2026 Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi celebrates scoring their third goal with Lionel Messi REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

In what was likely his final home appearance for Argentina's national squad, Lionel Messi scored a goal and provided an assist in a 5-0 rout of Zambia on Tuesday night in a farewell friendly ahead of the World Cup.

The 38-year-old Messi set up Julián Álvarez in the fourth minute and then scored in the 43rd at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, his 116th international goal in 198 appearances for Argentina.

The crowd gave him a standing ovation and pleaded with him to help Argentina win another World Cup, The Associated Press reported. The global tournament kicks off June 11 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Nicolás Otamendi and Valentín Barco also scored for Argentina.

The defending world champions raised some concern after their lackluster performance last Friday in a 2-1 victory over Mauritania.

In the lead-up to the Zambia friendly, coach Lionel Scaloni had warned that if the team didn’t improve its performance he would take drastic measures regarding the 26-man World Cup squad, which must be submitted by May 30.

For the last home game before the World Cup, Scaloni started with a lineup similar to that which defeated France in the 2022 final, with the notable exclusion of midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, who is recovering from a muscle injury and performed poorly against Mauritania.

Argentina, which also won the World Cup in 1978 and 1986, will open against Algeria on June 16 in Group J, followed by games against Austria on June 22 and Jordan on June 27.