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Former Dortmund Forward Modeste Joins Egyptian and African Champions Al-Ahly

Former Borussia Dortmund forward Anthony Modeste. (Getty Images)
Former Borussia Dortmund forward Anthony Modeste. (Getty Images)
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Former Dortmund Forward Modeste Joins Egyptian and African Champions Al-Ahly

Former Borussia Dortmund forward Anthony Modeste. (Getty Images)
Former Borussia Dortmund forward Anthony Modeste. (Getty Images)

Former Borussia Dortmund forward Anthony Modeste joined Egyptian and African Champions Al-Ahly, just one year after he signed for the German club with high expectations to replace Erling Haaland.

Frenchman Modeste joined Dortmund to fill in for Sebastien Haller who was diagnosed with a malignant testicular tumour. Haller had only just joined the club to replace current Manchester city goal-machine Haaland.

Modeste, 35, scored only twice in 19 Bundesliga games with Dortmund last season, one of them was a last-gasp equalizer to complete a sensational two-goal comeback and snatch a 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich in October.

The Al-Ahly contract with Modeste will be for one year and may be extended for one more "according to the terms that were agreed", said the club on its website late on Monday.

Modeste may debut as early as next Friday, when Al-Ahly will face Algerian USM Alger in African Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. The Egyptian League will kick-off three days later.

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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.