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Medvedev Cruises Into Dubai Semi-finals

Daniil Medvedev is the defending champion in Dubai - AFP
Daniil Medvedev is the defending champion in Dubai - AFP
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Medvedev Cruises Into Dubai Semi-finals

Daniil Medvedev is the defending champion in Dubai - AFP
Daniil Medvedev is the defending champion in Dubai - AFP

Daniil Medvedev raced to victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Thursday to reach the Dubai semi-finals and continue his excellent start to the year.

The world number four wasted little time in wrapping up a 6-2, 6-3 win and will face Ugo Humbert in the last four.

"Alejandro can play very well," Medvedev said. "Sometimes during matches he can have a little down moment and then he goes up.

"I knew that no matter the score, I needed to go until the last point."

The Russian is playing in just his second tournament of the season after reaching the Australian Open final, where he suffered an agonising defeat by Jannik Sinner after leading by two sets.

Reigning champion Medvedev is bidding to defend an ATP title for the first time, having won 20 trophies at Tour-level events in his career but all at different tournaments.

Medvedev eased through the opening set with breaks in the sixth and eighth games, AFP reported.

He powered into a 4-0 lead in the second and sealed victory on his first match point, despite a brief rally from Davidovich Fokina, who has now lost all four of his meetings with Medvedev.

Medvedev had to come from a set down against Lorenzo Sonego in the previous round, but said he may have been struggling with an illness.

"I don't know what happened yesterday. A few people around me got a small virus, so maybe it is this," he said.

"Some days that happens but I am happy today happened. I am not at my best shape yet but we have some more matches."

Fifth-seeded Humbert of France saved three match points in the second-set tie-break on his way to a 3-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-3 victory against third seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland.

Humbert, who hit 24 winners, had also defeated Hurkacz en route to the title in Marseille earlier this month.

Alexander Bublik and Andrey Rublev will meet in the other semi-final after both were beneficiaries of retirements in their last-eight matches.

Kazakhstan's Bublik led 6-4, 4-1 when his opponent Jiri Lehecka quit their tie with injury.

Second seed Rublev was 6-4, 4-3 ahead when American Sebastian Korda left the court in the second quarter-final.

The win ended a run of three successive quarter-final exits for world number five Rublev.

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García Shines in Espanyol Goal and Valencia Hits Bottom of La Liga

Espanyol's Leandro Cabrera (C) celebrates scoring the 1-0 goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between RCD Espanyol and CD Leganes, in Barcelona, Spain, 11 January 2025. EPA/Alejandro Garcia
Espanyol's Leandro Cabrera (C) celebrates scoring the 1-0 goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between RCD Espanyol and CD Leganes, in Barcelona, Spain, 11 January 2025. EPA/Alejandro Garcia
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García Shines in Espanyol Goal and Valencia Hits Bottom of La Liga

Espanyol's Leandro Cabrera (C) celebrates scoring the 1-0 goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between RCD Espanyol and CD Leganes, in Barcelona, Spain, 11 January 2025. EPA/Alejandro Garcia
Espanyol's Leandro Cabrera (C) celebrates scoring the 1-0 goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between RCD Espanyol and CD Leganes, in Barcelona, Spain, 11 January 2025. EPA/Alejandro Garcia

Espanyol was grateful again that Joan García didn't end up at Arsenal last summer after the goalkeeper made multiple saves against Leganes to salvage a 1-1 draw in La Liga on Saturday.
Espanyol defender Leandro Cabrera headed in a headed pass by Alex Kral on a corner kick to put the hosts ahead just two minutes into the match.
But Leganes showed how it was able to stun Barcelona last month when it outplayed Espanyol the rest of the way. García’s timely saves were the only barrier to the small club from Madrid from taking the three points.
García made at least four quality stops in the second half, including back-to-back saves in the 74th, The Associated Press reported.
After Leganes midfielder Yvan Neyou hit the post, García dove to parry Miguel de la Fuente and then had to spring back up before stretching low to deny Juan Cruz from putting in the loose ball from a tight angle.
García was linked to a possible move to Arsenal after he helped Spain win the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
He called the draw with Leganes, which like Espanyol was promoted last season, simply “not enough” given that they were considered rivals in the fight to avoid relegation.
“We have to find a way to win our home games against our direct rivals. Now we have to beat Valladolid,” García said about the next match against another struggler.
Espanyol was in 18th place, in the drop zone, with Valladolid one point behind in 19th after it beat Real Betis 1-0 to give new coach Diego Cocca his first win.
Valencia hits bottom Valencia sunk to last place after conceding late at Sevilla for a 1-1 draw in a matchup of two big clubs who find themselves in the doldrums.
Sevilla, whose club executives heard jeers before halftime, rescued a point at home thanks to a rare goalkeeping error by Giorgi Mamardashvili. The Georgia goalie let a last-gasp strike by Adria Pedrosa hit his arm and into the net for the stoppage-time equalizer.
Valencia had been eyeing its first away win of the season after Luis Rioja scored on the break with half an hour left.
Instead, the draw left it in last place halfway through the 38-round season and four points from safety.
“We are not able to finish off games and are receiving some hard blows,” Rioja said. “A little bad luck means we once again let points get away.”
Sevilla's disgruntled supporters called for the club executives to step down after a poor first half and then jeered its players after the final whistle.
Rubén Vargas debuted for Sevilla as a second-half substitute a day after the Switzerland forward completed his move from Augsburg. He curled a shot off the post in the 81st in one of the few bright moments for the team that is in 13th place.
Also, Girona substitute John Solís scored in injury time at Alaves to snatch a 1-0 win after he took advantage of a flubbed clearance attempt by defender Moussa Diarra.