Australia’s De Minaur Reaches First Wimbledon Quarter-final

Alex de Minaur of Australia plays a forehand return to Arthur Fils of France during their fourth round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Alex de Minaur of Australia plays a forehand return to Arthur Fils of France during their fourth round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
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Australia’s De Minaur Reaches First Wimbledon Quarter-final

Alex de Minaur of Australia plays a forehand return to Arthur Fils of France during their fourth round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Alex de Minaur of Australia plays a forehand return to Arthur Fils of France during their fourth round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Australia's Alex de Minaur reached his first Wimbledon quarter-final on Monday with a four-set win over Arthur Fils of France although he ended the match grimacing with pain.

World number nine De Minaur won 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 and will face Novak Djokovic for a place in the semi-finals if the seven-time champion defeats Holger Rune later Monday.

Agence France Presse said de Minaur appeared to roll his ankle as he played the winning shot on Court One and walked gingerly back to his courtside chair.

As he sat down, he shook his head towards his box, where 2002 Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt, a fellow Australian, and tennis-playing girlfriend Katie Boulter looked on.

"I'll be all right," De Minaur said in his on-court interview.

"I'm super-proud to play in front of you guys. I had a few problems getting over the finish line and made it harder than it should have been."

World number 34 Fils, playing in the fourth round of a Slam for the first time, was undone by 66 unforced errors.

De Minaur has defeated both Djokovic and Rune in his career.

He got the better of the 24-time Grand Slam title winner at the United Cup in Australia this year while seeing off Rune twice in 2023, including on grass at Queen's Club.

"I'll try my best and play my heart out," said De Minaur, who is a force to be reckoned with on grass having clinched the 's-Hertogenbosch title in the Netherlands last month.



Japanese Soccer Player Kazuyoshi Miura Says He Will Play Next Season at Age 58

 Kazuyoshi Miura, former forward of Japan's national football team, poses at a press conference at National Stadium in Tokyo on June 25, 2024, as Atletico Suzuka announced that he has rejoined the fourth-tier club. (Kyodo News via AP)
Kazuyoshi Miura, former forward of Japan's national football team, poses at a press conference at National Stadium in Tokyo on June 25, 2024, as Atletico Suzuka announced that he has rejoined the fourth-tier club. (Kyodo News via AP)
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Japanese Soccer Player Kazuyoshi Miura Says He Will Play Next Season at Age 58

 Kazuyoshi Miura, former forward of Japan's national football team, poses at a press conference at National Stadium in Tokyo on June 25, 2024, as Atletico Suzuka announced that he has rejoined the fourth-tier club. (Kyodo News via AP)
Kazuyoshi Miura, former forward of Japan's national football team, poses at a press conference at National Stadium in Tokyo on June 25, 2024, as Atletico Suzuka announced that he has rejoined the fourth-tier club. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japanese soccer player Kazuyoshi Miura is several generations older than his teammates. His contemporaries retired decades ago. Lionel Messi is 37, and Cristiano Ronaldo is 39 — mere youngsters compared to Miura.

Miura will turn 58 in February, and the Japanese news agency Kyodo reported this week that he intends to play next season for his fourth-tier Japanese club, Suzuka. It will be his 40th season playing in professional soccer.

Miura is widely listed as the oldest active professional soccer player.

Miura scored 55 goals in 89 appearances and was a star with Japan’s national team in the 1990s.

He has played professionally in Brazil, Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal. He made his debut in 1986 with Brazilian club Santos, a side made famous by Brazilian star Pelé.