عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Sports

Alcaraz Sets Sights on Year-End Number One Spot 

Silver medal winner Carlos Alcaraz of Spain poses for a photo during the medal ceremony for the Men Singles of the Tennis competitions in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at the Roland Garros in Paris, France, 04 August 2024. (EPA)
Silver medal winner Carlos Alcaraz of Spain poses for a photo during the medal ceremony for the Men Singles of the Tennis competitions in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at the Roland Garros in Paris, France, 04 August 2024. (EPA)
TT
TT

Alcaraz Sets Sights on Year-End Number One Spot 

Silver medal winner Carlos Alcaraz of Spain poses for a photo during the medal ceremony for the Men Singles of the Tennis competitions in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at the Roland Garros in Paris, France, 04 August 2024. (EPA)
Silver medal winner Carlos Alcaraz of Spain poses for a photo during the medal ceremony for the Men Singles of the Tennis competitions in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at the Roland Garros in Paris, France, 04 August 2024. (EPA)

After capturing back-to-back Grand Slam titles and a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, world number three Carlos Alcaraz said one of his key goals for the rest of the season is to finish as the top-ranked player in the world.

The 21-year-old French Open and Wimbledon champion, who lost a thrilling Olympic final to Novak Djokovic, returns to action at this week's Cincinnati Open, where he can gain ground on the Serb and Italian Jannik Sinner.

Alcaraz is 450 points behind world number one Sinner in the ATP live race to the season finale in Turin, the separate year-to-date standings that serve as a measuring stick for the year-end number one battle.

"Obviously being number one is a goal every time that I'm (behind) and the race is an important ranking for me. At the end of the year if you end the race number one, in the rankings it's quite similar, so you're going to end number one," Alcaraz said.

"So I'm really focused on that. I'm focused on going to every tournament, thinking about playing great tennis, doing a good result just to get better in the race. This year, ending the year as number one is one of my main goals right now."

Last year's Cincinnati runner-up, Alcaraz will begin his campaign against Gael Monfils or Alexei Popyrin as he returns to hardcourt tennis for the first time since reaching the Miami quarter-finals in March.

The Cincinnati Open is an important tune-up event for the Aug. 26-Sept. 8 US Open.

"I'm excited to play here again. Obviously great memories from last year, reaching the final, losing a really tight and epic match (to Djokovic)," Alcaraz said.

Djokovic withdrew from Cincinnati after his Olympic triumph.

Most Viewed

 
 
Sports

Salah Is Destroying His Liverpool Legacy, Says Rooney 

A man photographs his wife next to a mural of Egypt soccer player Mohamed Salah, who joined Liverpool FC as a winger in 2017, painted by artist John Culshaw, in Liverpool, Britain, December 7, 2025. (Reuters)
A man photographs his wife next to a mural of Egypt soccer player Mohamed Salah, who joined Liverpool FC as a winger in 2017, painted by artist John Culshaw, in Liverpool, Britain, December 7, 2025. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Salah Is Destroying His Liverpool Legacy, Says Rooney 

A man photographs his wife next to a mural of Egypt soccer player Mohamed Salah, who joined Liverpool FC as a winger in 2017, painted by artist John Culshaw, in Liverpool, Britain, December 7, 2025. (Reuters)
A man photographs his wife next to a mural of Egypt soccer player Mohamed Salah, who joined Liverpool FC as a winger in 2017, painted by artist John Culshaw, in Liverpool, Britain, December 7, 2025. (Reuters)

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is destroying his legacy at the club with his fiery reaction to being left out of the side, former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney said.

Salah has failed to start their last three matches and lashed out at the club and coach Arne Slot following Saturday's 3-3 Premier League draw with Leeds United, saying he had been made a scapegoat for their poor start to the season.

The Egyptian, who signed a two-year contract extension in April, has become an iconic figure in an eight-year spell at Liverpool in which he has won two Premier League titles and scored 250 goals in all competitions.

However, he has scored just five goals and appeared in 19 games in all competitions this season.

"He is absolutely destroying his legacy at Liverpool," Rooney said on his podcast. "It would be sad for him to throw it all away. He's gone about it all wrong.

"Arne Slot has to show his authority and pull him in and say, 'you are not travelling with the team, what you said is not acceptable.'

"Take yourself off to Afcon (Africa Cup of Nations) and let everything calm down. If I was him there would be no way he would be in the team."

Salah had said he felt as if he had been "thrown under the bus" with Liverpool failing to reproduce their title-winning form from last season.

They are ninth in the current campaign, 10 points behind leaders Arsenal after 15 games.

"If anything, he has thrown Liverpool under the bus with his words...," Rooney said. "I am sure over the next couple of years he will regret saying what he has."

Sports

Fiorentina Takes Security Measures After Players Receive Threats 

Sassuolo's Nemanja Matic (L) and Fiorentina's Cher Ndour in action during the Italian Serie A soccer match US Sassuolo vs ACF Fiorentina at Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia, Italy, 6 December 2025. (EPA)
Sassuolo's Nemanja Matic (L) and Fiorentina's Cher Ndour in action during the Italian Serie A soccer match US Sassuolo vs ACF Fiorentina at Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia, Italy, 6 December 2025. (EPA)
TT
TT

Fiorentina Takes Security Measures After Players Receive Threats 

Sassuolo's Nemanja Matic (L) and Fiorentina's Cher Ndour in action during the Italian Serie A soccer match US Sassuolo vs ACF Fiorentina at Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia, Italy, 6 December 2025. (EPA)
Sassuolo's Nemanja Matic (L) and Fiorentina's Cher Ndour in action during the Italian Serie A soccer match US Sassuolo vs ACF Fiorentina at Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia, Italy, 6 December 2025. (EPA)

Fiorentina said they have stepped up security and contacted authorities after players, staff and their families received threats following Saturday's 3-1 defeat by Sassuolo that left the club winless after 14 games and bottom of Serie A.

Fiorentina condemned the "unacceptable and shameful" threats and offered their full support to all members of the club.

"Behavior of this kind has no place in football or in any area of our society," the club said on their website.

"ACF Fiorentina, while thanking the many supporters who have already shown affection and support regarding these regrettable events, reiterates that there will never be any room for intimidation, hatred or violence."

Fiorentina next host Dynamo Kyiv in a Europa Conference League fixture on Thursday before welcoming Hellas Verona in Serie A on Sunday.

Sports

Real Coach Alonso Looking for Team to Bounce Back Against Man City 

Real Madrid's Spanish coach Xabi Alonso gestures to players during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and RC Celta de Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 7, 2025. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Spanish coach Xabi Alonso gestures to players during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and RC Celta de Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 7, 2025. (AFP)
TT
TT

Real Coach Alonso Looking for Team to Bounce Back Against Man City 

Real Madrid's Spanish coach Xabi Alonso gestures to players during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and RC Celta de Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 7, 2025. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Spanish coach Xabi Alonso gestures to players during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and RC Celta de Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 7, 2025. (AFP)

Real Madrid go into Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Manchester City reeling from a surprise home setback at the weekend and a lengthy injury list, but coach Xabi Alonso says they need to bounce back quickly.

Real lost their 100% home record in the Spanish league on Sunday in a shock 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo, and fell four points behind leaders Barcelona, but have little time to reflect on the setback before their Champions League assignment.

“We need to turn the page as quickly as possible,” Alonso said as Monday’s Spanish sports press speculated on the state of his relationship with his players.

“There's a long way to go in La Liga. And we have the Champions League match against City to react and get rid of this bad taste in our mouths.”

With Real winning only one of their last five LaLiga fixtures, Alonso has come under scrutiny for his relationship with players, system of playing and tactical decisions, while injuries have suddenly piled up again.

“We're struggling with injuries. It was hard for us to react,” added Alonso, whose side finished Sunday’s game with two red cards.

“It hurts, we're angry, and we understand why people are angry."

Defender Eder Militao hobbled off the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu pitch in the first half on Sunday and joins David Alaba, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, Dean Huijsen and Ferland Mendy on the injury list. Jude Bellingham also suffered a cut above the eye but is expected to feature against Manchester City.

“The situation is tight due to injuries. We have to make adjustments for each match, and we'll see how things go for Wednesday,” added the coach, who took over from Carlo Ancelotti at the start of the season.

Sports newspaper AS said Alonso was unable to motivate his team while Marca claimed he would not be able to fix things.

But the coach offered a different outlook: “We're all united and know that we can turn things around. There's still a long way to go, and you can have a bad game at home. We know what the demands are at this club. Defeats hurt a lot, but we have to look ahead.”