Gadecki Continues Impressive Run in Guadalajara, Reaches her 1st WTA Semifinal

Olivia Gadecki of Australia in action against Martina Trevisan of Italy during their quarter finals match at the Guadalajara Open WTA 500 tennis tournament in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 13 September 2024.  EPA/Francisco Guasco
Olivia Gadecki of Australia in action against Martina Trevisan of Italy during their quarter finals match at the Guadalajara Open WTA 500 tennis tournament in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 13 September 2024. EPA/Francisco Guasco
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Gadecki Continues Impressive Run in Guadalajara, Reaches her 1st WTA Semifinal

Olivia Gadecki of Australia in action against Martina Trevisan of Italy during their quarter finals match at the Guadalajara Open WTA 500 tennis tournament in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 13 September 2024.  EPA/Francisco Guasco
Olivia Gadecki of Australia in action against Martina Trevisan of Italy during their quarter finals match at the Guadalajara Open WTA 500 tennis tournament in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 13 September 2024. EPA/Francisco Guasco

Olivia Gadecki continued her impressive run in Mexico on Friday by advancing to the Guadalajara Open semifinals after beating Martina Trevisan 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
The 22-year-old Australian qualifier, who is ranked 152nd, converted eight of 10 break-point chances to beat Trevisan, who was a Roland Garros semifinalist in 2022, and reach a WTA semifinal for the first time, The Associated Press reported.
Gadecki arrived in Mexico with just two wins over top-100 players but she has recorded three this week, including a second-round win over world No. 11 Danielle Collins.
“There’s a lot of things I’m proud of this week,” Gadecki said.
In the semifinals, Gadecki will play Camila Osorio, who defeated Kamilla Rakhimova, 7-6 (6), 6-1.
In the other semifinal, fourth-seeded Caroline Garcia will face fifth-seeded Magdalena Frech, who advanced with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Marina Stakusic.
Garcia advanced earlier in a walkover after Marie Bouzkova withdrew due to an illness.
The tournament is being played on hard courts at the Complejo Panamericano de Tenis in Guadalajara.



AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Dates and Venues Announced

AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Dates and Venues Announced
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AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Dates and Venues Announced

AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Dates and Venues Announced

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and AFC Asian Cup 2027 local organizing committee announced in a press release on Tuesday that the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 is set to take place from January 7 to February 5, 2027.
The 19th edition of Asia's premier football tournament will kick off on Thursday, January 7, 2027, culminating with the final match on Friday, February 5, 2027, promising an exciting experience for football fans across the continent.
The release said the tournament will feature eight stadiums across three host cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar. Each city will be anchored by a main stadium.
In Riyadh, the spotlight will be on King Fahd Sports City Stadium, currently undergoing extensive upgrades to meet the highest standards.
Jeddah will host matches at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, also known as “The Shining Jewel,” which recently hosted the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup Final, SPA reported.
In Al Khobar, the newly constructed Stadium will be the centerpiece of the Eastern Region.
In addition to these main venues, Riyadh will also feature King Saud University Stadium, Al Shabab Stadium, and Kingdom Arena, along with the revamped Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud University Stadium, which will see its seating capacity expanded to 21,000 and all facilities upgraded to meet AFC standards.
Jeddah will also host matches at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium, which previously hosted several matches during the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup.
Saudi Arabian Football Federation President Yasser Al Misehal described the announcement of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 timeline as a key milestone in the Kingdom’s journey toward hosting the tournament.
“The local organizing committee is committed to delivering an exceptional edition of the Asian Cup that meets the high expectations of football fans across the continent,” Al Misehal said.
He added: “The success of this endeavor is a result of the unwavering support from our leadership and the guidance of Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, which has positioned the Saudi Arabian Football Federation among the leading football associations in the region.”
Al Misehal expressed gratitude to AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and the entire AFC team for their ongoing support.
Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 builds on the Kingdom’s recent success in organizing major international sports events, a key part of Saudi Vision 2030. The Kingdom has recently hosted high-profile football tournaments, including the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup, as well as the Spanish and Italian Super Cups. It is also set to host the final stages of this season’s AFC Champions League Elite, alongside major events in other sports, such as Formula 1 and the Dakar Rally.
According to the release, 18 nations have qualified for the tournament: Saudi Arabia (host nation), Australia, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Iran, Qatar, UAE, Japan, Korea Republic, Oman, Palestine, Jordan, Bahrain, China PR, Indonesia, DPR Korea, Kuwait, and the Kyrgyz Republic.
Six remaining spots will be determined through the final round of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.