West Ham Goalkeeper Alert, Conscious after Being Taken Off on Stretcher

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v West Ham United - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - December 26, 2024 West Ham United's Lukasz Fabianski receives medical attention after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska
Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v West Ham United - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - December 26, 2024 West Ham United's Lukasz Fabianski receives medical attention after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska
TT

West Ham Goalkeeper Alert, Conscious after Being Taken Off on Stretcher

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v West Ham United - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - December 26, 2024 West Ham United's Lukasz Fabianski receives medical attention after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska
Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v West Ham United - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - December 26, 2024 West Ham United's Lukasz Fabianski receives medical attention after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska

West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is “alert” and conscious after being taken off the field on a stretcher during the team's 1-0 win at Southampton in the Premier League on Thursday, manager Julen Lopetegui said.
The game was delayed for around eight minutes as Fabianski received treatment on the field at St. Mary's Stadium. The 39-year-old Polish goalkeeper was hurt in a collision from a corner and was replaced by Alphonse Areola in the 36th minute, The Associated Press reported.
Southampton 'keeper Aaron Ramsdale had run the length of the field to check on Fabianski amid worrying scenes. Fabianski was then greeted by applause as he was taken off with an oxygen mask on, but did not need to go to the hospital.
“He had one big knock around the head, around the neck and he was not very sure about his actions. Fortunately the news is he is talking, he is alert, he is conscious,” Lopetegui said.
“I talk with him. The doctors say that he feels better and well. I am positive with him. He showed he more or less recovered his sense. I am not afraid. We feared but now he is better and it is a positive feeling because we were very worried.”
West Ham, which also saw defender Max Kilman go off in the first half, scored through Jarrod Bowen in the 59th.



Bencic Inspires Switzerland to United Cup Win over France

 Switzerland's Belinda Bencic celebrates defeating France's Chloe Paquet in their women's singles match at the United Cup tennis tournament on Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney on December 28, 2024. (AFP)
Switzerland's Belinda Bencic celebrates defeating France's Chloe Paquet in their women's singles match at the United Cup tennis tournament on Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney on December 28, 2024. (AFP)
TT

Bencic Inspires Switzerland to United Cup Win over France

 Switzerland's Belinda Bencic celebrates defeating France's Chloe Paquet in their women's singles match at the United Cup tennis tournament on Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney on December 28, 2024. (AFP)
Switzerland's Belinda Bencic celebrates defeating France's Chloe Paquet in their women's singles match at the United Cup tennis tournament on Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney on December 28, 2024. (AFP)

Former Olympic champion Belinda Bencic sparkled on her return to the elite circuit after her maternity break, leading Switzerland to a 2-1 win over France in the United Cup mixed team tournament on Saturday.

The 27-year-old beat Chloe Paquet 6-3 6-1 in her first WTA Tour level match since giving birth to daughter Bella in April. She later combined with Dominic Stricker to down the pair of Elixane Lechemia and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-1 7-6(4).

Bencic, who will compete in the Jan. 12-26 Australian Open with a protected ranking, said she was playing at a higher level than she expected.

"The whole comeback went much faster than I anticipated and expected. It's great," said Bencic, who first returned to action in October and played in the Billie Jean King Cup, apart from lower level tournaments.

"I didn't rush things. I was super careful with starting again. I didn't really want to put time pressure on my comeback. I just wanted to see how it goes every day.

"I think I was ready. There's no point in practicing more. It's boring, right? It's better to play competitive matches."

Ugo Humbert had earlier pulled France level at 1-1 with a 6-3 7-5 win over Stricker in the Group D contest, battling back from 2-5 down in the second set to prevail and force a mixed doubles rubber at the Ken Rosewall Arena.

Canada were also victorious in Group A of the 10 million tournament that features 18 countries, as they defeated Croatia 2-1 in Perth's RAC Arena.

Former US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez overcame Donna Vekic 6-4 6-3 before Felix Auger-Aliassime crashed to a 0-6 6-4 6-4 defeat by Borna Coric.

Fernandez and Auger-Aliassime then saw off Lucija Ciric Bagaric and Ivan Dodig 6-3 6-4 to clinch the tie.

Australia were in action against Argentina in Sydney while Greece meet Spain later in Perth.