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Renard Stresses Importance of Saudi Arabia’s Match against Iraq in Gulf Cup

Renard speaks at the press conference on Friday. (SPA)
Renard speaks at the press conference on Friday. (SPA)
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Renard Stresses Importance of Saudi Arabia’s Match against Iraq in Gulf Cup

Renard speaks at the press conference on Friday. (SPA)
Renard speaks at the press conference on Friday. (SPA)

Saudi national football team coach Hervé Renard underlined on Friday the importance of his team's upcoming "challenging and crucial" match against Iraq in the Gulf Cup currently underway in Kuwait.

Winning the match is essential to advancing to the semifinals, he told a press conference.

The teams will clash on Saturday afternoon.

"The Saudi fans consistently support the national team. Although we did not begin the tournament at our usual level, we will strive to bring the Saudi national team to its normal situation," he vowed.

"I concentrate solely on football, analyzing matches and players' performances daily to achieve our objectives," he added.

Meanwhile, Iraqi national team coach Jesus Casas said the match against Saudi Arabia is a chance to evaluate the team's blend of youth and experience.

He emphasized the importance of achieving proper harmony for the team to deliver the best result.

"The last match was disappointing, and all the teams in the tournament are competitive. We do not make excuses; instead, we will concentrate on putting forth a solid performance against the Saudi national team," Casas said.

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Osaka Wins Again to Reach Quarterfinals at Auckland WTA Tournament

Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a shot against Julia Grabher of Austria in their women's singles match of the ASB Classic tennis tournament at Manuka Doctor Arena in Auckland, New Zealand on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (Alan Lee/Photosport via AP)
Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a shot against Julia Grabher of Austria in their women's singles match of the ASB Classic tennis tournament at Manuka Doctor Arena in Auckland, New Zealand on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (Alan Lee/Photosport via AP)
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Osaka Wins Again to Reach Quarterfinals at Auckland WTA Tournament

Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a shot against Julia Grabher of Austria in their women's singles match of the ASB Classic tennis tournament at Manuka Doctor Arena in Auckland, New Zealand on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (Alan Lee/Photosport via AP)
Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a shot against Julia Grabher of Austria in their women's singles match of the ASB Classic tennis tournament at Manuka Doctor Arena in Auckland, New Zealand on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (Alan Lee/Photosport via AP)

Four-time Grand Slam singles winner Naomi Osaka has started 2025 in style, beating Julia Grabher 7-5, 6-3 Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals of the Auckland tennis classic, The Associated Press reported.
Osaka overcame a swirling breeze and a lengthy rain break to progress comfortably beyond the second round. Although the wind often affected her ball toss, Osaka didn't drop her serve at any stage and broke Grabher once in each set to win her way to the Auckland quarterfinals for the second time. Osaka also reached the last eight on her only previous visit to New Zealand in 2017.
“She was a really tough opponent for me to play against and I felt I just had to concentrate on myself a lot and try not to be as nervous as I felt,” Osaka said.
“I got some great advice from a great coach over there,” Osaka added, referring to Patrick Mouratoglou who recently joined her team and previously had a long association with Serena Williams. “I just tried to focus on my bullet points and go out swinging if I had to go out. But fortunately I'm here to play another round.”
Osaka again showed no sign of the back injury which ended her 2024 season at the China Open in October. She moved freely, went to the net rarely but effectively and hit hard, especially from the forehand side.
Osaka's first serve was a powerful weapon and she won 80% of points when she put the serve in play.
The first set was tight, without a break of serve until the 12th game. Osaka came back from the rain delay which came when she was leading 40-15 in the previous game and seemed to step up, holding serve and breaking the Austrian player immediately to take the first set.
She held serve to love in two of her first three service games in the second set, then broke Grabher in the sixth game to go ahead 4-2. Osaka continued to hold serve comfortably, closing out the match on her first match point.
The Auckland tournament is a tune-up for the Australian Open, which begins Jan. 12, and lost some of its star power on Tuesday when former US Open champion Emma Raducanu withdrew with a back injury. Elise Mertens also pulled out of Auckland with injury.