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Djokovic Passes Muller Test to Reach Wimbledon Second Round

Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 1, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic leaves the court after winning his first round match against France's Alexandre Muller. (Reuters)
Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 1, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic leaves the court after winning his first round match against France's Alexandre Muller. (Reuters)
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Djokovic Passes Muller Test to Reach Wimbledon Second Round

Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 1, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic leaves the court after winning his first round match against France's Alexandre Muller. (Reuters)
Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 1, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic leaves the court after winning his first round match against France's Alexandre Muller. (Reuters)

Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic was made to work hard after a strong start as he began his bid for a 25th Grand Slam title by beating unseeded Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-1 6-7(7) 6-2 6-2 to reach the second round on Tuesday.

The sixth seed, who is aiming to equal Roger Federer's haul at the All England Club and move past Margaret Court in the all-time list of major champions, will take on British wild card Dan Evans in the next round.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I have a chance, to be honest," Djokovic said.

"I think I always have a chance, I've earned my right to feel I can go all the way to the title. I've had arguably the most success of any Grand Slam here in the last decade.

"It's just the beginning of the tournament. There are many fantastic players in the draw. I'm going to be playing a Briton in the next round. That's going to be a tough one, but I look forward to it.

"I've always felt like grass, particularly in the second part of my career, was really the surface where I played my best tennis, so why not do it again?"

Djokovic, who endured a poor year before lifting his 100th tour-level trophy in Geneva ahead of a run to the semi-finals of the French Open, powered through the opening set against Muller by winning six games on the trot.

Muller put up much more of a fight in the next set, saving five breakpoints to hold for 4-4 before forcing a tiebreak where he raised his game again to battle from 2-5 down and draw level in the match.

Djokovic caught his breath when the Centre Court roof was closed and then took a medical timeout early in the third set for a stomach problem, before going up 3-2 with a break after Muller hit his sixth double fault of the match.

Having wrapped up the third set, Djokovic racked up a 4-2 advantage in the fourth set with an exquisite backhand winner and there was no looking back from there as he completed the victory by holding to love.

"I went from feeling my absolute best for a set and a half to my absolute worst for about 45 minutes," Djokovic added.

"Whether it was a stomach bug, I don't know what it was, but I just struggled with that. The energy kicked back in after some doctor's miracle pills.

"I managed to finish the match on a good note."

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Slot: Liverpool's Isak Faces Two Months Out After 'Reckless' Tackle

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - December 20, 2025 Liverpool's Alexander Isak receives medical attention due to an injury after scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - December 20, 2025 Liverpool's Alexander Isak receives medical attention due to an injury after scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley
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Slot: Liverpool's Isak Faces Two Months Out After 'Reckless' Tackle

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - December 20, 2025 Liverpool's Alexander Isak receives medical attention due to an injury after scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - December 20, 2025 Liverpool's Alexander Isak receives medical attention due to an injury after scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Alexander Isak is expected to be out of action for two months after fracturing his leg against Tottenham, with Liverpool manager Arne Slot accusing Tottenham's Micky van de Ven of making a "reckless challenge".

The Sweden striker was injured in a tackle from the defender in the act of scoring the opening goal in Saturday's 2-1 victory and limped off the pitch, said AFP.

Liverpool said in a statement on Monday that the forward had had an operation on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture.

"It's going to be a long injury, for a couple of months," Slot told reporters on Tuesday, "So, yeah, that's a big, big, big disappointment for him. And as a result also of course for us."

Slot described Van de Ven's tackle as "reckless".

"I think I said a lot about the tackle of Xavi Simons (sent off earlier in the game for Spurs), which for me was completely unintentional, and I don't think you will ever get an injury out of a tackle like that.

"The tackle of Van de Ven, if you make that tackle 10 times, I think 10 times there's a serious chance that a player gets a serious injury."

Isak's injury is the latest setback for the forward after he signed from Newcastle for a British record £125 million ($168 million) in September.

A dispute with Newcastle meant he did not have a proper pre-season program and arrived at Liverpool well behind his team-mates in terms of fitness.

His season was then interrupted by a groin injury.

The 26-year-old has scored just three goals in 16 appearances since completing his protracted move to Anfield.

Isak's absence will be a major blow for Reds boss Slot, with Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations and Cody Gakpo not ready to return from a muscle injury until early in the new year.

It leaves Slot with Hugo Ekitike, who has five goals in his past four games, and the little-used Federico Chiesa as his only senior forwards.

Liverpool, whose Premier League title defense collapsed after a shocking run of results, have climbed to fifth in the table after extending their unbeaten league run to five games.

Isak's injury raises the prospect of Liverpool moving to boost their attack in the January transfer window, with Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo linked with a move to Anfield.

It may also change the conversation around Salah following his recent claim that he had been thrown under the bus by the club and no longer had a relationship with Slot.

Salah's rant, which came after he was left on the bench for three successive matches, prompted Liverpool to leave him out of the squad for a Champions League match at Inter Milan.

But he returned to action as a substitute against Brighton before leaving for international duty.

Liverpool host bottom side Wolves on Saturday.

Sports

Saudi Weightlifting Team Wins 36 Medals at Qatar Cup, Arab, West Asian Championships

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
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Saudi Weightlifting Team Wins 36 Medals at Qatar Cup, Arab, West Asian Championships

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT

The Qatar International Weightlifting Cup, the Arab Weightlifting Championship and the West Asian Weightlifting Championship began concurrently in the State of Qatar, with the participation of several regional national teams.

The Saudi national team is taking part with 36 male and female lifters across various age categories, reflecting the expansion of the sport’s base and its continued technical and competitive development in the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency said on Tuesday.

The Saudi team delivered a strong performance, securing a total of 36 medals, including 27 gold and nine silver medals.

Abdullah Al-Zubaidi won six gold medals in the snatch, the clean and jerk, and the total in the youth 56 kg category in the Arab and West Asian competitions. Mohammed Al-Ajyan claimed 12 gold medals in the snatch, the clean and jerk, and the total in the youth and junior 60 kg categories in the Arab and West Asian competitions.

In the senior category, Aqeel Al-Jassim captured nine gold medals in the snatch, the clean and jerk, and the total in the 60 kg category at the Qatar International Weightlifting Cup and the Arab and West Asian competitions, while Mansour Al-Saleem earned nine silver medals in the same weight category.

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Reports: Liverpool Fear Isak Has Broken Leg

Liverpool's Swedish striker #09 Alexander Isak (C) is helped off the field by medical staff after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Liverpool's Swedish striker #09 Alexander Isak (C) is helped off the field by medical staff after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
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Reports: Liverpool Fear Isak Has Broken Leg

Liverpool's Swedish striker #09 Alexander Isak (C) is helped off the field by medical staff after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Liverpool's Swedish striker #09 Alexander Isak (C) is helped off the field by medical staff after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)

Liverpool are awaiting scan results they fear will confirm record signing Alexander Isak has suffered a broken leg after he was injured in their win against Tottenham, reports said Monday.

The Sweden forward was hurt in the act of scoring the opening goal in Saturday's 2-1 victory in London after a sliding challenge from Spurs defender Micky van der Ven.

Isak, 26, who had come on as a second-half substitute, was unable to celebrate with his teammates and left the pitch in considerable distress.

Immediately after the game Liverpool boss Arne Slot admitted the injury was "not a good thing".

"If a player doesn't even try to come back, that is usually not a good thing but I cannot say anything more than that," AFP quoted him as saying.

"That is just gut feeling and nothing medical... let's not be too negative yet. We don't know yet. Let's hope he is back with us soon."

The Athletic and Sky Sports reported Monday that Liverpool fear Isak has broken his leg, which would mean a lengthy period on the sidelines.

Isak has had a disrupted start to his life at Anfield, making just 16 appearances and scoring three goals since his £125 million ($168 million) British record move from Newcastle on transfer deadline day.

A dispute with Newcastle meant he did not have a proper pre-season program and arrived at Anfield well behind his team-mates in terms of fitness. His season was then interrupted by a groin injury.

Any absence would be a major blow for Slot, with Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations and Cody Gakpo not ready to return from a muscle injury until early in the yew year.

It leaves the Liverpool manager with Hugo Ekitike, who has five goals in his past four games, and the little-used Federico Chiesa as his only senior forwards.

Liverpool, whose Premier League title defense collapsed after a shocking run of results, have climbed to fifth in the table after extending their unbeaten league run to five games.